Scotland’s engineering marvel, The Falkirk Wheel, is set to go into hibernation so that essential maintenance and repair work can be carried out.
The annual MOT will see the world’s only rotating boat lift closed until March, while an expert team of maintenance engineers from Scottish Canals drain the attraction, replace the hydraulic and mechanical components that keep it turning and inspect the supporting infrastructure.
It’s not uncommon for huge structures to close for some TLC. Fragile components need a little love to keep everything in tip-top condition.
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While we wait patiently for the grand re-opening, the dedicated team of maintenance engineers is carefully beavering away.
So what does it take to be a maintenance engineer?
Know how
Maintenance engineers work in a variety of different industries and sectors and are on the frontline of operations thanks to their knowledge of machinery, systems and associated equipment. They are tasked with ensuring the day-to-day operation of all systems is smooth and hitch-free. This means continual assessment, testing and monitoring.
Some of the most common sectors maintenance engineers work in are transport, construction, oil and gas and even healthcare.
Know when
In maintenance timing is everything and engineers should be expert problem solvers, capable of fixing technical faults efficiently and quickly before they become bigger problems.
In fact their supreme monitoring skills should enable them to anticipate any problems before they actually occur. Think of them as machinery mind readers.
Being able to anticipate flaws, glitches and problems allows solutions to be employed before potentially costly or lasting damage occurs.
Know why
As well as planning and carrying out scheduled work, maintenance engineers often have to perform emergency first-aid on machinery and equipment. This means knowing why something is not behaving itself.
Problems can arise at any time, and so a maintenance engineer must be able to diagnose the issue, come up with a reliable solution and implement it quickly.
Know what
Maintenance engineers come from a variety of different backgrounds and holding a degree isn’t always needed for the job. While most candidates tend to have a BEng in an associated field such as Mechanical or Production Engineering, often college level qualifications are enough to secure a role. Apprenticeships are also be offered by some companies.
If you’re looking for a challenging new career, why not check out the latest Engineering and Technical vacancies on s1jobs now?