An energy-saving socket extension and a new product for the radio car racing market, both created by students at the University of Bolton, have won design and innovation awards.
Jason Parr and Chris Taylor have been presented with certificates and cheques by the Rotary Club of Bolton-Le-Moors. Its Vocational Committee has awarded the prizes to the university for the first time this year.
Presenting the awards at the university's Product Design Studio were Rotary Club of Bolton-Le-Moors incoming President, Keith Clarkson, Chairman of the Vocational Committee, Michael Holland and Chairman of the International Committee Derek Truffas.
Graduating student Jason, from Wigan, has just completed a computer-aided engineering degree course. His winning project, a revolutionary socket extension product, dramatically cuts the use of 'standby', saving money and energy. Ideal for use in home or office, it allows users to remotely turn off or leave on each appliance plugged into his Global Care system.
Said Jason: 'On something like a multimedia set up, for example, people often end up leaving everything on standby because it's all plugged into the same extension socket, even though they really only want to leave their VCR on overnight. Leaving everything on standby is expensive financially and environmentally, on average it amounts to 10% of your annual electricity bill – all wasted money and energy. Using my Global Care product means you can isolate the VCR, leave that on and everything else off.
'I've really enjoyed my course, particularly the design element. I came here after working for ten years – I had got to the point where I needed my degree to progress further.'
Chris, from Stockport, who has studied for an automotive product design degree, created a new 'split' car body for radio car racing enthusiasts. Chris says the twin body shell, which clips onto the racing car's chassis, gives extra durability and allows racers to swap either a front or back end during a race if one end of the car gets damaged.
He tested his product's aerodynamics using the university's wind tunnel equipment and created mouldings using the Product Design Studio's rapid prototyping facilities.
Chris says radio car racing has a great following around the world. 'The British Radio Car Association has 15,000 members alone and it's a really popular hobby in many countries.
'It's easy to get through several car shells if you're racing on a regular basis – they soon get damaged,' said Chris who is set on a career in product design for the car industry.
Chris and Jason are pictured showing their prototypes to the rotary club's incoming President, Keith Clarkson