Hi Product Employee: "The myth of engineering low pay".

Hi Product Employee: "The myth of engineering low pay".

I try to maintain a Degree of scepticism whenever I’m told engineering graduates are high earners. 

Firstly because so many engineers will tell you that they’re underpaid, and secondly because the figures used to claim salaries are high are usually broken down by the subject studied at university not the actual Job being done.

Figures released this week by the Times Good University Guide fall into this category. 

They show that six of the top ten highest earning subjects based on starting salaries are engineering disciplines.

Chemical engineering graduates earning on average more than anyone except Dentist, with a mean starting salary of £29,582. 

This was followed by general engineering, mechanical, aeronautical and manufacturing, electrical and electronic, with civil coming bottom of the pile (but still better off than almost all non-engineering subjects).

However, these figures suffer the same limitations as many that have come before them. Simply put, engineering graduates may be among the highest earners but that doesn’t mean engineers necessarily are.

We know that only around 70 per cent of those who study engineering go on to work for a company whose primary activity is engineering (according to the Higher Education Statistics Authority). 

That could mean that many graduates go into higher earning sectors but also that others work for Engineering Firms in non-engineering roles such as business, management or even sales, and mean figures like those in the Times guide can be skewed by a small number of very high earners.

But, also released this week was another figures that counter this argument. 

The annual What do graduates do? report from the Higher Education Careers Service Unit (HESCU) found that average salaries for engineering graduates tend to be above those for other subjects because of the larger proportion of graduates working in full-time engineering roles.

Among mechanical engineering graduates, for example, 64.2 per cent surveyed were working as engineering professionals (not just in engineering companies) and only 22.9 per cent were in other professional roles, with just 8.4 per cent in business, finance or management compared with 13.2 per cent for all graduates. 

This follows what we know about the proportion of engineering graduates who actually swallow the blue pill and enter the Financial services industry: it’s just 2-3 per cent – half the graduate average.

There are of course those who will view the average starting salary of a mechanical engineering graduate of £26,076 as low, or at least not relatively high. After all, it’s about the same as the median salary for the entire workforce – and far less than £40,000-plus offered to some graduates in finance.

But part of the problem here is that our view of professional salaries is massively skewed by the very small number of people (less than 1 per cent of earners) in finance and management who receive more than £100,000 a year, or even the 5 per cent who earn more than £50,000 a year (which includes many engineers).

Large companies in the City may typically offer a small number of graduates much more than £26,000, but the average graduate starting salary according to HESCU is just £18,615-£22,785 – significantly less than the average received by those who study engineering.

And while it’s commonly believed that the other professions typically pay far more handsomely than engineering in general, a look at the figures suggests that for most individuals this isn’t true.

According to the Office for National Statistics’ Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, the median salary of an engineer is £38,428 whereas for Solicitors it’s £38,271 and for chartered accountants it’s £34,745. 

Even architects, who typically train for twice as long as engineers and probably receive twice as much prestige, receive a median salary of just £35,000.

What none of this answers, of course, is the question of whether the salaries received by engineers reflect their level of training, the demand for their expertise and the social value of their work. 

Engineers and  solicitor may earn the same on average, but you don’t hear regular complaints that there’s a shortage of lawyers.

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Hi Digital Taggers Hope To Drag HVAC Into The Future.

Hi Digital Taggers Hope To Drag HVAC Into The Future.

Despite the rise of high-efficiency furnaces, quiet A/C units and technology like digital thermostats with programmable temperature profiles, HVAC maintenance is stuck in the past.

That’s the argument of Alex Rangel, co-founder of HVAC management software company Ravti, which has high hopes of modernizing the industry. And it’s a big industry – the global HVAC market is valued at over $77 billion this year alone, according to market research firm IBIS World. So what does Ravti bring to the table?

Tag! You’re It;

Ravti’s value proposition is examined in a recent Tech Crunch article – and it seems Rangel has an interesting way of making his case. When he met with author Cat Zakrzeweki, he came armed with a fistful of crumpled paper slips each covered in unreadable scrawl.

Rangel’s point? That this is how property managers try to keep track of HVACs at their facilities, leading to increased maintenance costs and decreased lifespan.

The alternative? “Tag” each unit with a digital identifier instead of a pen-and-paper profile. First, units are digitally photographed and then assigned barcodes. All data is saved in the cloud and easily accessible through the company’s software – managers simply click on the unit in need and a call is put in to their preferred service vendor.

The startup claims that an average facility spends around 30 percent of its budget on HVAC maintenance; in phase 2 of Ravti’s program, they hope to collect detailed, real-time information about unit condition and energy use to improve power efficiency.

Hungry, Hungry HVACs;

HVAC units account for almost 40 percent of the energy used by commercial buildings, according to FierceEnegry. And while government and regulatory agency focus on energy reduction is driving the development of advanced, automated HVAC controls uptake has been slow, in part because there’s no standardization of exactly what “advanced HVAC” means.

Varying equipment types, uses, and locations yield differing benchmarks, making it difficult to accurately compare energy use and possible routes to better efficiency. In other words, furnaces and air conditions are hungry for power, but no one’s sure exactly how much they’re eating.

Slimming It Down;

Until regulation catches up with expectation, companies need to do everything they can to cut costs and keep HVACs running smoothly. This means regular maintenance using high-efficiency tube and coil cleaners, in combination with new technologies like Ravti to help identify units in need of repair before they fail altogether.

HVAC technology evolves slowly because the basics still work: furnaces and air conditioners don’t need radical redesign. But they can benefit from better identification – at least then you’ll know what’s eating your electricity budget.

Hi Interest, Hi Now & Know Your Tech! Hi Innovation Interest; Case study: validated high-speed capping.

Hi Interest, Hi Now & Know Your Tech! Hi Innovation Interest; Case study: validated high-speed capping.

Hi Marvel Hi End Point, Discover!.

‘Validated high-speed capping’

SMAC has helped a filling company to develop a cost-effective method of capping containers at high speeds. SMAC’s LAR series linear -rotary actuators are claimed to improve capping quality while cost-effectively providing 100 per cent real-time on- and off-torque validation. Built-in force, torque, speed and stroke control and feedback can be used to optimize the process without the need for additional external sensors and checking stations.

- "Hi End Point Of Hi Interest, My Say."

Hi Guide To Industrial Vacuum Application, Hepa, Hepa Hooray!

HE PA, HE PA, Hooray! Your Guide To 

Industrial Vacuum Applications;

High efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are now typical components of both residential and industrial vacuums. Unfortunately, not all HEPA filters are worth celebrating – poor manufacturing or improper use can lead to all manner of micron matter madness.

"Here’s what you need to know when it comes to choosing HEPA vacs for industrial use."

Know It;

First thing’s first: you need to know what qualifies as a HEPA Filter. Luckily, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a convenient definition under 40 CFR 745.83 of its Toxic Substances Control Act:

“HEPA vacuum means a vacuum cleaner which has been designed with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter as the last filtration stage. A HEPA filter is a filter that is capable of capturing particles of 0.3 microns with 99.97% efficiency.”

How big is a micron, you ask? According to Bacteria World, a micron or “micrometer” works out to about 0.00004 inches. Put five microns together and you have a red blood cell. Get 75 in one place for a party and you’ve got yourself a human hair. Bottom line? Well, 0.3 microns are really, really small.

Work It;

There are a wide variety of HEPA filter vacuum cleaners on the market. The problem? Not all of them are meant for industrial applications.

Vacuums meant for purely residential use – such as light housecleaning or cleaning up a homeowner’s garage – aren’t subject to the same requirements as vacuums used for industrial work. And while residential vacuums are far cheaper than their industrial counterparts, they won’t be able to keep up with the sheer volume of particulate matter pumping through the system.

Which bring us to the most important point . . .

Test It;

Let’s be clear: EPA Title 40 deals specifically with the removal of lead-based paint from certain residential structures. Although the agency has adopted the industry-standard definition of HEPA filters, there are better systems available – for example, those that come with multiple filters or use ultra-low-particulate air (ULPA) filters.

These trap 99.9999 percent of particles 0.12 microns or larger in diameter. This means if you’re dealing with a clean room or laboratory, ULPA is your best bet.

But no matter what vacuum you choose, testing and maintenance are essential. Before buying, check to see where the primary filter is placed.

Between the impeller and the collection bag is best because this creates negative pressure and pulls the filter hard against the gaskets. Filters on the other side of the impeller are under positive pressure and have a greater chance of leaking.

In addition to following the manufacturers cleaning instructions, regularly check your vacuum for signs of leakage. 

The easiest way? Turn it on in a sunny room and see what comes out – ideally, there should be nothing. For more rigorous tests, use a laser particle counter.

Want the best HEPA vacuum for your industrial application? Know the standards, get what you need and always, always test.