Three engineering students from Coleg Menai have helped solve a technical problem for North Wales Fire and Rescue Service by designing and producing a 3D-printed adapter to keep fire engines ready for emergency call-outs.

The Service faced a challenge after discovering that a light cluster used to power the circular blue lights on its fire appliances was no longer being manufactured. Without a replacement part, maintaining the warning lights on some vehicles risked becoming increasingly difficult.

Engineers from North Wales Fire and Rescue Service approached the college to see whether students could help develop a solution by creating an adapter that would allow the appliances to use more modern and readily available LED bulbs.

The project was taken on by Level 3 Engineering students at the college’s campus in Llangefni, turning the issue into a real-world challenge for trainee engineers.

Students Aiden Bedford and Oliver Haigh, both 16, along with 17-year-old Osian Owen, began by scanning the circular lamp cluster before designing a prototype adapter using Autodesk Fusion software.

The design was then produced using the college’s 3D printing equipment. To ensure the adapter worked in practice, the fire service brought an operational fire engine to the campus so the students could test their design directly on the vehicle.

After making several adjustments, the team successfully produced an adapter that fitted and functioned as intended, allowing the fire appliances to use modern LED lighting.

Bryn Jones, Engineering Lecturer and Programme Leader at Coleg Menai, said the project had given students valuable hands-on experience.

“Our students have shown a real commitment in developing a working solution that has the potential to make a positive impact in the local and wider community,” he said.

“External projects like our collaboration with North Wales Fire and Rescue Service bring unique opportunities for our students to showcase their skills and help us with our aim of producing the next generation of outstanding engineers.”

Stuart Austin, Technical Supervisor in the Fleet Department at North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said the partnership had also delivered practical benefits for the service.

“It has been great to work with the Engineering students at Coleg Menai, helping to develop and empower the next generation of engineers to find innovative solutions to real life scenarios or issues,” he said.

“Working in partnership in this way has brought great benefits to us as a Service too, protecting our communities through reaching out and creating connections.”

The collaboration highlights how partnerships between local organisations and education providers can help solve practical challenges while giving students valuable experience of the demands they will face in the engineering industry.