When a team of Mechanical Engineering Technology students at NAIT – calling themselves the “Gear Heads” – took on the challenge of redesigning Argus’s phosphate dip tank, they knew this was no ordinary school project. Tackling real-world issues like uneven heat distribution and tank warping, they applied classroom knowledge to develop their innovative “tank-within-a-tank” design, aimed at improving efficiency, safety, and durability.
Their hard work and creativity paid off, earning them the prestigious 2024 top prize from Technology Accreditation Canada (TAC) for their “Design of Fluid-Jacketed Phosphate Dip Tank” report.
We spoke with Aicel De Vera, now an Engineering Technologist at Argus, to learn about the team’s journey and how this project shaped her future in engineering.
