Methode - University Collaboration Methode Electronics Malta Ltd, world class manufacturer of automobile switches to makers such as GM, Ford, Mazda and BMW has  sponsored two  2001-2002 Final Year Student Projects carried out with the Department of Manufacturing Engineering (DME), University of Malta.   In a presentation held on Wednesday 19th June at Methode's premises in Mriehel, Dr Ing Jonathan C Borg , Head DME  thanked Methode for  providing the Department with  projects that had both academic as well as industrial challenges.  He said this mechanism provided the opportunity for students and staff to collectively utilize their engineering skills to explore and develop innovative technical solutions for Methode. One project 'Design of a Material Handling System for a Complete Manufacturing Unit' carried out by Ryan Fava and supervised by Dr Ing Michael Saliba and Mr Conrad Pace concerned the generation of alternative design solutions that achieve a reduction in the distance and automated handling operations of a class of 'latch switches. The other project 'Knowledge Re-use From Assembly System Design' carried out by Agnetha Xuereb and  supervised by Dr Ing Jonathan C Borg concerned developing 'ATL brake pedal switches' automated assembly system concepts whilst simultaneously capturing knowledge used to generate formal 'Design for Automatic Assembly' guidelines in order to improve designer support in future Methode automation projects.  As a result of these industrially-partnered projects Mr David Mifsud, Managing Director of Methode Electronics Malta Ltd presented a financial contribution to DME. Dr Borg thanked Mr Mifsud and all those involved in this collaboration whilst stating that the DME is always interested in developing long-term relationships with forward looking industrial organizations, of which Methode is a role model. He also took the opportunity to congratulate Methode for being recently named General Motors Supplier of the Year.