For many engineering students, an internship is an opportunity to take what they have learned in the classroom and see how it applies in the real world. For Ethan Engelmann, his internship at Mass Finishing, Inc. gave him that opportunity twice.
Ethan is a mechanical engineering student at the University of St. Thomas and is on track to graduate in the spring of 2028. This summer marked his second internship with MFI, but his role looked very different from his first.
From the Shop to Engineering at Mass Finishing
During his first summer at MFI, Ethan worked as a general intern, spending time in the shop and helping with equipment assembly and a variety of projects. That experience gave him a firsthand look at how MFI’s equipment comes together and how manufacturing works on the shop floor.
This summer, Ethan transitioned into an engineering internship, working alongside Cory Carr, our Project/Product Engineer, on SolidWorks drawings and other engineering projects. The change gave him the opportunity to see another side of the manufacturing process and gain hands on experience with mass finishing engineering.
For Ethan, one of the most valuable parts of the experience was seeing how engineering decisions directly affect the equipment that is built on the shop floor.
One of his favorite projects was creating detailed drawings for a new custom separator. The project involved the separator itself, along with all of the individual components and assemblies that make up the complete system.
Ethan also worked on updating MFI’s existing machine files. He redrew the files to reflect how the equipment is currently built while making the drawings cleaner and more consistent.
Learning How Mass Finishing Engineering Works
One of Ethan’s biggest takeaways from his internship was learning that engineering does not stop when a design looks good on a computer screen.
Working alongside Cory and the rest of the MFI team helped Ethan understand the many considerations that go into taking a design from an idea to a finished piece of equipment.
“When designing, many things need to be accounted for like what tools are available, who will be building a machine and can they build it the way I designed it, and more,” Ethan explained.
That practical experience is something that can be difficult to replicate in a classroom. At MFI, Ethan was able to see how engineering, manufacturing and assembly work together.
This is an important part of mass finishing engineering. Designing equipment requires an understanding of more than just dimensions and drawings. Engineers must consider how a machine will be manufactured, what tools are available, how components will be assembled and how the finished equipment will perform.
Learning From Doing
Ethan’s experience also reflects the value of combining engineering knowledge with hands on manufacturing experience.
Having previously worked in the shop, he already understood some of the realities of equipment assembly before moving into the engineering department. That gave him an opportunity to see the connection between the drawings on his computer and the people who ultimately turn those designs into physical equipment.
For an engineering student preparing for a career in manufacturing, that perspective can be invaluable.
Ethan also learned the importance of communication. Not everyone working on a machine has an engineering background, so being able to explain designs and engineering concepts clearly to people throughout the company is an important skill.
His time at MFI helped him learn how to communicate with coworkers across different areas of the company and explain engineering related topics in a way that everyone could understand.
A Workplace Built Around Learning
While the technical experience was an important part of Ethan’s internship, he also highlighted the people and culture at MFI.
“The work culture here is amazing,” Ethan said. “I felt very respected and cared for since the first day I started.”
He appreciated having coworkers who were willing to help and teach him while also giving him the independence to work through projects and learn on his own.
That balance is an important part of an internship. Interns need opportunities to take ownership of their work, but they also need experienced people around them who are willing to answer questions, explain processes and share their knowledge.
Ethan also said he felt comfortable getting to know his coworkers and having conversations about life outside of work, which made his experience even more enjoyable.
Preparing for a Future in Engineering
As Ethan returns to the University of St. Thomas to continue his mechanical engineering degree, he takes with him more than experience using SolidWorks.
His two summers at MFI have given him exposure to both sides of the manufacturing process. He has worked directly with equipment on the shop floor and developed engineering drawings used to build that equipment.
His experience with mass finishing engineering has also given him a better understanding of what it takes to design equipment that can be manufactured, assembled and used in a real production environment.
Those experiences will continue to be valuable as he works toward his degree and future engineering opportunities.
We are proud of the work Ethan accomplished this summer and the growth he has shown during his two years with MFI. We are excited to see where his engineering career takes him and appreciate all the work he contributed to our team this summer.
Thanks for a great summer, Ethan! We wish you the best as you head back to school and look forward to working with you again next year!