Eric Cunneen (Winner) & David Williams (Chief Examiner)
Eric at work during the competition
The National Finals were held in Cork this year, altogether 12 competitions were hosted in CIT from the 31st March - 3rd April.
5 competitors were selected to compete at the final stage of the 2009 Industrial Control Competition. The competition consisted of a number of mini projects and one minor project run over 3 days.
The main project consisted of fabricating, wiring and programming a PLC operated control panel for an automatic lift installation, similar to many processes found in industry. Limit switches and motors were connected to the control panel via cables installed in trunking and conduits, or clipped to the surface.
The mini projects were made up of 3, one hour exercises:
1. Circuit Design: this involved producing an electrical control circuit for an automated filling, mixing and heating system from a given specification.
2. PLC Program Design: competitors were required to produce a PLC program for a heating and steam process control system from a given specification.
3. Fault Finding: Each competitor in turn was required to locate and document a number of faults placed on an automated relay controlled car wash system, similar to that used at the 2007 World Skills Competition.
1. Circuit Design: this involved producing an electrical control circuit for an automated filling, mixing and heating system from a given specification.
2. PLC Program Design: competitors were required to produce a PLC program for a heating and steam process control system from a given specification.
3. Fault Finding: Each competitor in turn was required to locate and document a number of faults placed on an automated relay controlled car wash system, similar to that used at the 2007 World Skills Competition.
Awards Ceremony took place on Friday 03rd April, attendance included, Mr Batt O keefe TD, Minister for Education & Science, Mr. Donal Counihan Lord Mayor of Cork City Mr. Barry O Connor CIT Registrar, Pat Guilfoyle TEEU, main sponsors, Liam Corcoron Senior Inspector Department of Education & Science. Mr Carl O Dalaigh Chairperson of the Irish World Skills Council.
The winner was Eric Cunneen from Cork, Eric works for ESB Networks and will now have an anxious wait, to see if he is selected for the World Skills team.