Mechanical Engineering

I began my studies in January 2010 as a mature student embarking on a Certificate in Preparatory Studies for Higher Education. Having come from a hands-on background within the engineering and fishing industries, I found this short course to be extremely beneficial before enrolling in 2010 on my degree of choice, a BEng in Mechanical Engineering.

As a mature student I found this course initially to be very challenging but with the help and approachable nature of each lecturer, every query was answered.

LYIT is a great place to study. The staff & facilities provide for a relaxed atmosphere and the hands-on approach within the course was second to none. The knowledge and the qualifications I gained at LYIT throughout my degree have provided me with many career routes and finally led me to a Quality Manager for Roadbridge Ltd., a natural gas transmission industry.

Since graduating from LYIT in 2014, I have been working as a Sales Engineer for Atlas Copco under their Compressor Technique area.

Atlas Copco’s Compressor Technique is one of four areas in which the group operates. This business area provides industrial compressors, vacuum solutions, gas and process compressors and expanders, air and gas treatment equipment and air management systems.

The principles I learned while studying in LYIT gave me a strong basis to move into a job where an understanding of both the engineering behind different customers’ processes and how to best meet their requirements are required. On a daily basis I use the principles learned in Thermodynamics, Mechanics, Business and Contracts Law, all provided during my course.

The Engineering Department at LYIT gave me the basis required and a well-rounded education so that I could move forward with pursuing the Engineering path which was must suited to me.

At Randox Teoranta, we’re proud to lead the way when it comes to global diagnostic research and development. Our next-generation site in Dungloe, Co. Donegal, has not only produced a range of innovative stroke and digestive health arrays in the last few years, but also the pioneering of an Alzheimers’ disease test with the potential to revolutionise the way dementia sufferers are diagnosed.

Our scientific breakthroughs, however, are not just a victory for our scientists – they’re equally the triumph of our talented mechanical design engineers, electronic design engineers, embedded systems engineers and software developers who design and create the technology on which these new arrays are used. This means that not only is our science a world-first, but so is our technology. For that reason, we often look to the Letterkenny Institute of Technology where we know we can find technology placement students and graduates of the highest standard – in knowledge, skill, attitude and employability. Students from LYIT have been instrumental in the design and production of some of our machines which are now sold to labs around the world – most notably the RX Misano, Evidence MultiStat and Evidence Evolution. Currently, nine of our 25 engineers and software developers have come from LYIT and we hope to continue this trend in the future. We look forward to continuing to nurture our bond with LYIT over the coming years.