Co-op Rising Star Award recipient Tyler Ballard, a fourth-year electrical and computer engineering student at the University of Windsor, completed a co-op placement at Tregaskiss, where his work on a robotic welding temperature monitoring system led to a job offer. (SUBMITTED BY TYLER BALLARD/University of Windsor)
By Victor Romao
A University of Windsor engineering student’s ability to bridge classroom theory with real-world problem-solving helped clear a major hurdle for an industrial product and led directly to a job offer.
Tyler Ballard, a fourth-year electrical and computer engineering student at the University of Windsor, was recognized for his contributions during a co-op work term at Tregaskiss, a local developer and manufacturer of robotic MIG guns and welding consumables.
During his placement, he helped resolve a critical electrical issue affecting one of the employer’s products.
His work allowed the product to move closer to market and confirmed his interest in industrial electronics design.
In the interview below, Ballard discusses his co-op role at Tregaskiss, the problem he was tasked with solving, and what he learned along the way.
Q: Can you describe your co-op experience at Tregaskiss and what responsibilities you’ve taken on?
A: I worked within the design engineering department. My role has focused on supporting the design, testing and improvement of electronic systems used in robotic welding environments. One of my main projects involved developing a temperature monitoring solution for welding cable systems to improve safety and reliability.
Q: What was the main challenge you were asked to solve during your work term?
A: The primary issue was electromagnetic interference, or EMI, that prevented the release of a new robotic welding temperature monitoring product. The system functioned well in laboratory conditions but produced unstable readings and false LED activation in real welding environments, posing a risk to customer trust, production uptime and the project timeline.
Q: How did you approach diagnosing and fixing the problem?
A: As the electrical engineering co-op in a largely mechanical engineering team, I took ownership of identifying the electrical root cause. I reviewed the circuit design, analyzed sensor behaviour during welding arc starts and correlated the failures with EMI from welding currents. I then designed, built and tested several prototype circuit revisions, leading both laboratory and customer-site testing to validate each change.
Q: What impact did your work have on the project?
A: Once a stable solution was achieved, I transitioned the design into a production-ready printed circuit board that met strict size and manufacturability requirements. My work resolved a major development roadblock and allowed the product to move toward launch in the following months, supporting both customer reliability needs and the company’s strategic product goals.
Q: What was the most significant learning experience during your placement?
A: The biggest learning experience was understanding how harsh industrial environments affect electrical systems in ways that aren’t always captured in academic examples. I gained hands-on experience with EMI mitigation, grounding strategies, PCB layout and the importance of field testing, which significantly strengthened my technical confidence.
Q: How did your university studies prepare you for this work?
A: My studies provided a strong foundation in circuit design, system analysis and problem-solving. The combination of theoretical coursework and hands-on lab work allowed me to contribute effectively and approach real-world challenges with confidence.
Q: Did the co-op experience influence your future plans?
A: Yes. This experience has confirmed my interest in industrial electronics design and reliability-focused engineering. It has directly led me to accept a position with Tregaskiss following the completion of my work term, and it has also shaped how I approach my remaining studies with a stronger emphasis on practical design considerations.
Tregaskiss said his work stood out across teams, noting his professionalism during customer-site testing in the United States and his ability to offer effective solutions under real-world conditions. The company has since offered him future employment to help meet its ongoing need for electrical engineering expertise.
For Ballard, the experience underscored the value of co-op education in turning theory into practice — and in shaping a clear path from the classroom to a professional engineering career.
New employers looking to learn more about hiring a co-op student can contact hire@uwindsor.ca.
This article is part of a series celebrating excellence in experiential learning, spotlighting Rising Star Award recipients selected by Co‑operative Education and Workplace Partnerships. Their stories aim to inspire the next generation of co‑op students.