T&H Engineers Participate in ‘Fight For Air Climb’

Robert Sims, Project Manager, and Wiktor Tomkiewicz, Engineer recently participated in the American Lung Association’s (ALA) Annual ‘Fight For Air Climb”, an event dedicated to supporting the mission of the ALA.

The American Lung Association works to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. Originally founded by volunteers 115 years ago with the end goal of eradicating the threat of tuberculosis, the ALA now focuses on defeating other respiratory diseases.

Their main strategic imperatives include:

  • Defeating lung disease
  • Championing clean air for all
  • Improving the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families
  • Creating a tobacco-free future.

By participating in the Fight For Air Climb, supporters are making a positive impact on those whose lives are affected by lung disease.

Robert and Wiktor created a team, Unum Montis, and raised $3,015 to support the ALA and to ‘climb for those who can’t.‘ Unum Montis was the 4th highest fundraising team, helping the organization to reach their $110,000 fundraising goal.

The Event

Team Unum Montis participated in the Providence, RI climb at Pierce Memorial Stadium on May 22, 2021. There were 350 stairs to climb (up and down) at the event, with ~ 700 steps in total, including the flat sections between stair sections, as well as the dash across the field.

The event times were logged by Racewire, and the results can be viewed here .

Training

  • Robert and Wiktor trained for three months leading up to the event. In addition to physical training, the two teammates engaged in some mental preparation – mainly some competitive trash talking as well as lots of conversations about race day strategy.
  • One of Robert’s secrets to preparation was to do a “natural blood doping”, which involved eating lots of red meat and staying away from leafy greens.
  • Although Wiktor was the overall winner, his initial goal was not to win the entire race, but to avoid losing to Robert. Looks like that motivation paid off!

Congratulations to Robert and Wiktor! Tata & Howard appreciates and supports such a great cause.

Around the World with T&H

Summers at an engineering firm may be prime time for field work and construction administration, but that didn’t stop our employees from venturing off on their own exciting journeys!

From the breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe to the crystal blue waters of Sardinia — and everything in between — our team traveled near and far for experiences that were nothing short of amazing.

Check out the photos below for an inside look at how engineers and staff alike spent their summer in the sun.

What exciting destinations did you travel to this summer? Share your experiences from around the world with us in the comments!

Welcome New Engineers!

As we head into a new fall season, we are happy to announce four new additions to our Marlborough office! Carissa, Hannah, Alex, and Wiktor have all stepped into their roles as Engineers, and we can’t wait to see the impacts they will have at Tata & Howard. Read on to learn a little bit more about our new team members, and join us in welcoming our new engineers. Interested in a career at T&H? Check out open positions on our career page.

From left to right; Hannah, Carissa, Alex, Wiktor - New T&H employees
New T&H employee, Carissa

Carissa Mak

Carissa started at Tata & Howard in the Marlborough, MA office this past summer. With her final year of school at the University of New Hampshire behind her, she is excited to launch her career as an Engineer. While in college, Carissa spent her time participating in UNH’s American Society of Civil Engineers as well as working in the school’s AV department. Looking ahead, Carissa hopes to dive into projects where she can make a lasting impact on clean water and water quality. When she isn’t working, Carissa enjoys traveling, exploring the outdoors, and spending time with her friends and family.

Fun Fact: While studying abroad in Scotland, she got to meet Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Markle.

New T&H employee, Hannah

Hannah Wharton

Hannah is a new Engineer in our Marlborough, MA office. A recent graduate from UMass Amherst, Hannah is excited to begin her career at Tata & Howard. In college she was an active member of Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Society of Women Engineers, and the UMass Club Swim Team. Hannah is especially interested in water treatment because of her work with EWB as well as her senior thesis, and hopes to be a part of water treatment projects at the firm. In her free time, you can find Hannah exploring the outdoors, swimming, hiking, and running.

Fun Fact: Hannah was born in England.

New T&H employee, Alex

Alex Klein

With a new degree in Civil Engineering from UMass Amherst, Alex began his career with Tata & Howard this summer. During college, he participated in UMass’ American Society of Civil Engineers, while also completing two environmental engineering internships. Alex is particularly interested in Direct Potable Reuse and is excited to work on projects that aid in people getting clean water. When not working at T&H, Alex enjoys rock climbing and hiking in his free time.

Fun Fact: Alex’s favorite color is black.

New T&H employee, Wiktor

Wiktor Tomkiewicz

Wiktor joined the Tata & Howard team as an Engineer early this past summer. With a Bachelor of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering from UMass Dartmouth, a Master’s in Environmental Engineering from SUNY Buffalo, and additional coursework in novel membranes for water treatment and energy generation from Columbia University, Wiktor is ready to hit the ground running at the firm. He is most interested in water treatment plants and hopes to be involved in upcoming treatment projects. Wiktor enjoys playing the guitar, and watching cult favorite TV show, ‘The Office.’

Fun Fact: Wiktor can speak Polish.

T&H Welcomes Several New Hires!

We are constantly growing, and are thrilled to welcome several new hires as well as some summer interns. Interested in working with us? Visit our careers page for more info!

Our Connecticut office welcomes Natalia Close and Tatiana Prevalla to the team. Natalia has joined the firm as an Engineer after graduating from University of Connecticut this past May with a B.S. degree in Environmental Engineering. Tatiana is interning this summer and just finished up her sophomore year at University of Connecticut where she is majoring in Civil Engineering.

Stan Welch, P.E., has joined our Vermont office as a Project Engineer. Stan earned his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of New Hampshire and has over nine years of engineering experience.

Our corporate office in Marlborough, Massachusetts is excited to welcome five new hires! Brian Biagini graduated in May with a B.S. degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from University of Massachusetts, Amherst (UMass) and has joined the firm as an Engineer. Ethan Peterson is majoring in Finance at UMass and is interning with the T&H finance department this summer. Jenna O’Connell graduated in May with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and has joined the firm as an Engineer.  Jack Garrett just finished up his junior year at UMass and is working toward a degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering. He will be interning this summer. And finally, Justin Waters is currently studying Environmental Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and has just finished up his junior year. He will also be interning this summer.

Welcome!

 

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3D Printing: More Than Just a Neat Idea

“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” Steve Jobs

The concept of 3D printing is straightforward and easily understandable. 3D Printing is a new technology that can create objects from digital data. Just as a standard inkjet or laser printer transcribes data from a file onto a sheet of paper, 3D printers turn data into stunningly realistic models using a variety of media, such as silicon and metal. 3D printing is relatively inexpensive and is currently being used throughout the world for a broad range of industries. But before we look at its uses, let\’s answer the big question: how exactly does it work?

Technical Overview
In 1995, a new 3D printing technology, ZPrinting, was developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. As in many other rapid prototyping processes, the part to be printed is built up from many thin cross sections of the 3D model. In ZPrinters, an inkjet-like printing head moves across a bed of powder, selectively depositing a liquid binding material in the shape of the section. A fresh layer of powder is spread across the top of the model, and the process is repeated. When the model is complete, unbound powder is automatically removed. Parts can be built on a ZPrinter at a rate of approximately one vertical inch per hour.1

For a visual on how 3D printing works, take a look at how Objet utilized 3D printing to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park – which just happens to be where the 2013 World Series was recently won:

https://youtu.be/jl2EVSFNY1A

Beyond replicating beloved ballparks, 3D printing offers a myriad of advantages:

  • Print prototypes quickly, obtain feedback, refine designs, and repeat the cycle until designs are perfect
  • Create affordable prototypes early in the ideation stage of product development
  • Improve communication by holding realistic 3D models in your hands to impart infinitely more information than a computer image
  • Compress design cycles by 3D printing multiple prototypes on demand
  • Cut traditional prototyping and tooling costs
  • Identify design errors earlier

https://youtu.be/8aghzpO_UZE

Specific applications in the Engineering Industry will allow engineering firms to better communicate with their clients:

  • Design Prototypes: Create concept models, functional prototypes, and presentation models for evaluating and refining designs
  • Architecture: Print detailed, movable models of architectural designs and prototypes for the design of critical elements
  • Geospatial: Easily convert GIS data into 3D landscape and cityscape models

Basic 3D printing has also become more affordable. Tata & Howard has this lamp that was printed on an $800 home printer:

lamp

Who’s Doing It?
While 3D printing is almost 20 years old, it is only recently starting to gain momentum commercially. Falling costs, more efficient printers, and full color designs utilizing a variety of media are driving more demand for 3D printers.

To better understand the broad capabilities of 3D printers, take a look at these innovations:

NASA
NASA is planning to launch a toaster-sized 3D printer into space next year to assist astronauts. Instead of bogging down the shuttle with an endless supply of tools and spare parts that will likely never be needed, astronauts will now be able to quickly print a spare part or tool that they might need on their mission.

nasa tools

Prosthetics
Massachusetts father Paul McCarthy printed a working prosthetic hand on his son Leon\’s school\’s 3D printer at a cost of $10. A traditional prosthetic for Leon, who was born without fingers on his left hand, came with a hefty price tag of $20,000. With some research, a bit of CAD experience, and the tenacity of a loving father, Mr. McCarthy was able to find an affordable option using 3D printing technology.

leon mccarthy

Nestle’s Chocnology
To celebrate the forthcoming release of Android\’s newest OS Android Kit Kat, Nestle-owned Kit Kat South Africa is hosting “Chocnology,” a delicious exhibition of 3D-printed sculptures designed by South African artists made out of yes, you guessed it, chocolate. To produce the artwork, a 3D printer that typically utilizes a plastic-based filament was manipulated to use chocolate as its base material, allowing the creation of intricate, edible sculptures.

android_kitkat_cropped

And it doesn’t stop there. Under consideration is utilizing a 3-D printer to create metal jet-engine turbine blades with air channels to allow for better cooling. Also, the medical industry has seen the advent of a cell printer. Functioning like an ink-jet printer, this cell printer sprays a precise stream of gel containing living cells. Early tests are looking to cell print a meniscus, the tissue that cushions the knee. And the list goes on.

In Conclusion
3D printing is indeed the wave of the future and is applicable throughout nearly every industry. However, 3D printer operation does require CAD experience and an understanding of 3-dimensional design. Therefore, it seems unlikely that 3D printers will be replacing the traditional household inkjet printer anytime soon. But in the hands of creative engineers with some CAD expertise – the possibilities are truly limitless.