Global water, energy and maintenance solutions provider NCH Europe is calling for colleges and universities to put more focus on metallurgy studies in engineering degrees. The company believes that an improved education in metallurgical engineering will help the industrial sector effectively tackle the costly problem of rust and corrosion.
Metallurgy courses — which teach engineers to understand the behaviors, composition and properties of metallic elements and alloys — have declined in popularity in recent years, according to the company. NCH Europe says there are currently less than 20 metallurgy courses in the UK, run by only a handful of universities. Despite this, the understanding of metals is becoming increasingly important in combatting a variety of industrial plant management issues, including rust.
The cost of corrosion damage reportedly accounts for approximately 3% of every European country’s gross domestic product (GDP) each year, which would equal an estimated £186.3 billion in 2016 alone. This cost will likely increase in the coming years as a growing population drives a rise in mass-manufacturing and production facilities, according to NCH Europe.
“We have seen for many years that rust is becoming an increasingly costly problem for the industrial sector,” explains Peter Crossen, vice president of the Maintenance and Partsmaster Innovation Platform at NCH Europe. “Many of the costs associated with rust can be easily prevented with a thorough understanding of metals and solutions, yet most engineers have not received an effective education in metallurgy.
He adds, “NCH Europe regularly audits businesses to determine the root cause of persistent corrosion problems. We often find that plant and maintenance engineers are using ineffective rust prevention coatings for their applications, resulting in frequent occurrences of corrosion. Better teaching at a degree level will ensure that these incidents and the costs associated with them are kept to a minimum.”
The need for metallurgists is reportedly part of a much-discussed skills shortage in the engineering industry. In fact, a recent state of engineering report revealed that another 265,000 skilled engineers are required every year to meet demand, according to NCH Europe. The company believes that a significant number of metallurgists are also required alongside this.
NCH Europe is currently undertaking a European recruitment drive for technical sales staff and service engineers.
For more information, visit: www.nch.com
