Owen Bull (right in pic) has been rewarded with the title Mechanical Design Apprentice of the Year at the Wigan & Leigh College Engineering Awards.
He successfully transitioned from a technician role at ULEMCo to a role in the engineering design team, and is now actively involved in high profile projects involving hydrogen fuel conversions of vehicles and construction equipment.
While a relatively new design engineer, Owen designed a portable hydrogen tank pack that could hold hydrogen at 350bar. This was a highly anticipated design for the business as it would allow the balance filling of vehicles following hydrogen dual-fuel conversion. It can also be used for testing vehicles in development both in the workshop and on remote sites for customers. The design replaced expensive hydrogen cylinders which had limited capacity.
Named the ‘PORT-A-BULL’ in recognition of Owen Bulls’s success, the 4 x 74ltr fork-liftable tank pack can be rolled on caster wheels or transported safely in the back of a small van. The company saves money on hydrogen as they are able to source and fill the tank pack themselves.
The final manufactured product has been added to the ULEMCo product range, and has led to the creation of a second version with some slight design modifications.
Owen studied for a Level 3 mechanical engineering qualification with an NVQ attached provided by Wigan and Leigh College. Previously, he was graded a Distinction* in Engineering in school, and has completed courses such as level 1&2 MIG/TIG welding and a FITTOK tubing course whilst at ULEMCo.
“A huge thank you to everyone at ULEMCo, as without their time, resources and commitment to my development, this would not have been possible”, says Owen. Owen’s apprenticeship has allowed him to learn on the job from his co-workers – experienced engineers at the top of their respective fields. He has used this knowledge and expertise on several key projects to the benefit of customers across the UK.
At the start of his apprenticeship, Owen was not sure which discipline of engineering he wanted to pursue. After starting out as a zero-emission technician at ULEMCo, he realised he was attracted to engineering design. ULEMCo understood his situation and allowed him to transition into the Design team, where he has been able to utilise the skills and knowledge gained from being a technician, and to make greater quality contributions to real-world design projects. “This flexibility and understanding from ULEMCo is greatly appreciated”, says Owen. “It has greatly benefitted the early stages of my career.”
Owen Bull has shown remarkable drive and professionalism in his development into a valued member of the Design team at ULEMCo. He has always been passionate about reducing emissions to make the world a greener place for future generations, and to be able to do that through channelling a passion for engineering is extremely important to him.
Owen believes the hydrogen industry has the potential to change the world!
