The Engineer
August 2011 Online
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Baseclick raises funds to boost its activities in DNA technology
31 Aug 2011
Baseclick, a spin-off from BASF SE and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, has raised an additional €1.2m from private investors and BASF Venture Capital in a second round of financing.
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Rosneft and ExxonMobil set to develop hydrocarbon resources
31 Aug 2011
Rosneft and ExxonMobil have signed an agreement under which the companies plan to undertake the joint exploration and development of hydrocarbon resources in Russia, the US and other countries throughout the world.
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Siemens and Volvo announce plans to develop electric cars
31 Aug 2011
Siemens and Volvo Car Corporation are to develop electric cars.
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Nexans to supply LV cables for gas field in Turkmenistan
31 Aug 2011
Cable company Nexans has been awarded a major contract by Petrofac to supply specialised low-voltage (LV) cables for a gas-field development project in Turkmenistan.
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Green Biologics and Songyuan Laihe Chemical team up
31 Aug 2011
Biorenewable chemical company Green Biologics (GBL) and Songyuan Laihe Chemical, a company focused on producing bio-fuels and bio-chemicals from non-food bio-mass resources, have entered into a collaborative development and licensing agreement in China.
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Daimler and Rolls-Royce to acquire Tognum
31 Aug 2011
German car manufacturer Daimler and Rolls-Royce Holdings have obtained the approval of all the relevant regulatory authorities for the acquisition of Tognum, a Friedrichshafen-based engine and drive system company.Through the acquisition of Tognum, Daimler and Rolls-Royce plan to create a leading supplier of complete industrial engine systems.
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A second chance for Derby?
31 Aug 2011
Crossrail could benefit two cities — London and Derby. A delay in the awarding of the train supply contract is welcome
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Electronic implant could make chemotherapy more effective
31 Aug 2011
Chemo and radiation therapy may become more effective with oxygen-generating devices implanted into tumours.
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Blood glucose monitor could benefit diabetic patients
31 Aug 2011
A new blood-glucose monitor being developed in Wales will send a text alert to emergency personnel when the wearer is in danger of hypoglycaemia attack.
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Graphene shown to enhance light-harvesting performance
31 Aug 2011
Researchers have demonstrated a 20-fold enhancement in harvesting light by graphene — a development that could lead to advances in high-speed internet.
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Electric cars and the energy gap
30 Aug 2011
This week’s Briefing kicks off in Germany with some good news about an all electric vehicle breaking a speed record.
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Nuclear reactor destined for deployment on other planets
30 Aug 2011
Nuclear power could be vital to the establishment of outposts or habitats on other planets, according to a speaker at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
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Device can get a read-out from 'virtually any tissue sample'
26 Aug 2011
A new handheld diagnostic ‘toolbox’ device is claimed to be able to get a read-out from virtually any type of tissue sample without the need for any pre-preparation.
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Imaging method measures cell mass using two beams of light
26 Aug 2011
An imaging method that can measure cell mass using two beams of light has been developed in the US.
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Sensors detect potentially risky oestrogenic compounds
26 Aug 2011
Researchers in Illinois have developed sensors that streamline the detection of oestrogenic compounds.
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Team to develop polyamides for engineering applications
26 Aug 2011
Solvay and Avantium are to jointly develop environmentally friendly, high-performance polyamides for engineering plastics.
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Hanging on to our key technology assests
26 Aug 2011
Recent market events have re-ignited a debate at the very heart of the engineering and technology sector and arguably the UK economy as a whole.
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Saft to provide Li-ion batteries for GEO satellite platform
26 Aug 2011
Saft has received a contract from Orbital Sciences to provide lithium-ion batteries for Orbital’s STAR-2 geosynchronous orbit satellite platform.
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Probe eyes interactions in nuclear fusion reactors
26 Aug 2011
A new probe tool could help in understanding interactions between plasma and vessel walls in nuclear fusion reactors as they happen in real time.
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TSB offers funding for climate-change building strategies
26 Aug 2011
Design teams are being offered funding by the TSB to develop strategies for buildings so that they are better able to adapt to climate change.
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SPX enters agreement to acquire Clyde Union Pumps
25 Aug 2011
Manufacturing and industrial equipment supplier SPX has entered into a definitive agreement with Clyde Blowers Capital, SCF-VI Offshore, Appleby Nominees (Jersey) and certain members of Clyde Union management to acquire Clyde Union Pumps.
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IET urges school leavers to consider apprenticeships
25 Aug 2011
The Institution of Engineering and Technology is urging young people receiving their GCSE results today to consider apprenticeships as a way into engineering.
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CBI report indicates economic boost to UK manufacturing
25 Aug 2011
UK manufacturers this week report that healthy order books and expectations for output growth are above their long-run average.
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Sherborne Sensors announces improved sales performance
24 Aug 2011
Sherborne Sensors, a manufacturer of sensors for military, aerospace and industrial applications, has announced improved sales performance for its fiscal year ending 30 June.Sales rose approximately 15 per cent year over year globally, with growth of approximately 13 per cent in the North American market.The company launched several new products over the past 12 months, including the DSIC series Digital Servo Inclinometer and the WTS Wireless Tilt System.
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Antibody inks could replace ELISA in biomedical research
24 Aug 2011
Advanced printing technology is being used to produce stamp-sized testing patches that could replace the microwell plates used for routine biomedical testing.
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Nexans to supply submarine cables to Riffgat wind farm
24 Aug 2011
Cable company Nexans has been awarded a contract by project developer Offshore-Windpark Riffgat, owned by Enova and Ewe Energie, to supply and install the infield submarine power cables and ancillary equipment for the Riffgat offshore wind farm, currently under construction 15km northwest of the German island of Borkum.
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Rohde and Schwarz to supply radios for aircraft carriers
24 Aug 2011
The Aircraft Carrier Alliance (ACA) has awarded Rohde and Schwarz (R&S) a contract for the production phase of the VHF and UHF Emergency Radio System, for both Queen Elizabeth Class (QEC) aircraft carriers.With the design phase complete, R&S will now build two equipment racks, housing R&S V/UHF M3SR series 4400 software-defined radios and recording equipment, for each vessel.
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Wärtsilä wins iron ore mine power plant contract
24 Aug 2011
Power systems provider Wärtsilä has been awarded a contract to supply engines, generators and associated auxiliary equipment to a power plant serving an iron-ore mine in western Australia.
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Fenner subsidiary acquires Australia-based Transeals
24 Aug 2011
Hallite Seals Australia, a wholly owned subsidiary of Fenner, has exchanged contracts to purchase 100 per cent of the share capital of Transeals, a privately owned company based in Perth, Australia.
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Spanish Army orders three tEODor robots from Cobham
24 Aug 2011
Aerospace and defence company Cobham has been awarded a contract by the Spanish armed forces to provide three more units of tEODor, the telerob Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) robot.This award finalises a ten-year purchasing programme of advanced bomb-disposal technology within the Spanish military, which now operates the world¹s fourth-largest fleet of tEODor-type robots, featuring 27 systems in total.
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Australian researchers explore benefits of thermopower waves
24 Aug 2011
Thermopower waves could be used to convert ambient heat into electrical energy to create truly autonomous micro and nano machines.
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Car makers to develop hybrid system for pick-ups and SUVs
24 Aug 2011
Ford and Toyota are to collaborate on the development of an advanced new hybrid system for pick-ups (light trucks) and sport utility vehicles.
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Motion-tracking system could reduce UAV operator workload
24 Aug 2011
A new development in geo-tracking could reduce the workload for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operators.
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Communication key to gender balance
24 Aug 2011
If engineers are to fulfill their potential in the sector regardless of their gender, we’re going to have to look at more than just tackling overt sexism
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Model predicts which drugs affect cancer cell metabolism
24 Aug 2011
A computer model that can predict which drugs are lethal to the function of a cancer cell’s metabolism has been developed by scientists in Israel and Scotland.
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Boeing to supply 14 Chinook helicopters to the RAF
23 Aug 2011
Boeing is to supply the RAF with 14 new Chinook helicopters in a deal worth $1.64bn.
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Power-generating device could be embedded in footwear
23 Aug 2011
An energy-harvesting system that could supplement batteries in electronic devices has been developed in the US.
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Costain acquires entire issued share capital of Promanex
23 Aug 2011
UK engineering and construction group Costain has acquired 100 per cent of the issued share capital of Promanex, an industrial support services business, for £16.4m.Based in Warwickshire, Promanex operates across the UK and in Ireland with a workforce of more than 800 maintenance employees.The company’s client base consists largely of blue chip customers such as Conoco Phillips, EDF, E.ON, Magnox, RWE, Scottish and Southern Energy, Siemens and Total.
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Antennas can be embedded directly into military clothing
23 Aug 2011
Engineers working on antennas embedded into military clothing have developed a device four times more powerful than the body-worn ‘whip’ antennas used by soldiers.
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Cardiff-based Tidal Energy wins Carbon Trust grant
23 Aug 2011
The Carbon Trust has offered a grant of up to £390,000 through its Entrepreneurs Fast Track service to Cardiff-based Tidal Energy.
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BAE Systems to participate in US Army's GCV programme
23 Aug 2011
Defence, security and aerospace company BAE Systems has been awarded a $449.9m (£272.9m) contract to participate in the technology development (TD) phase of the US Army’s Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) programme.
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NiDa Transport orders more than 200 Volvo FMX trucks
23 Aug 2011
South Africa-based NiDa Transport has placed an order for more than 200 of the latest Volvo FMX with the potential for 50 more.
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BAE Systems wins SELEX Galileo contract
23 Aug 2011
BAE Systems Manufacturing, at Hillend in Fife, has been awarded a contract worth around £20m to provide procurement and electronic manufacturing services to SELEX Galileo, as part of its contract to deliver the Typhoon Tranche 3a Captor radar programme, which is the primary sensor for the Typhoon jet.Work on the programme is due to commence at BAE Systems Hillend facility this year and will run until 2013.
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NASA announces Technology Demonstration Missions
23 Aug 2011
Three space missions have been selected by NASA to demonstrate new technologies in communications, deep space navigation and in-space propulsion.
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Flywheel claimed to be more efficient than geared drives
23 Aug 2011
A high-speed flywheel energy storage device has achieved greater efficiency than a conventional geared drive, claim its developers.
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Energy-storage device could offer key to higher capacitance
23 Aug 2011
A new type of energy-storage device can combine the best qualities of high-energy batteries and fast-charging capacitors, researchers claim.
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Bombardier Aerospace receives order for four Q400 aircraft
22 Aug 2011
Bombardier Aerospace has announced that a European airline, which has requested to remain unidentified at the present time, has signed a firm order for four Q400 NextGen high-speed turboprop airliners.The firm order, which includes options on an additional four Q400 NextGen aircraft, is valued at approximately $126m (£76.5m).
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New research aims to optimise batteries for automotive use
22 Aug 2011
A cutting-edge lab at Cambridge University has been set up to perform detailed analysis of battery cycles in real time in an effort to solve problems and design better materials.
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HP set to acquire outstanding shares of Autonomy
22 Aug 2011
HP and Autonomy Corporation have announced the terms of a recommended transaction under which HP will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Autonomy for £25.50 per share.
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'Swarm technology' could allow UAVs to work together
22 Aug 2011
Autonomous aircraft could one day work together like swarming insects to complete missions, thanks to technology tested by Boeing last month.
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Adopting renewables, accident analysis and medical marvels
22 Aug 2011
This week sees a number of hands-on conferences on how to put new technology into practice, including the adoption of renewables in the building industry.
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Study shows radical response to volatile material prices
22 Aug 2011
UK manufacturers are taking increasingly radical steps to cut costs in the face of rising material prices and falling availability, says new research.
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General Dynamics team wins US Army GCV contract
19 Aug 2011
A team led by US defence company General Dynamics, which includes Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Tognum America, was awarded a $439.7m (£266.3m) contract for the Technology Development (TD) phase of the US Army’s Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) programme.
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CCTV project aims to make it easier to track down criminals
19 Aug 2011
Kingston University researchers are working on a project to help police analyse CCTV footage more quickly.
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Car manufacturing continues to rise steadily, states SMMT
19 Aug 2011
Car manufacturing rose 1.3 per cent in July and is up 3.7 per cent over the first seven months of 2011, according to a report from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
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Linde wins $15m to advance carbon capture technologies
19 Aug 2011
The US Department of Energy has selected gas and engineering technology group Linde to receive $15m (£9m) for the advancement of carbon dioxide (CO2) capture technologies.
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Rolls-Royce wins offshore supply vessels contract
19 Aug 2011
Power systems company Rolls-Royce has won an order worth £15m to design and equip two UT 735 SE offshore supply vessels for Brasil Supply.
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Aker Solutions creates jobs at new London engineering office
19 Aug 2011
Aker Solutions is set to recruit 300 staff at its Aberdeen operation and create 200 positions at the company’s newly established west London engineering office.
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When science goes bad: how impossible is too impossible?
19 Aug 2011
When science fiction filmakers don’t pay enough to scientific realities, even the best storyline can come crashing down.
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Fluor wins contract to expand the Caspian pipeline
19 Aug 2011
Engineering, procurement and construction company Fluor has been awarded a contract by Chevron Neftegaz — one of three project managers engaged by the Caspian Pipeline Consortium for its recently announced expansion project.
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Fund could get particulate-mapping device on the road
19 Aug 2011
An engineer in the US has received a grant to develop a device that maps concentrations of particulate matter on the highways of Southern California in real time.
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Engineers welcome rise in A-level students taking science
18 Aug 2011
Engineers have welcomed another rise in the proportion of students taking maths and science A levels.
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Don't get carried away by the increase in science A-levels
18 Aug 2011
Young people might be more interested in science, but it doesn’t mean the public has changed its mind on engineering careers
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TSB launches sustainable technology competition
18 Aug 2011
The Technology Strategy Board (TSB) is to invest up to £4.5m in new collaborative research and development aimed at encouraging industrial end-users to work with supply chains and innovators to create new products and services for a sustainable economy.
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Bionic leg avoids the pitfalls of traditional passive prosthetics
18 Aug 2011
A new lower-limb prosthetic allows amputees to walk without the leg-dragging gait experienced in conventional artificial legs.
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Polymer research could lead to scratch-resistant coatings
18 Aug 2011
A new analytical method for determining the optimal composition of polymer surfaces could lead to lightweight windows and scratch-resistant coatings for cars and mobile phones.
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Xchanging wins procurement services contract from BAE
18 Aug 2011
Defence, security and aerospace company BAE Systems has awarded a seven-year procurement services contract to Xchanging, the business process and technology services provider.
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SSTL satellites to help Nigeria monitor its natural resources
18 Aug 2011
Two British-made satellites that are set to help Nigeria monitor its natural resources and aid disaster relief were launched from Russia yesterday.
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Research could help improve performance of gas turbines
18 Aug 2011
A new licensing agreement between Mikro Systems and Siemens Energy is expected to improve the performance of gas turbines.
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Enerconcept Technologies and GoGaS Goch team up
17 Aug 2011
Canadian company Enerconcept Technologies and German company GoGaS Goch have partnered up in an attempt to create the world’s most efficient combination of equipment for heating industrial space, make-up air and drying processes in Germany and other European markets.
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Scottish Power looks to invest in its transmission network
17 Aug 2011
Up to 1,500 new jobs could be created as a result of Scottish Power’s proposed £3bn investment in its high-voltage transmission network.
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Engineers work to develop electric sports car prototype
17 Aug 2011
Morgan Motor Company and a consortium of British technology specialists are working on a new, high-performance electric sports car prototype.
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MAS South East offers access to free business reviews
17 Aug 2011
The Manufacturing Advisory Service South East is offering any business in the region involved in manufacturing production or assembly access to a free review with one of its industry specialists.
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Oil and gas industry 'remained fragile' in the second quarter
17 Aug 2011
Oil & Gas UK’s second-quarter business confidence index published today shows that the outlook of the UK upstream oil and gas industry remained fragile in the three months from April this year.
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Robot designed to eliminate unknowns of mine rescue
17 Aug 2011
A robot designed to assist mine rescues has been developed at Sandia National Laboratories in the US.
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Measuring bacterial heat could reduce cost of diagnosing TB
17 Aug 2011
Researchers in Switzerland hope to reduce the time and cost of diagnosing tuberculosis by measuring the heat bacteria produce as they grow.
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Anti-social media?
17 Aug 2011
The disturbances that swept across England last week have raised a number of questions relevant to the UK’s technology sector.
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Novel sensors could help boost efficiency at fossil-fuel plants
17 Aug 2011
US researchers are developing an array of novel high-temperature sensors that they claim will help fossil-fuel plants to increase their efficiency and potentially reduce emissions.
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'World's fastest' bipedal robot maintains human-like gait
16 Aug 2011
Engineers have unveiled what they claim is the world’s fastest bipedal robot with knees.
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Spectris to acquire Omega Engineering for $475m
16 Aug 2011
Spectris is to acquire Omega Engineering, a US process-measurement and control-instrumentation company, for $475m.
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Glass computer memory could reduce cost of medical imaging
16 Aug 2011
Researchers from Southampton University have created a type of glass computer memory that could reduce the costs of medical imaging.
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E.ON orders 112 Vestas wind turbines for US project
16 Aug 2011
Wind energy company Vestas has received a 202MW order from E.ON Climate and Renewables North America for 112 V100 1.8MW turbines for a wind-energy project in the US.The project’s name and specific location will be disclosed at a later date.The contract includes delivery and commissioning, along with a five-year service and maintenance agreement.Delivery is scheduled for the first half of 2012 and commissioning is expected in mid-2012.
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Solar-powered car heads to Australia for global race
16 Aug 2011
A team from Durham University are preparing their vehicle for the World Solar Challenge this October.
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Bridgepoint-advised funds to acquire Spanish wind assets
16 Aug 2011
Funds advised by Bridgepoint have agreed to acquire a portfolio of wind energy assets from listed Spanish construction conglomerate Auxiliar de Construcción y Servicios (ACS) in a transaction that values the assets at €596.5m (£524.2m).The portfolio of 11 wind farms in Castilla Leon is the largest independent platform of wind assets in Spain, with 443MW of installed capacity.
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Metso to supply biomass power plant for CHP in Gemany
16 Aug 2011
Metso will supply Heizkraftwerk Zwickau Süd with a modularised biomass power plant for combined heat and power production (CHP) in the municipality of Zwickau in Germany.
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Harris to supply Falcon III manpack radios for Canada
16 Aug 2011
Communications technology company Harris has received a $4.7m (£2.9m) order from the government of Canada for Falcon III AN/PRC-117G multiband manpack radios and RF-7800B tactical satellite communication systems.
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General Dynamics wins Saudi tank programme contract
16 Aug 2011
General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics, has been awarded two contracts with a combined value of $42.4m (£26m) for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s tank programme, to upgrade its entire fleet of 314 Abrams tanks.
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Qantas selects Airbus A320 aircraft for premium airline
16 Aug 2011
Australian airline Qantas has ordered 106 Airbus A320 aircraft, including 78 A320neo jets, to launch its new premium airline to service routes to and from Australia and the Asian region.In addition, Jetstar has selected the Airbus A320 to continue its growth in Australia and Asia.At present, Qantas’ A380 fleet comprise 10 aircraft, making the carrier the third largest A380 operator worldwide.Qantas will decide which engine it wants at a later date.
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Software aids predictions of fracturing in offshore pipes
16 Aug 2011
Car crash modelling software is being adapted by engineers to predict how pipes may fracture in offshore drilling accidents.
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Google acquires Motorola's mobile phone division
15 Aug 2011
Google is to acquire the mobile phone division of Motorola in a deal worth $12.5bn (£7.63bn).
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'Fluid-flow cloak' said to help ships move more efficiently
15 Aug 2011
Researchers at Duke University claim to have developed a method to help ships move more efficiently through water using what they call a ’fluid-flow cloak’.
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Lightweight solar panels can be worn by soldiers in combat
15 Aug 2011
Rugged, lightweight solar panels suitable for infantry soldiers to wear in combat have been developed by the Australian National University (ANU).
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Traffic system calculates toll fees down to the minute
15 Aug 2011
Siemens has developed a traffic-management system that uses real-time information on speed and congestion to calculate toll fees down to the minute.
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Portable surface-capture tool could find use in forensics
12 Aug 2011
A new portable imaging system capable of capturing 3D, micron-level renderings of surface structures could find use in industry, medicine, forensics and biometrics.
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Skin-mounted electronics could help to monitor muscle activity
12 Aug 2011
The field of wearable electronics has taken an important step forward with an ultra-thin device platform that can be mounted directly onto human skin, in a similar manner to a temporary tattoo.
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Bite-counting device could help dieters monitor their eating
12 Aug 2011
People trying to stick to a dietary regime could benefit from a new wrist-worn device that tracks the number of bites taken during meals.
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Falcon Hypersonic vehicle undergoes final test flight
11 Aug 2011
The US Defense Advance Research Projects Agency will today conduct the second and final test flight of its Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle 2 (HTV-2).
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New method rapidly converts simple glucose into biofuels
11 Aug 2011
A new method for rapidly converting simple glucose into biofuels and petrochemical substitutes has been developed at Rice University.
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Warhead casings that increase explosive impact undergo tests
11 Aug 2011
The US Office of Naval Research (ONR) is testing a new material that will replace steel in warhead casings and increase the likelihood of a hit on an enemy target.
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EU's top corporate investors 'will increase R&D spend'
11 Aug 2011
The European Union’s leading corporate investors are to increase investment in research and development, according to a new survey.
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Cathay Pacific Airways orders twelve Boeing aircraft
11 Aug 2011
Hong Kong-based carrier Cathay Pacific Airways has ordered eight Boeing 777 Freighters and four 777-300ER (extended range) aircraft.With this $3.3bn (£2bn) order, Cathay Pacific becomes the 15th customer to order the 777 Freighter and increases its Boeing 777-300ER fleet to 50.
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Chevron awards First Subsea mooring connectors contract
11 Aug 2011
Deepwater mooring company First Subsea has been awarded a contract by Chevron to supply the mooring connectors for the Jack & St Malo semi-submersible hub production facility in the Jack and St Malo fields.
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CIT Aerospace buys 50 A320neo aircraft from Airbus
11 Aug 2011
Aircraft leasing company CIT Aerospace has signed a purchase agreement with Airbus for the 50 A320neo aircraft it committed to at the 49th Le Bourget airshow on 21 June 2011.This deal brings the total number of Airbus aircraft ordered by CIT since 1999 to 237, comprising 191 A320 aircraft (including the 50 A320neo aircraft), 41 A330s, and five A350 XWBs, of which 144 have been delivered so far.
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Lincoln Renewable Energy begins solar power project
11 Aug 2011
Lincoln Renewable Energy (LRE) has commenced construction of its 10MW New Jersey Oak Solar project, which, located in Fairfield Township in Cumberland County, will comprise 55,000 solar panels constructed on a 100-acre site connected to Atlantic City Electric’s distribution system.
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NASA picks ideas to transform future space missions
11 Aug 2011
Technology to change the course of orbital debris and a spacesuit that uses flywheels are two ideas that have been selected for the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts program.
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IET reveals difficulties in recruiting high-level staff
10 Aug 2011
Almost half of engineering companies are struggling to recruit senior-level engineers owing to competition for experienced staff, new research suggests.
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LCD screen harvests energy from indoor and outdoor light
10 Aug 2011
Researchers have developed an LCD screen that harvests electrical energy from ambient light, sunlight and its own backlight using a built-in photovoltaic polariser.
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UK minister gives go-ahead for two biomass power stations
10 Aug 2011
Approval has been given for two new 299MW biomass stations to be built in Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.
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'Hybrid' solar system proves cheaper than photovoltaics
10 Aug 2011
A ‘hybrid’ rooftop solar system that produces hydrogen can create more useful energy at a lower overall cost than photovoltaics.
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Adding up a culture change
10 Aug 2011
Recent recommendations for a change in the way that mathematics is taught may have come from an unexpected source, but they provide food for thought
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Garuda Indonesia orders 25 A320 Airbus aircraft
10 Aug 2011
Airline Garuda Indonesia has finalised an order with Airbus for the purchase of 25 A320 aircraft, firming up an MOU announced during the Paris Air Show in June.
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Method could lead to realistic facial expressions in animation
10 Aug 2011
Animators might soon be able to create more realistic facial expressions thanks to computerised models derived from actors’ faces.
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Researchers look at improving solar disinfection of water
9 Aug 2011
Researchers at Ulster University are investigating ways of improving the effectiveness of solar disinfection of water using photocatalysis, ultraviolet (UV) feedback sensors and various solar collector designs.
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Project works on respiratory aids that mimic healthy lungs
9 Aug 2011
A collaborative two-year project in Wales is helping to develop respiratory aids that mimic healthy lungs.
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Smiths Detection to provide X-ray systems for German airport
9 Aug 2011
Sensor manufacturer Smiths Detection has been awarded a contract to provide around 50 Advanced Threat Identification X-ray (aTiX) systems for security checkpoints at Frankfurt International Airport (FRA).
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Oxford University fund invests in new class of antibiotics
9 Aug 2011
A fund designed to support Oxford University inventors in prototyping and proof-of-concept work has reached its first close and made its first investment in a new class of antibiotics discovered in a natural product library at Oxford’s Faculty of Chemistry.
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NASA selects space technology concepts to support via NIAC
9 Aug 2011
NASA has selected 30 proposals for funding under the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) programme.
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Disney says game technology will enhance tactile feedback
9 Aug 2011
Disney Research is developing technology that it claims will greatly enhance tactile feedback in video games and home cinema.
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Siemens wins sixth offshore wind plant order in Germany
9 Aug 2011
Siemens Energy has secured its sixth order for an offshore wind plant in Germany.
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Wärtsilä to supply engines for Bangkok-max container ships
8 Aug 2011
Marine power sources provider Wärtsilä has won a contract to supply the main engines for the first series of eight Bangkok-max container ships being built at the Guangzhou Wenchong Shipyard in China, thus establishing these engines as the standard for this type of vessel.
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NASA seeks proposals for small cube-shaped satellites
8 Aug 2011
NASA is seeking proposals for small satellite payloads to fly on rockets planned to launch between 2012 and 2014.
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BMT Nigel Gee to design all-electric passenger ferry
8 Aug 2011
BMT Nigel Gee, a subsidiary of maritime consultancy BMT Group, has won an order for the design of a 25m all-electric, 150 passenger ferry in China.
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GDF Suez secures PPAs for wind farms in Canada
8 Aug 2011
French energy company GDF Suez and International Power, which is 70 per cent owned by GDF Suez, have announced further progress in developing wind energy in Canada with new Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) secured for two 99MW wind farms in Ontario and the start of construction of Cape Scott 1, a 99MW wind development in British Columbia.
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Shaw receives arbitration award for power contract
8 Aug 2011
Engineering company Shaw has received an arbitration award of approximately $32.5m (£19.8m) for a contract previously executed by its power segment for the engineering, procurement and construction of a 600MW steam-turbine electrical generation plant in the US.This arbitration settles force majeure, schedule-related liquidated damages and other claims.
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Device could help to harness plasma for nuclear fusion
8 Aug 2011
A new instrument that could help scientists developing nuclear-fusion reactors has been used to analyse experiments in China.
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Researchers go for gold in rapid test for influenza
8 Aug 2011
Researchers have developed a rapid test for influenza by coupling antibodies with gold nanoparticles and measuring the light-scattering properties of the resulting complex.
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A year to go: engineering sport for London 2012
8 Aug 2011
With less than a year to go until the London Olympics, Prof Steve Haake explains how multidisciplinary teams are helping competitors reach peak form in time for the Games
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Steel, space and sandwiches
8 Aug 2011
Some good news this week comes from Teesside where Sahaviriya Steel Industries is expected to announce that it is hiring over 800 staff.
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Radar monitors runways for debris at ground level
8 Aug 2011
A new radar system could increase airport safety by monitoring runways for debris at ground level.
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Noise research could lead to better-designed motorcycles
5 Aug 2011
A team of engineers and psychologists is investigating the problem of noise levels experienced by motorcyclists, with a view to providing clearer advice and better-designed bikes and helmets.
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Wireless sensor network monitors patients on the move
5 Aug 2011
A hospital in the US is testing a wireless sensor network that monitors patients’ vital signs even as they move about.
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BHP Billiton Iron Ore awards Fluor-SKM JV further work
5 Aug 2011
The Fluor and SKM Iron Ore joint venture (JV), also known as FAST, has been awarded a contract from BHP Billiton Iron Ore for additional work as part of the company’s expansion programme in western Australia.The scope of work will focus on the Port Hedland Inner Harbour.
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BP and JPF RAK to build co-located PET facility in Belgium
5 Aug 2011
Oil and gas company BP has entered into agreements with JBF RAK LLC under which the Indian company will build a new 390,000-tonne-per-year polyethylene terephthalate (PET) production unit in Geel, Belgium, subject to required approvals.
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GE Capital Aviation Services orders 10 Boeing aircraft
5 Aug 2011
Aerospace and defence company Boeing and GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), the commercial aircraft leasing and financing arm of General Electric, have finalised a firm order for two 747-8 Freighters and eight 777-300ERs (extended range) aircraft.The order, which was first announced during the Paris Air Show in June, is valued at $2.9bn (£1.6bn).
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Time for another landmark in British computing
5 Aug 2011
It’s 20 years since a British researcher published the first website, but now there’s a new opportunity for the UK to make its mark on digital technology - let’s not waste it.
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Tesla Motors advances work on S-model electric sports saloon
5 Aug 2011
Tesla Motors are hoping to begin work on a ‘Beta’ pre-production version of its upcoming electric sports saloon — the S-model — after completing testing of Alpha versions.
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EIC to revamp Birmingham's Alexander Stadium
5 Aug 2011
Alcester-based services provider EIC has won a £2m contract to install the mechanical and electrical services at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, which is set to be used as an Olympic training base.
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Frazer-Nash helps EDF Energy to improve the UK's AGRs
5 Aug 2011
Engineering consultancy Frazer-Nash is providing support to an experiment as part of an EDF Energy project to extend the life of the UK’s advanced gas-cooled nuclear reactors (AGRs), which has long been a strategic priority for EDF.
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Cable & Wireless to help bring Smart Grid to the UK
5 Aug 2011
Telecommunications company Cable & Wireless Worldwide will collaborate with Silver Spring Networks to accelerate delivery of Smart Grid and Smart Metering systems to the UK.
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Vibrating glove device could help people with nerve damage
5 Aug 2011
A new glove device that delivers vibration feedback to the fingertips upon contact with surfaces has been designed to improve wearers’ tactile sensitivity.
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Energy minister agrees to new InterGen gas power plant
4 Aug 2011
Energy minister Charles Hendry will today give the go-ahead for InterGen’s proposals to construct a new 900MW gas power plant at the London Gateway Logistics Park, Coryton, Essex.The plans are for a new £600m power station, comprising up to two CCGT generating units with around 450MW capacity each.This brings the total new capacity consented to by the government since May 2010 to 5,456MW — enough to power more than seven million homes if developed.
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Plan for instruments to create 3D map of galaxy gets funds
4 Aug 2011
Plans to design instruments that will help create a 3D map of the galaxy have received £500,000 of UK funding.
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Autodesk acquires online DIY community Instructables
4 Aug 2011
3D design software manufacturer Autodesk has acquired San Francisco-based Instructables, an online community focused on sharing DIY project ideas and information.Autodesk claims that the acquisition, for which terms were not disclosed, will assist makers of all types by linking Instructables’ online community to Autodesk software tools and services, such as SketchBook and Homestyler, which allow anyone to explore design ideas.
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Babcock and Balfour Beatty JV wins Sellafield SMF contract
4 Aug 2011
Nuclear power company Sellafield has awarded SMF Delivery Team, a Babcock and Balfour Beatty joint venture (JV), a contract for the early contractor engagement phase of the Silos Maintenance Facility (SMF) at the Sellafield site in West Cumbria.
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Chalcogenide materials could enable faster data streaming
4 Aug 2011
Researchers in the field of optoelectronics have taken major steps towards building whole devices from phase-changing chalcogenides.
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Rolls-Royce wins contract to equip Farstad Shipping vessels
4 Aug 2011
Power systems provider Rolls-Royce has won a £50m contract to design and equip two anchor-handling vessels for Norwegian company Farstad Shipping.
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Ghana's MoD orders two Airbus Military C295 aircraft
4 Aug 2011
The Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Ghana has signed a contract with Airbus Military for the acquisition of two C295 aircraft, to be delivered from the beginning of 2012.
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Inverse opal technology could help identify chemical spills
4 Aug 2011
Materials scientists have invented a new device that they claim can instantly identify an unknown liquid.
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Cobham wins US missile defence agency task orders
4 Aug 2011
Sparta, doing business as Cobham Analytic Solutions, has been awarded nine task orders supporting the Missile Defence Agency (MDA) worth $227m (£139m) over two years.
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Yorkon wins contract to build nuclear Active Analysis Lab
4 Aug 2011
A new partnership, led by off-site construction company Yorkon, has been awarded the contract to design, build and fit out a £9m laboratory building at Dounreay in Thurso, Scotland.
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Rolls-Royce to supply power systems to Island Offshore
4 Aug 2011
Power systems provider Rolls-Royce has won a £20m order to design and supply power and propulsion systems for two UT 776 CD supply vessels for Island Offshore.
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Boeing and Korean air announce jetliner order
4 Aug 2011
Aerospace and defence company Boeing and airline Korean Air have announced an order for two additional Next-Generation 737-900ER (extended range) jetliners.The aircraft will be fitted with the new Boeing Sky Interior and the order is valued at $171.6m (£105m) at Boeing list prices.
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Siemens and Power Machines set up joint venture
4 Aug 2011
German engineering conglomerate Siemens will be teaming up with Russia-based Power Machines within the next few months to set up a gas turbine joint venture, in which Siemens will hold a 65 per cent stake and Power Machines the remaining shares.The joint venture headquartered in St Petersburg is intended to perform engineering, manufacturing and servicing of gas turbines in Russia and the other countries within the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
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Jobs to go as Sellafield Mixed Oxide Plant closes
4 Aug 2011
Around 600 workers are to lose their jobs following yesterday’s decision to close the Sellafield Mixed Oxide Plant.
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DLR to design extra-terrestrial greenhouse module
3 Aug 2011
The German Aerospace Center has launched a project to design a greenhouse module suitable for possible habitats on Mars or the Moon.
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Alstom wins service contract for Tzafit power plant in Israel
3 Aug 2011
French power and transport company Alstom has been awarded a 20-year operation and maintenance contract, worth around €330m (£288m), by Dalia Power Energies for the 835MW gas-fired Tzafit power plant in Israel.This service contract, to be booked in the second half of the fiscal year, follows an agreement signed in June 2011 between Alstom and Dalia Power Energies to construct two 417MW gas-fired combined cycle units on an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) basis.
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LED lighting system transfers online data from ceiling lamps
3 Aug 2011
A practical form of LED lighting that acts as a wireless internet transmitter could be a step closer thanks to new research.
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Cobbetts advises entrepreneur over engineering acquisition
3 Aug 2011
The Birmingham office of Cobbetts has advised entrepreneur Andrew Redfern on his acquisition of Coventry-based engineering firm Lightning Aerospace.
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Confidence, profit, and a 40-year-old rocket
3 Aug 2011
Imperial Innovations shows us that there’s money to be made from developing and launching companies from university research, but it’s vital that people know about it.
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Silicon anode developer wins £40m Series C investment
3 Aug 2011
A UK company developing silicon anodes for the next generation of lithium-ion batteries has received Series C investment of £40m.
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Platinum-chromium alloy used for flexible coronary stents
3 Aug 2011
A novel platinum-chromium (PtCr) alloy is being used to make more flexible and comfortable coronary stents.
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Tissue implant could transform reconstructive procedures
3 Aug 2011
A new hydrogel surgical implant that can be grown in a controlled, directional way could transform a number of reconstructive procedures.
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Team explores integration of renewable energy devices
2 Aug 2011
German researchers are hoping to make it easier to integrate different small-scale renewable energy devices in order to avoid intermittency problems.
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July's top 10 engineering wins
2 Aug 2011
Each month, The Engineer picks 10 of the most notable news stories from our Business Briefs archive.
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40-year-old UK man receives Total Artificial Heart implant
2 Aug 2011
A 40-year-old man has become the first person in the UK to receive a Total Artificial Heart implant.
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Device measures blast impact to assist wounded soldiers
2 Aug 2011
A new device for measuring the impact of explosions could help in the treatment of soldiers injured by roadside bombs.
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'Robot nurse' can lift patients from ward bed to a wheelchair
2 Aug 2011
A new ‘robot nurse’ has been built by Japanese engineers to lift patients from their ward beds into a wheelchair.
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Composite shows promise in restoring damaged soft tissue
2 Aug 2011
An injectable liquid material being developed in the US could be used in facial reconstruction.
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Budding scientists encouraged to develop nanosatellite apps
2 Aug 2011
Scientists developing a smartphone-powered nanosatellite have launched a public competition to develop applications for the phone to run in space.
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Facial-recognition software could help to save great apes
1 Aug 2011
Attempts to save populations of great apes could be helped by new facial-recognition software designed to monitor the animals in the wild.
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Nature inspires new methods of making porous materials
1 Aug 2011
Engineers are developing more efficient methods to mass produce non-uniform porous materials and solid foams that can be tailored to specific structural applications.
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Weakest rating since 2009 for Markit/CIPS Manufacturing PMI
1 Aug 2011
Deteriorating operating conditions and a decline in orders has led the Markit/CIPS UK Manufacturing PMI to post its weakest rating since June 2009.
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Astrium looks set to acquire Vizada from Apax France
1 Aug 2011
Astrium has entered into an agreement to acquire Vizada from Apax France, a French private equity fund and the majority shareholder, for $960m.
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Honda confirms Civic and CR-V to be built in Swindon
1 Aug 2011
Honda has confirmed that the new Civic hatchback for Europe and the next-generation CR-V will be built in Swindon.
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Car park technology charges direct from drivers' banks
1 Aug 2011
Car parks could collect money directly from drivers’ bank accounts thanks to a new wireless payment system.
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Handheld HIV test trialled in remote parts of Africa
1 Aug 2011
A new handheld device for diagnosing infectious diseases, including HIV at patients’ bedsides, has been successfully tested in remote parts of Africa.
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Good day, sunshine
1 Aug 2011
From today solar energy projects with over 50kW of capacity will receive a revised lower rate of subsidy from the government’s Feed-In Tariff.
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Electronic 'tongue' could identify types of Cava
1 Aug 2011
An electronic ‘tongue’ device is being developed by Spanish researchers in order to help identify different types of Cava wines.
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Drivers' brain signals could help reduce braking distances
1 Aug 2011
Using drivers’ brain signals to assist braking could result in quicker reaction times and reduced braking distances, according to German researchers.
