Profile

Photo:

Martin McMahon

    • About Me:

      I live and work in Cambridgeshire and I’m consultant engineer. I’m mad about rugby and support Northampton Saints, and play a lot of Destiny.

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      I grew up in Cambridgeshire and left school to try and join the army, but ended up going to university in Liverpool. I had a great time there and became a Materials Scientist. From Liverpool I moved to Italy to carry on my research work, learned to speak Italian and also got married there.

      After coming back to the UK I got my first job by looking up Science and Engineering companies in the Yellow Pages (we didn’t have Goggle back then) and simply phoned them all up. From there I’ve worked in many different jobs including forensic science, fibre optics, robotics, printing, medical devices, F1 motorsports, aerospace (literally working with rocket scientists), and even food companies that make ice cream.

    • My pronouns are:

      He/Him

    • My Work:

      I work in the wonderful world of 3D printing, helping others to understand just how brilliant these technologies are.

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      3D printing, also known as Additive Manufacturing, is changing the way we make things and my work involves helping other companies to learn about what is possible.

      I’ve been involved with helping to make so many things happen using 3D printing. Things like surgeons to heal cancer patients, with F1 Teams to win races, and with space exploration including parts for Mars rovers.

      One of my specialties is helping to prove that metals can be 3D printed.

      I also write for an industrial magazine, Metal AM Magazine, and act as technical editor.

    • My Typical Day:

      I begin every day jumping into a barrel of ice cold water, even putting in extra ice to make really cold. I usually then start work by 8a.m. and this can be either writing the next story for the magazine, helping a company solve a 3D printing problem, or preparing for an online webinar.

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      One of the best things I was involved with making was the Queen’s baton for the Commonwealth Games, and one of the companies I worked for made all the wands for the Harry Potter movies!

      As a consultant I can find myself doing a lot of different things because I get to meet lots of different companies and people. I also fly to other countries from time to time. 3D printing is now being used almost everywhere and there is nearly always something new to work on.

      A lot of my day is spent talking to others and helping them to learn about 3D printing. It could also mean giving a talk to a group of other engineers or scientists.

    • What I'd do with the prize money:

      One of the best things about 3D printing is some of the things that can be created, and therefore, since I no long have direct access to equipment, I’d like to use the prize money have some better sample parts that I could use to show students to get them more excited about these technologies. Surprisingly, and rather disappointingly few companies are willing to lend the support for free!

    Candidate CV questions (extra)

    • Education:

      St Ivo Comprehensive School (now St Ivo Academy)

      Welbeck College The Army 6th Form

      The University of Liverpool

    • Qualifications:

      1. x7 O’ levels: Maths, English, English Literature, Physics, Chemistry, Engineering Drawing and x1 CSE: Computer Studies
      2. x4 A’ Levels: Pure Maths, Applied Maths, Physics, General Studies
      3. Bachelors Degree (B.Eng): Materials Science & Engineering
      4. Doctoral Degree (Ph.D): Laser Materials Processing

    • Work History:

      1. Head of Global Powder Sales, Sandvik Additive Manufacturing, Aug 2021 – Feb 2022
      2. Business Development Director, Aluminium Materials Technologies Ltd, Jun 2020 – Jul 2021
      3. Business Development Director – AMT a division of Aeromet International Ltd, Dec 2019 – May 2020
      4. AM Lead Technical Consultant, Renishaw plc, Sep 2018 – Dec 2019
      5. Business Development Manager – Additive Manufacturing Solutions Centres, Renishaw plc, Jul 2016 to Aug 2018 · 2 yrs 2 mos
      6. Additive Manufacturing Sales Development Manager – ROW, Renishaw plc, May 2015 – Jun 2016 · 1 yr 2 mosMay 2015 to Jun 2016 · 1 yr 2 mos
      7. DMLS Business Development Manager, 3T RPD Ltd, Aug 2009 – Apr 2015
      8. Business Development Manager, Astron Clinica Ltd, Oct 2008 – Jun 2009
      9. Group Technical Support Manager, Xaar plc, Nov 2005 – May 2008
      10. Business Unit / Product Manager, Thorlabs Ltd, Mar 2004 – Oct 2005
      11. Product Manager, Melles Griot, Dec 2000 – Mar 2004
      12. Business Systems / Product Manager, Obducat CamScan Ltd, Mar 1997 – Dec 2000
      13. EU Research Associate, CNRSM, Brindisi, Italy, May 1994 – Oct 1996
      14. Research Assistant, Dept. Materials Science & Engineering, University of Liverpool, Sep 1990 – May 1994

    • Current Job:

      Founder & Additive Manufacturing Advisor,  at M A M Solutions, Apr 2022 – Present

    • Employer:

      McMahon International Ltd

    • My Interview

      • How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

        Always seeking answers

        What did you want to be after you left school?

        Army Officer or presenter on Tomorrow's World

        Were you ever in trouble at school?

        It would be safer to say I had fun at school ;-)

        If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?

        Doctor, Ecologist, Policeman, Farmer so many other cool jobs to think about as well.

        Who is your favourite singer or band?

        I'm from the 80s, The Cure and Depeche Mode, but I'm also a secret Swifty (shhhh)

        What's your favourite food?

        OMG, I'm half Chinese and married to an Italian, I love all food!

        If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!

        Have a big garden, never have cancer, and be able to play a musical instrument, like piano or guitar.

        Tell us a joke.

        What do you call security guards outside a mobile phone shop? - Guardians of the Galaxy.

Questions answered by Martin

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