Students shine in SATRO’s engineering challenge
7 May 2026 
Students from across Surrey put their engineering skills to the test in a fast‑paced STEM challenge supported by Air Products
Teams from Hinchley Wood School (Key Stages 3 and 4) and Esher Sixth Form College (Key Stage 5) took the top positions across their key stages, emerging from heats involving almost 100 teams in this year’s SATRO Problem Solving Challenge. Supported by Air Products, the fast‑paced STEM competition saw more than 500 students from across Surrey come together to tackle real‑world engineering challenges.
The competition began with a series of regional heats at schools across Surrey, where teams competed to qualify for the Grand Finale. Students were challenged to design a low‑emission vehicle capable of transporting liquid nitrogen, replicated by battery‑ or rubber‑band‑powered models carrying a bottle of water. Air Products’ engineers designed both the heats and the final challenge, and attended each round to support the students.
This year’s final challenged students to design and build a crane mechanism capable of erecting a cold box – an integral part of an air separation plant. Sammi from the winning Key Stage 5 team added, “It was very exciting to participate and we’re so happy to have made our school proud. I loved the hands‑on challenges and working as a team. Thank you to our teacher, Ms Boon.”
The event marked the culmination of SATRO’s long‑running Problem Solving Challenge, which has, for more than 25 years, given young people the opportunity to tackle real‑world engineering problems under time pressure.
Students aged 11–18 worked in teams of six to solve the challenges before reaching the Grand Finale at Air Products’ European headquarters in Chertsey. Sustainability was a key judging element, with teams earning points for using materials efficiently and returning unused materials for recycling or reuse.
Presenting the winning prizes was Mr Michael More-Molyneux, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey.
The challenge has long been one of SATRO’s most popular programmes, giving young people a fast‑paced, hands‑on introduction to engineering. Air Products has supported SATRO for more than 20 years.
Andrew Whitby-Collins, CEO at SATRO, said: “The Problem Solving Challenge is designed to stretch students by asking them to work collaboratively on an unfamiliar engineering task, under time pressure and with limited materials. In that environment, students quickly develop their problem solving, communication, creative thinking and teamwork skills. They often achieve far more than they expect in a short space of time, whilst having fun and interacting with volunteers who inspire the students about their future career possibilities.”
The Grand Finale also gave students the chance to chat with Air Products’ engineers and explore a real engineering workplace, as well as watch a liquid nitrogen demonstration that linked classroom science to everyday applications. This wider exposure helps students understand how engineering shapes our lives and where their studies may lead.
Denise Giddy, Director, Europe/Africa ASU Project Execution, at Air Products, said: “We’re proud to have supported the SATRO Problem Solving Challenge for many years. Welcoming students to our Chertsey site gives them the opportunity to see how engineering operates in a real industrial environment, meet engineers and experience practical demonstrations that bring classroom science to life.”
To find out more about Air Products, please visit: https://www.airproducts.co.uk