ITE students’ invention to clean machine parts saves local firm 1% in annual water cost
The TL;DR: Three Institute of Technical Education (ITE) students developed a washer to clean machinery parts for an engineering firm. It says their involvement in a real-life setting is crucial for interns.
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ITE students Hilman Azman and Muhammad Nor Aqil Kamis cleaning machinery parts inside the parts' washer tank.
PHOTO: ITE
Alexa Denise Uy
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If you see a problem, “find a solution for it”. That is what Mr Muhammad Nor Aqil Kamis, 21, said about his project with two schoolmates that was implemented at a local engineering firm.
When they were Institute of Technical Education (ITE) students in 2024, they visited Stewart Engineering Works for a school project to assess local companies’ environmental impact and come up with solutions to reduce waste.
They observed technicians at the firm, which supplies equipment for the marine, oil and gas industries, hosing down machinery parts with diesel fuel and water to clean them after use.
This process used lots of fluid that went to waste, so Mr Aqil, Mr Hilman Azman and Mr Calvin Lim worked together to create a washer tank that cleans some components, such as rings, nuts and bolts, in a closed-loop system.
During washing, air bubbles are created through the fluid to reduce soaking time. The waste fluids are filtered, then pumped back into the tank to be reused.
Compared with manual washing, the tank washes each load 20 minutes faster and saves the company 4 per cent and 1 per cent in annual electricity and water costs, respectively.
The work is less strenuous with the washer. “Before (the staff) used the machine, they only did manual cleaning, then had to refill the fluids. It could be very tiring for them. Now, it’s less of a hassle,” said Mr Aqil. He later interned at Stewart Engineering Works along with Mr Hilman and continued working on the washer project.
In July, the duo and Mr Lim’s project won a merit award at the HSBC-NYAA-ITE SMEs Sustainability Initiative, where students team up with local businesses to reduce waste and emissions. The initiative by the bank, the National Youth Achievement Award and the school was started in 2020.
The top three projects won $2,000, $1,500 and $500 in cash, while the next best three received merit awards.
The parts’ washer tank has a filter to remove debris from the used water and diesel.
PHOTO: ITE
Mr Kenneth Tan, director of Stewart Engineering Works, said the students’ pitch for the project aligned with its goals to reduce emissions.
He added that it is important for interns, like Mr Aqil and Mr Hilman, to be exposed to real-life projects. “They are part of our process, they are not just bystanders.”
From April to July 2024, they researched potential solutions, tested prototypes and sourced equipment for the tank. Their project went through some changes, such as adding a lid to the tank to avoid splatter.
When the prototype was ready in September 2024, the company installed and used the machine as it was.
Mr Hilman and Mr Aqil continued to work on their project as interns at Stewart Engineering Works.
PHOTO: ITE
During their internship, Mr Aqil and Mr Hilman calculated that the washer tank cuts the firm’s yearly carbon emissions from electricity and water use by 3.6 and 6.9 per cent, respectively.
“At first, we weren’t 100 per cent sure this was going to be a winning project. But (the reduced water usage) gave us a bit of confidence,” said Mr Hilman.
Mr Aqil, Mr Hilman and Mr Lim have since graduated from ITE with a Higher Nitec course in marine and offshore technology. They are now pursuing diplomas in engineering and information technology at Singapore, Republic and Temasek polytechnics respectively.
Mr Aqil said seeing their invention making a difference in their colleagues’ work was exciting. “It (also) helped them complete their work on time, which made customers happy.”
