The Engineer
March 2011 Online

  • Report predicts growth in global offshore wind sector

    31 Mar 2011

    The global offshore wind sector is set to grow by up to 10 per cent annually and the UK expects to capture around a 10 per cent share of the total, a report suggests.

  • WTO deems that some Boeing US subsidies were illegal

    31 Mar 2011

    Federal and state subsidies granted to Boeing have been deemed illegal under World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules.

  • TSB invests in helping older people stay mobile

    31 Mar 2011

    Through the Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) Joint Programme of the EU, the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) is to invest up to £1m in research and development projects that will stimulate innovation for ICT-based solutions that help older people to sustain an optimal level of mobility for as long as possible.

  • BAE Systems undertakes refit of Royal Navy's HMS Lancaster

    31 Mar 2011

    The Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate, HMS Lancaster, is undergoing an extensive refit at Portsmouth Naval Base as part of a £17.9m contract with BAE Systems.

  • Saab receives orders from MoD for Army training capabilities

    31 Mar 2011

    Defence and security company Saab has received additional orders from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to enhance its existing provision of live training capabilities to the British Army abroad and in the UK.

  • BP extends maintenance and modification contract with Aker

    31 Mar 2011

    London-based oil and gas company BP has decided to extend its maintenance and modification contract with Aker Solutions, exercising a one-year option in the existing agreement for the Ula, Valhall, Hod and Tambar fields.

  • Foster Wheeler wins contract for Isocyanates facility

    31 Mar 2011

    Foster Wheeler announced today that its Global Engineering and Construction group has received a contract from Huntsman, a manufacturer of differentiated chemicals, to undertake the front-end engineering design (FEED) for the expansion of Huntsman’s Isocyanates Facility at Caojing in Shanghai, People’s Republic of China.

  • MDA awards Raytheon SM-3 Block IB contract

    31 Mar 2011

    The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has awarded American defence contractor Raytheon a $312m (£194.6m) manufacturing contract for the Standard Missile-3 Block IB programme.The contract provides the funding necessary to complete the development phase of the SM-3 Block IB programme and deliver the rounds to the MDA.

  • Vestas eyes UK market for 7MW offshore wind turbine

    31 Mar 2011

    Vestas Wind Systems has unveiled plans to develop a prototype 7-megawatt offshore wind turbine

  • The lost souls

    31 Mar 2011

    Just the other day, I found an old photograph of my late father. The black-and-white picture was taken in the early 1920s when he was just a little lad, and shows a typical family pose with him sitting with his father, mother and older brother.

  • GECAS orders a further 10 long-haul aircraft from Boeing

    31 Mar 2011

    American aerospace and defence company Boeing and GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) have finalised an order for 10 777-300ER (extended range) aircraft.The order is worth approximately $2.8bn (£1.7bn) at list prices.The new 777-300ERs will help GECAS meet growing airline demand for long-haul passenger aircraft.With today’s announcement, GECAS has ordered 53 777s, including 41 777-300ERs.

  • AWE selects SGI computers to solve engineering problems

    30 Mar 2011

    Technical computing company SGI today announced that the UK’s Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) has selected two SGI Altix UV 1000 systems to solve large-memory engineering problems. AWE manufactures and maintains the warheads for Trident, the UK’s nuclear deterrent.

  • VTT establishes biorefinery research centre in Brazil

    30 Mar 2011

    Finnish multi-technological research organisation VTT is to establish a new research centre in Sao Paulo, Brazil, that will focus on biorefinery technologies.VTT’s objective is to be part of the development in optimising the value of the biomass.

  • Winbro Technologies announces record order intake

    30 Mar 2011

    Following an expansion in the UK workforce and the launch of a new technology, development and production centre in Rock Hill, South Carolina, in late 2010, Leicestershire-based Winbro Technologies has announced a record order intake in March 2011.

  • Reusing nuclear fuel 'could cut costs of new power stations'

    30 Mar 2011

    Reusing Britain’s spent nuclear fuel could cut more than £5bn off the costs of new power stations, according to a new report.

  • DECC plans roll-out of smart meters across Britain

    30 Mar 2011

    The government today published its plans for the roll-out of 53 million smart meters in Britain by 2019.

  • Rules of engagement

    30 Mar 2011

    Surprised reactions to the crowning of an engineer as businesswoman of the year are a chastening reminder of the scale of the sector’s engagement problems.

  • Ramboll to acquire Gifford engineering consultancy

    30 Mar 2011

    Denmark-based consulting engineering group Ramboll has agreed to acquire Gifford, a UK engineering and environmental consultancy, in a move that Ramboll hopes will strengthen its presence in Europe, India and the Middle East.Gifford will join Ramboll to create a broad multidisciplinary engineering and consultancy group approaching 1,000 employees.

  • Crossrail confirms shortlist for rolling stock and facilities

    30 Mar 2011

    London rail project Crossrail has confirmed the shortlist of organisations it will invite to tender for new rolling stock and depot facilities as follows: Alstom Transport; Bombardier Transportation (UK); Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles SA; Hitachi Rail Europe; and Siemens.

  • Spain seeks to develop value chain for aviation biofuel

    30 Mar 2011

    The Spanish government, Iberia Airlines and Airbus have signed an agreement to develop a complete Spanish ‘value chain’ for sustainable and renewable aviation biofuel.

  • FHC submits application for Cornwall wave-energy test site

    29 Mar 2011

    Falmouth Harbour Commissioners (FHC) has submitted a licence application for an energy test site in Falmouth Bay, Cornwall.

  • Unit Birwelco fabricates 190-tonne heater for Statoil project

    29 Mar 2011

    UK engineering company Unit Birwelco has fabricated a 28m-high, 190-tonne fired heater at its facility in Pembroke Dock, South Wales, for shipping to Norway on one of the largest vessels to ever dock in the port.

  • Mira and DSD sign MoU to collaborate on future projects

    29 Mar 2011

    Mira and Drive System Design (DSD) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will see the two engineering businesses collaborate on future projects where specialist transmission, driveline and gearbox design and development is required.

  • Nexans wins €18m Gygrid umbilical-manufacture contract

    29 Mar 2011

    Cable company Nexans has been awarded a contract worth approximately €18m (£16m) by energy company Statoil to design, engineer and manufacture the static and dynamic subsea umbilicals that will play a vital role in the tie-back system connecting the new Gygrid field development to the existing Njord A installation off the Norwegian Continental shelf.

  • Emrise announces financial results for 2010

    29 Mar 2011

    Emrise, a manufacturer of defence and aerospace electronic devices and communications equipment, has announced financial results for its fourth quarter and full year ended 31 December 2010.

  • Eurocopter Holding to acquire Vector Aerospace shares

    29 Mar 2011

    Eurocopter Holding, a subsidiary of aerospace and defence corporation EADS, and Vector Aerospace, a Canadian company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, have entered into a support agreement pursuant to which Eurocopter Holding will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Vector Aerospace by way of a takeover bid for consideration of CAD13 (£8.30) in cash per common share.

  • Airbus to spend £70m on Filton site redevelopment

    29 Mar 2011

    Aircraft manufacturer Airbus has revealed its plans to build a multi-million-pound office facility in Filton, redeveloping the site into a modern, highly efficient engineering and technology park.

  • Petrobras signs Metso service contract for Brazilian refineries

    29 Mar 2011

    Metso, a supplier of process-industry machinery for the pulp and paper industry, and Brazilian energy company Petrobras have signed a service contract covering the supply of spare parts and maintenance services for Metso’s valves, actuators and positioners for 11 refineries in Brazil.

  • GE energy business to acquire 90 per cent of Converteam

    29 Mar 2011

    Advanced-technology company GE has announced that its energy business has entered into an agreement to acquire approximately 90 per cent of Converteam, a provider of electrification and automation equipment and systems, from a controlling shareholder group that includes management, Barclays Private Equity and LBO France for approximately $3.2bn (£2bn).

  • Foster Wheeler subsidiary wins Russian refinery contract

    29 Mar 2011

    Engineering, procurement and construction company Foster Wheeler has announced that a subsidiary of its Global Engineering and Construction group has been awarded a contract by JSC Novo-Ufimsky Refinery, a subsidiary of Russian oil company Bashneft, for the engineering and material supply of a new Terrace Wall steam reformer heater and air preheating system for the Ufa refinery in the Republic of Bashkortostan, Russia.

  • Lockheed Martin wins cable retrofit contract

    29 Mar 2011

    Advanced technology company Lockheed Martin has won a three-year contract worth slightly more than £1m to retrofit and repair complex cable assemblies on the UK WAH-64 Apache Longbow Fire Control Radar (FCR).

  • US Department of Defense orders Harris radio systems

    29 Mar 2011

    Harris, an international communications and information technology company, has received an $11.7m (£7.3m) order to supply Falcon III multi-band handheld radio systems, in vehicular configurations, to the US Department of Defense for use in Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles.The radios will be installed in US Army MRAP vehicles currently in use in Afghanistan.

  • Delyn Packaging receives grant from Welsh government

    29 Mar 2011

    South Wales-based food packaging manufacturer Delyn Packaging has received a £275,000 grant from the Welsh Assembly Government and a third-round investment of £295,000 from Finance Wales.This investment has enabled Delyn to relocate to new 53,000ft2 manufacturing facilities at Ystrad Mynach.

  • US Navy awards ASC Special Material Decoys contract

    29 Mar 2011

    Chemring subsidiary Alloy Surfaces (ASC) of Chester Township, Pennsylvania, has announced the award of a $19.6m (£12.2m) contract by the US Navy to supply MJU-64/B Special Material Decoys (SMD) to support United States Air Force (USAF) operations worldwide.All work will be carried out at Alloy Surfaces’ plant in Chester Township and is expected to be completed by December 2012.

  • Data shows fall in UK's renewable-energy investment

    29 Mar 2011

    UK investment in renewable energy plummeted last year while other nations saw big increases, new data shows.

  • Essar Oil buys Shell's Stanlow refinery and certain businesses

    29 Mar 2011

    Energy and petrochemicals group Shell has signed a sales and purchase agreement for its 270,000 barrel-per-day Stanlow refinery in the UK, alongside certain associated local marketing businesses, with Essar Oil (UK) for a total expected consideration of $1.3bn (£812m).

  • US Army awards ATK contract for XM25 weapon

    29 Mar 2011

    Aerospace and defence company ATK has received a $65.8m (£41.1m) Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract from the US Army’s Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier for its XM25 Individual Semi-Automatic Airburst System.The 30-month contract calls for the continuing design, integration, production and testing of full-up systems to ensure the weapon’s final design meets performance requirements and is production ready prior to fielding.

  • Grid computing helps visualise motion of seismic events

    29 Mar 2011

    Researchers at the Institute of Earth Sciences at Academia Sinica in Taiwan are planning to use grid computing to visualise the motion of earthquakes after they have occurred.

  • Certivox recieves funding for information security service

    29 Mar 2011

    Information security company Certivox has received £900,000 in Series A funding from Pentech Ventures, which led the round, and Octopus Investments, both based in the UK.The funds will be used to develop and bring to market Certivox’s key management infrastructure as a service (IaaS), which, according to Certivox, is designed to remove the barrier that has prevented enterprises from fully embracing cloud-based services, due to concerns over risking sensitive information.

  • Algae Screen targets predators with electromagnetic pulses

    29 Mar 2011

    OriginOil has developed a patented process that keeps algae healthy and productive by selectively eliminating microscopic predators without the use of chemicals.

  • Charter acquires entire issued share capital of Thomassen

    29 Mar 2011

    London-based engineering business Charter International has announced that, through Howden, its air- and gas-handling division, it has acquired the entire issued share capital of Thomassen Compression Systems, a supplier of high-power engineered compressors to the oil and gas and petrochemical industries.The cash consideration is €100m (£87.9m), which is being financed from bank facilities.

  • Pyrolysis method recycles motor oil into fuel

    29 Mar 2011

    Using microwave heating, UK scientists at Cambridge University have developed a process that can recycle motor oil into fuel.

  • Tata Motors to expand Warwick technical centre

    29 Mar 2011

    Tata Motors has announced plans to expand its UK research centre to focus on low carbon technology.

  • Tracking system could help disabled people use computers

    28 Mar 2011

    A computer technology student at Surrey University has developed a visual tracking system that could help disabled people to use computers.

  • Consortium receives funding to develop organic solar cells

    28 Mar 2011

    A consortium of universities and companies has been awarded £1.4m to develop prototype high-efficiency multi-junction organic solar cells.

  • Government announces Nobel-style engineering prize

    28 Mar 2011

    The UK government wants to promote a Nobel-style international prize for engineering as part of a plan to support UK advanced manufacturing.

  • Ductile composites target safety-critical applications

    28 Mar 2011

    A research team has been awarded a grant to develop a new generation of ductile fibre-reinforced polymer composites capable of sustaining large deformations without breaking.

  • Flying the flag for Britain's green innovation

    28 Mar 2011

    Britain’s environmental innovation will be on display this week as the government leads its first green trade mission.

  • Finnish scientists develop multi-touch microscope

    28 Mar 2011

    Scientists in Finland have used touch-screen technology to create a huge gesture-controlled microscope display.

  • School design and technology lessons are 'out of date'

    25 Mar 2011

    A new report states that secondary schools are failing to modernise their design and technology (D&T) curriculum.

  • Vauxhall Vivaro to be made in Luton

    25 Mar 2011

    Vauxhall has confirmed the future of its Luton factory by announcing plans to build the new Vivaro van there.

  • Boeing awards Cobham weapons-carriages contract

    25 Mar 2011

    International aerospace and defence company Cobham has been awarded a contract from Boeing to manufacture more than 400 units for the seventh production lot of the BRU-61/A weapons-carriage system, capable of supporting the US Air Force’s Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) programme.

  • LEF redeems full investment in biogas producer agri.capital

    25 Mar 2011

    Ludgate Environmental Fund (LEF) has signed an agreement that will deliver redemption of its full investment in agri.capital, a European biogas and biomethane producer.

  • Chemring and Hinduja join to serve Indian defence market

    25 Mar 2011

    Chemring, an established supplier to the Indian armed forces, and the Hinduja Group plan to develop a business to serve the Indian defence and security markets with the full range of Chemring products: countermeasures, electronic warfare, high-energy materials, munitions, pyrotechnics and end-of-life ordnance destruction, with the transfer of appropriate technological capabilities.

  • US Army modifies ATK's MGK-production contract

    25 Mar 2011

    Aerospace, defence and security company ATK has received a $50m (£30.9m) follow-on contract modification for production of the Mortar Guidance Kit (MGK) under the US Army’s Accelerated Precision Mortar Initiative (APMI) programme.

  • Insu-fast joins Autodesk Clean Tech Partner Programme

    25 Mar 2011

    Design-software provider Autodesk has announced that German manufacturer Insu-fast, which provides bespoke home insulation, has become the latest early-stage technology company to join the Autodesk Clean Tech Partner Programme.

  • Solar concentrator magnifies to increase power output of cells

    25 Mar 2011

    Hypersolar is developing a solar concentrator that magnifies the power of the sun to significantly increase the power output of solar cells.

  • Partnership submits application to install Anglesey turbines

    25 Mar 2011

    Marine Current Turbines, in partnership with RWE npower renewables, has submitted an application to install a 10MW array of tidal stream turbines off the coast of Anglesey.

  • General Dynamics wins Marine Corps order modifications

    24 Mar 2011

    The US Marine Corps Systems Command has awarded General Dynamics Land Systems Canada three delivery order modifications, valued at $41.4m (£25.4m), for upgrade kits for RG-31 Mk5E vehicles previously delivered under the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle programme.

  • Researchers develop digital watermarking for images

    24 Mar 2011

    Researchers at Ulster University have developed a secure digital watermarking technology for images, called ’HidInImage.’

  • Aiken announces upturn in business and HQ expansion

    24 Mar 2011

    Aberdeen-based Aiken, a supplier of integrated engineering and specialist services to the oil and gas industry, has the potential to exceed last year’s £10m turnover following the announcement that the company has secured deals worth more than £5m in the last six months.

  • Biofuel could be an alternative to fossil-based jet fuel

    24 Mar 2011

    A consortium of companies is to spearhead the commercialisation of a biofuel made from the camelina plant as a substitute to fossil-based jet fuel.

  • Non-invasive system could be used to treat blinding disease

    24 Mar 2011

    A 20-minute non-invasive procedure that uses the same amount of radiation as a dental X-ray could offer patients with a blinding disease a new treatment option.

  • Government investment funds space-technology programme

    24 Mar 2011

    The UK’s space sector has welcomed a £10m government investment through the creation of the National Space Technology Programme.

  • Device detects hidden damage in composite aircraft materials

    24 Mar 2011

    Researchers at MIT have devised a new way to detect internal damage in advanced composite materials, using a simple handheld device and heat-sensitive camera.

  • Lab-on-chip device promises HIV diagnosis in 10 minutes

    24 Mar 2011

    A new diagnostic device promises confirmation of HIV, TB and other conditions in around 10 minutes.

  • Seagen tidal-energy turbine meets government criteria

    24 Mar 2011

    The Seagen tidal-energy turbine, designed by Britain’s Marine Current Turbines, has achieved and passed the UK Government’s operating performance criteria for the UK’s emerging tidal- and wave-energy technologies.

  • Researchers devise algorithm to detect epileptic seizures

    24 Mar 2011

    Researchers at Concordia University have pioneered a computer-based method to detect epileptic seizures as they occur.

  • Engineers offer cautious welcome to Osborne's Budget

    23 Mar 2011

    Greater tax allowances for research, £2bn extra for the Green Investment Bank and 50,000 extra apprenticeships were among the announcements in today’s Budget.

  • ABB to deliver UHVDC link for India transmission project

    23 Mar 2011

    The Power Grid Corporation of India has selected ABB to deliver an ultra-high-voltage transmission system, worth about $900m.

  • Project will determine Western Isles' marine-energy potential

    23 Mar 2011

    Researchers at Lews Castle College are working on a project backed by £900,000 in Scottish Funding Council knowledge-exchange grants to determine the potential of marine energy to the west of the Outer Hebrides.

  • 'Solarball' uses sunlight to generate safe drinking water

    23 Mar 2011

    A Monash University graduate has designed a simple, sustainable and affordable water-purification device that harnesses the power of the sun.

  • Saab signs five-year credit facility with eight banks

    23 Mar 2011

    Security and defence company Saab has signed a five-year credit facility of SEK4bn (£389.4m), with a total of eight banks with a SEK500m commitment each, to refinance the existing credit facility with maturity in March 2012.The self-arranged credit facility has a credit margin of 0.65 per cent and commitment fee of 35 per cent of margin.

  • ATK receives ammunition contract from the US Navy

    23 Mar 2011

    Aerospace and defence company Alliant Techsystems (ATK) has received a $49m (£30m) contract from the US Navy to produce a special-operations ammunition round with improved accuracy, stronger barrier penetration and a lower muzzle-flash.

  • Atkins wins design contract for north-east Crossrail route

    23 Mar 2011

    Network Rail has awarded a major contract to Atkins, a provider of technologically based consultancy and support, to design the bulk of works planned on the north-east section of the Crossrail route, between Stratford in east London and Shenfield in Essex.

  • S3 expands its workclass fleet with two ROV systems

    23 Mar 2011

    Specialist Subsea Services (S3), a provider of Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) and survey services to the international energy industry, has announced a seven-figure acquisition of two Triton XLX 150hp ROV systems, manufactured by Perry Slingsby Systems, to expand its workclass fleet.The acquisition adds to the capacity of S3 to undertake a wide range of ROV tasks, including drill support, high-quality survey works and heavy intervention tooling down to 3,000 metres.

  • Change of scenery

    23 Mar 2011

    Visible progress is now being made on the Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier, as preparations being to move major parts of the structure to the assembly yard in Rosyth

  • A spring bouquet

    23 Mar 2011

    There’s nothing worse than computer failure, especially if you are faced with meeting an imminent deadline.

  • Time to dispel the nuclear myths

    23 Mar 2011

    The public still fear and misunderstand the nuclear industry, and mainstream media have no brief to help them. It’s down to the industry to rethink how it tackles engagement.

  • E.ON gets go-ahead to build wind farm in the Highlands

    23 Mar 2011

    E.ON has been granted planning permission to build a new wind farm of up to 47.5MW near Garve in the Highlands of Scotland.

  • Statoil awards Aker Solutions control umbilicals contract

    23 Mar 2011

    Norweigian engineering-services provider Aker Solutions has signed a contract, valued at approximately NOK200m (£22m), with Statoil to supply control umbilicals to the Norne field located in the Northern part of the North Sea.

  • Watson-Marlow reports annual sales and profit increase

    23 Mar 2011

    Pumps manufacturer Watson-Marlow has reported its full-year financial results for 2010, in which annual sales reached £103m, up 23 per cent from the previous year’s figure of £83.8m.

  • Sellafield nuclear site to trial DC plasma waste recovery

    23 Mar 2011

    Tetronics has been commissioned by Sellafield to run a trial of its Direct Current (DC) plasma waste recovery system on a range of simulated intermediate-level metallic solid wastes.

  • Partnership allows construction of Liquid Solar Array pilot plant

    22 Mar 2011

    Sunengy has entered into a partnership with Tata Power that will allow it to build a pilot plant for its patented Liquid Solar Array technology in India.

  • Motion detection system assesses condition of horses

    22 Mar 2011

    A Missouri University equine veterinarian has helped to develop a system to assess the lameness of horses using a motion detection technique.

  • Fujitsu wins bid for Welsh supercomputing partnership

    22 Mar 2011

    Global technology firm Fujitsu has been named as the successful bidder to partner with universities in Wales to create a £40m supercomputing network, a research and innovation institute and a skills academy.

  • Doosan to invest £170m in Scottish wind power

    22 Mar 2011

    Supported by Scottish Enterprise, Doosan Power Systems has announced a major initiative that will see the company enter the Scottish wind-power business with an investment of up to £170m over the next 10 years.

  • Lens views objects from nine angles to create 3D image

    22 Mar 2011

    Engineers at Ohio State University have designed a lens that enables microscopic objects to be seen from nine different angles at once to create a 3D image.

  • Sensor relies on enhanced Raman scattering architecture

    22 Mar 2011

    Princeton researchers have invented a sensor that opens up new ways to detect a wide range of substances, from tell-tale signs of cancer to hidden explosives.

  • Shaw and Toshiba provide support at Fukushima plant

    22 Mar 2011

    In response to the nuclear crisis in Japan, engineering and construction services provider Shaw will assist electronics company Toshiba in providing support services for the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station in Japan.

  • TSB funding scheme for SMEs could stimulate economy

    22 Mar 2011

    A new scheme managed by the Technology Strategy Board will offer funding to small companies to enable them to research and develop new products, processes and services that could stimulate economic growth.

  • Metso wins order to supply biomass power plant to Latvia

    22 Mar 2011

    Metso, a supplier of process-industry machinery for the pulp and paper industry among others, will supply SIA Graanul Invest with a biomass power plant for combined heat and power production (CHP) in the municipality of Launkalne in Latvia.

  • BAE Systems wins Royal Navy training support contract

    22 Mar 2011

    BAE Systems has been awarded a £22.5m Training Systems support contract by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) that will provide for the Royal Navy’s overall Submarine and Mine Warfare Command Team training while ensuring the operational readiness and effectiveness of its operational training systems.

  • US Navy awards audiovisual equipment contract to SAIC

    22 Mar 2011

    Science Applications International (SAIC) has announced it was awarded a contract by the US Navy, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center (SSC) Atlantic to provide audiovisual (AV) equipment.The multiple award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract has a one-year base period of performance, four one-year options and a total ceiling value of $500m (£307.6m) for all awardees, if all options are exercised.

  • Mabey Bridge completes first section of wind turbine tower

    21 Mar 2011

    Engineering firm Mabey Bridge is ready to roll out the first completed section of an 80m wind turbine tower from its new £38m factory in Newhouse, Chepstow.

  • STX Finland awards Wärtsilä LNG-fuelled ferry contract

    21 Mar 2011

    Marine engine manufacturer Wärtsilä has been awarded a contract by shipbuilding company STX Finland Oy to supply additional equipment for a large LNG-fuelled passenger ferry.

  • DC computer network reduces library's energy usage

    21 Mar 2011

    A university library has markedly reduced its energy demand after installing and running what is claimed to be Britain’s first local DC computer network.

  • Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental completes first test flight

    21 Mar 2011

    Boeing’s latest passenger aircraft, the 747-8 Intercontinental, has successfully completed its first test flight in the US.

  • Airbus and TAROM establish bio-kerosene jet-fuel project

    21 Mar 2011

    Aircraft manufacturer Airbus and TAROM Romanian Air Transport, together with a consortium of key stakeholders, have established one of Europe’s first projects aiming to establish a sustainable bio-kerosene jet-fuel processing and production capability.

  • Foresight invests in recyling and renewables in London

    21 Mar 2011

    Foresight, a sustainable asset manager, has secured £70m for waste investment to support the London Green Fund, which aims to invest in recycling and renewable energy projects in the capital.

  • Centrica's Direct Energy agrees to acquire Gateway

    21 Mar 2011

    Multinational utility company Centrica has announced that its North American subsidiary, Direct Energy, has agreed to acquire the New York-based energy retailer Gateway Energy Services for $90m (£55m) in cash.This includes $13m of tax assets plus additional working capital.

  • Deutsche Telekom hands over T-Mobile USA to AT&T

    21 Mar 2011

    German telecommunications company Deutsche Telekom will take an approximately eight per cent stake in US telecommunications company AT&T as it simultaneously hands over 100 per cent ownership of T-Mobile USA to AT&T.

  • Modified electrolyte enhances vanadium battery performance

    21 Mar 2011

    Researchers at the US Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have shown that modifying a vanadium redox battery’s electrolyte solution significantly improves its performance.

  • Sky high and down to Earth

    21 Mar 2011

    Sub-orbital flights present an exciting new dimension for tourists and the UK’s space industry alike but in the here-and-now George Osborne is charged with rebalancing the economy.

  • ORR decides to drop Jarvis Rail Potters Bar prosecution

    18 Mar 2011

    The Office of Rail Regulation has decided not to proceed with the prosecution of Jarvis Rail over the derailment of the West Anglia Great Northern express train at Potters Bar station.

  • Government seeks to protect smaller-scale solar electricity

    18 Mar 2011

    Proposals to reduce the financial support available to larger-scale solar-produced electricity have been published today by the UK government.

  • Physik Instrumente plans third expansion of PI Ceramic

    18 Mar 2011

    Motion control company Physik Instrumente (PI) is planning to invest approximately $13m (£8.1m) for the third extension of PI Ceramic’s piezo ceramics factory and R&D centre in Thuringia over the next three years.At the ceremony, Physik Instrumente chief executive Dr Karl Spanner mentioned that even after adding 50 employees in 2010 at PI Ceramic, the company was getting close to its output capacity and is expected to hire another 20 to 30 people in 2011.

  • Collaboration aims to develop fuel from waste plant material

    18 Mar 2011

    A new research collaboration between CSIRO and leading UK and Australian universities aims to transform waste plant material into a sustainable, low-emission fuel.

  • Instrument is able to detect individual nanoparticles

    18 Mar 2011

    Scientists at the University of California Santa Barbara have developed an instrument capable of detecting individual nanoparticles with diameters as small as a few tens of nanometres.

  • UCL-led EPSRC centre for macromolecular medicines

    18 Mar 2011

    University College London is to lead a new EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Emergent Macromolecular Therapies.

  • Technology Transfer Award for oxygen production technology

    18 Mar 2011

    Air Products has won a Technology Transfer Award from the US Electric Power Research Institute for the development of its Ion Transport Membrane technology for economically producing oxygen.

  • Energy future: time to be ambitious

    18 Mar 2011

    New concerns over nuclear power in the wake of the Fukushima incident could be the spur to look for long-term alternatives. Engineering’s biggest holy grail, nuclear fusion, is a worthy target

  • PhD student devises low-cost solar cell production technique

    18 Mar 2011

    An engineer at TU Delft has developed a process to produce inexpensive solar cells 10 times faster than existing systems without any detriment to their energy yield.

  • Japan disaster could lead to shortage of electronic parts

    17 Mar 2011

    According to market analysts at Isuppli, the earthquake and tsunami in Japan could result in significant shortages of certain electronic components, potentially causing pricing for devices to increase dramatically.

  • EC steps up pressure over plan for London air pollution

    17 Mar 2011

    The European Commission has told the UK government and the Mayor of London to urgently implement a plan for dealing with air pollution ’hotspots’ in London.

  • UCLA team develops effective n-butanol production method

    17 Mar 2011

    Researchers at UCLA have developed a way to produce butanol from bacteria at rates significantly higher than those achieved using current production methods.

  • RSC scientists warn against US potassium iodide panic buying

    17 Mar 2011

    Scientists at the Royal Society of Chemistry have warned against the panic buying of potassium iodide tablets as the crisis in Japan continues.

  • Software company K3 AX announces half-year results

    17 Mar 2011

    K3 AX, part of K3 Business Technology, which is one of Microsoft’s top 60 global partners, has announced its first half-year results to December 2010.

  • Semiconductor gateway Cogo reports full-year 2010 results

    17 Mar 2011

    Cogo, a gateway through which global semiconductor companies access the industrial and technology markets in China, has announced audited full-year financial results for the year ended 31 December 2010.

  • OEM Automatic acquires Echobeach

    17 Mar 2011

    OEM Automatic, the UK subsidiary of OEM International of Sweden, has acquired Echobeach, the Contaclip distributor for the UK.

  • Goldman Sachs launches Business Growth Programme

    17 Mar 2011

    Investment banking and securities firm Goldman Sachs is launching a Business Growth Programme for the North West in partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University Business School.

  • Collaboration to develop Li-ion battery production processes

    17 Mar 2011

    International Battery has entered into a collaboration and licence agreement with Hydro-Québec to further develop water-based manufacturing processes for the production of lithium-ion batteries.

  • Lufthansa acquires 30 further Airbus aircraft

    17 Mar 2011

    Lufthansa’s supervisory board has approved the acquisition of 30 Airbus A320neo aircraft worth approximately $2.8bn (£1.7bn).

  • Remy announces full-year operating results for 2010

    17 Mar 2011

    Starters and alternators manufacturer Remy International has announced its operating results for the full year ending 31 December 2010, in which sales were $1,103.8m (£687.1m) and net income attributable to Remy was $16.9m.These results compare to full-year 2009 sales of $910.7m and net income attributable to Remy of $10.8m.

  • Harbin Electric announces full-year 2010 results

    17 Mar 2011

    Chinese motor manufacturer Harbin Electric has reported its fourth-quarter and full-year 2010 financial results for the year ended 31 December 2010.

  • Scottish government approves world's largest tidal power scheme

    17 Mar 2011

    The Scottish government has approved plans for a 10MW tidal power array off Scotland’s West coast.

  • Blood money for Scottish researchers

    17 Mar 2011

    The Scottish Funding Council is providing four Scottish universities with £2.5m to carry out research into the development of industrially-generated blood.

  • Tool measures brain waves to assess cognitive ability

    17 Mar 2011

    Researchers at Hertfordshire University are developing a tool to measure brain waves in children with physical and neurological impairments.

  • Study says North Sea oil and gas companies set to grow

    16 Mar 2011

    A new study has revealed that a significant proportion of North Sea companies are to grow their business over the next five years.

  • Fukushima explosions prompt German nuclear power review

    16 Mar 2011

    Following the horrendous earthquake in Japan and explosions at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, the German government is to subject all its nuclear power plants to a rigorous safety review.

  • Trading Standards officers seize counterfeit SKF bearings

    16 Mar 2011

    Last Wednesday, around a tonne of counterfeit SKF bearings were seized by Trading Standards officers in the UK.

  • ABB agrees to buy 35 per cent stake in Novatec Solar

    16 Mar 2011

    ABB has agreed to buy a 35 per cent stake in Novatec Solar, a Karlsruhe-based company that builds concentrated solar-power systems.

  • Diabetes monitoring device measures glucose in tear fluid

    16 Mar 2011

    People with diabetes could be helped by a new type of blood glucose sensor being developed by Arizona State University engineers and clinicians at the Mayo Clinic.

  • Trimble acquires assets of Omnistar GNSS business

    16 Mar 2011

    Technology company Trimble has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire certain assets related to the Omnistar Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signal corrections business from Fugro — the offshore marine business of which is unaffected.

  • Digi-Key reports significant sales growth in 2010

    16 Mar 2011

    Electronic components distributor Digi-Key has surpassed $1.5bn in global sales for the first time in 2010, representing a 64 per cent year-over-year sales increase for the company.

  • GE opens gas-turbine service centre in Lincoln

    16 Mar 2011

    American conglomerate GE is expanding its global presence with the opening of a new $3m (£1.9m) aeroderivative gas-turbine service centre in Lincoln, UK.GE’s 17th aeroderivative gas-turbine service centre consolidates two sites in the UK and adds infrastructure and capabilities to support GE’s current and new onshore and offshore customers in the UK and Africa.

  • Nothing without marketing

    16 Mar 2011

    Just months before he was due to graduate with a masters degree in electronic engineering and computer science, the young student paid his old father a visit.

  • App allows students to view Warwick anatomy lectures

    16 Mar 2011

    Would-be doctors can be part of a virtual classroom thanks to a newly launched iPhone app developed by Prof Peter Abrahams from Warwick University.

  • Handheld device can detect counterfeit whisky and wine

    16 Mar 2011

    Researchers at Leicester University’s Space Research Centre are working with colleagues at De Montfort University to create a handheld device that will detect fake whisky and wine.

  • Force-feedback pen helps teach blind children to write

    16 Mar 2011

    Glasgow University’s Prof Stephen Brewster has developed a method for helping to teach blind children to write using haptic technology.

  • Geographer maps earthquake risk to population centres

    16 Mar 2011

    A geographer from Sheffield University has produced a map that provides a general representation of the risks of earthquakes to humanity using records from the past 4,000 years.

  • Average emissions of new cars decrease further in 2010

    16 Mar 2011

    A report from the SMMT shows that emissions from new cars fell 3.5 per cent in 2010 and more than 20 per cent since 2000.

  • Asiana Airlines orders Trent 900 engines for Airbus A380s

    16 Mar 2011

    Power-systems company Rolls-Royce has won a contract for Trent 900 engines to power six Airbus A380 aircraft from Asiana Airlines.The airline, based in Seoul, South Korea, will take delivery of these aircraft in 2014, marking its first Rolls-Royce-powered aircraft to enter service.Asiana Airlines has previously ordered Trent XWB engines for 30 firm and 10 option A350 XWB aircraft.

  • VTI Technologies announces record sales in 2010

    16 Mar 2011

    Sensor supplier VTI Technologies has announced record results for 2010, in which the group’s net sales totalled €75.8m, showing an increase of 42 per cent from €53.6m in 2009.

  • Could Fukushima derail the UK’s nuclear new build plans?

    16 Mar 2011

    Japan’s ongoing nuclear crisis has inevitably led to questions over the wisdom of putting nuclear generation at the heart of our future energy mix, but now is not the time for knee-jerk reactions

  • BMW reports record revenues and profit in 2010

    16 Mar 2011

    German automobile manufacturer BMW has achieved new records for revenues and group profit in 2010.Revenues climbed by 19.3 per cent to €60,477m (£37,572m) from €50,681m in the previous year.Profit before tax (EBIT) rose steeply to €4,836m, up from €413m in 2009.The group reports a record net profit for the year of €3,234m, a significant increase from €210m.

  • Smartphone users can get real-time flood alerts

    16 Mar 2011

    A free flood-warning application developed by Halcrow allows users to get real-time updates on flood warnings for England and Wales.

  • Engineers strive to keep Japan's reactors under control

    15 Mar 2011

    Engineers are still trying to bring the situation at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant under control after Friday’s earthquake and resulting tsunami.

  • BAE Systems set to support multinational science project

    15 Mar 2011

    BAE Systems has signed an agreement to provide support to the Square Kilometre Array, a €1.5bn multinational science project.

  • Near-real-time map depicts earthquake aftershocks

    15 Mar 2011

    A near-real-time map of the aftershocks occurring globally following the 8.9-magnitude earthquake that rocked Japan has been created by researchers at Texas Tech University’s Center for Geospatial Technologies.

  • Miniature PET scanner aids study of animal brain function

    15 Mar 2011

    Scientists from the Brookhaven National Laboratory have developed a wearable, portable PET scanner for studying the brain function of animals such as rats.

  • Inhibox and Cosmic form drug-discovery partnership

    15 Mar 2011

    Inhibox, a spin-out of Oxford, UK, and Cosmic Discoveries, the independent service arm of the Institute of Life Sciences in Hyderabad, India, have formed a close strategic partnership to deliver a drug-discovery service, incorporating computational, medicinal and synthetic chemistry design capabilities.

  • Prophotonix reports unaudited full-year 2010 results

    15 Mar 2011

    Laser-module manufacturer Prophotonix has announced its preliminary unaudited financial results for the full year ended 31 December 2010, in which revenue increased 45 per cent to $15.2m (£9.4m), compared to $10.5m in 2009.

  • Schuler wins railcar-wheels forging-line order

    15 Mar 2011

    Schuler subsidiary Schuler-SMG has received a major order from China to supply a turnkey press line for the forging and rolling of railcar wheels, comprising two presses for pre-forming the heated blocks, a wheel-rolling machine and a flanging-and-punching press.

  • IMechE chair calls on UK to support engineering students

    15 Mar 2011

    The chairman of the IMechE has warned the government that it must support engineering students if it is serious about rebalancing the economy.

  • 'World's largest' direct-drive PMG for wind turbines

    15 Mar 2011

    Alstom and Converteam are collaborating to install what they claim is the world’s largest direct-drive permanent magnet generator (PMG) in a wind turbine.

  • Images from space reveal effects of tsunami on Japan

    15 Mar 2011

    The extent of inundation from the tsunami triggered by the earthquake off Japan’s northeastern coast has been revealed in images from an instrument on NASA’s Terra spacecraft.

  • Report says Moray Firth rocks could aid emissions reduction

    15 Mar 2011

    A consortium of Scottish government, industry and researchers has reported that rocks deep beneath the Moray Firth are capable of storing decades of CO2 output from Scotland’s power stations.

  • Scientist works on spray-on coating to kill kitchen microbes

    15 Mar 2011

    A Nottingham Trent University scientist is to receive funding to develop a spray-on coating for kitchen surfaces and processing equipment that will kill unwanted microbes.

  • Mabey Bridge installs welding stations at Chepstow plant

    15 Mar 2011

    Engineering firm Mabey Bridge has invested £1.25m in three new welding stations that are now installed and fully operational at its £38m facility at Newhouse, Chepstow.

  • Ocean Power Technologies reports third-quarter results

    15 Mar 2011

    Ocean Power Technologies (OPT) has announced its results for the third quarter ended 31 January 2011, in which strong growth and achievement of several operational milestones, most notably in Scotland, was reported.

  • Ultra-low-power digital memory for portable devices

    15 Mar 2011

    Engineers in the US claim to have developed a form of ultra-low-power digital memory that is faster and uses 100 times less energy than similar available memory.

  • BP acquires majority control of Brazilian ethanol producer

    14 Mar 2011

    London-based oil and gas company BP has agreed to acquire majority control of the Brazilian ethanol and sugar producer Companhia Nacional de Açúcar e Álcool (CNAA).

  • Renault-Nissan Alliance signs zero-emissions MoU

    14 Mar 2011

    The Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, Turkey, and the Renault-Nissan Alliance have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for preparing a zero-emissions partnership.

  • IP Group invests in drug developer Activiomics

    14 Mar 2011

    Activiomics, a developer of technologies for transforming the way in which drug biomarkers are identified, diagnostics are developed and drug candidates are identified and profiled, has received investment of more than £500,000 led by IP Group, a developer of intellectual-property-based businesses.

  • SLR acquires environmental mining consultant Metago

    14 Mar 2011

    International environmental consultancy SLR has announced the acquisition of Metago, a South African environmental consultant to the mining industry, for £7m.

  • Siemens creates 'centre of competence' at Lincoln factory

    14 Mar 2011

    Manufacturing in Lincoln has received a boost after engineering company Siemens announced plans to invest £5m in its city-centre factory, securing 140 jobs.

  • Saab divests ownership share in Grintek Ewation

    14 Mar 2011

    Aerospace and defence company Saab has signed an agreement to divest its ownership share of 42.4 per cent in South African system engineering company Grintek Ewation to Cassidian, the largest owner in the company and a division of EADS.

  • Facility set to study effects of cosmic radiation on electronics

    14 Mar 2011

    Around £11m is to be invested in the first dedicated facility outside of the US that will investigate how microchips respond to cosmic radiation.

  • BAE Systems and Dassault Aviation sign aircraft MoU

    14 Mar 2011

    Defence, security and aerospace company BAE Systems and French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate exclusively on the preparation and submission of a joint proposal to the UK and French Ministries of Defence for the design, development, production and support of a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS).

  • Atkins acquires TSS tech support from RWE Npower

    14 Mar 2011

    Engineering and design consultancy Atkins has acquired the Technical Services Scotland (TSS) consultancy and technical support team from RWE Npower’s Bellshill Technical Services group for a cash consideration of £785,000.The 29-strong TSS consultancy team brings expertise in electrical and process engineering, control and instrumentation, metallurgy and site-based testing and diagnostics for power-generation facilities.

  • Radiation threat uncertain as blasts rock Fukushima reactors

    14 Mar 2011

    As the devastation from Friday’s earthquake and resulting tsunami in Japan becomes apparent, the situation at the country’s Fukushima Daiichi reactor is less clear.

  • Talking about manufacturing

    14 Mar 2011

    Leading industry figures gather in Sheffield this week to discuss manufacturing’s contribution to the economy whilst a new report published today highlights opportunities from so-called ‘manu-services’.

  • Kuka Roboter awards Nexans Motionline cables contract

    14 Mar 2011

    Cable company Nexans has been awarded a €1.6m contract by German company Kuka Roboter to supply its specialised Motionline robotic cables for use in the construction of sophisticated 3D industrial robots.

  • US Department of Defense orders Harris radio systems

    14 Mar 2011

    International communications and information technology company Harris has received a $5.5m (£3.4m) order to supply additional Falcon II AN/VRC-103 multi-band, multi-mission vehicular radio systems to the US Department of Defense for use in Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All-Terrain Vehicles (M-ATVs).

  • Chevron and Valero Energy reach sale agreement

    14 Mar 2011

    American energy company Chevron has reached an agreement with Valero Energy to sell Chevron Limited, the entity that holds the 220,000 barrel per day Pembroke Refinery and other downstream assets in the UK and Ireland.The sale price is $730m (£453.8m), with an additional payment estimated to be $1bn for Chevron Limited’s inventory and other items, and the agreement expected to be completed during the second half of 2011.

  • SMTC announces unaudited fourth-quarter 2010 results

    11 Mar 2011

    Electronics manufacturer SMTC has reported its unaudited results for the fourth quarter of 2010, in which revenue was $64.6m (£40m) — $13.4m or 26.2 per cent higher than $51.2m in the fourth quarter of 2009 and marginally lower than the third quarter of 2010.

  • National Semiconductor reports third-quarter results

    11 Mar 2011

    Californian electronics manufacturer National Semiconductor has announced its financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2011, including sales that were 12 per cent lower than the $390.4m (£241.8m) in sales reported in the previous quarter.

  • Japan earthquake shuts nuclear facilities

    11 Mar 2011

    The massive earthquake that struck off Japan’s northeast coast today has triggered the automatic shutdown of four nuclear power stations.

  • End of an era?

    11 Mar 2011

    Discovery’s retirement will either put the brakes on our cosmic ambitions or kick-start a new era of commercial space exploration.

  • Aerospace and Automotive Academy opens in Farnborough

    11 Mar 2011

    Vince Cable, secretary of state for business, innovation and skills, has opened a new Aerospace and Automotive Academy at the Farnborough College of Technology.

  • High-altitude autonomous refuelling is put to the test

    11 Mar 2011

    Autonomous aerial refuelling between two unmanned aircraft has moved a step closer following a test flight conducted in the US.

  • Robot understands when it has gained a human's attention

    10 Mar 2011

    Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have found that they can program a robot to understand when it has gained the attention of a human.

  • UK government launches Renewable Heat Incentive

    10 Mar 2011

    The UK government today launched the Renewable Heat Incentive, a scheme designed to stimulate a new market in renewable heat by providing subsidies.

  • Laird Technologies acquires Klüver Aggregatebau

    10 Mar 2011

    Electronics company Laird Technologies has acquired medical technology company Klüver Aggregatebau, which for the fiscal year ending 31 December 2010 had revenues of €13m (£11.2m).

  • Frazer-Nash wins contract to develop dementia aid

    10 Mar 2011

    Engineering consultancy Frazer-Nash has been awarded a contract to develop a novel device that will help to ensure patients suffering from dementia to stay hydrated, funded by the SBRI and the Regional Innovation Fund, via NHS South East Coast.

  • FEMA awards Qinetiq asset-tracking services contract

    10 Mar 2011

    Qinetiq North America has announced an award from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on a contract option worth up to $15.6m (£9.6m) to provide asset-tracking services.

  • Boeing awards BAE Systems aircraft computer contract

    10 Mar 2011

    Defence, security and aerospace company BAE Systems has received a Low-Rate Initial Production contract from Boeing to provide mission computer systems for six P-8A Poseidon aircraft.

  • 3M and Quanta form new touch-system manufacturer

    10 Mar 2011

    American manufacturer 3M and Quanta today announced that they have signed a definitive agreement to form a new Singapore-based company, which will manufacture and commercialise projected capacitive touch systems for the personal computing market, combining Quanta’s industry knowledge with 3M’s projected-capacitive technology.

  • US Army orders training ammunition from Alliant

    10 Mar 2011

    Aerospace and defence company Alliant Techsystems has received a $54m (£33.4m) order for 120mm training tank ammunition from the US Army.

  • Sojitz to increase availability of Johnsen Oil filtration systems

    10 Mar 2011

    Trading company Sojitz has entered into a co-operation agreement with Danish green technology and liquid-filtration company Johnsen Oil, which will mean the wider availability of a portfolio of liquid-filtration systems in Asia and the maritime industries.

  • Cathay Pacific Airways orders 10 Boeing aircraft

    10 Mar 2011

    Hong Kong-based carrier Cathay Pacific Airways has ordered 10 Boeing 777-300ER (extended range) aircraft valued at $2.8bn (£1.7bn) at list price.With this order Cathay Pacific increases its planned fleet of Boeing 777-300ERs from 36 to 46, including 4 leased.

  • Puls to power the UK's national synchrotron facility

    10 Mar 2011

    Diamond Light Source, the UK’s national synchrotron facility, has chosen Puls power supplies to provide power for ten advanced ‘beamlines’ to be built at Harwell in Oxfordshire during the next six years.

  • Tigenix and Cellerix combine biotechnology operations

    10 Mar 2011

    Belgium-based Tigenix and Spain-based Cellerix have announced that the two cell-therapy-focused biotechnology companies and Cellerix’s shareholders have entered into a contribution agreement to combine the operations of both companies by means of a share-for-share exchange.

  • Rutland Partners acquires subsea company GEMS

    10 Mar 2011

    Private equity firm Rutland Partners has announce the acquisition of GEMS, which engages in subsea technical analysis and surveying.

  • US Navy modifies General Dynamics' illuminators contract

    10 Mar 2011

    General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products has been given an $11.2m (£6.9m) contract modification by the US Navy for the continued production of MK82 directors and MK200 director controllers for Aegis Combat System illuminators.This award modifies a contract issued in September 2010 by the Naval Sea Systems Command, which was valued at $11.5m, with a total potential value of $29.5m if all options are exercised.

  • Apple is not the only technological fruit

    10 Mar 2011

    Despite the fact that he has taken indefinite medical leave from Apple Computer, last week Steve Jobs took the stage in San Francisco to take the wraps off the iPad2, the company’s new tablet computer.

  • Visteon announces full-year results for 2010

    10 Mar 2011

    Automotive supplier Visteon has announced its financial results for 2010, reporting full-year sales of $7.5bn (£4.6bn), an increase of $781m or 12 per cent compared with 2009.

  • Alcoa acquies Transdigm's aerospace fastener business

    10 Mar 2011

    American aluminium producer Alcoa has completed the acquisition of the aerospace fastener business of Transdigm, a designer, producer and supplier of aircraft components.The  business will become part of Alcoa Fastening Systems, a designer and manufacturer of fasteners, components and installation tools for aerospace and industrial applications.

  • Affordable and efficient solar cells made by laser pulsing

    10 Mar 2011

    A new manufacturing method that employs an ultrafast pulsing laser aims to make solar cells more affordable and efficient.

  • Satellite navigation systems are vulnerable, warns report

    9 Mar 2011

    A new report warns that society has become ‘dangerously over-reliant’ on satellite navigation just two weeks after such a system was declared safe for guiding aircraft from space.

  • SMMT calls for government to bolster apprenticeships

    9 Mar 2011

    The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has set out its position on skills in a paper that outlines how government can work with industry to maximise investment in skills.

  • Study uncovers barriers to adoption of electric vehicles

    9 Mar 2011

    A new study from Deloitte has found that range, charging time, and purchase price are still barriers to the mass adoption of electric vehicles.

  • Foster Wheeler wins contract for waste-plastics fuel plant

    9 Mar 2011

    Foster Wheeler’s Global Engineering and Construction group has signed a contract with Cynar to provide basic process engineering design services for a 6,000-tonnes-per-annum plant to convert waste plastics into liquid fuels.The basic design package is expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2011.

  • Joint venture aims to support Skykon wind-turbine plant

    9 Mar 2011

    A joint venture between Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) and Marsh Wind Technology, the UK subsidiary of Marsh Global Holdings, has been established to secure the future of Skykon wind-turbine-tower manufacturing and assembly plant.The joint venture, named Wind Towers, has submitted a bid and been granted ‘preferred bidder status’.

  • WVTA qualifies Sukuzi fuel-cell scooter for public roads

    9 Mar 2011

    The Suzuki Burgman Fuel-Cell Scooter has been granted certification that qualifies its design as safe to use on public roads without need for individual inspection and testing.Developed jointly by Intelligent Energy and Suzuki Motor, the scooter’s Whole Vehicle Type Approval (WVTA) marks the first time any fuel-cell vehicle has achieved this level of certification.

  • International Lease Finance orders 33 Boeing 737-800s

    9 Mar 2011

    American aerospace and defence company Boeing and International Lease Finance (ILFC) have finalised a firm order, costing more than $2.6bn (£1.6bn), for 33 next-generation 737-800 aircraft.Boeing will deliver ILFC’s next-generation 737-800s with the new 737 Boeing Sky Interior.

  • Philips acquires anesthesia provider Dameca

    9 Mar 2011

    Electronics company Philips has acquired Dameca, a global provider of anaesthesia machines and accessories for the operating room.Dameca broadens Philips’ portfolio and provides opportunity for innovation in anaesthesia-related clinical decision support.

  • Kuka Roboter awards Nexans robotic-cables contract

    9 Mar 2011

    Cable manufacturer Nexans has been awarded a €1.6m (£1.4m) contract by robot producer Kuka Roboter to supply its specialised Motionline robotic cables for use in the construction of 3D industrial robots.

  • Robotic skills in cognition could assist future injury recovery

    9 Mar 2011

    Researchers at Hertfordshire University are developing cognitive skills for robots that will one day help people recover from lower-limb injuries.

  • EADS announces financial results for 2010

    9 Mar 2011

    The European Aeronautic Defence and Space company (EADS) has announced the annual results for 2010, the company’s 10th anniversary year, in which order intake amounted to €83.1bn (£71.6bn) driven by improved momentum in commercial aviation.

  • Modern Water reports full-year results for 2010

    9 Mar 2011

    Modern Water, an owner of water technologies focused on addressing the scarcity of fresh water, the treatment of wastewater and monitoring of water quality, has announced its full-year results for the 12 months ended 31 December 2010.

  • Measure for measure

    9 Mar 2011

    You can’t reduce anything unless you can measure it, and smart meters are just one of the ways that we can understand and control our energy usage.

  • Prodrive wins contracts to supply parts for sports cars

    8 Mar 2011

    Three sports-car manufacturers have commissioned Prodrive’s manufacturing division to supply carbon-composite parts for 5,000 vehicles over six years, in contracts worth more than £10m.The Southall-based automotive and motorsport engineering company will manufacture a full-carbon interior trim, as well as major external sub-assemblies.

  • Raytheon wins US Air Force contract for infrared systems

    8 Mar 2011

    American military contractor Raytheon has been awarded a $42m (£25.8m) US Air Force contract for additional AN/AAQ-29A forward-looking infrared (FLIR) imaging systems for installation on Pave Hawk HH-60G helicopters.

  • Turkish Airlines further expands its Airbus fleet

    8 Mar 2011

    Turkish Airlines has signed an order for the purchase of 10 Airbus A321s and three A330-200F freighter aircraft to meet its growth plans in the passenger and cargo markets.The new aircraft will join Turkish Airlines’ existing fleet of 75 Airbus aircraft, including four A310 freighters, 50 A320 range aircraft, 11 A330s, one A330-200F and nine A340s.

  • Air China orders five 747-8 jetliners from Boeing

    8 Mar 2011

    American aerospace and defence company Boeing and Air China have signed an agreement for the purchase of five 747-8 intercontinental jetliners, making the airline the first Chinese carrier to contract the passenger version of the aircraft.The agreement requires Chinese government approval, at which time it will be posted to the Boeing Orders and Deliveries website.Air China will use the aircraft to expand its international routes.

  • Babcock wins monitoring contract for UK nuclear sites

    8 Mar 2011

    Engineering support services company Babcock has secured a three-year contract to supply environmental monitoring services to the Harwell and Winfrith nuclear-licensed sites in the UK.

  • Flexible electronics assist multi-functional catheters

    8 Mar 2011

    Researchers from Northwestern University and the the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed a multi-functional catheter thanks to the use of flexible electronics.

  • Space project aims to track hazards in the Earth's orbit

    8 Mar 2011

    The UK Space Agency is spearheading efforts to better track potential hazards in the Earth’s orbit as part of a wider initiative by the European Space Agency (ESA).

  • System uses ultrasound to transmit data through metal

    8 Mar 2011

    A doctoral student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has developed a system that uses ultrasound to simultaneously transmit large quantities of data and power wirelessly through thick metal walls.

  • Non-surgical technique can determine cause of death

    8 Mar 2011

    A new non-surgical post-mortem technique has been pioneered by forensic pathologists and radiologists at Leicester University in collaboration with the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust.

  • Researchers catalogue sustainable materials

    8 Mar 2011

    Kingston University researchers have catalogued more than 1,000 different sustainable materials that can be used in the construction industry.

  • Total UK appoints Fisher German to manage pipeline

    8 Mar 2011

    Fuel company Total UK has appointed chartered surveyors Fisher German to manage its 230km petroleum pipeline that runs from Immingham Lincolnshire to the Buncefield Fuel Depot in Hemel Hempstead and from Colnbrook to Heathrow Airport.Fisher German’s utilities and infrastructure department has taken over Land Management and Emergency response management of the underground pipeline for the next three years.The contract includes full maintenance and management of ...

  • Siemens acquires two Norwegian subsea companies

    8 Mar 2011

    Siemens has agreed to acquire two companies, Poseidon and Bennex, from Subsea Technology, Norway.The combined revenue of the two companies is approximately €75m (£64.5m).The transaction, for which the purchase price was not disclosed, is subject to the approval of the responsible antitrust authorities.

  • University team maps 'visual strategies' of show-jump riders

    8 Mar 2011

    Scientists at Nottingham Trent University have collected evidence to prove how the miniscule eye movements of elite riders can determine success in show jumping.

  • Sony acquires tracking-technology provider Hawk-Eye

    8 Mar 2011

    Japanese electronics company Sony has announced the acquisition of Hawk-Eye, a UK-based company that specialises in providing tracking technology to sports events and broadcasters.

  • Raytheon to replace radar system at Manchester Airport

    8 Mar 2011

    American military contractor Raytheon has been selected to supply a radar system to replace legacy equipment at Manchester Airport, UK, under an extension to NATS’ Radar Site Services (RSS) program.The delivery and installation of the system will provide NATS with commonality across its en route surveillance infrastructure and, in this case, provide the same equipment being supplied to other major airports where NATS provides engineering support and systems.

  • BG concludes negotiations to supply LNG to Tokyo Gas

    8 Mar 2011

    Natural gas company BG has signed a sales agreement with Tokyo Gas, concluding negotiations announced in March 2010 for the supply of 1.2 million tonnes of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) a year for 20 years from 2015.

  • EADS unveils bicycle that is 'grown' from fine powder

    7 Mar 2011

    EADS has unveiled the Airbike, a bicycle made using a manufacturing process that literally grows products from a fine powder of metal, nylon or carbon-reinforced plastics.

  • Immarsat selects Cobham as broadband launch partner

    7 Mar 2011

    Aerospace and defence company Cobham has been selected by Inmarsat to be the maritime-terminal launch partner for Inmarsat’s new Global Xpress broadband service.

  • Alstom initiates energy-saving joint venture in Israel

    7 Mar 2011

    French conglomerate Alstom has teamed up with Rotem Industries and Gefen Biomed Investments, two specialist technology firms in Israel, in creating a joint venture to finance start-ups in the field of renewable and alternative energy and energy-saving technologies.

  • BASF and Evolve collaborate in agricultural research

    7 Mar 2011

    Chemical company BASF, German university Ludwigshafen and Swiss synthetic-biology company Evolva Holding have signed an agreement for joint research on the design of novel and optimised biosynthesis routes for selected natural products with crop-protection potential.

  • Government urged to support manufacturing in UK Budget

    7 Mar 2011

    The UK government needs to deliver on its promises of supporting manufacturing and upgrading infrastructure in the upcoming Budget, according to engineering bodies.

  • Water, water everywhere

    7 Mar 2011

    Britain’s biggest disaster exercise takes place this week that will look at how England and Wales would respond to catastrophic flooding scenarios.

  • Isis Equity Partners acquires minority stake in HPF

    7 Mar 2011

    Isis Equity Partners has completed an £14m investment in hurleypalmerflatt (HPF), a multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy, to acquire a minority stake and provide funding for future acquisitions.

  • UK Flood Barriers wins contract to provide self-closing defence

    7 Mar 2011

    UK Flood Barriers, which has been supported by the Manufacturing Advisory Service-West Midlands (MAS-WM), will be responsible for rolling-out the Self-Closing Flood Barrier (SCFB) to the Environment Agency, local authorities, business and residential properties across the UK and Eire.

  • FMV awards Saab order for upkeep of Gripen system

    7 Mar 2011

    Defence and security company Saab has received an order from the Swedish Defence Material Administration (FMV) regarding the Gripen system for the continuous upkeep of its operative capability.

  • Ramboll announces profitable growth in 2010

    7 Mar 2011

    Nordic engineering consultant Ramboll has reported its financial results for 2010, in which net profit was DKK175m (£20m), up 40 per cent from 2009.Profit before tax increased by 30 per cent to DKK276m and revenue reached a record-breaking DKK6bn.

  • Fibre-optic connections created using surface-emitting lasers

    7 Mar 2011

    Using unique surface-emitting laser technology, researchers have created efficient fibre-optic connections with a speed of around 40 gigabits per second.

  • Camera uses microwave signals to get into materials

    4 Mar 2011

    US researchers have developed a handheld camera that uses microwave signals to non-intrusively look inside materials in real time.

  • Project works on restoring speech for stroke patients

    4 Mar 2011

    A five-year project aims to develop a device that brings back speech functions to people rendered speechless through stroke or other conditions.

  • Holding out for a hero

    4 Mar 2011

    Engineering needs a champion to help the public understand the excitement and potential that it holds. But who could step forward? We have some ideas.

  • Low-carbon finance scheme set up to facilitate 'green growth'

    4 Mar 2011

    The Carbon Trust and Siemens are to provide finance worth up to £550m over the next three years for UK businesses wishing to invest in energy-efficiency equipment.

  • Nanoparticle technology reduces friction in engines

    4 Mar 2011

    A researcher at Queens University, Canada, has utilised nanotechnology to reduce friction in vehicle engines and machines.

  • Scanner technology could improve skin-cancer treatment

    3 Mar 2011

    Octopus has made an investment of £300,000 into Michelson Diagnostics, a company whose scanning technology could greatly improve the treatment of skin cancer.

  • EADS to join aerospace research effort in Moscow

    3 Mar 2011

    EADS has signed an agreement that will see the company participate in the Skolkovo Innovation Centre, a high-technology business hub to be built in the Moscow area.

  • Dormer Tools and Hexagon Metrology enter partnership

    3 Mar 2011

    Hexagon Metrology has entered into a partnership with Dormer Tools, based in Sheffield, UK, which will introduce metrology into the manufacturing process.

  • Photonics circuit shown to handle quantum information

    3 Mar 2011

    Advances in quantum photonics could offer ‘perfectly secure’ telecommunications and the technology may be with us in around five years, according to researchers at Bristol University.

  • Boeing awards Harris satellite-antennas contract

    3 Mar 2011

    Communications and information-technology company Harris has been awarded a contract from Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems to build Ka-band antennas for three Inmarsat-5 satellites.

  • Jaguar awards £2bn of Range Rover component contracts

    3 Mar 2011

    Jaguar Land Rover has awarded more than 40 UK companies contracts worth £2bn to supply components for the Range Rover Evoque.

  • ADBA proposes creation of carbon-credit trading platform

    3 Mar 2011

    ADBA, the trade association for the anaerobic-digestion and biogas industry, has proposed the creation of a biomethane-based carbon-credit trading platform.

  • Alcoa acquires full ownership of carbothermic aluminium technology

    3 Mar 2011

    Alcoa has announced that it has finalised a deal with Orkla to acquire full ownership of the technology associated with the carbothermic aluminium production process, previously jointly owned by the companies.

  • STX Finland awards Wärtsilä propulsion systems contract

    3 Mar 2011

    Marine power-systems provider Wärtsilä has been awarded a contract by shipbuilding company STX Finland to supply the propulsion machinery for a new passenger ferry to be built for Viking Line, a Finnish ship owner.

  • Wärtsilä receives engines order for power plant in Turkey

    3 Mar 2011

    Power plants supplier Wärtsilä has received an order from Odas Elektrik Uretim, an independent power producer, to supply engines for its new power plant at Urfa in south-eastern Turkey.

  • Royal Navy selects Rolls-Royce to supply RAS system

    3 Mar 2011

    Global power systems company Rolls-Royce has been selected to supply a replenishment-at-sea (RAS) system to the Royal Navy.

  • Alcoa invests in Electronic Recyclers International

    3 Mar 2011

    Aluminium producer Alcoa has become a minority investor in Electronic Recyclers International (ERI), a large US recycler of electronics waste, with Alcoa vice president and chief sustainability officer Kevin Anton becoming a director of ERI.

  • The mysterious case of the disappearing Jack

    3 Mar 2011

    There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that Jack Robinson was one of the most valued members of staff at the Small to Medium Sized engineering company.

  • Carbon nanotubes aerogel could improve robotic surgery

    3 Mar 2011

    A new form of super-sensitive carbon could improve robotic surgery, detect pollutants and store energy more efficiently, according to its inventors.

  • Sight-restoring implant approved for sale in EEA

    2 Mar 2011

    An implant designed to restore a degree of sight to people with advanced retinal degenerative diseases has been approved for sale in the European Economic Area.

  • Foster Wheeler wins study contract for Zirku oil facility

    2 Mar 2011

    Foster Wheeler has announced that its global engineering and construction group has received a contract from Zakum Development (ZADCO) to perform an availability and reliability study in connection with the expansion of the Zirku oil-processing facilities in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.The Foster Wheeler contract value for this project was not disclosed and was included in the company’s fourth-quarter 2010 bookings.

  • International Power announces preliminary 2010 results

    2 Mar 2011

    Independent supply and generation company International Power has announced its preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2010.In 2010 the business recorded underlying EPS up 11 per cent and strong free cash flow.The board has recommended a full-year dividend of 10.91 pence per share.It has also been announced that the combination of International Power and GDF Suez Energy International was completed on 3 February 2011.

  • IATA downgrades its 2011 outlook for the airline industry

    2 Mar 2011

    The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has downgraded its airline industry outlook for 2011 to $8.6bn (£5.3bn) from the $9.1bn it estimated in December 2010.This is a 46 per cent fall in net profits compared to the $16bn (revised from $15.1bn) earned by the industry in 2010, and on expected industry revenues of $594bn, the $8.6bn 2011 profit equates to a net profit margin of 1.4 per cent.

  • E.ON sells Central Networks power-distribution business

    2 Mar 2011

    Energy provider E.ON has agreed to sell its UK power-distribution business, Central Networks, to PPL in Allentown, Pennsylvania, for £4bn.

  • UK government moves to upgrade inter-city trains

    2 Mar 2011

    The UK government has approved a £5.2bn programme that will see the replacement of high-speed inter-city trains and the electrification of the Great Western Main Line between Cardiff, Bristol and Didcot.

  • February's top 10 engineering contract wins

    2 Mar 2011

    Each month The Engineer picks 10 of the most notable contract news stories from our Business Briefs archive. This month’s selection sees big brands of the automotive and aerospace industries grabbing the business world’s attention.

  • Electra Partners acquires Sentinel Performance Solutions

    2 Mar 2011

    Private equity firm Electra Partners has acquired Sentinel Performance Solutions for £43m from The Riverside Company.

  • Torotrak supplies prototype IVT for Tata Motors concept car

    2 Mar 2011

    Technology developer Torotrak has supplied a prototype transmission to India-based Tata Motors for use in the Tata Pixel concept car, revealed at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.

  • Redhall and ACPP team up to support nuclear programme

    2 Mar 2011

    Engineering services provider Redhall has teamed up with French company ACPP to form a joint venture that will support skill demands for the forthcoming UK nuclear new-build programme.

  • Shaw receives full notice on new gas-fired facility

    2 Mar 2011

    Engineering procurement and construction services company Shaw has received full notice to proceed on a new gas-fired facility at Duke Energy’s Dan River Steam Station in North Carolina, US.Scheduled to begin operation in late 2012, the new 620MW natural-gas-fired combined-cycle generating unit will replace two older units at the facility.At the peak of construction, the project will employ more than 400 workers.

  • ABB wins contract to build power substations for Qatar

    2 Mar 2011

    Power and automation company ABB has won an order worth around $30m (£25.2m) from Kahramaa, the electricity and water operator in Qatar, to build two underground substations to help meet increasing residential and commercial demand for power in the capital city of Doha.

  • Alstom wins contracts for Beijing Line 6 metro

    2 Mar 2011

    French power and transport company Alstom and its two Chinese joint ventures have been awarded two contracts by Beijing MTR Construction Administration, totalling €140m (£118m), to provide both advanced traction and signalling systems for the new Line 6 of the Beijing metro.

  • Dong Energy orders Siemens turbines for Borkum Riffgrund

    2 Mar 2011

    Siemens Energy has secured an order from Dong Energy to supply up to 89 wind turbines for the Borkum Riffgrund 1 wind-power project in the North Sea, 80km northwest of Emden and 55km off the German coast.

  • Locomotives company Wabtec acquires Brush Traction

    2 Mar 2011

    American locomotive manufacturer Wabtec has acquired Brush Traction, a UK-based provider of locomotive overhauls, services and aftermarket components, for about $31m.

  • US Navy awards cyberspace contract to General Dynamics

    2 Mar 2011

    General Dynamics has been awarded a $78.4m (£48m) multiple-award, indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract by the US Navy to examine the science, architecture, engineering, functionality, interface and interoperability of cyberspace systems at the tactical, operational and strategic levels.

  • Wireless foetal monitor gets clearance for use in the US

    2 Mar 2011

    A wireless foetal monitor developed by Nottingham University spin-out Monica Healthcare has been cleared for use in the US.

  • Initiative aims to encourage studying and working abroad

    1 Mar 2011

    City University London is leading a €3.8m project to encourage STEM entrepreneurship across Europe and the Western Balkans.

  • TAM Airlines orders two additional Boeing 777-300ERs

    1 Mar 2011

    Brazilian carrier TAM Airlines has ordered two additional Boeing 777-300ERs (extended range) with two purchase rights.Today’s order, valued at approximately $568m (£351m) at current list prices, brings the total number of 777s TAM has on order to 12.

  • SSE will cease development of proposed offshore wind farm

    1 Mar 2011

    Scottish and Southern Energy is to cease development of its proposed offshore wind farm 2km off the coast of Kintyre, western Scotland.

  • Chief executive to outline UK infrastructural challenge

    1 Mar 2011

    A technological revolution in the UK’s infrastructure is already underway but policy changes are needed in order for them to succeed, the chief executive officer of National Grid will state tonight.

  • Archaeological finds may aid back-therapy development

    1 Mar 2011

    The development of back-pain therapies could soon be aided by computer simulations that incorporate data from human archaeological finds.

  • Keeping our eyes on a volatile natural world

    March 2011 Online

    In the wake of any natural disaster the question of whether technology could have helped to save lives is inevitably asked.

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The Engineer 14 May 2012

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