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18 Dec 2015

PRV Engineering Gain CIPS and Costain Accreditation

PRV Engineering recently became a rated supplier on the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Sustainability Index. This means PRV Engineering have demonstrated excellent sustainability in Economic, Environmental and Social terms.

The CIPS Sustainability Index gives a 360 view of the sustainability of a business and the Index allows for expedited relations between buyers and suppliers. Often similar questions will be asked of a buyer or supplier throughout the course of every deal, the answers to which may also be very similar. Recognition by the CIPS Sustainability Index assures both parties that the entity they’re dealing with is reputable and reliable.

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11 Dec 2015

Developments in CNC Machining

CNC milling machines are used for the shaping of metal and other solid material and there isn’t much nowadays that hasn’t involved CNC machining somewhere in the manufacturing process. Cars, aeroplanes, machine parts, moulds for household machines, toys and prosthetics etc. are all likely to have CNC machined components.

Early milling machines were manually or mechanically operated but developed to be CNC controlled – Computer Numerically Controlled. Computer programmes control and drive the machining centre, with help from an operator and they have now also moved on from 3 axis to 4 and 5 axis machines enabling much more intricate parts to be produced.

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7 Dec 2015

Flooding and the rail network

Less than a week after the good news that Carlisle station is to get a £14.7m upgrade the rail network in the north, and particularly Carlisle has suffered at the hands of Storm Desmond. Stations have no power and long stretches of track are under water causing travel chaos.

Whilst Network Rail are promising to get things back up and running as soon as humanly possible, the safety of rail passengers has to be at the forefront of everything being done. So whilst in an ideal world commuters would love to back to normal as soon as possible, there is much more to getting back to normal than just the water receding. Network Rail’s crews of maintenance people (known as the Orange Army) are clearing fallen trees and landslip debris where they can (read more here), but it’s not just what’s fallen onto the tracks that is the issue.

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27 Nov 2015

The future of UK manufacturing

There has been much made of the future of UK manufacturing and engineering. Reports show that the UK is holding it’s own and that the future of manufacturing in the UK is good. The flip side of this good news, however, is the major concern over our engineers of the future. The UK still has a skills gap and when it comes to engineering we still have an annual shortfall of 55,000 people. The 2015 EngineeringUK report claims this shortage of skills is costing the UK £27bn a year.

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20 Nov 2015

Denmark to build world’s longest immersed tunnel

Denmark has engaged in many challenging infrastructure projects in an effort to improve transport links. Over the years Denmark has built many record breaking bridges and tunnels earning it the reputation of a global centre of structural engineering excellence. And they are about to take on their biggest project yet.

Known as the Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link , an 18km long sub sea tunnel to link the German island of Fehmarn to the Danish island of Lolland has been approved. It is thought the construction of the tunnel will have a huge impact on transport in the region and will replace about 2 million annual ferry journeys. It is also believed it will cut rail journey time between Copenhagen and Denmark by 25%.

The project has been approved in Denmark but is currently awaiting approval from the German government.

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8 Nov 2015

Regeneration Projects in Newport

Regeneration projects are taking place across Newport as part of a drive to improve existing sites, facilities and properties, as well as build new ones. The aim is to make improvements, both in the city centre and wider geography that will create a better environment for people to live, work and visit.

One of the major regeneration projects, Friars Walk is due to open next week on November 12th. The 390,000 square foot leisure and retail centre will be a major benefit to the local economy and is bringing top names brands like Debenhams, Marks and Spencer, Mothercare and Cineworld to the city. Gourmet food outlets and restaurants are also signed up and ready to open next week. A recent recruitment fair for the centre attracted over 4000 job seekers.

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30 Oct 2015

Additive Manufacturing in the Aero Industry

Back in 2014 we were talking about the experimental 3D printed joints being tested by the Airbus Group. The Rotite Fastener, was being tested on bicycles before being progressed into aircraft, but it was hoped that the technology could be developed and progressed into the aero industry making the attachment of electrical and mechanical components easier.

Additive manufacturing (the process of building components layer by layer) started off being used just for building prototype parts, but has now moved on to producing in flight components in the aero industry.

In March this year 3D printed parts got the go ahead from the FAA to be used in flight and as a result Boeing have used additive manufacturing to install over 20,000 non metallic 3D printed parts in their planes. They are using 3D printed parts in military and commercial aircraft.

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23 Oct 2015

UK – China Industry Relations | Investment or Timebomb?

This week it’s been announced that Tata Steel could slash up to 1,200 jobs across Scunthorpe and Soctland. Caparo Industries has called in the administrators and now up to 1,700 of their staff are facing real uncertainty about their futures. The UK Steel industry is in crisis and many commentators are rushing to blame China. But the fact of the matter is that the global Steel industry is in crisis, not just the UK, with many nations overproducing and even our closest neighbors in the EU undercutting British produced Steel. At a time when unprecedented trade deals are being fought for and signed across the globe we have to ask if we should still be trying to use China as a scapegoat or if it’s time to reconsider our economic ties with the emergent power.

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16 Oct 2015

Pilotless helicopter tested in the battle to fight wildfires

First came driverless cars, then came research into autonomous ships to help with transport freight emissions. Earlier this month Mercedes Benz tested an autonomous big rig on a public road and this week the news is of a pilotless helicopter being tested to help in the battles with wildfires in the United States. Autonomous and remote controlled vehicles are being used more and more in the battle for improved efficiency, safety and sustainability.

Earlier this week a Lockheed Martin helicopter capable of flying autonomously was launched in Idaho. Whilst the helicopter is capable of flying without a pilot, there was a safety pilot on board during the testing. The helicopter completed multiple drops of water that it had scooped up and then delivered to a demonstration ridge.

Why a pilotless helicopter?

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9 Oct 2015

TPP & TTIP | What Do They Mean For Manufacturing?

There’s been a lot of talk in the Media about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) this week as it’s finally been agreed upon between states after a 12 year negotiation. Though the TPP does not directly affect the UK there is a similar agreement in negotiation called the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) which is between the US and various EU countries. These agreements are meant to encourage Free Trade and are being sold as ‘good for everyone.’ It’s very obvious that this is almost never the case in the world of business.

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