From scientist to engineer
Andrei Mihai Feraru describes himself simply: “I’m Andrei, mechanical engineer by background.”
He is now the founder and CEO of Feraru Dynamics, a spin-out business from Coventry University where he studied mechanical engineering, which focuses on wearable technology for health and safety at work.
Andrei, who is from Romania, said: “While I was in Bucharest I studied mechanical engineering and realised I was training to be a scientist but I wanted to be an engineer. I found out that Coventry is a great city for mechanical and aerospace and automotive, I applied and I got in.”
His academic journey began in 2013 with a foundation year at Coventry University, before he progressed on to a mechanical engineering degree, completing a sandwich placement year at Rolls-Royce Aerospace, which he says helped him tremendously on his progress as an engineer.
The spark of an idea
It was during his time at Rolls-Royce that Andrei first encountered the workplace hazard that would inspire his future company. Recalling a factory tour, he said: “Some of the workers were complaining about tingling and numbness in the fingertips. I now know that these are Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) symptoms.
“I proposed an improvement project and started prototyping devices to measure vibration with the aim to make a difference in people's health and safety at work.”
Over time Andrei’s initiative gained traction and he revealed “everybody was saying ‘this is intellectual property, this is a patent, you should start your own business’”.
Building something real: From dissertation to spin-out
Back at Coventry University for his final year, Andrei worked with staff at the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering and the Research Centre for Manufacturing and Materials as he began to build what would become Feraru Dynamics’ core technology.
He said: “We came up with our patented technology, which is measuring vibration but also other relevant parameters like grip force, hand orientation, posture, the anthropometric data - all those factors have an impact on vibration exposure.”
His brother Vlad, also a Coventry University graduate with a Media Production degree, was asked by Andrei to co-found the business in 2018 and Coventry University supported them through the patent process and helped them launch the business before Andrei had even graduated.
The company now has a valuation of £5.2 million and the product is used at more than 230 work sites in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and Saudi Arabia.
A father’s influence
Andrei credits much of his engineering mindset to his father.
“My father’s an engineer - he exposed me to engineering ways of thinking. I remember being asked ‘how do you think this chair stands together? How do you think this table stands together?’”
Alongside technical skills, Andrei highlights the value of what he learned about communication and persuasion during his studies at Coventry University. “I think the most important skills I learned were actually the soft skills, how to talk to people on different levels, how to tell your story, to think about why is this helpful, why is this going to help, and how? Is who you’re asking going to benefit as well?”
Advice, reflection, and vision
Looking back, Andrei reflects on what he might do differently: “I would do things faster, make more mistakes and not be as careful as I was.”
He estimates that, with what he’s learned, he could have built Feraru Dynamics in fewer years. “It took me eight years, I could have cut myself three years if I was more decisive, not as careful on wasting resources. It’s not about the resources, it’s all about how much impact you can have and how fast you can have that impact.”
So with everything he knows now, what would Andrei’s advice to graduates and future engineers be as they look to take the leap into business? He said: “Make sure that you know why you want to do what you want to do. What problem are you trying to solve? Have a plan - what do you want to build exactly? And – probably most importantly – who is going to buy it?
“People should consider leading a technology start-up because that’s how you can shape the world. I think that’s where the impact will be in the future."
“Don’t be afraid to do it, you have a great advantage, you know the technology and how to negotiate its value. Really think about setting yourself up, be ready to work 50-60 hours a week and just give it a try.”
As he further grows Feraru Dynamics, Andrei is already thinking about giving back. “I’ve reached a place now where I can start giving back to the community, getting involved with the university’s careers team, with the entrepreneurship team, so there’s an extra option for students to start their own business and I can be involved in that at Coventry University.”
