SCIENCE students from Teesside University have been studying one of the region’s most cutting edge facilities.
The Centre for Process Innovation invited undergraduate and MSc students from Teesside University, Durham, Northumbria and Sunderland to see the facilities at PETEC, its Printable Electronics Technology Centre at NETPark, Sedgefield.
CPI experts and the directors of two companies utilising PETEC’s facilities gave students studying Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Optical Communication Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Product Design and Physics an inside view of the sector and a chance to discuss career options.
Steve Spruce, operations manager at PETEC, which is working with more than 40 companies in the region, said: “PETEC’s success is a result of the combination of a wide range of skills and expertise. Our commercial, scientific, engineering and administrative staff work closely together making sure our clients get their new printed electronics products to market as quickly as possible.
“This event was designed to give local students a real insight into how this works in practice, and to allow them to see the sort of career paths this new technology opens up for them.”
Andreas Hohls, a second year product design student at Teesside University, said: “It’s been very interesting to see the commercial application of technologies and to visualise the end products. From a design perspective, it’s been excellent to understand more about what the products can and can’t do. It’s been helpful the way CPI employees have shared with us what they have done. It makes you realise you can achieve it yourself.”
Tom Taylor, director of CPI’s Printable Electronics Technology Centre, said: “It has been an exciting day and it’s been encouraging to see young students being so involved in a technology area that will support this industry.
“PETEC’s role is to provide resources and technology to support UK industry in developing printable electronics products, and it is key to ensure the future workforce has the relevant skill sets to support this.”
