Lyndon Maurer grew up on a grain farm.. His family relied on Bourgault equipment to get the job done, so it’s only fitting that Maurer now works for this company and is helping create the next line of farm equipment.
Since 2014, Lyndon has been a Research and Development (R&D) Engineer for Bourgault Industries, a company that designs farm equipment around sound agronomic principles. He joined the company immediately after obtaining his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Lyndon’s practical experience with farm equipment, combined with the technical skills he later developed, directed him to work as an engineer in the agriculture industry.
Lyndon works with 10 other R&D engineers. One of his contributions to the team has been making design improvements to the 3420 Paralink™ Hoe Drill. The seeding drill spans 100 feet in field position and improves farm operators’ labour efficiencies. Lyndon has also done some concept development on products that may be available to the public in the future.
The key to Lyndon’s job is teamwork. The engineers are always presented with new challenges during production development, which they approach by brainstorming and coming up with efficient solutions. There isn’t always a right or wrong solution, and every idea, no matter how unusual it may seem at the time, is considered.
Lyndon would recommend this career to others based on how rewarding it has been for him. He enjoys following the entire production process, from concept right through to a unit running in a farmer`s field. He enjoys getting to attend various farming shows and interacting with farmers and customers who provide him with feedback, ask questions and show an interest in the technology.
The work agricultural engineers do is vital, since there is a rising global population and less land on which to grow food. It’s up to farmers to make efficient use of this land. Companies such as Bourgault are helping farmers achieve this goal through fertilizer and seed placement technologies that lead to better yields and more efficient use of the land.