Industry news
Here you can find a handpicked selection of the big stories and latest updates for professionals involved in all things related to engineering.
Planning application for UK's first waste-to-jet fuel plant given green light
A planning application backed by Shell and British Airways to create the UK’s first commercial-scale waste-to-jet fuel plant in North East Lincolnshire has been granted planning permission.
Altalto Immingham, a subsidiary renewable fuel developer Velocys, submitted the planning request in August 2019. The company, which has been set up in collaboration with British Airways and Shell has this week confirmed that the North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC)’s Planning Committee has approved the request to build Europe’s first commercial-scale plant to transform waste into low-carbon jet fuel, with a site chosen in North East Lincolnshire.
© edie
Boeing picks STS for UK Wedgetail conversions
Boeing Defence UK has named STS Aviation Services as its conversion partner for the Royal Air Force’s (RAF’s) future fleet of five 737NG-based E-7A Wedgetail surveillance aircraft, after Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group withdrew from the project.
Announcing the selection on 20 May, Boeing said the narrowbodies will be prepared for military service using a hangar at Birmingham airport which was previously occupied by Monarch Aircraft Engineering (MAEL).
© Flight Global
Go-ahead for largest new station ever built in UK
Joint venture contractors Balfour Beatty, Vinci and Systra have got the green light from planners to start work on HS2’s west-London super hub, Old Oak Common.
Work will now start next month on building what will be the largest new railway station ever built in the UK.
© Construction Enquirer
AMTE Power and Britishvolt sign MoU for UK's Landmark GigaFactory
AMTE Power and Britishvolt are pleased to announce plans to investigate collaborating to build the UK’s first full cycle battery cell GigaPlant, servicing the automotive and energy storage markets. Both parties have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) focussed on each other`s complementary ambitions to create and expand an onshore manufacturing supply chain.
© IDTechEx
The stealthy little drones that fly like insects
Start-up company studies biomechanics from dragonfly to use flapping wings powering more weather-resistant and flight-efficient drones
21 April 2020
© BBC News
Boeing set to resume Dreamliner production next month
South Carolina facility prepares to welcome back majority of its workforce for the 787
16 April 2020
© Reuters
European factories begin to reopen
VW’s HQ sports a logo squashing the virus Pac-man style, as it plans to welcome back workers on Monday.
27 April 2020
© Business Insider
BMW places massive 5,000 robot order with KUKA
Great news for the industry and KUKA, as the latter’s robots, including innovative linear units, will be used in auto manufacturing for BMW around the world.
19 April 2020
© Robotics and Automation News
Innovative start-ups to receive £1.25Bn government support package
Chancellor believes start-ups will be key to driving growth coming out of COVID-19
20 April 2020
© BBC News
Solvay signs long-term supply agreement with Honda Aircraft
Honda’s business jet models to benefit from Solvay’s innovative composites & adhesives over coming decade
17 April 2020
© Aerospace Manufacturing magazine
Approved for NHS: new Penlon ventilator upscaling for mass production with help from Airbus and F1
A consortium including Siemens, Airbus, Ford and several Formula 1 teams worked with the medical device maker, to adapt its ventilator so that it could be mass-produced quickly. 16 April 2020
© BBC news
Rising demand for Ceratizit tooling driven by ventilator collaborations
Formula 1 teams, and many others throughout the supply chain approach Ceratizit for support in production 14 April 2020
© Aerospace Manufacturing
50% growth for Rockwood Composites over 6 months
Aerospace, including interiors, and defence are biggest drivers, but medical is an important sector too. 8 April 2020
© Elsevier
Fiat Chrysler and Honda plan to reopen sites for N. American production in May
Fiat Chrysler’s statement says that it “intends to progressively restart its U.S. and Canadian manufacturing facilities beginning May 4.” 6 April 2020
© Reuters
Ex Dassault Systèmes Simulia exec joins MSC as new CTO to lead innovation
Working across the Hexagon technology portfolio to develop synergies, Bruce Engelmann will be responsible for technology and solutions across MSC design and engineering product line. 3 April 2020
© Aerospace Manufacturing magazine
Third Dimension launch first in new range of GapGun handheld feature measurement tools
Third Dimension have taken the industry standard to a new level with the GapGun Pro2 and T series sensor heads. Designed for the increasing needs of automotive metrology and quality control professionals, a dedicated team of engineers have spent 3 years to build cutting-edge technology into the 25+ year established GapGun. 1 April 2020
© Third Dimension Advanced Manufacturing
YOUR NHS NEEDS YOUR PPE
Many NHS hospitals have run out of face masks for their staff. GRP Solutions has been supporting a number of hospitals around the country giving them what we have but have now nearly exhausted our supplies. 31 March 2020
© GRP Solutions
Dyson vacuums up thousands of orders for its new ventilator prototype
The companies will start making up to 30,000 ventilators from next week to help the NHS fight Covid-19 30 March 2020
© The Guardian
Welsh hospital creates new purifying ventilator for self-care, releasing specialist nurses for other duties
A new ventilator, a virus-killing snood and a hands-free door pull are just some of the innovations coming out of Wales to tackle coronavirus. 24 March 2020
© BBC News
London start-up OneWeb launches more satellites, and its online network is more important than ever
A Soyuz rocket lifted off from Baikonur, carrying 34 more spacecraft into orbit to continue the build-up of the firm’s broadband internet constellation. 21 March 2020
© BBC News
Repurposing of manufacturing to beat virus is not limited to engineering firms alone
Firms including Zara, Nivea and Dyson are switching output to make needed equipment. 20 March 2020
© The Telegraph
Scott Bader launches new structural adhesive
Crestabond M7-04 is a toughened, two component 1:1 acrylic structural adhesive designed for bonding composites, thermoplastics and metals.
© Scott Bader
Can this company have discovered the future of car production?
Proprietary AM techniques combine with smart thinking to eliminate hard tooling for the astronomically fast 21C Hypercar.
© Production Engineering Solutions
Dr.Cedeno-Campos, Prof. Fairclough and Mr. Jaramillo and the Composite Systems Innovation Centre
Composites are lightweight but strong materials. Their applications range from aircraft and automotive parts, wind turbines to bespoke sports equipment. However, to create bespoke designs or one-off production, making moulds is expensive. We research parts production without moulds but that tailor the fibre alignment in order to retain the strength
© University of Sheffield
British Science Week coincides with welcome government investment in STEM
Future scientists, mathematicians and engineers from all backgrounds are set to benefit from the government’s £179M investment announced this month.
© Production Engineering Solutions
New UK electric van prototype reflects GEELY's £500m investment
LEVC’s new hybrid-electric van prototype comes out of its Coventry facility, with a 30% lighter body, and ability to absorb twice the crash energy of mild steel.
© Production Engineering Solutions
SMMT calls for solid UK-EU deal to drive growth
There is understandable concern about the figures published by the SMMT this week showing an auto slow-down in 2019; but there is evidence for great potential too, not least from the demonstrable growth in alternatively fuelled car output. The SMMT is pushing to achieve a world class FTA to maintain and grow this vital part of the UK economy and capability.
© SMMT
Uber's deal with Nissan to benefit Sunderland and the Capital
Uber’s recent order of 2,000 Nissan LEAF vehicles not only provides more business for the North East plant, but benefits Londoners by adding to Ubers goal for every London car on the app to be fully carbon-free from 2025.
© Production Engineering Solutions
New composites tech could speed up aircraft manufacture
MIT researchers have devised a way to manufacture autoclave-formulated aerospace-grade advanced carbon fiber composites without using applied pressure from an autoclave or oven.