Blog

24 Aug 2018

Several industries currently benefit from aluminium fabrication, which relates to the construction of metal structures by means of cutting, bending and joining. Most extrusions go through some form of further processes such as fabrication, machining and surface treatment. The properties of aluminium make extrusions highly suitable for almost any type of fabrication.

Although fabrication can be applied to any metal, aluminium is considered one of the most common. As a result, there is a big demand for aluminium fabrication services all over the world. If you look at your home or office building, aluminium is all around us. Some of the most common features are aluminium gates and aluminium frameworks used for doors, windows and showers.

17 Aug 2018

Much has been said about the promising future of UK manufacturing and engineering but what does the future hold? Everyone knows that Britain is the birthplace of the industrial revolution and remains a global leader in manufacturing. This applies especially to the aerospace sector as it’s the largest in Europe and only second to the US. In 2016, there were more than 2.6 million people directly employed in manufacturing in the UK alone.

The south-west of England is the largest aerospace region in Europe and home to 15 large aerospace companies. In addition, the cluster also consists of a large network of world-class supply chain companies.

Manufacturers have started to make the transition to new processes striving for greater productivity and functionality. Technological advancements in the last few years mean

10 Aug 2018

Plating services are important in any industry but particularly for the application in military vehicles.  The brave men and women in our armed forces are often required to place themselves in dangerous situations. For that reason, the quality of equipment and machinery they use could literally mean the difference between life and death. To protect our military personnel, the defence industry always ensures that they have the best products at their disposal.

3 Aug 2018

We see the benefits of 3D printing all the time from manufacturing, medical, the fashion industry to prototyping and production. With construction in mind and large-scale 3d printers, it is now possible to think about bigger projects. There’s no doubt that that additive manufacturing is an ideal building solution for creating models in architecture.

With that in mind, 3D printing has made headlines once again. This time though, it’s not a 3D printed house in your neighbourhood unless you live on Mars. We take a closer look at how the 3D printed habitat challenge from NASA and their partners have developed. If you are remotely interested in aerospace design, engineering and space exploration, you should really watch these videos.

24 Jul 2018

We can all agree that there aren’t many products we use in everyday life that does not involve CNC machining. From cars, planes, household machines and appliances to medical parts and toys, all go through a CNC machine at some point during production.

Computer Numerically Controlled or CNC machining has become more versatile then ever. The number of axis has increased and the types of machines now available mean that increasingly smaller and more intricate parts are manufactured using a CNC machine. The development of CNC Machining has truly revolutionised the manufacturing industry.

It’s not just CNC machines making waves, further advances like

20 Jul 2018

UK spaceflight is about to take the next step in aerospace dominance. The UK Space Agency, with support from Lockheed Martin, will develop Europe’s first spaceport on A’Mhoine Peninsula in Sutherland, Scotland. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will develop the launch site in Sutherland with initial funding of £2.5 million. The plan is to use proven and new innovative rocket technologies to lay the foundation for UK spaceflight to become world-leaders.

In addition, a further £2.5 million will go to the development of horizontal launch sites in Cornwall, Argyll and Wales. These sites could boost UK spaceflight and the economy even further presenting significant opportunities for companies all over the globe to invest in Britain.

13 Jul 2018

While the implications of robotic military vehicles on human society are yet to be fully realised, the technology is here and probably have been for longer than we think. Most recently an Estonian defence firm, Milrem, launched the world’s first modular unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) doubling as a tank-destroyer. The modular, multi-purposed vehicle intends to provide support for dismounted troops in the shape of a transport platform, remote weapon station, IED detection and a UAV carrier among others.

The race to build the perfect military vehicle is an ongoing slog-fest and defence contractors around the globe have their hands full. More specifically, tank designers and anti-tank weapon designers are constantly pushing the envelope for better technology.

6 Jul 2018

While Industry 4.0 is all about automation and digitisation, the future of manufacturing is in personalisation. Manufacturing 5-0, or the Fifth Industrial Revolution, will focus on the co-operation between humans and robots. Although the focus remains on automation and advanced manufacturing, the human element is more important than ever. We’ll take a closer look at what this means for manufacturing but first, let’s recap our journey up to now.

29 Jun 2018

When you think of military vehicles, what comes to mind first? Traditionally, tanks and Humvees are always common but times have changed and will continue to do so. Advanced warfare and new technologies are major contributing factors influencing the types of military vehicles required in the future. Weight, speed, cost and armament all play pivotal roles.

Looking back at 2014, DARPA announced the launch of its Ground X-Vehicle Technology (GXV-T) program. In a nutshell, GXV-T aims at finding high-tech alternatives to normal armour plating. Success would result in tanks weighing much less, travel twice as fast while still protecting its occupants. The problem comes in with advancing technology as artillery designers keep making bigger anti-tank guns. This has generally been the case and in response, tank designers just add more armour.

One such example is America’s main battle tank, the M1A2 Abrams. It weighs an astonishing

22 Jun 2018

The latest monthly CBI Industrial Trends Survey reports that UK Manufacturing output looks promising. They suggest that output has increased strongly and faster since the end of 2017. According to CBI, growth was broad-based, with output increasing in 14 out of 17 sub-sectors. Among the top performers are food, drink and tobacco and mechanical engineering.

Total order books show similar, healthy levels resembling that of December 2017. Exports remained stable, well above average and in line with the past 16 months. Output price expectations for inflation softened to the weakest in almost a year while stock levels moved below average. It hasn’t been smooth sailing as the UK Manufacturing sector faced some serious challenges.

While the CBI believes manufacturers will continue to benefit from robust external demand and the lower exchange rate, overall economic growth is expected to remain subdued. This comes as a result of weak consumer income growth and the continuous uncertainty stemming investments.

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