RSE Innovations Meet the Team – Andrew Lunardi

Andrew Lunardi serves as a Graduate Product Engineer at RSE, contributing to the team’s efforts from our Inverness office. Being a part of the RSE Innovations Team, Andrew has provided noteworthy perspectives on the various roles and responsibilities he undertakes within the team. Continue reading to gain further insights from Andrew.

Q1. What is your background and experience in the Water Industry?

I am a recent graduate of the University of Glasgow with a Masters’ Degree in Product Design Engineering, and RSE is my first venture into the water industry. So far, I have been learning about existing technologies, new innovative ideas, and the challenges we face in designing for the water industry.

Q2. What does your role in the RSE Innovations Team include?

Since joining the Innovations team, I have taken on a variety of roles. I have been responsible for pilot trials of new technologies, data gathering, and maintenance of pilot trial equipment, all with the aim of developing the technologies further into our product catalogue.

I have been assisting the team in the design of standard products by producing drawings, collating data, and refining product documentation. I have also spent time identifying the requirements of specific equipment to be used in our products and selecting the correct components for the job.

I also assist in the design process of new pilot plants by corresponding with stakeholders, assessing material selection, pipework and instrumentation, and procurement of suitable components, making sure to optimise the efficiency of the design.

My role also includes research into new technologies to understand where innovation lies in the water industry and identify where it could be applied and developed within RSE, both in the improvement of existing products and projects and in completely new concepts.

Q3. What’s the most exciting thing about your role?

I think the most exciting part is being at the forefront of change in the water industry. It is very easy to be engaged and motivated when researching emerging technologies and being able to physically test them. Knowing the industry is changing constantly keeps it interesting, and being able to have an impact on the direction that takes is rewarding and exciting.

Q4. What do you think are the big challenges facing Water Engineering Innovations in the next 5-10 years?

With the world facing a change towards a greener future, the water technology sector needs to move in the same direction. Working towards designs for net zero and beyond is always the target we are moving towards, which presents some major challenges in material selection, manufacturing, and delivery.

On a broader scale, the water industry needs to challenge itself on how we design beyond the immediate impact our products have; being able to maximise the usefulness and efficiency of materials, time and resources is the next hurdle for us to overcome. Designing for adaptability, repairability and recoverability is something we will continue to work towards.