Posted on April 3rd, 2009
The protype of Nissan’s electric car could push it to the front of the electrical automotive engineering pack, one resource claims.
Wired took the vehicle for a half-mile drive around a car park and reports that it is nimble and is able to briskly accelerate. But the automotive engineering invention does not end there. Motorists in a rush can charge the car to 80 per cent in 26 minutes with a 440 volt line. This increases to four hours in a 220 volt socket.
Nissan has to compete with automotive engineering companies including Honda, General Motors and Toyota. But Wired says the fast recharge time, space for five people and decent range of the affordable hatchback make it a popular contender in the market. And according to Nissan, it will cost 90 cents (61 pence) to charge.
Talking to the resource about the chief executive officer of Nissan, Darryl Siry, a clean tech analyst and electric car expert at Peppercorn, says: "Nissan could end up being the come-from-behind leader in the electric vehicles space because Carlos Ghosn has pushed them so aggressively.
"Nissan is making moves that could make it the major mass-market electric vehicle player among the established automakers."
And the electrical automotive news does not end there. According to the Irish Times, the government has signed an agreement with ESB and Renault-Nissan to radically increase the popularity and use of such vehicles.
Written by Robert Williams.
Filed under: Automotive Engineering | No Comments »
Posted on April 3rd, 2009
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) have given the Bombe Enigma code breaking machine an award for its role in saving thousands of lives by cracking German messages.
And this occasion - which celebrates the role that mechanical engineering played during the war - was watched by veterans who know just how important this piece of machinery was.
Engineering experts at the British Tabulator Machine Company in Letchworth built all of the 210 original machines but they were destroyed after World War II. But, and you may be pleased to discover this, a blueprint was found in the 1970s and 13 years later a rebuild team set underway to bring the Enigma back to its former glory.
You may already know - especially if you watched the film Enigma starring Kate Winslet - that women led the Enigma battle at home while the men fought on the frontline. The electro-mechanical devices were more superior to the German’s engineering attempts, IMechE reports, a sentiment you may be proud to uphold in your engineering career.
The Enigma was showcased at Bletchley Park in Milton Keynes.
Simon Greenish, chief executive officer of the Bletchley Park Trust, comments: "By raising awareness of projects like the Bombe we are highlighting how important the park is and remembering just how we are indebted to the brilliant minds of the men and women who worked here."
IMechE recently questioned whether Britain has the nuclear engineering talent to bridge the energy gap the country faces.
Written by Victoria Leyfield.
Filed under: Mechanical Engineering | 1 Comment »
Posted on April 2nd, 2009
Not shy of a challenge, workers on the Olympic Park are currently lifting the 2,800-tonne wave-shaped roof of the London 2012 Aquatics Centre in a move that the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) calls "one of the most complex engineering and construction challenges of the Olympic Park big build".
Indeed, people in engineering jobs on the project are working with others to lift the steel into place, which will form the 11,000 sq m, 160 m-long roof which has toured the UK. It was fabricated in Newport and rolled in Scunthorpe, Motherwell and Gateshead.
The Aquatics Centre will mark the gateway to the park and will provide community facilities including a diving pool and two 50 m swimming pools.
And when completed, the roof will rest on two concrete supports and a supporting wall 28 m long and 5 m wide. You may be interested to hear that the roof has been designed, through computer modelling and wind tunnel testing, to contract, twist and stretch in response to changing temperatures and the effects of wind and snow.
Speaking about his organisation’s progression and the success of the workforce, David Higgins, chief executive of the ODA, comments: "The lift of the sweeping wave-shaped roof is one of the toughest construction and engineering challenges on the Olympic Park and will showcase the world class expertise involved in delivering the venues and infrastructure for London 2012.
"Different parts of the country are playing a part with the structure being built in London but made in Scotland, Wales and the north of England," he says.
In another ODA update, Buckingham Group Contracting was recently awarded the contract to build the London 2012 Handball Arena.
Written by Rachel Watson.
Filed under: Innovations and 2012 | No Comments »
Posted on April 2nd, 2009
If you have been wondering whether Crossrail is still going on the right tracks to boost careers in the rail engineering sector then you may be pleased to hear the latest news concerning the project’s development.
The construction project - Europe’s largest - has awarded a £400 million Project Delivery Partner contract, which has led the project’s leaders to state that 14,000 jobs - which could include those in engineering - could be created by such a move.
And if you are wondering which firm has got its hand on the deal? Well the answer is Bechtel, which will be responsible for managing the design process and will oversee the delivery of the central tunnelled section of the Crossrail route.
So it appears that it could be full steam ahead for the scheme, which is expected to add ten per cent to the capacity of public transport in the capital. You will have to wait until 2017 to see this engineering feat.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson says: "This is the latest significant step towards the delivery of Crossrail and demonstrates its genuine momentum. It comes at a particularly pertinent time, as I believe the project will help London through the recession.
"At the height of construction, up to 14,000 people will be employed and we anticipate that the vast majority of the jobs required to fulfil these contracts will be created in London and the UK."
You may remember that Transcend was recently confirmed as the Crossrail Programme Partner.
Written by Luke Sutcliffe.
Filed under: Rail Engineering | No Comments »
Posted on April 1st, 2009
Connections are being made in the world of electrical and electronic engineering after ABB has been awarded a $550 million (£382.3 million) order to connect the UK and Irish power grids.
The move should ignite Ireland’s attempt to expand its wind power capacity and will strengthen the security and reliability of electricity suppliers, the company claims.
If you are interested in the technical side of this electrical engineering development then you may be encouraged to hear that the transmission link will run underwater for 186 km and underground for 70 km.
And in what you may consider to be a bright spark idea, ABB will use its high-voltage direct current (HVDC) Light technology, which not only restores power after a power cut without the need for external energy sources, but also delivers environmental benefits.
So ABB asserts, claiming that the cables will be oil-free, there will be low electrical losses and compact converter stations.
Head of ABB’s Power Systems division Peter Leupp states: "ABB’s HVDC Light technology will enhance the stability of both the Irish and UK transmission grids and also expand capacity for the use of renewable power."
The engineering company recently announced another of its design development feats. It revealed it has commissioned a switchgear which can handle more than one million volts, with a switching capability of 6,900 megawatts.
Bernhard Jucker, head of ABB’s Power Products division, called the development a breakthrough which had set the benchmark for "ultrahigh-voltage projects".
Written by Robert Williams.
Filed under: Electrical and Electronic Engineering | No Comments »
Posted on April 1st, 2009
The credit crunch appears to be taking its toll on a variety of sectors, including that of manufacturing, a concern you may already have if you are worried about the stability of your engineering career.
Indeed, the recent Monthly Industrial Trends survey from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) shows that UK manufacturers believe their output levels over the next three months will reach a low not predicted since 1980.
And if you are yet to be employed within the science and manufacturing sector and are hoping to kick-start your engineering career, the CBI announcement that export orders have fallen below par may not instill you with much confidence of the future of British industry.
But fear not. A new report by PricewaterhouseCoopers reveals that chief executive officers and board members in science and engineering have the mantra that the sector has survived previous recessions and it will also survive this one.
They claim that rather than giving engineering jobs and other positions the chop, they are instead investing in talent to ensure the sector remains on a competitive footing for when recovery begins.
"Britain is a world player in aerospace, accounting for 15 per cent of global output in 2007. UK automotive output was near an all-time record high in 2007 and automotive exports were at an all-time high with a total value of around £20 billion," the report asserts.
So with the engineering and science talent in this country being held on to, your job and the future of the industry could be set to remain in good stead.
Written by Victoria Leyfield.
Filed under: Aerospace Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Rail Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering | No Comments »
Posted on April 1st, 2009
If you are a firm believer in the police being given the best automotive engineering advancements to help them with their fight against crime then you may be interested to hear the latest development.
The Association of Police Chief Officers (APCO) has revealed that the 155 mph Audi RS 6 Avant is their latest weapon in frontline provision of the association’s Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (AVICS) and, according to Fleet News, has been billed as "Britain’s most powerful police car".
You may already be aware, if you are working in an automotive engineering career, that the car can go from nought to 62 mph in 4.6 seconds and has quattro-permanent four-wheel drive, as well as Dynamic Ride Control hydraulic damping so drivers can be composed and in full control at speed.
Speaking to the resource, detective chief inspector Paul Lambotte from AVICS says: "Audi has a tradition in taking security seriously and has won many awards.
"It is the only manufacturer to take a further step to support UK policing by supplying vehicles to us on a partnership basis. This vehicle will make a real difference to our operational activity."
Audi recently got its hands on the Company Car of the Year trophy at the 2009 Fleet News Awards and was also given a nod in the Best Large Premium Car category.
"The Audi A4 was a clear winner with Fleet News readers. They obviously agree with the awards’ judging panel, recognising the A4’s talents," states the resource’s panel.
Written by Rachel Watson.
Filed under: Aerospace Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Rail Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering | No Comments »
Posted on March 31st, 2009
Telecommunications engineering company Plessey has been appointed by Neotel and MTN to co-build the planned South African long-distance fibre optic network and has already got to work with the first leg of the project.
You may have heard on the telecommunications engineering development grapevine that when completed, the fibre network will cover 5,000 km and connect the major centres across the country, according to Neotel.
And it is hoped that the new network will "take Africa to the world and bring the world to Africa, by linking with the undersea cables such as EASSy and SEACOM, currently under construction along the eastern coast of Africa".
Infinite bandwidth capacity will be provided to both Neotel and MTN, allowing voice and data information to be transferred at higher speeds over larger distances, which will require less power than traditional copper cables.
Commenting on the announcement, Ajay Pandey, chief executive officer and managing director of Neotel, states: "The appointment of Plessey was imperative to the success of building the optic fibre network. This project once completed will redefine the telecommunications landscape in South Africa and the rest of Africa."
The company announced earlier this year that it had formed an agreement with MTN to co-build the fibre optic network, a telecommunications engineering development you may think is essential for the progression of broadband.
Furthermore, Neotel called the deal "an historic agreement".
Written by Luke Sutcliffe.
Filed under: Aerospace Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Rail Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering | No Comments »
Posted on March 31st, 2009
Achieving 100,000 hours of faultless operation is a mean feat in the mechanical engineering sector. But that is exactly what Rolls-Royce’s Avon 200 industrial gas turbine has done.
The upgraded turbine, which delivers increased component life, power and efficiency, has "established an unparalleled record for reliability and availability in the oil and gas and power generation industries", according to Rolls-Royce, and you may have noticed its use in your mechanical engineering career.
Indeed, 40 engine kits have been ordered in nine countries, with 18 already delivered to their new owners. The industrial Avon is an aero-derivative gas turbine which provides extended mean times between overhauls and can deliver 4.4 per cent better thermal efficiency and 8.9 per cent more power.
And if green is your thing then you may also be interested to hear that the improved mechanical engineering design reduces life-cycle costs and can cut carbon dioxide emissions.
Robert Wallace, sales and marketing director of the Energy Customer Service business at Rolls-Royce, says: "Avon operators want their gas turbines to operate for longer periods before major maintenance is required and they also want to mitigate the effects of high cycle fatigue brought on by fuel quality issues. The Avon 200 delivers this and more."
The mechanical engineering company previously revealed that it will deliver a further eight RB211 industrial gas turbines as part of contracts from TOTAL worth $150 million (£105 million).
Written by Robert Williams.
Filed under: Aerospace Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Rail Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering | No Comments »
Posted on March 30th, 2009
A computer science lab is providing a welcome boost to the chemical engineering industry after a new centre to deliver growth and innovation has been opened by John Denham, secretary of state for Innovation, Universities and Skills, a report says.
The computer science expertise of STFC Daresbury Laboratory reveals that the Knowledge Centre for Materials Chemistry will merge cutting-edge knowledge from the science lab and the universities of Manchester, Liverpool and Bolton to provide a national hub of excellence for materials chemistry.
If you are interested in the development of projects regarding chemical engineering then you may be encouraged to hear that the North West Regional Development Agency and academic partner institutions have provided an initial investment of £15 million.
Commenting on the news, John Bancroft, head of business development in STFC’s technology exploitation company CLIK, says: "The chemical industry is one of the UK’s largest manufacturing sectors, with an annual turnover of £55 billion, but like all industries it has to keep developing in order to grow.
"This new centre provides a way for UK chemical companies of all sizes to get access to the skills and facilities they need to help them take advantage of opportunities in areas such as sustainable energy, smart packaging and regenerative medicine."
And another boost for the chemical engineering industry could come in the form of a new foundation degree in chemical science, developed in conjunction with the University of Teeside at Redcar and Cleveland College.
Speaking to nebusiness, head of the Engineering Faculty at Redcar and Cleveland College Chris Coupland says they have worked with local employers to assess what skills are needed in the future.
Written by Victoria Leyfield.
Filed under: Aerospace Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Rail Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering | No Comments »
