The ET Foundation, the educational and scientific organization devoted to promoting and advancing aluminum extrusion processes and technologies, and Bonnell Aluminum are seeking entries for the 2015 International Aluminum Extrusion Student Design Competition. Scholarships in the form of cash awards will be presented to the top designs. Bonnell Aluminum will be the sole sponsor for the cash awards, totaling $8,500. This is the first year Bonnell Aluminum is sponsoring the Aluminum Extrusion Design Competition.
The aim of the competition is to promote the understanding and use of extruded aluminum profiles, as well as highlight innovations and recognize excellence in aluminum extrusion design. Students studying design and engineering at universities, colleges, and schools around the world are invited to participate. Entry in the competition is free and judging will take place following the entry deadline.
Entries for the 2015 Aluminum Extrusion Design Competition are due no later than Monday, March 30, 2015.
“The Aluminum Extrusion Design Competition provides a great opportunity to teach students who are studying engineering, design, and related fields more about the countless material and process advantages of aluminum extrusions,” said Guy Charpentier, marketing manager for Bonnell Aluminum. “The competition also serves as a platform for students to show off their creativity and ingenuity in design.”
Winning entries will be those that demonstrate the benefits of extruded aluminum, whether by inventing a new product or improving an existing one, by achieving the following objectives: creativity, practicality, product/process advantage, market impact/potential and presentation and research.
Scholarships will be presented as cash awards to the top student designs, including $3,000 for First Place, $2,000 for Second Place, and $1,000 for Third Place. Students also may compete for the Bonnell Aluminum Sustainable Design Scholarship Award of $2,500.
The Sustainable Design Scholarship Award is presented to recognize the student design that best addresses environmental or societal concerns, in addition to meeting the four basic ET Foundation Design Competition criteria of creativity, practicality, product/process advantage, and market impact/potential. Essentially, the winning entry must be a viable extrusion-based product that meets the demands of the environment while contributing to the quality of life for its intended users. Past Sustainable Design winning entries have included a water purification system, a modular shelter and water collection system, and a fully recyclable laptop computer.
Helpful Design Resources
More information on the 2015 Aluminum Extrusion Student Design Competition — including the Call for Entries complete with the official entry form, as well as a variety of tools and resources, are available on the ET Foundation Design Competition page of the AEC website at www.ETFdesign.org and on the Bonnell Aluminum website at www.bonlalum.com.
From an overview of the aluminum extrusion process and choosing the right aluminum alloy, to design considerations and useful publications, the AEC website contains a wealth of information and resources to help students with the design process. Additionally, instructors and students alike can download the free presentation, “Designing to the Limits of Your Imagination,” providing details on the material and design advantages of extruded aluminum, application examples, and more.
