Yorkshire Coast region helps young engineering talent

Local experts and business leaders brought along some of the latest technology being used in manufacturing today, giving over 2,000 young visitors the chance to have ‘hands on’ experience at the event.

600 UK played their part by demonstrating the Pratt Burnerd Gripfast Power Chuck through the ‘Gripfast Challenge’ competition, allowing students to interchange two sets of jaws in the quickest time possible and it proved to be a very popular attraction. 

The winner was a young Rolls Royce apprentice, Craig Arnell, who switched the chuck jaws in a staggering 9.1 seconds, but a special commendation was also made to a local 14 year old schoolboy, Ben Colling from Ebor Academy in Filey, who managed the same feat in only 13.7 seconds.

600 UK have regularly attended the Scarborough show and this year was no exception, although particularly noteworthy following 600 UK’s recent installation of a range of Colchester Student centre lathes, Harrison Alpha manual/CNC lathes and Clausing turret mills and bandsaws at the newly built, Scarborough University Technical College (UTC).

Mike Berry, 600 UK Managing Director commented: “It is our great pleasure to again contribute at Scarborough Engineering Week and to meet the talented engineers of the future. Our Colchester and Harrison lathes, Clausing machine tools and Pratt Burnerd workholding products are highly recognised in both education and industry alike. It’s hugely encouraging to see so much young local talent taking a genuine interest in science, engineering, current technology and considering these disciplines as a real and worthwhile career path.”