The Engineer
May 2012 online
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Ruth Mallors, director of Aerospace, Aviation and Defence KTN
17 Oct 2012
Aerospace often plays a pioneering role in technology development. Sharing the knowledge generated around the many companies in the sector — and outside it — can help generate new ideas, as Ruth Mallors, head of the aerospace KTN, explains to Andrew Czyzewski.
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GE explains advantages of organic light-emitting diodes
14 Jun 2012
Anil Duggal of GE Global Research explains organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), a technology that could be incorporated into wallpaper to light a bedroom.
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Project aims to dock cubesats for modular space structures
31 May 2012
A project at the Surrey Space Centre (SSC) is aiming to dock two cubesats in orbit, with a view to eventually enabling mission upgrades and construction of modular devices.
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BAE Systems announces potential UK job losses
31 May 2012
Around 620 jobs could be lost after BAE Systems announced it has begun consultation with staff in its UK land systems business.
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IMechE calls on UK government to support electricity storage
31 May 2012
More could be done by the government to support electricity storage technologies, according to a policy statement launched today by IMechE.
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Researchers claim coating can eliminate some air pollutants
31 May 2012
A nano-coating developed in Spain is claimed to eliminate certain air pollutants when it interacts with sunlight.
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Chip could lead to inexpensive portable cell-screening devices
31 May 2012
A low-cost microfluidic flow cytometry chip designed to rapidly screen cells for conditions such as leukaemia or HIV has been developed at Penn State University.
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Robot fish work together to detect and analyse pollution
31 May 2012
Robotic fish designed to detect water pollution have been tested in the Port of Gijon, Spain.
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Indoor skydiving as an Olympic sport?
30 May 2012
Indoor skydiving centres are taking off in the UK, and indeed around the world. Guest blogger Steve Haake, who took flight in California recently, wonders whether the Olympics are ready for freestyle synthetic free-falling.
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DavyMarkham finalises £10m HudBay mining project
30 May 2012
DavyMarkham has announced the completion of a £10m international mining project.
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BG Group sells interest in Philippines plants to First Gen
30 May 2012
BG Group today announced it had reached agreement to sell its 40 per cent equity interest in two gas-fired power generation plants in the Philippines to its partner in the facilities, First Gen Corporation, for $360m.
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Fraunhofer creates applied photonics research hub in UK
30 May 2012
Fraunhofer Gesellschaft, Europe’s largest applied research organisation, is to establish its first UK centre at Strathclyde University.
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UK government approves new University Technical Colleges
29 May 2012
The government has approved 15 University Technical Colleges to open across the country over the next two years, bringing the total number of UTCs to 34.
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Sparrows Offshore reports lift in turnover and profits
29 May 2012
A strong trading performance for Sparrows in the year ended December 2011 has seen turnover rise by £22.5m and profits by almost £6m.
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Ricardo UK demonstrates road train on Spanish motorway
29 May 2012
Ricardo UK has successfully demonstrated a road train on a motorway in Spain.
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BG Group signs with Cosan for Comgás holding
29 May 2012
BG Group has signed an agreement with Cosan for the sale of the group’s entire 60.1 per cent holding in Comgás for approximately $1.7bn.
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UK engineering research could lead to lower-carbon cities
29 May 2012
A team of UK researchers is aiming to cut carbon emissions by changing the way we build our cities.
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Device could help people with moderate visual impairment
29 May 2012
A device developed in Spain could help people who have difficulty perceiving the full extent of their surroundings.
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Babcock and SEA join forces for MoD's buoy design project
28 May 2012
Babcock and its partner SEA have been selected as one of two teams to be awarded a contract for phase one of the Submarine Communications Buoy Technology Demonstrator Programme.
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Siemens announces five-year $1bn Brazil investment
28 May 2012
Siemens has announced it will invest $1bn in Brazil over the next five years.
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ABB wins gearless mill drive system order from Kazakhmys
28 May 2012
ABB has won an order worth $44m to deliver three gearless mill drive systems (GMDs) for a new copper mine to be operated by Kazakhmys plc (Kazakhmys) in south-eastern Kazakhstan.
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'Nanoclutch' simulations could aid nanorobot manufacture
28 May 2012
Chinese researchers have designed and tested simulations of a speed regulation tool for nanomotors.
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Norbar adds expertise to Bloodhound SSC project
28 May 2012
Norbar Torque Tools has joined the list of specialist companies, educational and professional organisations supplying products, services and expertise to the Bloodhound SSC (Super Sonic Car) project, which aims to push the world land-speed record to 1,000mph.
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Rolls-Royce secures contract extensions for UK fleets
28 May 2012
Rolls-Royce has secured contract extensions that will see the company provide support for engines on the UK’s C-130 Hercules transport and VC10 tanker fleets.
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Research shows solid materials could assist carbon capture
28 May 2012
Research from the US has shown certain solid materials could provide a more efficient way to capture carbon dioxide from power plants.
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Romax set to move into new premises in Nottingham
28 May 2012
Romax is to move into new premises at Nottingham University’s Innovation Park.
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Driving change, driving manufacturing, and taking the train
28 May 2012
Intelligent mobility and the UK manufacturing supply chain are under scrutiny at events this week.
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Device uses motion of single droplet to generate power
28 May 2012
An energy-harvesting device that uses the motion of a single droplet of mercury or ionic liquid to generate electrical power has been developed in Norway.
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Members agree dual site for SKA radio telescope
25 May 2012
Members of the SKA Organisation have agreed on a dual site for the Square Kilometre Array telescope, the world’s largest and most sensitive radio telescope.
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Method uses blood sample to rapidly detect testicular cancer
25 May 2012
Scientists at Leeds University are developing a new technique that could be used to quickly detect testicular cancer from a blood sample.
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PJD and FMT collaborate on mechanical installation service
25 May 2012
PJD Group has announced it will collaborate with FMT Engineering Group to provide a full mechanical service for UK power plants.
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MIT research team develops needle-less injection device
25 May 2012
A device that delivers a tiny, high-pressure jet of medicine through the skin without the use of a hypodermic needle has been developed in the US.
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DTZ selects EIC for mechanical and electrical maintenance
25 May 2012
EIC has won a series of mechanical and electrical maintenance contracts worth more than £1m with property agent DTZ, part of UGL Services, a division of UGL Limited.
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Alstom MaxSine facility to focus on HVDC technology
25 May 2012
Alstom has opened a new engineering and manufacturing facility at its Stafford-based Grid global centre of excellence for high-voltage direct current technology.
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Inspirational Journey for female engineers at Atkins
25 May 2012
Atkins has joined An Inspirational Journey, an initiative aimed at increasing the number of women working at the senior corporate level in Britain’s boardrooms.
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Who knows what drought is?
25 May 2012
Many areas of the UK have been told recently that they’re both in drought and in danger of flooding. Is it time for some new terminology?
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Research points to potential of 'tumbleweed' Mars rovers
25 May 2012
Researchers have developed a computer model to optimise the design of ‘tumbleweed’ Mars rovers that could be used to explore the Red Planet.
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New processes enable weight savings in BMW components
24 May 2012
Johnson Controls is using innovative production processes to make the door panels and seat structures for the new BMW 3 Series.
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Frazer-Nash completes ITER reactor equipment analysis
24 May 2012
Frazer-Nash has completed an analysis of vital equipment for ITER, the large-scale nuclear fusion reactor being built in southern France.
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Research team sees water as a replacement form of lubricant
24 May 2012
Researchers in Germany believe that water can replace mineral oils as a form of lubrication.
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Microscopy can see nanoscale processes in real time
23 May 2012
A new type of scanning probe microscopy can see nanoscale processes in real time, such as neurotransmitter release, alloy corrosion and photocatalysis.
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Intelligent mobility – a systems view
23 May 2012
The flow and use of information are the key factors in developing ‘intelligent mobility’, but this will involve developing barriers to protect privacy as well as increasing communication between vehicles and infrastructure.
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Saudi Arabia gives air training contract to BAE Systems
23 May 2012
BAE Systems has been awarded £1.6bn to support future air-crew training requirements for the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF).
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Private enterprise in space
23 May 2012
The first launch of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule to the ISS is a significant achievement, but is it really such a bold new chapter in space exploration as we’re being told?
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May CBI survey reveals weaker order books for manufacturers
23 May 2012
UK manufacturers reported weaker order books in May and the pace of expected output growth over the next three months has slowed, according to the CBI.
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KMW acquires manufacturer of military bridging systems
23 May 2012
WFEL, a British manufacturer of bridging systems for use in military and disaster-relief scenarios, has been acquired by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW).
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Mazda and Fiat sign MoU for Mazda, Alfa Romeo marques
23 May 2012
Mazda and Fiat have signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding for the development and manufacturing of a new roadster for the Mazda and Alfa Romeo marques.
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Navy vessels get Thales digital situational awareness system
23 May 2012
Thales is to upgrade a large proportion of the Royal Navy’s surface vessels with a fully digitised situational awareness system.
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SpaceX craft aims to dock with International Space Station
23 May 2012
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft have successfully launched from Cape Canaveral, an event that marks the second demonstration mission for NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services programme.
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UK companies win contracts for nuclear-deterrent submarines
22 May 2012
Contracts worth £350m have been awarded today to UK companies to design the next generation of nuclear-deterrent submarines.
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UK publishes draft Energy Bill to attract low-carbon funding
22 May 2012
A draft Energy Bill designed to attract the £110bn required to build new low-carbon energy capacity has been published today by the government.
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Shaw Group agrees to sell Energy & Chemicals business
22 May 2012
The Shaw Group has entered into a definitive agreement to sell substantially all of its Energy & Chemicals business to Technip.
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Survey says manufacturing SMEs are looking at growth
22 May 2012
Around 60 per cent of manufacturing SMEs expect further growth between now and the end of the year, according to survey conducted by the Manufacturing Advisory Service.
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'Memristor' electronics could be future for integrated devices
22 May 2012
A new type of ‘memristor’ electronics technology could allow the integration of memory, processing and display functions in a one-material device.
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Gravity sensors could aid hunt for new oil and gas deposits
22 May 2012
Gravity sensors designed for satellites and adapted for use underwater could aid the hunt for new oil and gas deposits.
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Team looks at data quality in ad hoc mobile networks
22 May 2012
Researchers have devised a method to improve the quality and efficiency of data transmission in mobile ad hoc networks.
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SSC Laser announces expansion into Scotland
21 May 2012
Subcontract laser-profiling specialist SSC Laser is to expand its operations into Scotland.
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Researchers look at graphene for rust-proof coating
21 May 2012
Researchers in the US are investigating the use of a graphene-based composite as a rust-proof coating.
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Bridgepoint acquires voice productivity software developer
21 May 2012
Voice productivity software developer BigHand has been acquired by Bridgepoint Development Capital together with management in a transaction totalling £49m.
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Oman signs with Airbus for acquisition of C295 aircraft
21 May 2012
The Royal Air Force of Oman today signed a contract with Airbus Military for the acquisition of eight C295 aircraft.
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BMT Group reports 'robust' financial results for the year
21 May 2012
BMT Group says it has achieved robust financial results, despite another year of challenging economic conditions across much of the world.
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Torotrak signs agreement with Univance for automotive
21 May 2012
Torotrak has signed a co-operation and licence agreement with Univance, a developer and manufacturer of passenger and industrial vehicle transmission units, and other automotive parts headquartered in Japan.
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Turkey awards ship propulsion contract to Rolls-Royce
21 May 2012
Rolls-Royce has won an order to supply propulsion equipment for three new ships commissioned by the Turkish Navy.
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Rolls-Royce wins contracts for gas turbine packages
21 May 2012
Rolls-Royce has been awarded contracts worth $136m (£86m) to supply technology and long-term services support to Dolphin Energy, which transports natural gas from Qatar to the United Arab Emirates and Oman via a 364km subsea pipeline.
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Mitigating the threat of cyber crime through security
21 May 2012
Events this week look at mitigating cyber crime, making the most of the opportunities in renewable energy and gaining access to finance.
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Company shows lightweight material for electric vehicles
21 May 2012
A Danish company has demonstrated that a new lightweight material can help electric vehicles increase their range.
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Thameslink set to get noise dampening on rail tracks
18 May 2012
Advanced noise-dampening technology has been retrofitted to UK rail tracks for the first time as part of the Thameslink Programme.
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Researchers work on device that could restore sight
18 May 2012
A device that could restore sight to blind people is being developed by Strathclyde University and Stanford University.
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SSE acquires Phoenix Supply Limited through Airtricity
18 May 2012
Phoenix Energy Holdings Limited has entered into an agreement to sell Phoenix Supply Limited, its regulated gas supply business in Northern Ireland, to SSE.
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Advance in graphene quantum dots benefits optoelectronics
18 May 2012
Kansas State University researchers say they have made an advance in producing graphene quantum dots of controlled shape and size at large densities.
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Scientists develop easy-to-use urine test for Type 2 diabetes
18 May 2012
Scientists have reported the development of an inexpensive, easy-to-use urine test for Type 2 diabetes.
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Lola Cars International suffers from cashflow problems
17 May 2012
Lola Cars International has announced that the latest economic downturn and the decision of HMRC not to pay ongoing R&D tax credits has caused a serious cashflow problem for the businesses.
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Birse Civils wins Center Parcs village infrastructure contract
17 May 2012
Birse Civils, a Balfour Beatty company, has been awarded a £26m contract by Center Parcs to provide all the roads and technical infrastructure for its fifth holiday village in the UK.
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Rolls-Royce secures offshore vessel propulsion contract
17 May 2012
Rolls-Royce has secured a £6m contract to provide an integrated design, power and propulsion and equipment systems package for an offshore supply vessel to be built at Norwegian shipyard Simek for ship owner Atlantic Offshore.
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Vauxhall confirms Astra will be built at Ellesmere Port plant
17 May 2012
Vauxhall has confirmed it will build the new Astra at its Ellesmere Port plant in Cheshire, safeguarding 2,100 jobs and creating a further 700.
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Cancellation for field study in climate-change project
17 May 2012
A field study for a geoengineering project aiming to mitigate the effects of climate change has been cancelled.
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Underwater turbine set to be used for Scottish tidal power
17 May 2012
An underwater turbine that is set to be used in Scotland’s first and only consented tidal-power project has completed initial testing.
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Ultra-sensitive biosensor could assist early cancer detection
17 May 2012
Researchers have created the Flexure-FET biosensor, a device that could facilitate the early detection of cancer.
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Team aims for better vision control on robotic 'walkers'
16 May 2012
New research could speed up the development of robotic vehicles that walk on legs by enabling them to see where they’re going.
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Niche Vehicle R&D Programme invites bids for funding
16 May 2012
Niche vehicle manufacturers and suppliers in Britain are being invited to bid for funding under the Niche Vehicle R&D Programme.
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e2v to sell non-core businesses to Baird for £14.7m
16 May 2012
e2v technologies has agreed the sale of its non-core businesses to Baird Capital Partners Europe for £14.7m.
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HgCapital and RidgeWind finalise Wandylaw wind project
16 May 2012
HgCapital and RidgeWind have reached a financial close on the 20.5MW Wandylaw wind project in Northumberland, UK.
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Klinger UK boosts graduate training and development
16 May 2012
Bradford-based Klinger UK is increasing its training and development programme for engineering graduates as it embarks on a 10-year plan for further growth.
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Social Impact Co-Investment Fund invests in Pure Global
16 May 2012
Pure Global, a Herts-based social enterprise responsible for NuDrive, a lever-drive propulsion accessory for manual wheelchairs, has received financing from the Social Impact Co-Investment Fund.
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Researchers seek to improve design of hypersonic engines
16 May 2012
Stanford University researchers are hoping to improve the design of hypersonic aircraft engines by running simulations on thousands of computers at once.
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Light-sensitive photodetector uses graphene for efficiency
16 May 2012
Spanish scientists have created what may be the most light-sensitive photodetector tested to date.
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Receivers could promote more widespread wireless recharging
16 May 2012
Wireless recharging of electrical devices could become more widespread thanks to an improvement in wireless power-transfer receivers.
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Miniature devices shed light on satellite interference
15 May 2012
Oslo University scientists have developed miniature instruments that could provide useful insights into how the Northern Lights interfere with satellites.
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Rolls-Royce wins STX OSV deck equipment contract
15 May 2012
Rolls-Royce has been awarded a £15m contract by STX OSV to supply an extensive deck equipment package for an advanced anchor-handling vessel to be operated by Iceman AS.
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AREVA, Mitsubishi enter into uranium exploration agreement
15 May 2012
AREVA and Mitsubishi Corporation, through their respective subsidiaries Afmeco Mining and Exploration and Mitsubishi Development, have entered a uranium exploration programme in Australia.
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Finnish Industry Investment commits to Creandum III fund
15 May 2012
Finnish Industry Investment Ltd has made a €7.5m commitment to Creandum Advisor’s new venture capital fund.
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EDF joins with Idinvest Partners for Electranova Capital fund
15 May 2012
EDF has joined with Idinvest Partners to create a venture capital fund called Electranova Capital.
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t-cell Europe announces first-round financing of €1.45m
15 May 2012
t-cell Europe — a spin-off from the Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies — has completed first-round financing, raising a total of €1.45m.
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'Inflammation thermostat' could aid immune system
15 May 2012
New technology could help regulate inflammation in the body so that it aids the immune system without causing organ damage.
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£2m UK Space Agency funding for Mars exploration projects
15 May 2012
The UK Space Agency has announced it will provide a total of £2m for nine science projects associated with Mars exploration.
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Royal Philips Electronics to sell Speech Processing business
15 May 2012
Royal Philips Electronics is to sell its Speech Processing business to Invest Unternehmensbeteiligungs Aktiengesellschaft, a private equity fund of the Raiffeisen Banking Group Upper Austria.
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MoD appoints Capita Symonds to technical support framework
15 May 2012
Capita Symonds has been appointed to the Ministry of Defence’s Framework Agreement for Technical Support.
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MoD investment reinforces UK nuclear deterrent commitment
15 May 2012
The Ministry of Defence is to sustain its commitment to the nuclear deterrent by continuing to invest £1bn a year on facilities at the Atomic Weapons Establishment.
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Researchers work on LEDs that use UV light to kill bacteria
15 May 2012
LED devices that use ultra-violet light to kill bacteria and viruses are likely to be the outcome of research taking place at North Carolina State University.
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Lille picks Alstom as preferred bidder for Metro project
14 May 2012
Alstom has been selected as preferred bidder by Lille Métropole to modernise Line 1 of the city’s metro.
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Survey points to complexities of current Patent Box rules
14 May 2012
Patent Box rules are too complex and their implementation could mislead some businesses to expect more than they actually get, according to a survey from Withers & Rogers.
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Excess heat from steel plants could be used to heat Sheffield
14 May 2012
Engineers believe that excess heat from steel plants could be used to heat Sheffield, significantly reducing the city’s CO2 emissions.
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Researchers use engineered viruses to produce electricity
14 May 2012
Researchers in the US have found a way to generate energy using specially engineered viruses that convert movement into electricity.
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Novartis to acquire Fougera Pharmaceuticals for $1.5bn
14 May 2012
Novartis has signed an agreement to acquire specialty dermatology generics company Fougera Pharmaceuticals for $1.5bn.
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BAE Systems begins trials of unmanned aircraft system
14 May 2012
BAE Systems has begun testing technology to enable conventional aircraft to fly safely without pilots, including weather avoidance and emergency landing systems.
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Antarctic oil, electric grids and the challenges of new nuclear
14 May 2012
Energy dominates this week’s set of events with oil exploration, nuclear new build and grid integrity open to discussion.
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Method allows robot to learn and apply grasping skills
14 May 2012
Cornell researchers claim to have developed a new algorithm that allows a robot to learn complex grasping skills from experience and to apply them in new situations.
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Government drops plan to buy F-35 for navy's aircraft carriers
11 May 2012
The government is abandoning its plan to buy its preferred fighter jet for the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers due to escalating costs and delivery delays.
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US-developed bodysuit could help in fight against malaria
11 May 2012
A garment developed in the US is claimed to offer better protection against mosquito bites — a development that could help in the fight against malaria.
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Evoque demand prompts JLR to increase UK supplier spend
11 May 2012
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is to spend an additional £1bn with UK suppliers over the next four years amid continued global demand for the Range Rover Evoque.
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Ancient advantage
11 May 2012
A TV show on the ancient Greeks’ invention of the computer highlights the importance and preserving and sharing knowledge.
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Vattenfall plans to open marine renewables services company
11 May 2012
Swedish power company Vattenfall has shed light on its plans to open the world’s first marine renewables services company.
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Meter enables cost-effective monitoring of energy usage
10 May 2012
A new device could help manufacturers monitor their energy usage more cost-effectively using technology originally created for washing machines.
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Engineers seek zero-defect micro manufacturing strategy
10 May 2012
Engineers at Brunel University are striving to towards a zero-defect strategy for micro manufacturing processes.
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EPSRC announces grants for robotics research projects
10 May 2012
Research that could enable groups of flying or underwater robotic vehicles to work together more effectively has received a £16m funding boost.
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Element Six looks set to create innovation centre near Oxford
10 May 2012
Element Six has announced it is creating a £20m innovation centre near Oxford to create and develop new products.
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Method enables Sacramento Delta water flow research
10 May 2012
UC Berkeley researchers have developed a method to learn about the quality, volume, speed and direction of the flow of salt water and fresh water through the Sacramento Delta.
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GTech develops efficient cordless vacuum cleaner
10 May 2012
A UK manufacturer has designed a new cordless vacuum cleaner with a large claimed reduction in power usage and equivalent dust removal ability compared with existing technology.
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Project drives performance gains in osmotic power
9 May 2012
Norwegian engineers are attempting to increase the efficiency of osmotic power stations through the production of new membrane stacks.
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Zero Motorcycles announces record growth for Q1 2012
9 May 2012
Electric motorcycle manufacturer Zero Motorcycles has announced record growth for the first quarter of 2012 with year-over-year sales up 178 per cent in the number of motorcycles built and shipped.
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eCapital participates in Smart Hydro Power funding round
9 May 2012
eCapital entrepreneurial Partners has participated in the second round of funding of Smart Hydro Power with its Cleantech Fund.
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Boeing and EVA Air finalise 777-300ER aircraft order
9 May 2012
Boeing and Taipei-based EVA Air have finalised an order for three 777-300ER aircraft.
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Teach the children well
9 May 2012
Does engineering still have an image problem? And if so, what’s the best way to tackle it?
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BASF announces acquisition of omega-3 fatty acid producer
9 May 2012
BASF has announced the acquisition of Equateq, a global leader in the manufacture of highly concentrated omega-3 fatty acids.
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Project could lead to more efficient hydrogen fuel cells
9 May 2012
A UK-led European project is attempting to improve the properties of biofuel cells and microbial fuel cells by creating hybrid inorganic-organic electrodes.
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Zinc-anode battery overcomes problem of dendrite formation
9 May 2012
A prototype zinc-anode battery system has overcome the problem of dendrite formation and will be ready for commercialisation later this year.
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Goodrich and Rolls-Royce in BA nacelle maintenance contract
8 May 2012
Goodrich Corporation has signed an agreement with Rolls-Royce to provide nacelle maintenance services for British Airways under the engine maker’s Total Care support programme.
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Researchers automate process of recording data from neurons
8 May 2012
Researchers in the US have developed a way to automate the process of finding and recording information from neurons in the brain.
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Non-invasive method identifies exact position of rare tumours
8 May 2012
Researchers have found a non-invasive way to identify the exact position of rare pancreatic tumours less than 1cm in diameter.
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Team makes progress on high-temperature superconductors
8 May 2012
US researchers have confirmed some predictions about how iron-based high-temperature superconductors work in what is an important step for any future applications.
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NIST develops biometric communication protocol
8 May 2012
A protocol for communicating with biometric sensors over wired and wireless networks has been developed in the US.
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DP CleanTech set to deliver flue gas treatment system
4 May 2012
DP CleanTech has been awarded the contract to supply the flue gas treatment system for Devon County Council’s first waste-to-energy power plant in Exeter.
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Technology review considers new cardiac ablation methods
4 May 2012
Medical device manufacturers should focus on developing cardiac ablation systems that prolong the suppression of irregular heartbeats, according to a technology review.
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Two patients regain sight following retinal implants
4 May 2012
Two patients have regained partial eyesight thanks to the successful execution of a surgical procedure to embed retinal implants into them.
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Flying robots could use 3D sensors to monitor an area
4 May 2012
New 3D imaging sensors could enable swarms of flying surveillance robots to monitor an area without crashing into each other.
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Researchers develop sensitive radiation surveillance method
4 May 2012
Researchers have devised a new approach to illicit radioactivity surveillance using a nano-photonic composite scintillation detector.
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Bioreactor non-invasively monitors changes in tissue
4 May 2012
A new prototype bioreactor is providing a non-invasive way to monitor important structural changes in developing tissue.
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The rail thing
4 May 2012
Does HS2 need the backing of high profile political heavyweights in order to get the scheme on track?
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Process reduces sludge from wastewater treatment plants
4 May 2012
Researchers in Europe have developed a process that can reduce the amount of sludge coming from wastewater treatment plants.
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BWI plant to support China premium vehicle demand
3 May 2012
BWI Group has opened a new plant in Fangshan, Beijing, to support demand in China for premium vehicles.
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BASF acquires PA polymer unit of Mazzaferro Group, Brazil
3 May 2012
BASF has acquired the polyamide (PA) polymer business of the Mazzaferro Group, Brazil.
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HgCapital prepares to acquire Germany-based Qundis Group
3 May 2012
HgCapital is to acquire Qundis Group, a Germany-based provider of submetering devices and systems for the consumption-dependent billing of heat and water.
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Oxford Nanopore Technologies raises £31.4m in new funding
3 May 2012
Oxford Nanopore Technologies has raised £31.4m in new funding via a private placement of ordinary shares in the company.
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Research reveals geothermal potential of abandoned mines
3 May 2012
New research could help predict how much energy could be harnessed from the heat collecting in abandoned mines.
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Tiny submarines could help clean oil-contaminated waters
3 May 2012
A team of scientists has developed microsubmarines that could help clean up oil spills.
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BG Group to sell Comgás holding to Cosan for $1.8bn
3 May 2012
BG Group today announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Cosan for the sale of its 60.1 per cent holding in Comgás, Brazil’s largest gas distribution company, for approximately $1.8bn.
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Bird-like robot demonstrates perched landing manoeuvre
3 May 2012
Aerospace engineers have demonstrated the soft, perched landing of an autonomous ornithopter micro aerial vehicle.
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Europe's cosmic vision centres on Jupiter moon observations
3 May 2012
The European Space Agency announced yesterday that Jupiter’s moons are to be the focus of Europe’s next large science mission.
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Challenge vehicle could travel 3,300 miles on gallon of fuel
3 May 2012
The University of Michigan’s Supermileage Team is designing a vehicle that can travel 3,300 miles with a gallon of fuel.
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Kayak research could boost Britain's Olympic performance
3 May 2012
Research into the design of elite-level kayaks could help Team GB in this summer’s Olympic Games in London.
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Manufacturers not expecting imminent economic recovery
2 May 2012
Around 68 per cent of the UK’s manufacturing businesses expect it to be two years or more before a full economic recovery, according to a new survey.
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Student engineers contribute to Bloodhound SSC project
2 May 2012
Student engineers at Lancaster University have contributed to the construction of Bloodhound SSC, which is being built to break the land speed record.
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BSkyB and Heathrow select Turboden for CCHP plants
2 May 2012
Turboden recently entered the UK market with awards for two biomass-fuelled combined cooling, heat and power plants for British Sky Broadcasting and Heathrow Airport.
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Nokia files patent infringement claims in US and Germany
2 May 2012
Nokia has filed claims in the US and Germany alleging that products from HTC, RIM and Viewsonic infringe a number of Nokia patents.
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More than half of graduates feel 'unprepared' for work
2 May 2012
Only 43 per cent of engineering graduates believe their university course provides them with the skills they need for work.
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Cosworth Group acquires Adaero Precision Components
2 May 2012
The Cosworth Group today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Adaero Precision Components, based near Exeter.
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Cummins acquires Hilite emissions control business unit
2 May 2012
Cummins has signed an agreement to acquire the heavy-duty emissions control business of 3i-backed Hilite International for an undisclosed fee.
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CompactGTL partners with Johnson Matthey for catalysts
2 May 2012
CompactGTL has announced its strategic partnership with Johnson Matthey for the development, manufacture and supply of catalysts for its modular gas-to-liquids commercial-scale plants.
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DE material demonstrates artificial muscle potential
2 May 2012
Engineers have used electrically contracting polymers to demonstrate the potential of artificial muscles in a proof-of-concept study.
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Cardiff Aviation leases Twin Peaks hangar for MRO plans
2 May 2012
Cardiff Aviation has taken a lease on the Welsh-government-owned 132,000ft2 Twin Peaks hangar at St Athan to establish a maintenance, repair and overhaul operation.
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Design set to improve airborne chemical detector sensitivity
2 May 2012
A new design for airborne chemical detectors could lead to better, less power-hungry sensors for locating explosives or diagnosing diseases.
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Graphene-based material 'outperforms' indium tin oxide
2 May 2012
A new graphene-based material developed at Exeter University could supersede indium tin oxide in electronic devices.
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Are wind subsidies a price worth paying?
2 May 2012
The anti-wind lobby gained a bizarrely-coiffed ally last week in the shape of US business tycoon Donald Trump.
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Aker Solutions wins subsea production system contract
2 May 2012
Aker Solutions has been awarded a contract by Murphy Sabah Oil for the delivery of a subsea production system for the Siakap North — Petai deepwater development.
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Algorithm weighs up strategies for bridge management
2 May 2012
Civil engineers have come up with a decision-making algorithm for the cost-effective management of bridges.
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Starch technique could lead to dissolvable bandages
2 May 2012
Scientists in the US claim a new technique could lead to dissolvable bandages and produce more environmentally friendly paper.
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Manufacturers could profit from swarf processing system
1 May 2012
UK manufacturers are losing millions in potential profit through inefficient recycling, according to the company behind a new in-house waste management system.
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Yacht-mounted sensors could acquire real-time ocean data
1 May 2012
A new oceanographic project is seeking to put sensors on amateur yachts to form a real-time monitoring network with unprecedented range.
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Export order reduction slows UK manufacturing growth
1 May 2012
Growth in the UK’s manufacturing sector slowed last month partly due to a sharp reduction in new export orders, according to a new survey.
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Smart system offers energy-saving recommendations
1 May 2012
UK researchers are planning an energy-saving computer system that learns how people use buildings and makes personalised recommendations on cutting energy usage.
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GKN opens wing components manufacturing facility
30 Apr 2012
GKN Aerospace has formally opened a manufacturing facility designed to help it win a significant portion of the global wing structures market in the next 30 to 40 years.
