Our 6th class pupils were recently invited to DePuy Synthes to view and learn about their recently installed wind turbine. The pupils were shown an overview of the logistical operation to build the turbine and then proceeded to assemble and conduct experiments on wind turbine kits.
In a recent school newsletter Principal, Mr. Nolan, expressed gratitude on behalf of the pupils and staff, for the warm and professional welcome we received from Donal Óg Cusack and his team on the day. Pictured, below, with Donál Óg Cusack and Mr. David Nolan, the happy group of students pose for a photo in the Conference room.
Here are some accounts of the day, written by the pupils themselves.
Trip To DePuy Synthes by Conor M.
On Friday, the 21st of March, 6th class went to DePuy Synthes. When we arrived, our guide Seán showed us around, and we got V.I.P Visitor badges. We then walked around the bottom floor, and saw all the workers, working at all the machines and devices. Some of them were working at computers. After that, we walked up the stairs, and ended up at the second floor. We walked up into a room, and met the famous Cork hurling player, Donal Óg Cusack. He explained about all the different things that the company make. He said that they make different baby products, such as baby oil and cotton buds. Then, he showed us a video, about all the body part replacements. They make artificial hips, knees and shoulders. Then he showed us a video about a man falling off a ladder, and how they fixed the body, using the artificial parts of the body. Next, a video of how DePuy built the Wind Turbine was shown. It explained about the unique steps included to construct the Wind Turbine.
After that, we were asked to go into groups of 4 and make a miniture wind turbine. Kevin, Clare, Ala and I were in our group. We followed all the steps, made a few mistakes, but in the end, it was all worth it. We made a fully functioning wind turbine!
After that, we got a bag full of goodies, to take home! Eventually, the fabulous day was all over. I now think that our school now has a long term relationship with DePuy Synthes.
My Trip To DePuy Synthes by Kevin C.
On Friday 20th some sixth class pupils went to visit DePuy Synthes, to learn about the wind turbine that was recently built. First we went upstairs to the conference room. We watched a video showing us what DePuy does. They make artificial hips, knees, shoulders and much more! In the conference room you could see the enormous wind turbine that a big group of engineers built recently.
Donal Óg Cusack, a famous hurler showed us a time-lapse video of the foundation of the turbine being built. It was amazing to see how much time and effort went into this project. Then we were introduced to some other members of staff who helped us to build model wind turbines. We were split up into groups and given a box with lego-like materials.
A woman named Elaine helped my group of Conor, Claire, Ala and I. Then we began the building of the model turbines. Elaine told us she built one the night before and she had a bit of trouble. Some bits were tough but others we did with no bother. When we completed our model we got a small LED light and connected it to the model. Every rotation the turbine did the light blinked bright red. Afterwards we attached a battery that Elaine brought from her house. The blades kept spinning and spinning on their own!
We changed the blades from three long white ones to six short blue ones. Soon after we got a photo, some lunch bags and I was taken to Elaine’s desk and she showed me a replacment hip as my Mom will be getting one soon. Overall our class had an amazing day and I would love to go to DePuy again. Maybe some day people from our class will be working there!
By Kevin Cogan.
My Visit To DePuy.
On the 21/3/14 6th class went to visit DePuy Synthes. I was lucky enough to be picked as one of the people to visit the factory. In the factory we learned about the big wind turbine. We got to construct our own turbine. This is what we learned in the factory;
We walked through the factory in to a conference room. We all sat down and Donal Og Cusack walked into the room. He showed us a cartoon video of all the bone replacements they make. Then showed us another video of the construction of the wind turbine. It was amazing watching how it was made.
We were put into groups. In my group there was me, Laura and Olivia. Then a guy called Sean gave us a kit with lots of different parts to construct our own wind turbine. We found it quite hard at first but as we got the hang of it it was quite easy. Our tubine turned out well and we were quite proud of it.
We had an amazing trip to DePuy Syntheses and I hope to visit again in the future.
By: Maeve M
Our Trip To DePuy Synthes
On Friday, 21st of March, 15 people from 6th class from Shanbally NS went to DePuySynthes. We arrived there in the morning and got our visitor badges. Our tour-guide, Seán, brought us around and showed us some of the machines that designed replacement body parts. Next he brought us up to the conference room. In there we met Donal Óg Cusack. He showed us a video why they need the replacement body parts and a video of them constructing the wind turbines. Next they gave us a kit to make our own wind-turbines. He gave us an instruction manual to help us build it.
First we started making the base of where we would put the gears. Next we installed the gears into the base. Next we made the structure of the turbine and added the blades. Next we started spinning it with our hands. Next we added a battery and tested how much times it rotated in a minute, we did this by calculating how much time it took to get one blade from the bottom all the way around back to its highest point and dividing 60 by the time it took to rotate once. That was the end of our trip to DePuy. We got goody bags to bring back to the school. We got back on the bus and returned home.
We really enjoyed our trip to DePuy and found it very interesting and learned a lot.
FINBARR
My trip to Depuy on Friday the 21th of March.
First we came off the bus and into the factory were we got visitor passes. We walked through the factory were we saw the workers making fake limbs. We then went into a board room were Donal Og Cusack talked to us about the wind turbine and what they make in DePuy. Next a man called Sean told us about what they make in DePuy and gave us a replacement knee and shoulder.
We got to make toy wind turbines that work. It took a while to make them but we finally finished it. They looked really good and we could also change it to a wind mill. We took pictures with them and then we took them apart. We got food bags at the end and then left to go back to school.
I had a great day and I hope to go back another day in the near future!!!!
By Sean B
My day at DePuy
On the 20th of March some of my classmates and I went on an exciting tour to DePuy.
Firstly we with a quick chat with Donal Og Cusack. Shortly afterwards we looked at the newly built wind turbine – it is 99 metres tall. Later we started to build a small wind turbine and a wind mill. I was very impressed with their facilities. They built a wind turbine to cut down on their 2 million Euro energy bill. It was almost a third of the their original energy bill which is amazing. Building a wind turbine was great, it was a real thrill to see the light turn bright red, later we began to get more and more adventurous by beginning to build a wind mill.
We then finished the great day with a generous lunch from DePuy. I thoroughly enjoyed the day. By David F.
Jake’s trip to DePuy
On 21st of March 16 lucky students got to go to DePuy in Ringskiddy. When we got there we got visitors badges which made me feel like I was a V.I.P.
First we saw all of the machines on the ground floor and then our guide, Seán, took us up to the second floor where we meet Donal óg Cusack. He showed us a short clip and told us about some DePuy products such as baby products. Then we were saw how they made the wind turbine and that was very interesting. Personally I enjoyed the video about how the 150 metre wind turbine will make 90% of the power for the factory. After the short videos we made models of wind turbines and wind mills. At around 12:30 we had to go back on the bus to head back to schoo, l where Ms Tuohy took us to her class to type a report. So here I am typing about our exciting day.
My trip to DEPUY
On the 21st of March my class had a choice to go to DePuy (Some people know it as Johnson and Johnson) or we could go to a quiz in Monkstown. I don’t like quizzes so I went to DePuy with all my friends!
On the bus to DePuy I sat next to Maeve and we played games. At DePuy we then met a man at security and he gave us visitor badges with our names on them, he then showed us around. We met another man in a room with a bored were he then showed us a movie clip of the wind turbines being built. We then got put in a group and I was put with Maeve and Laura. We made wind turbines and windmills out of plastic pieces and saw them move.
We then talked about the wind turbines being made and then we got ready to leave. We got goody bags at the end.
By Olivia ☺☻☺
Our Trip To DePuy Synthes
On Friday the 20th of March our class went to DePuy Synthes on a tour. My Dad recently got a job there so I knew a bit about the place already, but I did find out a lot more.
First of all we got our name tags so we could scan them and go into the 1st section of the building which was the main factory. We walked through the factory pretty quickly and walked up a flight of stairs, we were then walking into an office. Half ways through the office there was a conference room with a great view of the wind turbines and Cork harbour. We sat down in the most comfortable seats ever and we watched a time lapse on how the wind turbines were built, we also watched a video, explaining what DePuy Synthes actually did. Donal Og Cusack the hurling legend talked to us briefly asking what we currently knew about wind turbines. After our chat some of the workers there brought in a mini wind turbine kit. We built the kit by following the instructions as showed in the booklet included. It was very fun and took about an hour to complete but it came out very nicely. When we were leaving, the workers offered us a goody bag which included a small nutrigrain bar, a packet of crisps, an apple/bannana and a small juice box.
We were then finished the tour and we made our way back through the main factory.
When we reached the reception area we had to give back or name tags.
It was a great day and I would definitely go back again.
By Christopher S.
Claire’s Trip to DePuy Synthes
On Friday the 20th of March 2014 half of sixth class went to DePuy Synthes for a tour. We arrived there at 9:50. When we entered we recived a visitors pass so we could reach all the areas blocked by a gate. This gate only opened when you swiped your card across the top. Sean was the name of the engineer who showed us where to go and talked to us about what he does as an engineer.
We came to a conference room and Donal Óg Cusack was waiting there for us.
Donal Óg then showed us a video of what they produce. They make knee, hip, shoulder, wrist, finger, spine disc and ankle. As they showed us the video, they passed around a shoulder replacement. Next he showed us a time lapse video of their wind turbine. I found it very interesting. I was amazed that they could put in the foundation in 12 hours when it usually takes 2 days.
When we were finished watching the time lapse video we took a picture because Donal had to go to Dublin. We all showed our gratitude to him for taking time to talk to us and show us the wind turbine. When he left we moved on to the model wind turbine. I was in a group with Ala, Conor and Kevin. Elaine was the name of the women who helped us. She said that we were very good engineers. The wind turbine was alot bigger and more difficult then I expected but we did very well. When we were done we made a wind mill and Elaine showed us how if you blow on the top of a piece of paper it rises. Finally we took a goody bag said thank you and good-bye and left for Shanbally. It was a great day.