Last month, a young Crowsnest Pass native who works with cutting-edge technology was awarded the 2016 Outstanding SAIT Alumni Award.
“I love it,” said Levi Kuta. “SAIT’s proud so it’s good times.”

After graduating from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in 2012 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology, the 25-year old parlayed his skills into an exciting job with an innovative company.

Kuta is manager of Engineering and Design at Airdrie's Alta Injection Molding where he oversees a design team that uses the latest 3D printing and polymer technology.

“We design parts for clients coming in,” he said. “An inventor might come in off the street with an idea in his head. He’ll sit down with our team and we’ll make that idea a reality and hopefully get it to the marketplace.”

3D printing is a relatively new and cost effective way to make three-dimensional solid objects from digital files. With it, manufacturers can make just about anything.

For one job, Kuta and his group designed and prototyped a device to hold iPads for patients undergoing treatment for cancer at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary.

He's also been named in two patents. One is for an improved welding handle design and the other is for a lightweight plastic collapsible beer and wine keg.

Since finding professional success, Kuta has been giving back to his alma mater.

For the last three summers he’s offered an internship program for SAIT students who show strong work ethic and mechanical aptitude.

Kuta grew up in the Pass working alongside his dad at the family owned and operated Goat Mountain Get-A-Way alpine retreat. It was there that he learned “that small-town work ethic,” he said.

“I learned what a hard day’s work is and I took that mentality with me to Calgary,” he said. “I advanced in my company quickly showing the responsibilities I learned early on. A small town also showed me the importance of community and that sense of “everyone knows everyone” spirit.”