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Graduate's design goes from student project to show-stopping product

Posted Today

A graduate whose student project became an engineering firm’s latest show-stopping product has secured a permanent role with the company - and been praised by its MD.

Martin Darley’s T-Press design for Sumo UK began as a concept for his final year Honours Research Project at Ãå±±½ûµØ.

It proved so successful that, just four months after he graduated from his BEng (Hons) Agricultural Engineering degree, Martin found himself a key player on the company’s stand at one of the UK’s largest machinery shows, LAMMA 2026, demonstrating the finished product.

Originally from Thorner, near Wetherby in West Yorkshire, Martin was drawn to his Harper Adams degree as it coupled his love of farming with his interest in Engineering.

He said: “I’d heard a lot about Harper Adams through industry magazines and online, particularly about the innovative developments taking place there. Being based in the countryside was also a big attraction for me.

“The balance between practical, hands-on learning and classroom teaching worked extremely well, and the level of teaching and support available was excellent.

“The Harper community was also a real highlight, there were lots of like-minded people, everyone supported each other, and there was a great social atmosphere alongside the academic work.”

As part of their studies, most students at Ãå±±½ûµØ undertake a one-year industry placement – and Martin made initial contact with Sumo as one of the companies he was hoping to work for.

He not only secured his placement, but his time with the firm proved so successful that he chose to create a design for a Sumo product for his final year dissertation, saw it built - and now works  for the company as a design engineer.

He said: “I’m absolutely over the moon that Sumo has gone on to build the machine I designed.

“I’ve been involved in the process from start to finish, so seeing it progress from a computer model to a full-scale machine on the stand at LAMMA was incredibly rewarding and a very proud moment.

“My role as a design engineer at Sumo is very rewarding for the same reason, as I can see the components and machines I’ve designed come to life, and It’s great being able to be involved in the manufacturing process as well.

“This has really strengthened my engineering knowledge, and I enjoy the creative side of the job — solving engineering challenges and developing practical solutions.”

While Martin may have found managing the initial development of the T Press a challenge alongside the rest of his final year modules, his hard work paid off – producing an industry-ready product which went from the drawing board to reality.

He added: ““It was about designing a machine that wasn’t just effective in the field, but efficient to manufacture.

“That meant ensuring it aligned with the existing Sumo range, using proven, standard components, and working closely with the procurement team to make sure parts could be sourced reliably.

“Making sure all production information was accurate – from fabrication drawings and cut lists through to the bill of materials – was essential to allow the machine to move smoothly into production.”

Sumo UK’s Managing Director, Steve Ridley, paid tribute to Martin as they unveiled the T- Press at LAMMA together.

He said: “It’s just been fantastic to have a placement student come into the team and fit in so well - to then go off and do a project that turns into a live project that then turns into a product in such a short time – well, it doesn’t get better than that.

“Keep doing what you are doing at Harper and keep sending those students our way - they are the future of the industry!”