Tag Archives: education

22 Nov 2013

Mechanical Engineering is vital to everyday life and has been around for centuries. It shapes the world in which we are living and the future on which we rely. From basic objects like wheels to the ever useful screws and inclined planes, from cars to aeroplanes, from paperclips to the rail industry, from bridges to skyscrapers, they all work under the foundations and principles laid out by the laws of mechanics.

We have seen how machines have made our lives easier and the wonders of mechanical engineering. But what is the future of engineering?

21 Jun 2013

On the 19th and 20th June 2013 PRV Engineering Ltd had the pleasure of entertaining 50 Children from Ysgol IFOR Bach Primary School in Abertridwr, Caerphilly. The Children, all aged between 7 & 9 years old visited PRV’s impressive facility to interview the CEO and Staff about engineering and the products and services they provide.

During the visit they had a tour of the facility, experiencing how work starts, how computers play a vital part of everyday life in the company and the many stages of manufacture that PRV can do in-house.

4 Mar 2013

Pushing the boundaries of technology is always an exciting event, and there is no better place to be able to do it than within the Formula one Motorsport arena. The McLaren Group is one of the leading motorsport engineering companies, and at their engineering works in Woking, Surrey, they are constantly on the lookout for any technological advancements that can get them onto that winner’s podium.

Pushing the Boundaries on Inspection

Formula 1 is one of the highest, fastest innovators in the hi-tech engineering sector. Within the span of one racing season, over 90% of a car’s engine is redesigned by the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 racing team. Anything that can help them in pushing the boundaries of the technology is always pounced on and scrutinised with great alacrity. Just lately, the focus has been turned onto the inspection function.

26 Feb 2013

The art of engineering has now reached the stage where it can produce engineered art. A new Powermill CAM software program is being used in the film industry, together with a 5 axis router, by film set maker Golden Era Productions. They use it to replicate works of art for film set props. It enables complex works of sculpture like Rodin’s “The Thinker” and “The Kiss” to be recreated in all their glorious detail – with one difference of course.

Rodin may be turning in his Grave

Whereas Monsieur Rodin would have taken many months to have completed one of his stunning works of sculpture, the latest application of the art of engineering can do it in hours. It’s surely enough to be making him turn in his grave.

14 Jan 2013

Real Engineering in Desperate Need of more Women

Real engineering has come under the spotlight following a recent comment made by one of the UK’s top, living inventors, James Dyson. What Mr. Dyson was referring to in an interview with the Radio Times, is today’s penchant for internet based crazes and video gaming in particular, rather than in conventional engineering. Perhaps he does have a point, but of course we mustn’t overlook the fact too, that web technology is also one of the UK’s strongest niche markets. In fact last year the video gaming industry contributed over £1 billion to the UK’s economy.

The fact of the matter is that the boys and girls of today grow up with computers and computer gaming. It’s therefore quite natural that so many become young men and women with their eyes firmly set on making a career out of their hobby.

24 Dec 2012

Goodwin Sands – The Best New UK Hub Airport Proposal

Goodwin Sands, 1.8 miles off the East Kent coast, may provide the answer to the UK’s urgent need to increase our airport capacity. An article recently appeared in the PRV Engineering blog regarding building a 5th runway at London Heathrow. It therefore seemed only right and proper that this new development in the Kent sandbanks should also be given an immediate airing.

17 Dec 2012

Engineering Recruitment Needs to Double by the Year 2020

Engineering recruitment needs to double. So says Engineering UK which has just published a report looking forward to the year 2020, based on current forecasts. The total number of engineering jobs that will require fulfilling is 2.74 million, and of this number, 1.86 million are predicted to need recognised engineering qualifications.

Apprenticeship Numbers Need to Rise
Apprenticeships were once highly prized. But over recent decades they have become less sought after as the UK’s manufacturing base shifted offshore. This, coupled with the boom in the new digital information era, meant that many youngsters moved their sights away from careers in the engineering sector. But that trend has over recent years, started to turn once again. Whilst it is true to say that the total number of jobs in general engineering has fallen drastically from the levels of 50s and 60s, the number of engineering companies working at the high precision end of the market has increased. Companies like PRV Engineering are flourishing, and it is in this particular sector of the market that demand is set to escalate.

19 Nov 2012

Engineering Challenges are PRV Engineering’s Bread and Butter

Engineering challenges come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. For the ordinary man and woman on the street, engineering may not be the most exciting topic for many ordinary everyday folk, but when it takes place within an environment such as space exploration, it takes on a whole new persona.

Space – Engineering’s Final Frontier
Designing and engineering precision parts for space vehicles is an awesome responsibility. It’s quite disturbing to think that one tiny flaw in design and/or manufacture could scuttle a mission. It could result in the obliteration of millions of pounds worth of satellite hardware, and the ruination of the anticipation, the hopes and the dreams of millions of people.

12 Nov 2012

PRV Engineering Looked Ahead – Britain’s Airway Industry Must Too

PRV Engineering are one of the top high precision machining engineering contractors, not only here in the UK, but across mainland Europe too. How did they do it? They did it by making bold decisions about their future, and by being prepared to invest hard cash in cutting edge plant and machinery. Britain’s commercial airway industry faces a similar dilemma.

The Third Runway Debate
The British Airway Authority (BAA) first began lobbying the government back in May 2007. Here we are now over 5 years later in October 2012 with still no decision in sight. In fact the debate should have already been retargeted if Britain is serious about keeping its position as Europe’s premier hub of choice. Take PRV for example. By not being afraid to take difficult steps toward their own future, PRV Engineering has now been enjoying the benefits for the past 2 years. They have enjoyed an increased turnover of over 20% year on year.

5 Nov 2012

Biological Crude – Potentially the New Power-Lubrication Source for Engineering

Biological crude oil from Algae may soon become a commercial reality. So say engineering researchers from Michigan University in the US. Recent research seems to indicate the possibility of converting 65% of Green Marine Micro Algae into what is being called Biological Crude or “Biocrude” for short. This in itself is not new news. But being able to create the Biological Crude in one minute is! Results of the research have just been published at the annual meeting of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.

We Can’t Wait a Million Years
With traditional crude taking as long as 1 million years to form from marine organisms, it won’t be very long before existing known sources that are financially viable to extract, become totally depleted. Waiting another million years for naturally occurring stocks to regenerate just isn’t an option. Solar power looks like being a real possibility as an alternative energy source, but now too – so does Biocrude.

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