A student of St. Colman’s College, Newry is the pride of his peers having received two top awards in the recent Big Bang Fair Northern Ireland, a competition which recognises the skills of young scientists and engineers.
Redmond O’Hanlon, from Whitecross, exhibited his AS Design and Technology project ‘Quad-Trough’ to the judging panel and visitors at the event held at University of Ulster Jordanstown on Monday 24th June.
Attracting great interest, the product is an innovative cattle-feeding system incorporating a clever folding action, which increases manoeuvrability while reducing the risk of back injuries and space required for storage.
‘Quad-Trough’ can accommodate up to eight cattle feeding from four troughs and is fabricated using mild steel and polypropylene channel. When folded the product footprint is reduced by 50% and weight transferred over rear wheels thus allowing easy attachment to a Quad hitch. The ‘Quad-Trough’ makes feeding animals on farms convenient and effective without the usual strenuous lifting and risk of injury. The product is also totally recyclable at end of its lifecycle.
The judges were impressed with Redmond’s confident presentation and technical knowledge and were pleased to see innovative real life problem solving, commending Redmond on his designing and manufacturing skills.
In recognition of his project, Redmond received The Institution of Mechanical Engineers Award 2019, a crystal trophy and prize of £125; as well as the Northern Ireland Young Engineers Senior Award, which attracts a crystal trophy and a £200 prize.
In conjunction with this Senior award, Redmond is also nominated to compete at The Big Bang UK National Science and Engineering Competition finals to be held in March 2020 at the NEC Birmingham.
Both Redmond and his parents were delighted to have had the opportunity, experience and success of exhibiting the ‘Quad-Trough’ and very much look forward to the NEC.