Inspiring the engineers of the future

The Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania holds an annual event, “Engineer the Future,” to inspire our next generations to explore careers in engineering or other STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) related fields. Companies and industry professionals from across the Pittsburgh region exhibit interactive, technology-based demonstration projects and provide information to stimulate the interest of students and children of all ages.

Hatch’s Pittsburgh office has participated in this event for more than 20 years and has been well known for our K’NEX crane project. This year, the combined team of volunteers from our mechanical, structural, process, electrical, controls and automation, and marketing teams refurbished and improved the famous K’NEX crane to a more interesting design.

The 6-foot tall crane “stole the show” again along with the 4-foot tall roller coaster display. With over 1,500 K’NEX pieces between the crane and roller coaster, the display covered a 36 square-foot area, complete with a construction site-themed mat. The programmable logic control (PLC) system was designed so that students (and staff) controlled the crane to pick-up and deposit a ball into the continuously moving roller coaster. The students were mesmerized by the three-track roller coaster and loved operating a crane on their own! Each student enjoyed wearing a Hatch hard hat for safe crane operation.

It’s through events like this that Hatch aims to inspire the next generation of innovators who will create positive change in the world!