Local toolmaking apprentice wins national award
Published Friday, 16 November, 2007 at 10:38 AM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Brisbane manufacturing apprentice, Aidan Brindley,19, from Murrumba Downs, has been named the best upcoming toolmaker in Australia.
Regional Development and Industry Minister Desley Boyle said Aidan took part in the National Apprentice of the Year Competition run by the country’s peak advanced manufacturing body, Tooling Australia.
“Aidan beat an extremely competitive field from around Australia and I congratulate him for achieving this award,” Ms Boyle said.
“Second-year apprentice Aidan was up against around 30 fellow toolmaking trainees. Many of these were third and fourth year apprentices, so this achievement is a great testament to the advanced and highly technical skills he’s developed,” she said.
The competition was judged by the Ford Motor Group of Australia, which provided drawings and materials for competing apprentices who were required to build inserts for a plastic injection mould that could be used to make a key ring.
Aidan impressed the panel with the quality of his work as well as real-world industry skills. He received his award at Tooling Australia’s annual dinner held recently in Sydney.
“Aidan’s prize included a pit lane ticket for the V8 Supercar Final on Phillip Island, a new tool box, books, and a return flight to Melbourne for a toolmaking seminar.”
Aidan works at Northgate-based toolmaking and manufacturing firm Dienamics and is completing a Certificate III in Mechanical Engineering at the Plastics and Rubber Technical Educational Centre (PARTEC) in Mt Gravatt.
Dienamics owner Mark Serisier said Aidan had a natural ability for toolmaking.
“Toolmaking is a specific type of fitting and turning that involves a high level of accuracy and an in-depth knowledge of how metals and plastics can be cut and moulded,” Mark said.
“Our apprentices draft designs and then use machinery to build a range of tools that manufacturers use to make anything from plastic bottles to roof guttering.”
Aidan said he was considering travelling to Europe to work as a toolmaker after he completes his apprenticeship in two years.
“There’s a lot of work for toolmakers in Queensland too, so I’ve got a lot of options,” Aidan said.
Ms Boyle said skilled workers were in high demand in manufacturing, which is Queensland’s largest employer of full-time workers and contributes more than $14.6 billion to the economy.
“Through ‘Create It Make It Live It’, the Queensland Government is highlighting a range interesting manufacturing careers to young people. Aidan is a great example of a young Queenslander succeeding.”
For more information about careers in manufacturing go to www.createitmakeitliveit.qld.gov.au.
Ends
Media contacts:
Minister Boyle: 3224 2004
Dienamics’ Mark Serisier and Aidan Brindley: 3256 9222
16 November 2007
Regional Development and Industry Minister Desley Boyle said Aidan took part in the National Apprentice of the Year Competition run by the country’s peak advanced manufacturing body, Tooling Australia.
“Aidan beat an extremely competitive field from around Australia and I congratulate him for achieving this award,” Ms Boyle said.
“Second-year apprentice Aidan was up against around 30 fellow toolmaking trainees. Many of these were third and fourth year apprentices, so this achievement is a great testament to the advanced and highly technical skills he’s developed,” she said.
The competition was judged by the Ford Motor Group of Australia, which provided drawings and materials for competing apprentices who were required to build inserts for a plastic injection mould that could be used to make a key ring.
Aidan impressed the panel with the quality of his work as well as real-world industry skills. He received his award at Tooling Australia’s annual dinner held recently in Sydney.
“Aidan’s prize included a pit lane ticket for the V8 Supercar Final on Phillip Island, a new tool box, books, and a return flight to Melbourne for a toolmaking seminar.”
Aidan works at Northgate-based toolmaking and manufacturing firm Dienamics and is completing a Certificate III in Mechanical Engineering at the Plastics and Rubber Technical Educational Centre (PARTEC) in Mt Gravatt.
Dienamics owner Mark Serisier said Aidan had a natural ability for toolmaking.
“Toolmaking is a specific type of fitting and turning that involves a high level of accuracy and an in-depth knowledge of how metals and plastics can be cut and moulded,” Mark said.
“Our apprentices draft designs and then use machinery to build a range of tools that manufacturers use to make anything from plastic bottles to roof guttering.”
Aidan said he was considering travelling to Europe to work as a toolmaker after he completes his apprenticeship in two years.
“There’s a lot of work for toolmakers in Queensland too, so I’ve got a lot of options,” Aidan said.
Ms Boyle said skilled workers were in high demand in manufacturing, which is Queensland’s largest employer of full-time workers and contributes more than $14.6 billion to the economy.
“Through ‘Create It Make It Live It’, the Queensland Government is highlighting a range interesting manufacturing careers to young people. Aidan is a great example of a young Queenslander succeeding.”
For more information about careers in manufacturing go to www.createitmakeitliveit.qld.gov.au.
Ends
Media contacts:
Minister Boyle: 3224 2004
Dienamics’ Mark Serisier and Aidan Brindley: 3256 9222
16 November 2007