“We capture young people’s interest in technology” – New Technology

     Johan Bengtsson, Stora automation rate and 80 000 for their commitment to interest young people in technology and industry. Photo: Fredrik Karlsson
     

To attract young people to work with automation is a challenge for the industry. And something that Johan Bengtsson passionate. Now he is praised for his commitment.

Instruments Technical Association awards an annual Major automation price. The last three years have gone to the automation managers at a mine, a mill and an oil refinery. This year winning the engineer that does not work out in the industry – and not really just with automation.

I work, among other things, to increase young people’s interest in technology for more people to choose technical education. It is for the few who do it today and the skills issue is a key issue for Swedish industry, says Johan Bengtsson, who normally is a technology development manager at Gothenburg Technical College. He also pulled off of Opportunity World began as an exhibition during Scanautomatic fair in Gothenburg in 2012. In the center, there existed an automated factory, built by students, which produces toy cars.

– The rumor spread, and the project has grown as more becomes interested, he said.

Opportunity World has toured the country and been in Gothenburg, Karlstad, Borås, Karlshamn, Skövde and Malmo. More than 20 000 high school adolescents have got to try the technique in various workshops during the past three years.

– We know that we manage to capture students’ interest in technology. It is difficult to measure what determines their choice then but we think it has a positive effect to show possible technology jobs for them, says Johan Bengtsson.

The next step is the project Smart factories, a kind of further development of Opportunity World. The aim is to disseminate new concepts and technologies in the industry. The exhibition will be held at the Swedish Exhibition Centre in Gothenburg in connection with Underhållsmässan and Scanautomatic and process technology.

– The price will be as a confirmation for all the work I put down and I’m really grateful, he says.