Meet Weldon Solutions’ Mechanical Engineers
At Weldon, we take pride in celebrating our incredible team and the work they do every day to maintain the high quality of our products and meet the needs of our clients.
In honor of National Engineers’ Week in February, we sat down for a question-and-answer session with our team of mechanical engineers: Ryan Heller, Mark Killian, Kegan Minney, Mike Strickler, and Tim Wheeler. The experience of this talented team varies, from team members with one year at Weldon to seasoned employees with over 30 years.
Ryan, Kegan, Mike, Mark and Tim shared personal stories – detailing their paths into mechanical engineering, why they became mechanical engineers, and what a typical day at Weldon looks like – and provided their best advice for future engineers.
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How and when did you get interested in engineering as a career?
Kegan:
As a kid, I wanted to work with robots – the kind I saw in cartoons. I was always interested in ‘how’ things worked growing up, too. I liked math and science, and that led me to my career in engineering.
Tim:
I have been interested in how machines work for as long as I can remember. When I was young, I would sketch designs for new toys and build Rube Goldberg contraptions.
Ryan:
I grew up taking things apart to understand how they worked. From bicycles to home electronics, I was always tinkering. My background includes hands-on experience as a motor transport mechanic in the Marine Corps, as well as various part-time jobs during high school that further developed my practical skills.
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Please provide a brief description of your position at Weldon. How long have you been with Weldon and what is your typical day like?
Kegan:
I’ve been working at Weldon Solutions for about a year. I design automation systems for manufacturing processes. I do everything from basic hand calculations to technical drawings to 3D modeling. We work closely with our customers to deliver systems that meet their needs and improve their product workflows.
Mark:
I have been at Weldon Solutions for 22 years and did similar work at my previous job. My typical day includes searching for and sizing commercially available components and equipment for a proposal or project, designing and drawing custom components, equipment, and systems, and discussing system requirements with a customer.
Mike:
I have worked at Weldon for 31 years. A typical day includes designing grinding machine components and tooling for our customers’ applications. I also design robotic automation systems for many different customer applications.
Ryan:
I have been at Weldon for nearly seven years, primarily focusing on automation projects. A typical day for me varies depending on the project phase. During quoting and initial design, we spend most of our time at our desks, working with CAD software to create designs and researching components online. Once a project moves to the shop floor, our role shifts to problem-solving—collaborating with shop personnel, purchasing, and any assembly or functionality challenges that arise.
Tim:
As the Mechanical Engineering Manager at Weldon, I oversee the projects of other mechanical engineers as well as complete projects of my own. Over the 12 years I have worked at Weldon, I have had the opportunity to work on a wide range of projects. While the project details are unique, the same engineering process is followed: start with a conceptual design and deliver a functional system.
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What do you enjoy most about your projects or do you have a favorite project?
Kegan:
My favorite project was for a window manufacturer designing upgraded tooling and conveyors for their manufacturing line. It really tested what I knew about whole system design, and I learned a lot about pneumatics. I got to see how collaborative the engineers at Weldon are, and it’s really inspiring to see people excited about problem-solving.
Mark:
I really enjoy creating the simplest design or computer program that solves a difficult problem.
Mike:
I like developing work-holding, fixturing, and tooling for the grinding machines. Most projects involve different part types and sometimes many different parts that need to run on the same machine. It is a real challenge but also rewarding to develop a solution that works for the range of parts with the least amount of changeover.
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What are some of the challenges you face?
Kegan:
The most challenging project I’ve had at Weldon was an automated taping system for electric motor coils. I thought I knew a lot about design from my previous experiences, but I had a lot to learn about automation systems. Everyone at Weldon was willing to teach me and give me pointers.
Mike:
Keeping multiple projects on schedule at the same time and shifting priorities from day to day. Lead times for obtaining products does influence this greatly.
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What might be something about mechanical engineering that would surprise someone who is not in the industry?
Mark:
It may surprise people how much electrical and programming work can be included in a mechanical engineering position.
Kegan:
There is a lot more to engineering, especially mechanical, than “engineering”. We work with customers and vendors for technical information, create project schedules, help with mechanical assembly, and ongoing learning about electrical systems.
Ryan:
Mechanical engineering is a vast field with many specialized areas. At Weldon, our work is highly specific to our product offerings. If I were to speak with a mechanical engineer specializing in injection molding, electrical connectors, or automotive design, our knowledge bases would be vastly different.
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How do you keep up with the latest changes in software and technology?
Kegan:
Platforms like LinkedIn can be a great place to see industry trends and find new and emerging technologies. Talking to different vendors also helps a lot even if it comes with a sales pitch for their products.
Tim:
Attending trade shows and reading tech news are great ways to see what others in the industry are up to.
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If you were not an engineer, what other job would you like to have?
Mike:
Something performance car related. I have a drag car I built myself. I enjoy racing and working on them.
Ryan:
My childhood passion for working on bicycles has never faded. I’m still an avid mountain biker and handle all my own bike building and maintenance. If I weren’t in engineering, I’d probably be working in a bike shop, repairing and building bikes.
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What would your advice be to a high school student who is thinking about choosing mechanical engineering as a career? Are there things they can do to help inform their decision?
Mike:
Take any shop class that your high school offers. Metal and Wood shop classes were my personal favorites. I still use the belt sander that I made in shop class. Designing and creating something mechanical is what got me interested in this field.
Tim:
If you often find yourself thinking about how the items you use daily are constructed and how they work, then you have the inclination to do well in mechanical engineering. From there, it takes dedication and focus to learn the foundational theory and physics you will need.
Kegan:
My advice to anyone is to focus on soft skills. Even for engineers, soft skills are a lot more practical than calculus (even though math is a big part). Being able to communicate effectively with your teammates, vendors and clients is very important to keep a project running smoothly
Ryan:
High school technical education classes played a significant role in opening my eyes to this field. If courses in drafting, electronics, metalworking, or woodworking are available, I highly recommend giving them a try.
Mark:
A student should take as many math and physics classes as are available to prepare for college courses. They should also seek opportunities to spend time with mechanical engineers at their workplace.