Born in 1972, Sam Paul grew up on a dairy farm near Ballymoney, Co.Antrim. During his teenage years Sam developed an interest in engineering and after leaving school, attended Coleraine Technical College where he gained a National Diploma in engineering. From there he went to the University of Ulster at Jordanstown where he successfully completed his BEng in engineering degree, graduating with First Class Honours. After a brief spell working in the automotive industry, Sam returned to UUJ where he undertook a programme of advanced metal forming research, and 3 years later he was awarded a PhD for his work.
During his employment career he has worked in both the tyre and automotive manufacturing industries, but has spent the majority of his time in the food manufacturing sector. Sam’s main roles during employment have been those of Project Engineer/Manager, Maintenance Manager, Plant Engineering Manager. As a result he has significant experience of managing people, budgets and engineering projects/operations.
The establishment of Solve Engineering marked a change in direction for Sam, bringing him back to the core mechanical engineering design activities he prefers. That said, Sam’s previous experience means he often brings more added value to his clients than just the core services his company promotes.
Technical Publications
• “The influence of lubricant film thickness on friction coefficients during slow speed deep drawing operations”, American Society of Mechanical Engineers Journal of Tribology, Oct 2002, pp846-851
• “Modified 2D stylus profilometry and it’s application to frictional analyses in sheet metal forming applications”, Tribology International 32, 1999 pp553-558
• “Three dimensional surface measurement using stylus profilometry and it’s application to the study of friction in deep drawing” Proc 12th Conf IMC, Sept 1995, pp 781-788
• “Kinetic friction of lubricated contacts in the deep drawing process”, DPhil Thesis, University of Ulster, 1998
