2 SDG Lunch & Learn Seminars on Bearings with Design ID

The SDG motto is ‘stronger together’, and we bring that to life in many ways. Recently we worked with our valued partner, Design ID, to run two lunch & learn seminars on bearings to upskill their team. 

This type of training and knowledge sharing is an essential part of what we do. Upskilling our clients ensures that they have the most up-to-date knowledge on the complex technical issues that we specialise in and assists them in designing better solutions for their clients.  

These two seminars were focused on increasing knowledge and practical skills around the use of bridge and structural bearings in the built environment.

Not every designer comes across bearings on a regular basis, but it’s an area we’ve specialised in for 30 years, having worked on projects like Microsoft’s European HQ and the National Children’s Hospital in Dublin, and the HS2 project in London.

By working with our clients and manufacturing partners, Gumba and Calenberg, SDG assisted with creating a custom-designed solution tailored to the project requirements.  

The sessions were led by Ciaran Donnelly, SDG’s experienced bearing specialist. The in-depth seminars provided consulting engineers crucial insight into how different bearings can control vibration and allow controlled movement in a wide range of civil and construction applications. 

With bearings playing such a critical yet often unnoticed role in bridges, buildings, and infrastructure projects, optimising bearing selection and integration into designs is pivotal for success. However, for most engineers who do not regularly encounter these specialised products, knowledge gaps can exist. 

Through examining real-world case studies of complex bridge and infrastructure projects involving SDG, Ciaran gave attendees a first-hand look into bearing uses and applications.

This provided examples of how factoring calculations for load requirements, expected movement, rotation constraints, and other technical considerations ensures bearings are tailored to a project’s unique needs. 

By leveraging over 30 years of expertise, SDG was able to educate Design ID’s engineers on practical skills that can be directly applied to their work. Attendees gained invaluable perspective on how consulting closely with specialists like SDG early in the design process can lead to robust long-term solutions. 

As Ciaran explained, “We don’t just supply products or offer technical expertise, we care about our partners and ensure we deliver for their business. At SDG we like to say ‘If you bring us your challenges, we will turn them into solutions’ and that sums up our approach to technical projects like those involving bearings. 

Having spent a number of years delivering lunch & learn sessions remotely due to the pandemic, it was refreshing to be in Design ID’s offices, meeting the team face to face and finding out more about them. I’m looking forward to delivering more training in the coming months.” 

“We all found Ciaran’s session to be informative, enjoyable, and immensely beneficial, thanks to the relaxed nature of the training and Ciaran’s unparalleled expertise on bearings. 

The sessions were thoroughly enjoyed by the entire team, and the opportunity to enrich our CPD knowledge is something we’ll undoubtedly seek to repeat with SDG. Furthermore, the Civil Infrastructure and Structures team found the training exceptionally advantageous, promptly applying the acquired learning outcomes to ongoing projects, both in the realm of bridge bearings and structural bridge bearings.” – Design ID

Moving forward, SDG is committed to further educational outreach, empowering consulting engineers across Ireland, the UK, and worldwide. By providing actionable knowledge on bearings, precast, waterproofing and acoustics, SDG aims to foster collaborative partnerships where their specialised products support innovative design.  

As the recent seminars demonstrated, SDG’s specialised products paired with industry knowledge and customer service offers immense value. If you think your organisation would benefit from a lunch & learn session with one of our team, please get in touch via [email protected].