The Engineer
April 2012 Online
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Researchers set to perform bionic eye trials in 2013
1 May 2012
Australian researchers are planning to perform patient tests of a fully functional bionic eye next year.
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Natural silk polymer scaffold could improve bone repair
1 May 2012
Researchers in the US claim to have demonstrated the first biodegradable bone scaffold material made from natural silk polymers.
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Scanner set to analyse impact of Olympic traffic on air quality
30 Apr 2012
New technology will go on trial during this year’s Olympics to analyse the impact of extra traffic on London’s pollution levels.
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Dream machines: metalworking at McLaren
30 Apr 2012
McLaren Racing’s partnership with Yamazaki Mazak is helping the team to bring more of its manufacturing in-house, improving its control over design and production of complex components
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Ear implant could replace conventional hearing aids
30 Apr 2012
A new ear implant could allow deaf people to hear without having to wear an inconvenient external microphone.
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Remote tracking system could prevent construction accidents
30 Apr 2012
Remote tracking using ultra-wideband frequencies could improve safety on construction sites.
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Nanocrystals could lead to lower-cost digital displays
30 Apr 2012
Engineers have created nanoscale crystals that can produce the red, green and blue laser light needed in digital displays.
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Breeze bloc
30 Apr 2012
The pros and cons of renewable energy generation are up for discussion this week, while the low carbon car sector shows off its capabilities
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New glass created to be self-cleaning and anti-fogging
30 Apr 2012
US researchers have created a new glassy material that is anti-fogging, self-cleaning and almost entirely eliminates reflections.
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Microscopic probe creates images beneath tissue surface
27 Apr 2012
A new microscopic diagnostic probe is capable of viewing beneath the surface of tissues to build up 3D depth image.
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Face recognition system makes matches from multiple stills
27 Apr 2012
A new facial recognition system could be capable of identifying matches based on multiple stills from poor quality video captured at different time points.
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Bridging the gap
27 Apr 2012
There are plenty of bridges in place now to aid the transition of basic research into the market, but is it enough?
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Railway sector 'not attractive enough' for young engineers
27 Apr 2012
A new report suggests that the British railway engineering industry is not attractive enough for young jobseekers and graduates.
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Avacta interim results reveal 72 per cent rise in revenue
26 Apr 2012
Avacta Group, a technology company providing analytical and diagnostics solutions to the life sciences and healthcare sectors, has announced its interim results for the period ended 31 January 2012.
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HSEC undergoes EV-backed £2.7m management buy-out
26 Apr 2012
An engineering consultancy that provides advice to businesses on health, safety and risk management issues has been bought out in a deal worth £2.7m.
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Saab to upgrade Royal Thai Navy aircraft carrier control
26 Apr 2012
Saab has received an order worth SEK180 from the Royal Thai Navy for the upgrading of the command-and-control system on the aircraft carrier HTMS Chakri Naruebet.
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Eneco Wind UK and EDF link up for Navitus Bay wind project
26 Apr 2012
Eneco Wind UK and EDF Energy have formed an equal joint venture to hold the exclusive development rights to the Navitus Bay Offshore Wind Project.
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BBUS to install cable for E.ON's Humber Gateway wind farm
26 Apr 2012
E.ON has announced that Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions has been awarded the contract to install the cable on its Humber Gateway offshore wind farm.
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United Technologies releases first-quarter 2012 results
26 Apr 2012
United Technologies Corporation has released its first-quarter 2012 results, noting that sales are down two per cent on a year-on-year basis.
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Fracking research sets distance limits to protect water supplies
26 Apr 2012
Research has found that fracking should take place at a minimum distance of 0.6km from sensitive rock formations to eliminate the risk of water contamination.
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Photovoltaic cell concept could boost voltage and efficiency
26 Apr 2012
Researchers have created photovoltaic cells designed like LEDs to emit light as well as absorb it.
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Technology will provide safe access to offshore structures
26 Apr 2012
Government funding has been granted to accelerate the development of an offshore personnel access system.
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Glasgow firm set to produce wheels for Bloodhound SSC
25 Apr 2012
A high-precision engineering firm in Glasgow is to produce the wheels for Bloodhound SSC, the vehicle aiming to break the land-speed record.
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Project looks to develop robots for precise machine milling
25 Apr 2012
Industrial robots could be used for more precise machine milling for things such as aerospace components, after recent trials of new technology.
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NGC technique could boost nerve injury recovery rates
25 Apr 2012
Engineers have created a new technique that could improve the chances of restoring sensation and movement in injured limbs.
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UK manufacturing sector is bouncing back, says CBI
25 Apr 2012
The UK manufacturing sector is showing signs of bouncing back from the fragile conditions seen at the end of 2011 and start of 2012, and sentiment has improved for the first time in a year.
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Asteroid mining: disaster movie, or the shape of things to come?
25 Apr 2012
The billionaire-backed venture Planetary Resources, which is planning to mine precious metals on asteroids, seems so fanciful that it could be a science fiction film plot. But it could be another example of private enterprise boldly going where public funding can’t
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Philips report first quarter profits
25 Apr 2012
Philips has reported profits of €249m (£203m) for the first three months of 2012.
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Simulator research could aid the design of tidal turbines
24 Apr 2012
Research being carried out at a unique environmental simulator in Hull could inform the design and deployment of tidal turbines.
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Parker Hannifin to acquire Gresham investment in Olaer
24 Apr 2012
Gresham Private Equity has signed a deal to sell its investment in Olaer to Parker Hannifin, a diversified manufacturer of motion and control technologies and systems.
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Hospital trusts win funding to advance particle beam therapy
24 Apr 2012
Two UK hospitals are to launch a procurement competition for particle beam cancer therapy technology after securing £250m of funding from the Department of Health.
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CERN and UK STFC launch Business Incubation Centre
24 Apr 2012
CERN and the UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council have launched a new Business Incubation Centre.
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Croatian start-up set to begin production of electric hypercar
23 Apr 2012
A Croatian-based automotive start-up is to begin manufacturing what is billed as the first production electric hypercar.
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High-Tech Gründerfonds and Innogy in Enercast investment
23 Apr 2012
Innogy Venture Capital and High-Tech Gründerfonds are to invest up to €2.25m in Enercast, a technology company that provides electricity generation forecasts from wind and solar.
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Study suggests people are in favour of wind energy in UK
23 Apr 2012
A new study into the UK public’s perception of wind energy suggests that people are favourably inclined toward it.
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Anaerobic digestion system set to be commercially available
23 Apr 2012
US researchers have unveiled what they claim is the first commercially available, high-solid anaerobic digestion system.
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Rolls-Royce set to supply engines for US V-22 aircraft
23 Apr 2012
Rolls-Royce has signed a $598m (£371m) contract to supply 268 AE 1107C engines for US Marine Corps and Air Force V-22 aircraft.
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The Dreamliner has landed
23 Apr 2012
Aerospace and automotive dominate this week’s events, with the 787 Dreamliner touring Britain and engineers asking if cars can be green, fast and fun.
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Music-mixing technology could assist with music production
23 Apr 2012
Music-mixing technology developed at Queen Mary University could help bands produce their own music without a sound engineer.
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Carbon capture and storage: a risk worth taking?
20 Apr 2012
Developing carbon capture and storage might be risky but we won’t be able to make informed decisions if we don’t.
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Motor will allow small satellites to go beyond Earth's orbit
20 Apr 2012
Engineers in Europe have developed the first prototype of an ultra-compact motor that will allow small satellites to journey beyond Earth’s orbit.
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Multi-electrode array could help to restore hand movement
20 Apr 2012
A multi-electrode array implant developed in the US could restore movement to paralysed hands.
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Corac announces losses for 2011 but remains optimistic
20 Apr 2012
Compressor and power electronics company Corac has posted losses for 2011 but remains optimistic about the future.
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Engineers verify pedestrian detection systems in vehicles
19 Apr 2012
Engineers have devised a sophisticated test bed for the research and development of pedestrian detection systems in cars.
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'Streamliner' could achieve 400mph in 90 seconds
19 Apr 2012
A UK team is developing a 400mph motorcycle that could break the world land speed record for a two-wheeled vehicle.
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NES completes flask leak test equipment contract series
19 Apr 2012
Nuclear Engineering Services has recently completed a contract for the installation of flask leak test equipment into the Dounreay Fast Reactor.
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KUKA announces membership to Sheffield University's AMRC
19 Apr 2012
KUKA Robotics UK is to play a wider role in the development of new manufacturing technologies after joining one of Britain’s top research organisations.
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Superconducting heads to the cities
19 Apr 2012
Cold current: using superconducting cables to carry electricity within cities has many advantages, but the difficulties are also considerable
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Imperial's new carbon capture pilot plant opens for business
19 Apr 2012
The Engineer paid a visit to Imperial College London’s new carbon capture pilot plant to see how it could help this emerging sector.
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Turning steel into ships
19 Apr 2012
While the various blocks of the Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales aircraft carriers continue to arrive at Rosyth shipyard, commissioning engineers are working on the many systems that will bring the ships to life
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Chest-imaging system could diagnose cancer earlier
19 Apr 2012
Doctors in Italy report that a new chest-imaging system could lead to the earlier diagnosis of lung cancer.
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Pilot plant tests carbon capture equipment and methods
18 Apr 2012
Imperial College London has opened a pilot plant that could help test and improve the latest carbon capture equipment and methods.
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Fast-switching plastic circuit mimics CMOS function
18 Apr 2012
A team in Cambridge has created a plastic electronic circuit with the architecture and functionality of a CMOS silicon chip.
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Heat-powered device provides electricity in off-grid areas
18 Apr 2012
A US company has created a device capable of using heat from a fire to power USB devices in parts of the world that are off the grid.
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Autonomous robot fleet could cut agricultural chemical use
18 Apr 2012
The amount of chemicals used in agricultural production could be cut with the use of a fleet of autonomous robots.
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Toshiba Tec to acquire IBM's Retail Store Solutions business
18 Apr 2012
Toshiba Tec is to acquire IBM’s Retail Store Solutions business, which offers retail point-of-sale solutions worldwide, for $850m.
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'Artificial nose' identifies early-stage cancers in exhaled breath
18 Apr 2012
An artificial nose that mimics the human olfactory system to detect cancers in the breath has been developed in Israel.
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MWP award winners announced
18 Apr 2012
Around 700 senior figures from the UK manufacturing sector gathered at Birmingham’s Hilton Metropole last night for the culmination of the MWP advanced manufacturing Awards 2012.
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Steel relighting is a welcome beacon of good news
18 Apr 2012
The scale of the achievement in bringing the blast furnace of Redcar’s steelworks back to life is well worth celebrating. Were reports of the decline of British steelmaking premature?
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Nanotubes could make more robust, cheaper solar cells
18 Apr 2012
Arrays of carbon nanotubes could be a cheaper, more efficient alternative to platinum electrodes in certain solar cells, according to new research.
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New report recommends the continuation of fracking in UK
17 Apr 2012
A new report published today recommends that fracking continues in the UK.
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Tata Steel plans £800m investment in Welsh plants
17 Apr 2012
Tata Steel plans to invest £800m in Wales over the next five years, according to claims made by the Welsh first minister.
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GE announces next-generation fuel injector design project
17 Apr 2012
A new high-performance computing project is aiming to design next-generation fuel injectors for GE’s engine fleet.
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Carbon nanotube sponge could be used to clean up oil spills
16 Apr 2012
A new production process for creating carbon nanotubes could lead to extremely efficient sponge material for cleaning up oil spills.
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Sahaviriya Steel Industries relights Redcar blast furnace
16 Apr 2012
Europe’s second-largest blast furnace was relit on Sunday afternoon by Sahaviriya Steel Industries (SSI) of Thailand, 26 months after it was mothballed by Tata Steel.
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Stratasys and Objet announce definitive merger agreement
16 Apr 2012
Stratasys and Objet have agreed a definitive merger under which the companies will combine in an all-stock transaction with a combined equity value of approximately $1.4bn.
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CTC announces contract award for HVDC cabling project
16 Apr 2012
CTC Marine Projects has announced a multi-million-pound contract award for Dolwin 1, a high-voltage cabling project off the German coast.
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Researchers in Germany create mobile ultrasound test system
16 Apr 2012
Researchers in Germany have developed a mechanised ultrasound process that can be used for the non-destructive testing of complex components such as ships’ propellers.
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EBS Automation announces trebling of workforce
16 Apr 2012
A Llanelli company that designs, manufactures and installs bespoke automation and robotic systems for a range of industry sectors is trebling the size of its workforce.
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This Week in 1875
16 Apr 2012
A device for cleaning train carriages is shown to be effective – easing the toils of manual labour
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Management, machining and more
16 Apr 2012
MACH 2012, management skills, and snake-arm robots dominate this week’s proceedings.
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Researcher develops enhanced electronic cooling technique
16 Apr 2012
A more efficient, less expensive way of cooling electronic devices has been developed in the US.
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Pacemaker firewall protects implants against hacking
13 Apr 2012
Researchers in the US have created a pacemaker firewall to protect wireless medical implants against hacking.
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Iceland's volcanoes could power the UK: but at what cost?
13 Apr 2012
A proposal to link the UK’s electricity grid to geothermal energy sources in Iceland is an intriguing version of a long-mooted European supergrid, but the costs need to be carefully examined.
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Organisations set to support biomass and biogas projects
13 Apr 2012
ERA-NET Bioenergy, a network of organisations from several countries, is to provide funding to support applied European research projects relating to biomass production or biogas.
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Harnessing wind energy at altitude 'could be possible'
13 Apr 2012
Generating energy from upper atmospheric winds could be possible according to feasibility studies from Australia.
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Mechan installs lifting jacks at traincare facility in Longsight
13 Apr 2012
Mechan has installed the largest single system of lifting jacks in the UK at the Alstom Transport Traincare Centre in Longsight near Manchester.
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Plans for satellite technology centre take step forward
13 Apr 2012
The government has taken the next step to establish an innovation centre for satellite technology and applications.
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Aker Solutions set to build umbilical plant in Malaysia
13 Apr 2012
Aker Solutions will build a new umbilical manufacturing plant in Pekan, Malaysia.
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University engineers set to investigate marine turbines
13 Apr 2012
Engineers at Cambridge University have received an EPSRC grant to develop two technologies that will increase the life of marine turbines.
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AREVA Solar wins contract for Indian power installation
13 Apr 2012
AREVA Solar has been awarded a contract by the Indian group Reliance Power to build a 250MW concentrated solar power (CSP) installation in India.
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Forensics could match gunshot residue to type of ammunition
13 Apr 2012
A new forensic technique could allow investigators to match gunshot residue to the exact type of ammunition, and even calibre of gun, used at a crime scene.
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Beetle flight patterns set to inform micro aircraft design
13 Apr 2012
Flight patterns of the rhinoceros beetle are being used to inform the design of micro aerial vehicles.
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Rail technology funding could boost innovation and growth
12 Apr 2012
More than 20 British-based companies are to share £5m of investment in new railway technology that could help exploit a growing export market.
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UK seeks to develop defence trade agreement with Japan
12 Apr 2012
British defence companies are hoping to exploit the recent relaxation of Japanese defence export laws in order to increase business between the two countries.
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Cooper Parry seeks buyers for UK-based pipework specialist
12 Apr 2012
A business advisory firm is looking for buyers for an engineering company that specialises in the design and installation of pipework after it hit financial difficulties.
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VerdErg installs hydropower technology in River Caldew
12 Apr 2012
VerdErg is in the process of installing new hydropower technology into a Cumbrian river.
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Smartphones give 'augmented reality' view of urban plans
12 Apr 2012
New augmented reality technology could help urban planners visualize developments on site using smartphones or similar devices.
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Device promises better way of unblocking arteries
12 Apr 2012
A new mechanical device for unblocking arteries narrowed by plaque could improve the success rate of existing surgical procedures, its makers claim.
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Diving into basic mechanics
12 Apr 2012
It’s all about the vibrations: guest blogger Steve Haake discusses the application of the basic theories of mechanics to springboard diving.
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Deal could bring graphene production method to market
12 Apr 2012
A UK company working on a more environmentally friendly graphene manufacturing method has announced a deal to bring the technology to market.
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Modular multifunctional robots could be assembled in minutes
12 Apr 2012
Soldiers could one day carry multifunctional robots that can be assembled in minutes thanks to a new modular system invented in the UK.
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BASF India invests €150m in new chemical production site
11 Apr 2012
BASF India will invest €150m to set up a new chemical production site at the Dahej Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Region, located on the west coast of India in Gujarat.
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Investment allows Biofortuna to expand for continued growth
11 Apr 2012
Biofortuna, a UK-based molecular diagnostics company developing novel IVD kits, is expanding for continued growth with a £2.1m investment.
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Dye-based organic PVs could remove need for batteries
11 Apr 2012
Wales-based G24 Innovations has achieved what may be a record efficiency for dye-based organic photovoltaic cells of 26 per cent.
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Communication will allay resistance to smart grids
11 Apr 2012
Developing and introducing the technology to change the way electricity is generated and distributed is quite a challenge for engineers - but addressing the public’s concerns and explaining the technology might be even trickier
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Intelligent wheelchair has customisable autonomy levels
11 Apr 2012
A European project is aiming to accelerate the adoption of healthcare technologies with a range of autonomous and intelligent solutions.
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Government provides funding for space-based research
11 Apr 2012
The government is providing nearly £6m to co-fund new British research that will lead to the development of commercial products and services using space technology and data from space-based systems.
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Defence mechanism protects vehicles against explosions
10 Apr 2012
A new blast defence mechanism could double vehicle protection against mine explosions without additional armour, according to its inventor.
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STFC selects Virtalis for virtual reality facility contract
10 Apr 2012
The Science and Technology Facilities Council has awarded Virtalis a £2.2m contract to provide multiple virtual reality facilities for its Daresbury and Rutherford Appleton Laboratories.
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Microfluidics-based microarray enhances diagnosis of cancer
10 Apr 2012
A new microfluidics-based microarray developed at McGill University could change how and when cancer is diagnosed.
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Council fund aims to support advanced manufacturing firms
10 Apr 2012
A fund run by Lancashire County Council is seeking to invest in businesses in advanced manufacturing.
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Nissan to create 225 jobs with medium hatchback production
10 Apr 2012
Nissan is to build an all-new mid-sized model at its Sunderland plant from 2014, a decision that will see an additional 225 jobs created at the company.
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Technology aims to keep old oil wells sealed
10 Apr 2012
A UK firm has developed a new method for sealing abandoned oil wells using an innovative plug device and simulation models.
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New technology could reduce radiation exposure in CT scans
10 Apr 2012
New technology could reduce the higher levels of radiation exposure that obese people have traditionally faced when having a CT scan.
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Google unveils futuristic augmented reality glasses
5 Apr 2012
Google is working on a pair of voice-controlled augmented reality glasses that could ultimately replace smart phones.
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Waterjet method cuts complex shapes in very hard materials
5 Apr 2012
Nottingham engineers are pioneering a waterjet milling technique that can cut at precisely controlled depths and self correct to produce complex geometries.
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'Superradiant' laser could boost performance of atomic clocks
5 Apr 2012
A new ‘superradiant’ laser design could be 100 to 1,000 times more stable than the best conventional visible lasers, according to its inventors.
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Mathematical models help to lower radio interference in EVs
5 Apr 2012
Researchers in Germany are using mathematical models to reduce radio interference in electric vehicles, while making them cheaper at the same time.
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Solid-state quantum computer protects against decoherence
5 Apr 2012
Researchers in the US and the Netherlands have moved closer to the next generation of electronics by building a quantum computer inside a diamond.
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Handheld device uses plume of plasma to rid skin of bacteria
5 Apr 2012
Scientists have developed a low-cost handheld device that uses a plume of plasma to rid skin of bacteria.
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National Nuclear Laboratory and GEH sign plutonium MoU
4 Apr 2012
The UK’s National Nuclear Laboratory has signed a memorandum of understanding agreement with GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy.
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Multi-fuel technology could reduce emissions from HGVs
4 Apr 2012
A multi-fuel technology that mixes diesel with other fuel sources could cut greenhouse gas emissions from heavy-goods vehicles.
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3D printing method could open up path to new metamaterials
4 Apr 2012
A novel 3D printing method could allow the creation of polymer features at a resolution of just 10nm, opening up the path to a raft of new metamaterials.
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Carbon capture is only a part of an energy landscape
4 Apr 2012
The government’s latest competition to develop technologies for carbon capture and storage is wider in scope than its predecessor, but still isn’t sufficient on its own to ensure that CCS is a viable technology
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Neural imaging system could enhance brain mapping
4 Apr 2012
Researchers in Canada have developed a system that facilitates the creation of more complex maps of the brain with one camera and imaging system.
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ETI seeks energy-from-waste demonstrator plant partners
4 Apr 2012
The Energy Technologies Institute is looking for partners to join a £13m project to help design and build a next-generation energy-from-waste demonstrator plant.
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RIT looks to sell Agora Oil and Gas to Cairn Energy
3 Apr 2012
RIT Capital Partners has announced the proposed sale of Agora Oil and Gas to Cairn Energy.
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Halma announces acquisition of Sensorex and Accutome
3 Apr 2012
Halma has acquired US companies Sensorex and Accutome for a total of $57.5m.
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Aquatic prototype robot could find use in medical applications
3 Apr 2012
An ambitious EPSRC project aims to create an entirely new multi-cellular robotic organism that has biological muscles as well as microelectronics.
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Sheffield Forgemasters expands welding services
3 Apr 2012
Sheffield Forgemasters’ welding capabilities are helping to create new markets by expanding the company’s portfolio to fabricate large components for the burgeoning offshore oil and gas sector.
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Government relaunches £1bn CCS technology competition
3 Apr 2012
The UK government is relaunching its £1bn competition to support the development of carbon capture and storage technology.
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Project seeks refinement of thin-film solar modules
3 Apr 2012
An EU-funded funded project is looking to refine thin-film solar modules with a target efficiency of 12 per cent.
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Technology could transform bins into power generators
3 Apr 2012
A new waste-to-energy technology fitted within a shipping container could turn bins into power generators.
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March rounds off positive start to 2012 for UK manufacturing
3 Apr 2012
March rounded off a positive start to 2012 for UK manufacturing, with output and new orders expanding throughout the opening quarter.
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Angolan airline orders three 777-300ERs from Boeing
3 Apr 2012
Boeing and Angola flag carrier TAAG Linhas Aéreas de Angola have finalised an order for three additional 777-300ER aircraft.
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RAF weapons deal set to help sustain hundreds of UK jobs
3 Apr 2012
A £60m deal for extra Royal Air Force precision weapons will help sustain hundreds of UK jobs, according to an announcement from the Ministry of Defence today.
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Oxalis acquires hazardous equipment company
3 Apr 2012
The Oxalis Group has acquired specialist hazardous and industrial equipment supplier EMC Ex.
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Eco development could host trial of low-cost LED light bulb
3 Apr 2012
A UK eco-town could host the first large-scale trial of an affordable LED light bulb that is as bright as traditional bulbs.
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Discovery points to graphene base for microelectronics
2 Apr 2012
Arizona University scientists have made an electron-flow discovery that brings graphene applications in electronics a step closer.
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Clive Hickman — chief executive of the MTC
2 Apr 2012
Clive Hickman explains how the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry is helping to shape the contours of the UK’s manufacturing roadmap
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Researchers convert CO2 into isobutanol using electricity
2 Apr 2012
Researchers in California claim to have demonstrated a method for converting CO2 into isobutanol using electricity.
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Self-assembling robots could one day replicate objects
2 Apr 2012
Researchers in the US are developing tiny robots that can assemble themselves into products and then disassemble when no longer needed.
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Easter rebirth for UK manufacturing at MACH
2 Apr 2012
With Easter around the corner, Briefing brings you two weeks worth of events, most notably this year’s MACH 2012 manufacturing exhibition.
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Novel gel could give robots sensory skin
2 Apr 2012
US researchers are experimenting with synthetic skin for robots which would enable them to sense mechanical stimuli and respond chemically.
