What or who inspired you to become an engineer?

There were three key influences. Firstly, my dad, who worked in the RAF on aircraft, gave me an early insight into engineering. Then, a maths teacher at school, who was a former aeronautical engineer, encouraged me to pursue engineering academically. Lastly, a badminton coach who was also a civil engineer offered me summer placements during university, which really helped shape my career path.

Where did you study, and what was your degree in?

I studied at Durham University. The degree was in aeronautics, although the first two years were general engineering. After that, I specialised in mechanical engineering and spent a year abroad at a university in Singapore. In the final year, I focused on aeronautics, which was more of a subset of mechanical engineering.

What was it like studying in Singapore?

It was fantastic. The university is a major engineering hub with strong civil and mechanical departments. The student body was diverse, with a 50/50 split between Singaporeans and international students from all over the world, which made for an enriching experience.

What’s your role at Eadon, and how long have you been with the company?

I’m a Senior Mechanical Engineer at Eadon and I’ve been with them since 2012.

What are your specialist areas?

I’ve probably spent the most time on nuclear projects, but I’ve also been involved in moving bridges, kinetic structures, bespoke machinery, and even some niche areas like a roller coaster chassis design. But in terms of specialisation, nuclear and waterways are probably the areas where I’ve done the most work.

Can you describe a recent project you worked on and what your role was?

I recently worked on a water control structure project at Holland Haven. We conducted mechanical inspections of flap gates and stop logs, finding significant corrosion that needed addressing. We designed refurbishments to reinforce the gates, ensuring they were fit for purpose. One interesting aspect was that the stop logs were under a massive sea defence wall, requiring us to consider wave loading as well as normal water loading. We also had to perform confined space inspections and made several design changes to improve the gate’s durability.

Can you describe a particularly challenging project you’ve worked on and how you overcame the obstacles?

One challenging project I worked on was designing a machine for moving large concrete revetments at Sandsend near Whitby. The client wanted to avoid closing roads, so we had to create a machine that could accurately place these heavy slabs on the beach. The design required several degrees of freedom for adjustment and had to be torsionally stiff to resist twisting forces. We also had to address issues with the machine’s stability and the load on the driving wheels. After many design iterations, we separated the drive system from the machine, creating a “tractor and trailer” setup that allowed the machine to move the slabs effectively without stability issues.

How do you collaborate with clients to understand and meet their needs?

I like to maintain regular contact with clients, providing updates and discussing progress. It depends on the client—some prefer more hands-off interactions, while others, especially in the nuclear sector, are more involved and want to review every step of the process. I adapt my approach to suit each client’s preferences.

When it comes to tackling complex engineering problems, do you have a specific method or process that you follow?

I like to visualise the problem first, understanding load paths firstusing models and sketches, rather than getting bogged down in numbers too early.

What recent engineering trends have you been particularly interested in, and how have you engaged with them?

There are a couple of trends that I’m quite interested in currently, particularly fibre-reinforced polymers (FRP), which include carbon fibre structures. These materials have been evolving from their origins in sports engineering to more recent applications in aerospace and now, in structural engineering and nuclear projects. During COVID, I took an online course on FRP through Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. The Dutch are at the forefront of composite structures, especially in the design of bridges and lock gates. We’ve also been involved in the first fibreglass lock gate in the UK, at Sunbury in London, focusing on the mechanical design aspects. The lightweight nature and durability of these materials make them very promising for a range of applications, especially in scenarios where reducing the structural weight is crucial, like in long-reach nuclear tools. However, the environmental impact of these materials is still a bit of a question mark, given that they are essentially plastics. That said, they are expected to have a longer lifespan, which could offset some of the environmental concerns.

What do you like most about working at Eadon?

I really appreciate the variety of projects I get to work on. At Eadon, I can be working on something as gritty as inspecting 30 to 40-year-old steel gates in waterways, which are heavy-duty, almost agricultural engineering, and then switch to something as precise and controlled as a long reach carbon fibre structure for nuclear applications. The contrast between these projects is huge—one moment I’m dealing with tons of corroded steel, the next, I’m working on a high-tolerance robotic machine. This kind of diversity is rare in most engineering consultancies, where you’d typically be siloed into one area. At Eadon, the cross-disciplinary approach allows us to work on a range of projects, often simultaneously, which is quite unique.

Lastly, can you share a bit about your hobbies outside of work?

Rowing is a big part of my life. I’m a member of the City of Sheffield Rowing Club, and we’ve had a good season this year. We’ve competed at various events like Nottingham and Durham, and we even tried to qualify for Henley, missing out by just six seconds. Besides rowing, I’m also into cycling. Both of these activities give me a chance to get out of the city and enjoy the outdoors, which is a great balance to the technical work I do. Rowing, in particular, is fantastic because it’s not just about the sport—it’s about the camaraderie and the beautiful settings we get to compete in, along picturesque rivers in quaint English towns to reservoirs up in the Pennines.