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28 Jul 2014

Scammers try every avenue available to obtain money from people and companies. Today we experienced the dark side of the web first hand.

In this morning’s post was a letter returned by the Royal Mail as address unknown, it was addressed to one of our customers, but obviously at an incorrect address. When my FD opened it she was stunned by the contents. It was fake letter that looked as though it was from us informing our customer that we had changed our bank details and that all future payments should go to this new account. It was even signed by someone pretending to be the company secretary.

We have obviously informed all our customers that this is a scam along with the police in both Cardiff and London who are investigating the origin.

22 Jul 2014

Here at PRV Engineering we have always kept a keen eye on developments in the aerospace industry.

Therefore, it was with great interest when recently, we read about the first attempt to circumnavigate the globe in an aircraft powered entirely by the sun.
After 12 years of research and testing, the Swiss engineering team Solar Impulse has unveiled the craft that will undertake the mission, next year.
Having already demonstrated the ability to fly non-stop for 24 hours in their first solar powered aircraft, engineer Andre Borschberg and psychiatrist Bertrand Piccard have unveiled a second, more efficient single-seater craft that will enable them to take turns flying for up to five consecutive days and nights at a time — including flights over the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

10 Jun 2014

So much has been said about the future of engineering in recent times. Many industry leaders, including the likes of Sir James Dyson, have painted a bleak picture. However, there is some welcome good news for engineers, from within the rail industry.

With Britain’s railways currently undergoing the biggest programme of investment since the Victorian age, 2014 appears to be an exciting year for the rail industry.

In March, Network Rail unveiled plans to invest £38bn in the UK’s tracks and stations, while Transport for London and the Department for Transport also confirmed the extension of the Crossrail project west to Reading.

9 May 2014

The automobile industry has seen terrific change since the first car hit the road back in 1886. In fact, a quick comparison between the first car and today’s cars will tell you there are simply too many alterations to mention. Engines have developed out of all recognition, the bodywork has changed and a car’s interior is dramatically different too. Changes in fuels used, catalytic converters, turbos and injected engines have all been introduced. Big cars, small cars, cadillacs, two seaters, sports’ cars and Formula One cars. It’s an industry reluctant to stand still.

One of the major developments in recent times has been the introduction of the hybrid car – a vehicle that usually has two tanks for fuel – one for petrol and the other for hydrogen/ethanol or an alternative renewable fuel.  Another step in the right direction. Another topic of conversation.

However, the industry was never likely to sit still after that, was it? The latest innovation sees the first ever self cleaning car.

24 Apr 2014

Although the industry has suffered widespread criticism, there has been a general improvement in public attitude towards engineering.

Produced in March, the Public Attitudes report found that despite a lack of quality engineers, people now hold scientists and engineers in high regard. Ninety per cent not only believe engineers make a valuable contribution to society but view them as creative, interesting and open-minded people.

According to an article in The Engineer, this is borne out by Engineering UK’s annual Engineers and Engineering Brand Monitor, which found that for all age-groups ‘interesting’ has triumphed over previous descriptions for engineering, such as ‘dirty’ or ‘messy’ and even the more ambiguous term ‘challenging’.

17 Apr 2014

For the past month or so the loss of the Malaysian Airlines flight, MH370, has dominated the headlines on every news channel around the world. Where is it, how did it get there and why is it taking so long to establish it’s whereabouts are the unanswered questions.

Helping with the search has been a state of the art unmanned submarine which has been probing the bed of the Southern Indian Ocean. Armed with some of the latest underwater imaging and navigation systems, experts believe the Torpedo shaped vessel represents the best chance of finding the missing plane.

27 Mar 2014

A great deal has been spoken and written in recent times about the current state and the future of the engineering industry in the UK. Not only does Sir James Dyson claim he could employ another 2000 engineers if they were out there, but figures for graduate engineers entering the business, pale into insignificance when you compare them with those in other parts of Europe. Simon Jones, Managing Director of PRV Engineering in Pontypool, South Wales, is concerned about the future of the industry.

“It’s failing miserably,” said Simon. “There’s a lack of investment and a real lack of skill. It just doesn’t exist in this country anymore and engineering doesn’t exist in any child’s vocabulary anymore.

13 Mar 2014

A lack of senior engineers and in particular, a serious shortage of female engineers, has been a common theme in recent years.

The figures make for disappointing reading when it comes to female engineers. The United Kingdom is falling behind many of its European neighbours when it comes to attracting women into the industry.

However, Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering Foundation chairman, Lord Browne of Madingley, has called on parents to take a fresh look at engineering and encourage their sons and daughters into the profession.

27 Feb 2014

The world of engineering is constantly on the move with advances in the manufacturing industry amongst the most innovative in the business world. If you want to see the latest developments to come from the manufacturing technologies’ sector, under one roof, the MACH Exhibition is the place to be.

Staged over five days, between April 7-11, at the NEC in Birmingham, MACH is the outstanding showcase for advances in the industry brought to you by the Manufacturing Technologies’ Association (MTA).

Who are the MTA? Read about the organisers here 

20 Feb 2014

British industry still suffers from a lack of engineers. Such is the concern  that business secretary Vince Cable believes the shortage provides a serious threat to recovery. In particular, Cable highlighted the lack of women currently working or actively seeking employment in the British engineering industry.

Only 8% of British engineers are women, which is the lowest proportion in Europe. Compare that with Germany (15%), Sweden (25%) and top-performing Latvia (30%) and it’s easy to see why there is such deep-seated concern.

Research suggests the problem starts long before young people choose a career with many youngsters ditching maths and science as soon as they can. It’s a trend especially marked for girls.

A recent article in the Sheffield Star highlighted the concern. The newspaper reported that only 14 per cent of students at the new University Technical College, are girls. At the newly opened training centre at the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, just four of the 160 engineering apprentices are female.

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