17th year of the international competition of professional knowledge and practical skills of secondary vocational school students

The Secondary Vocational School of Mechanical Engineering in Považská Bystrica was the organiser of the 17th year of the international competition of professional knowledge and practical skills of secondary vocational school students in the fields of machine setter, programmer of machining and welding machines and metal machinist. The competition took place on 30.05.2024 – 31.05.2024 under the auspices of the company thyssenkrupp rothe erde Slovakia, a.s., Považská Bystrica. 

The partners of the competition  were  the Association of Mechanical Engineering Industry of the Slovak Republic, Slovenské liečebné kúpele Rajecké Teplice, a.s., Sandvik Coromant SANDVIK SK s.r.o., Mitutoyo Česko s.r.o. organizačná zložka Považská Bystrica. 

11 teams from three countries took part in the 17th year of the international competition – two teams from Germany, three teams from the Czech Republic and 6 teams from the Slovak Republic. The competition was held in the categories of individuals and teams.

The competitors were welcomed with speeches by the school director Ing. Peter Tamaši and Ing. Matej Horečný, a representative of the company thyssenkrupp rothe erde Slovakia, a. s., which is the professional and organisational guarantor of the competition. After the ceremonial opening and the drawing of the machine number, the competitors moved to the workstations, where they demonstrated their skills in turning on TRENS SN32 lathes and milling on XYZ 2000 milling machines.

The aim of the competition was to foster among the students an interest in the engineering profession, activity in preparation for the profession, professional ambitions and a relationship to work. It was focused on the professional knowledge and practical skills of the students. The students' task was to produce products according to drawing documentation by turning and milling. The following were assessed: accuracy, machining, functionality of the parts, production time, occupational safety and health protection. The guarantor for correct measurement was a representative of the company Mitutoyo, Peter Zemánek. The competition was a valuable experience for all participants in their further professional advancement. While evaluating the competition works, the team leaders had the opportunity to view the premises of the Secondary Vocational School of Mechanical Engineering, exchange experiences from vocational education and training not only in Slovakia, but also in the Czech Republic and Germany.

The next day, both the students and the teachers had the opportunity to see the engineering production of bearings during an excursion at the company Thyssenkrupp rothe erde Slovakia, a.s. , Považská Bystrica. The final evaluation of the competition was also held here, with the participation  of the representative of the company management tkre Ing. Vladimír Kollár, the director of ŠIOV Ing. Branislav Hadár and the representative of the Association of Mechanical Engineering Industry, the Secretary General Mgr. Jozef Kvoriak, MBA. All the evaluators as well as the partners of the competition appreciated the professional level as well as the technical preparation of the entire event.

In the individuals category, Kristián Hnilica from the Joint School Martin finished in 3rd place. Second place belonged to Antonín Przeczek from the Secondary Vocational School of Třinecké železárny Třinec – Kanada and the winner was Matej Monček from the Secondary Technical Vocational School Dubnica nad Váhom.

In the teams category, the team from the Secondary Technical Vocational School Dubnica nad Váhom finished in third place, second place was taken by the team of SOŠ Frýdek – Místek, Lískovecká, příspěvková organizace and first place was won by the Secondary Vocational School of Třinecké železárny Třinec – Kanada.

The best turner was Matej Monček from the Secondary Technical Vocational School Dubnica nad Váhom and the best miller was Andrej Butko from the Secondary Polytechnic School Dolný Kubín.

The winners were awarded diplomas and valuable material prizes. The other participants of the competition received commemorative items from the partners of the competition, our sponsors, and everyone took home a diploma for participation in the competition.

We believe that the experience gained and the awards will help them in finding work  in the engineering industry. 

Congratulations to all the winners!