Talent shines at TDI challenge

The long running competition sees students from across the UK submit either their GCSE, A-Level or BTEC Design and Technology Course Work Projects to be judged by a panel of experts drawn from Industry made up of members of the MTA’s very own technical committee.

The students are split into two judging fields of 14-16-year-olds and 17-19-year-olds. There is also a Group category which recognises extracurricular work.

This year saw a change in the way the final is judged with, as well as overall winners in each age group, prize’s awarded for best use of Manufacturing Technology and Best Innovation. This year, for the first time, there was also a People’s Vote prize awarded by a vote of all those attending the day.

Stewart Lane, corporate manager, Renishaw, chair of the MTA Education and Development Committee and chair of the judging panel for the TDI Competition, said: “The final of the TDI is always an inspiring event and the standard of entries for this year’s competition were some of the highest we’ve seen. The range of technologies used in both the design and manufacture of the projects was genuinely impressive and the students have to be congratulated in making this one of the most competitive TDI’s we’ve had to judge.”

The winner in each category received an individual prize (including iPads, GoPro cameras, Minirig speakers and drones) as well as up to £2,000 of funding for their schools to spend on new Design and Technology equipment for the classroom.

Mike Falconer, education and development manager at the MTA said: “The TDI gives students the opportunity to create something unique and demonstrate to the judges they have considered the whole manufacturing process, from design, to construction and how to market the product.”

He continued “The quality of innovation on show was phenomenal and we’d like to congratulate all the winners and finalist for producing such amazing work.”

Chris Kalogroulis, Sutton Grammar School, who won in the 17-19 category – and is now a two times winner of the TDI Challenge after winning the 14-16 category in 2016 – said: “It was such a big bonus for Flip to win the TDI Challenge, it’s another nice confidence booster. I’m going to try and develop the clock further and see how it turns out and I’m considering trying to sell it.

“It’s also going to be cool to be able to say I’ve designed two award winning products. This has had a massive impact on my engineering and academic life and played a huge part in the success of my products.”

Winners 14-16

The full list of winners includes:

Best Overall: Oscar Chainey, Sutton Grammar School – OC Chair Project

Best Innovation: Ella Freeman, Henrietta Barnett School – Sole in One Project

Best use of Manufacturing Technology: Patricia Cheung, Brighton College – Collapsible Cello Chair

Winners 17-19

Best Overall: Chris Kalogroulis, Sutton Grammar School – Flip magnetic clock

Best Innovation: Chloe Lee, Henrietta Barnett School – Hummingbird Assistive device for Parkinson’s sufferers

Best use of Manufacturing Technology: Georgina Edwards, St Peter’s School, York – A-Cam project

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Best Group Project: Westcliff High School for Boys – Blakiston Anti-Interference Turret

People’s Vote: Isabelle Clark, Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls – Portable Activity Centre

Manufacturing Technologies Association

www.mta.org.uk