Macclesfield, UK – Kings' School pupils, working with Opus Technical, have won a UK Engineering Development Trust Innovation Award for work on pinholes in flexible foam.
The team of six year-12 students worked with John Blackwell, engineering and technical director at Opus Technical. Their project led to a bolt-on laydown system. This controls the release of unwanted air bubbles in the liquid foam and so reduces the effect of pinholes.
Pinholes form when there are too many irregular and large bubbles in flexible polyurethane foam. Blackwell said, 'It’s a long-standing issue that challenges manufacturers.’
He added: 'It’s a genuine privilege to work with these young students. They bring a fresh insight into the R&D process.'
The King’s team presented their six-month project in a detailed written report and an oral presentation in front of a panel of industry experts at Liverpool University. They won the university’s best project award, and all six team members were classed as national EDT Gold award winners.
