Now in their seventh year, the Engineers Ireland Excellence Awards, held in association with ESB, are presented annually in recognition of the achievements of engineers who have demonstrated exceptional engineering skills through their work. As well as identifying leaders within the engineering industry, the awards provide an opportunity to showcase and celebrate the invaluable contribution the engineering profession makes to society and applaud the innovation and quality of work produced by engineers both at home and abroad.
The Corrib onshore gas pipeline took the overall Engineering Project of the Year at the awards ceremony held in Dublin’s Intercontinental Hotel. The €3.5 billion project was undertaken by Shell E&P (Ireland) Ltd, RPS Group Ltd, Roadbridge Ltd, BAM and W&F JV.
Speaking about the complex nature of the project, PJ Rudden, RPS director and a chartered engineer, said: “The Corrib onshore gas pipeline was an extremely challenging project from the outset, requiring the management of a diverse range of specialist expertise to produce major deliverables within extremely demanding timelines. These related to alternative pipeline corridors, alternative community engagement and involvement, environmental impact assessments, logistics management and construction issues.
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Huge infrastructural undertaking
“Ultimately, the Corrib initiative was a huge infrastructural undertaking that involved cutting-edge engineering expertise, from planning through to construction and operation, that has been delivered to the highest standards and within very tight time lines. On behalf of my project colleagues, let me just say it is extremely pleasing to have our efforts recognised by Engineers Ireland judges and the public vote,” Rudden added.
According to Caroline Spillane, Engineers Ireland director general, the engineering profession was the real winner of this year’s awards. “We in Engineers Ireland are delighted to showcase and celebrate the incredible achievements of some of the best engineering talent in the world. The projects and individuals who have been honoured highlight the true creative talent and innovation within the profession.
“Engineers continue to make an incredibly valuable contribution to communities and economies worldwide. The work celebrated by the awards embodies real engineering excellence and ingenuity and reflects the evolving nature of contemporary engineering today.”
The societal issues addressed by the award winners were highlighted by ESB chief executive Pat O’Doherty. “So many of the projects not only address a functional or commercial challenge, but wider societal issues. Whether it is climate change, food production or enhanced healthcare, engineers have an extremely important role to play in society. That’s why it is so important that we continue to promote engineering as a career choice and that we focus on diversity as a way of bringing new talent into the engineering profession.”
An example of this social dimension was the Local Authority Engineering Initiative Award, which was jointly won by The Returning Vacant Properties to Productive Use 2014 to 2016 project by Cork City Council, and The City Quays initiative by Limerick City and County Council.
Inspired change
William Egenton, managing director of Dromone Engineering, was presented with the 2016 President’s Award by Engineers Ireland president Dermot Byrne. The award is presented to an individual who has inspired change and contributed to the advancement of engineering through exceptional leadership skills and through their contribution to the industry and the profession.
Dromone is an indigenous engineering company employing 130 people in Oldcastle, Co Meath, exporting almost 100 per cent to global markets, including Korea, US, Canada, Australia, Middle East Europe and UK. The company designs, manufactures and markets safety-critical hitch-and-coupler solutions for agriculture and construction equipment manufacturers.
“I have been enormously impressed by William’s exceptional leadership as MD of Dromone Engineering, especially during the post-Celtic Tiger years, and his commitment to the highest standards of corporate governance at EirGrid and at other boards that he has served on,” Byrne said. “In Engineers Ireland, we deeply appreciate his commitment to the development of his staff through our CPD accreditation standard.
“He has participated on panels for us, including our strategy review and has spoken at our recent annual conference on innovation. Dromone is also active during our Engineers’ Week, visiting national schools and secondary schools to present on engineering as a career.”
Pointing to the contribution made by engineers to the country’s economy, Byrne said that more chartered engineers were needed.
“Rigorously trained and creative engineers are vital to achieving a knowledge-based, sustainable future for Ireland. In order to future-proof the country’s sustainable economic growth, we need to concertedly build on the renewed student interest evident here in Ireland in engineering.
“Our Government needs to work with industry to incentivise more students to choose engineering as a career and to help them navigate their way through the various training and education routes available, such as third-level, apprenticeships and further skills-based training. We must all play our part in helping people to understand what engineers do and what engineering can achieve.”
New generation
Caroline Spillane echoed this sentiment. “We need to think about the new generation of engineers that’s coming up behind us. We need to make sure that what we do today inspires young people to join our profession, when they’re choosing from the many, many career paths open to them.”
She called on Engineers Ireland members to play their part in the annual festival of engineering, Engineers’ Week. “The next Engineers’ Week is in March 2017, and it’s our chance, as a community of creative professionals, to demonstrate to students, teachers, and parents the exciting career that you can have as an engineer, and the positive impact you can have on society.”
In other award categories, Italian Marcello Corsi, who leads the track design department of Transport Infrastructure Ireland, won the prestigious Chartered Engineer of the Year Award for his innovative work relating to track design for the Luas.
The Irish Rail Cutting and Embankment Decision Support Tool, by Gavin & Doherty Geosolutions and Irish Rail Iarnród Éireann, won the Geoscience Ireland Award, while the Network Innovation Competition Robotics project, by RPS Group Ltd, Scotia Gas Networks and ULC Robotics, won the Technical Innovation of the Year Award.
Colm Morley, Shane Timoney, Caolan Treanor and Conor Walsh of Sligo IT, who won the Siemens Innovative Student Engineer of the Year Award in June, were also recognised at the event. Their innovative design, titled “Automatically fed post driver”, allows tractor operators to drive posts without having to dismount their tractors, significantly improving the safety and efficiency of the process.
