Meet Our Rapid Connection Gland Designer, Murray Lonergan

Launched in 2021, the Hawke Rapid Connection Gland is an innovative hybrid combining the features of our marketing leading Cable Gland range with the plug and play benefits of a Connector.

Hawke is proud to have a team of skilled and dedicated design engineers who constantly strive to bring new products to the market. The RCG is the latest example of such innovation. It’s design was lead by Murray Lonergan so we thought we’d get to know him a little better!

Hello Murray, tell us a little about your background, experience and qualifications

My father, who was a design engineer working on nuclear power stations, died when I was one year old, but even so he had an enormous influence on me and I was inspired to ‘Follow in his footsteps and make him proud. He’s the reason I wanted to be a designer from an early age.

I was always playing with Meccano, Lego and making Airfix kits growing up, so I think I always had something in me of a creative nature.

Knowing I wanted to be a Design Engineer, I did a practical Engineering feeder course when I left school, before going on to a foundation Art ONC, and then an Industrial 3 Dimensional Design course at Chelsea School of Art in London at HND level.

When I started my first job aged 19 at Eaton in Chadderton designing Delta/MEM domestic electrical accessories (13A plugs/sockets/switches) I was then sent to complete my Mechanical and Electrical ONC’s.

I was made redundant from Eaton, and then luckily was appointed in almost exactly the same role working for Siemens at Hindley Green, near Wigan, designing Volex and Crabtree switches and sockets.

We’re delighted you’re now with the Hawke team, how long have you been with the business?

I have been at Hawke 4 years as a Design Engineer.

What does a “typical” day at Hawke involve for you?

On any given day I will have a number of different projects at various stages of completion, which I split my time between.

Typically each project will go through a cycle of: Concept sketch, 3D design, Prototype, Test, repeat. I am a firm believer in presenting a 3D model as soon as possible in a project to give the rest of the team something physical to give feedback on.

As lead designer of the RCG, how did the project unfold?

I was lead designer on the RCG project but I also received enormous help from the rest of the team!

I was aware of the need for a quick disconnect style gland for lighting purposes, but the project really came into focus when we presented early ideas to focus groups and realised the opportunities above and beyond just lighting.

The focus of the project was to create a cost effective disconnect product and utilise as many off the shelf Gland parts as possible whilst adding pin and socket functionality.

If you could choose a famous person to be your best friend, who would you choose and why?

I am enormously interested in Industrial Archeology and the history of the Industrial revolution, so someone like Fred Dibnah would be my first choice, with the painter L.S. Lowry second. Although, if it had to be someone still alive, it would be historian Lucy Worsley.

When you’re not at work, where would we find you?

I am a keen model maker, and am making a model railway layout of Chapel Street Salford in my spare time. I am also a car enthusiast, and drive a Mustang.

Pictured: Murray’s beloved Mustang and some views of his incredible models.