Entries Sought for 2014 Aluminum Extrusion Design Competition

The Aluminum Extruders Council and the ET Foundation, the educational and scientific organization devoted to promoting and advancing aluminum extrusion processes and technologies, are seeking entries for the 2014 International Aluminum Extrusion Design Competition. The competition is divided into two classes: Professional and Student. Cash prizes and student scholarships are expected to total $20,000—including a Grand Prize of $3,500. Cash prizes and student scholarships are sponsored by Sapa Extrusions North America.

There is no fee to enter the competition. Professional designers, engineers, and manufacturers along with students studying design, engineering and related fields at universities, colleges, technical schools and high schools around the world are invited to participate. Aluminum extruders are encouraged to team up with their customers to submit a design for the competition. Winners of the 2014 Design Competition will be announced following the entry deadline and the winning designs will be posted on the ET Foundation website and promoted in the media.

Submissions will be accepted through March 31, 2014. Entry forms can be downloaded at www.ETFdesign.org. In addition to a Grand Prize of $3,500 to be awarded across all categories and classes, professionals and students will compete in their own classes for the awards totaling $20,000. Entries received in the Professional Class will be divided into four categories: Structural, Transportation, Engineered Products, and Alternative Energy. First-place cash prizes in the amount of $2,000 will be awarded to the best design in each category.

Scholarships totaling $8,500 will be presented as cash awards to the top designs in the Student Class.

The Sapa Sustainable Design Scholarship Award will be presented to the student whose design best addresses societal and/or environmental concerns, in addition to meeting the basic criteria.
The Aluminum Extruders Council’s Academic Outreach Team has been fostering relationships with universities and technical schools across the United States and Canada as a way to get information about aluminum extrusions into the classroom. Members of AEC visit engineering and design classes throughout the school year bringing real-world information about the process, applications, and technology to students and instructors.

“In order for our industry to make an impact, more has to be done to raise awareness of aluminum extrusions through academic outreach to engineering and design programs at universities and technical schools,” said AEC Academic Outreach Team Leader Jared Bringhurst, Operations Director at Futura Industries in Clearfield, Utah. “Students get extensive exposure in the classroom to steel but virtually nothing is covered on aluminum, and especially extrusion.”

As a teaching tool, AEC has developed the presentation, “Designing to the Limits of Your Imagination”, which covers the advantages of aluminum extrusions, including material and process benefits, practical applications, design tips and more. Further, AEC recently conducted a webinar that covers some of the material addressed in the slide presentation.
In addition, as part of their sponsorship of the competition, Sapa will be offering winning students complimentary attendance to a Sapa Profile Academy aluminum education event in 2014.