Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE- Nine University of Wisconsin-Platteville students saw their work become a part of history as they delivered 40 steel pillar palms to the South Street Seaport Museum in New York City. The pillar palms, produced by the Metals Manufacturing Senior Design class consisting of 13 students, will hold the beams that support the deck of the Wavertree, a 300 foot wrought iron three mass sailing ship first launched in 1885.

When the students Brian Metcalf, Chetek; Justin Ericson, Oneida, Ill.; Henry Frear, Potosi; Tyler Voigt, Campbellsport; Robert Cravens, West Bend; Nicholas Brunner, Waupaca; Daniel Kaul, Madison; Nicholas Airriess, Madison; and Tony Manoni, Port Washington, presented the pillar palms, they gave a presentation to the museum about the manufacturing process.

"Everyone at the museum that day directed their full attention to us and we were treated like royalty. They had so many questions about how we cast the parts, how we melt the steel and kept our chemical compostition and mechanical properties so consistent, and how sand can keep its shape under 3,000 degrees while the steel is being poured into it. I think every aspect of metal casting was covered in questions after the presentation," said Ericson.

After the presentation, students were given a tour of the ship and the museum and saw where the pillar palms will be installed. The ship is currently under a two year restoration. The pillar palms will be fitted onto the ship this summer. Forty of the original pillar palms were lost when the ship was stuck on a sand barge in Argentina before it was brought to the museum.

"The most memorable part of the trip was actually walking on the ship and seeing where our pillar palms would be used. We had seen pictures of what was going to be done with them, but it's hard to actually visualize the final use. Seeing what they will be doing really put into perspective how important they really are," said Manoni.

During the trip, the students also experienced some of the sights and culture of New York. They toured the Brooklyn Bridge, the Empire State Building, the Metropolitan Museum, the Museum of Natural History and had sushi for the first time at an authentic Japanese restaurant.

"We got to experience a lot of the culture and had group bonding. It was a character builder overall," said Manoni.

It took the students approximately 2,500 hours to complete the project and all the labor was free to the museum. Foundries throughout the state donated and gave discounts on tools and materials for the project, amounting to 72 percent of the materials being donated. If materials and labor hadn't been donated, the pillar palms would have cost the museum approximately $2,000 per part, but the museum only paid approximately $150 per part.

"People will be hard pressed to find another career shaping project such as this. I'm pretty sure Kyle Metzloff thinks this is the best senior design project that has passed through his doors and I know the students that were involved think the same. We are very proud of what we accomplished, but best of all, I know that when we walk into a job interview and talk about this project, people will want us to be on their side," said Ericson.

Anyone wanting more information about the ship restoration project may contact Metzloff at (608) 342-1142 or metzlofk@uwplatt.edu.

Contact: Kyle Metzloff, professor of metal technology, (608) 342-1142, metzlofk@uwplatt.edu Written by: Krystle Kurdi, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, kurdik@uwplatt.edu