Recycling scheme is good news for students

Donating components and equipment to the University of Leeds helps Farnell meet its recycling targets.

Premier Farnell has set up a scheme that helps the company to meet its recycling targets while supporting future generations of engineers studying at the University of Leeds.

As part of the scheme, this week the university's Faculty of Engineering received electronic components, engineering development kits, mechanical products and other equipment worth in excess of GBP 10,000.

Premier Farnell evaluates hundreds of products a year to assess their suitability for the company's global customer base of design engineers.

The evaluation process leaves the company with a variety of components, tools and equipment that cannot be repackaged for commercial sale but yet is still in full working order.

In line with its commitment to recycling, the company is now donating this stock to the University of Leeds rather than simply storing or disposing of it.

The Premier Farnell scheme will help the university's electrical, electronic and mechanical engineering undergraduates to hone their design and development skills by gaining hands-on experience of a variety of key technologies.

The university expects that most of the products supplied by Premier Farnell will be used by the students in their final year projects.

The programme of donations to the University of Leeds is one in a series of environmental initiatives and activities focused towards the design engineering community.

In May this year, for example, the company launched the Live-Edge (Electronic Design for the Global Environment) competition.

The first competition of its kind, Live Edge invites electronics engineers, students and academics around the world to submit designs for an innovative product that utilises electronic components and has a positive impact on the environment.

The winning entry will receive a prise fund and support package worth US $100,000.

One of the largest universities in the UK, the University of Leeds is at the forefront of modern engineering research and development.

The Faculty's Electronic Engineering Department, for example, is known for its leading work in microwave engineering, power systems and motor control - key applications for the leading edge products supplied by Premier Farnell.

Discussing the recycling and donation scheme, Caroline Walker, Group Head of Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Affairs at Premier Farnell, states: "As a major Leeds-based employer we are committed to making a positive contribution to the local community".

"At the same time we recognise the need to minimise the environmental impact of our operations".

"This scheme helps us to achieve both objectives while helping the design engineering community through practical support to the engineers of the future who are being educated in our city".

David Bell, the Principal Technician in the University of Leeds Electronic Engineering Department, adds: "The products and equipment from Premier Farnell will not only help our students in their final year projects, but will give them valuable practical experience of technologies that significantly enhance their value to future employers".

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