Safety mechanism for vacuum tankers wins engineering award

Agriland

20-05-2025

A safety mechanism to aid elderly farmers in particular with the use of vacuum tankers has jointly won Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Undergraduate Engineering Competition 2025.
'Engineering Design & Development of an Easy-Lift Mechanism for Efficient Handling of Vacuum Hoses on Trailed & Mounted Vacuum Tankers' is the project by Killian Smith from Ballyjamesduff, Co. Cavan.
The other joint winner of the award was a project by James Swift from Castlebar, Co. Mayo – 'Harnessing Hydrogen – A Study into Renewable Energy Storage Using Hydrogen'
The two ATU students were named as joint overall winners of the Undergraduate Engineering Competition at the 2025 ATU Galway annual Engineering Exhibition and Competition.
Their work now gains them automatic entry into Engineer Ireland's Innovative Student Engineer of the Year competition which will take place in Dublin in autumn.
Safety for vacuum tankers
Killian Smith from Co. Cavan, who was also awarded the Agricultural Engineering Award for his project, said: 'The prototype I developed helps operators of vacuum tankers lift heavy vacuum hoses onto the side of the tanks without risking injury.
'It's especially beneficial for elderly farmers, helping them continue working safely.'
ATU Agricultural Engineering award winner Killian Smith from Ballyjamesduff, pictured with ATU head of department, Des O'Reilly, and Noel Sheridan, senior design engineer, McHale
James Swift from Co. Mayo also claimed the Energy Engineering Award for his winning project.
He said: 'My project aims to provide a means of storing excess renewable electricity during times of low demand using a hydrogen fuel cell system.
'The prototype I developed uses electrolysis to produce and store hydrogen, which can later be converted back into electricity through galvanic operation when needed.
'The system is entirely emissions-free, with water as the only by-product,' he said.
Award
The winners were selected from 100 students whose work was initially electronically displayed.
After a comprehensive shortlisting and voting process, 55 projects were selected for physical display in ATU Galway's Cafe Foyer from April 28 until May 2.
The students' work was carefully critiqued and evaluated by a panel of 40 external engineering professionals, from 30 sponsoring companies, during the formal competition held on campus on Wednesday, April 30.
Other final year students won engineering awards in other categories such as Biomedical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering Design and Mechanical Engineering specialisation streams.
Event organiser and Mechanical Engineering Department lecturer Dr. Oliver Mulryan said: 'The Engineering Expo is a flagship event that strengthens the connection between our department and industry.
'This year's showcase featured an impressive range of innovative student projects across all stages, clearly reflecting the practical skills and creativity of our students.
'We commend our students for their ingenuity, and we are deeply grateful to the mentors, judges, and sponsoring companies whose invaluable support help make this event such a success. Your continued commitment to our students and programmes is truly appreciated.'
Prof. Graham Heaslip, head of School of Engineering, ATU Galway, said: 'This year's engineering exhibition was an outstanding success, highlighting the creativity, problem-solving skills, and future-ready thinking of our students.
'Each project reflected a deep understanding of real-world challenges and demonstrated the kind of innovation that defines the next generation of engineers.'