Manufacturing and Engineering Magazine Issue 411

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ISSUE 411

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MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING MAGAZINE

M M MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING MAGAZINE

THE NEW INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION 3D printing is set to change the manufacturing world. We take a look at its development, how it works and its uses.

ISSUE 411

EUROMOTIVE...

AIRBUS GROUP UK

...Is the preferred converter for a wide variety of customers, including local authorities, community transport organisations, charitable organisations and private bodies.

Airbus is the world’s leading commercial aircraft manufacturer whose commercial know-how, and manufacturing efficiency have set the standard for the aviation industry.

P24

P12

ALSO INSIDE...

4Suretank 4Tata Steel 4Reekie Machining 4SMMT 4Achilles ...Plus much more

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Comment editor’s

ISSUE 411

www.memuk.org

car industry is great news for UK supply chain

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hanks to UK carmakers enjoying a period of recently unprecedented success in the last 12 months, the Automotive Council has issued a report which fittingly reflects this resurgence. A fresh £2bn growth opportunity is now on the horizon for UK component suppliers to UK carmakers in another example of the economy recovering following recession. In the report, which was issued at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ (SMMT) Open Forum event recently looked at the “reshoring” potential for upstream automotive suppliers. This essentially measures the capacity for the national market to increase local supply of components and raw materials that are currently imported.

Certainly, it has been said for some time that the plastics industry, for example, must capitalise on forward momentum in the automotive industry and it is something that SMMT Supply Chain Development Manager Luke Hampton addressed at Interplas 2014.

Industry experts have pointed to growth potential in the automotive sector alongside the benefits of local sourcing as key reasons behind the acceleration within the market. Lower logistics costs, greater flexibility and faster response times have all played a part in seeing £3bn identified last year for supply direct to vehicle manufacturers on top of the £2bn figured identified recently.

This prompted Hampton to say enthusiastically: “Some of the biggest automotive companies see the UK industry as ‘the place’ to manufacture. There is massive opportunity coming for suppliers up and down the supply chain.”

At the moment the UK car industry sees about 30% to 35% of components sourced nationally but this is well below the average in European countries such as France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

However, with accelerating growth in the market it is a realistic aim to expect 60% of supply to come from within UK. Business Minister Matthew Hancock enthused, “The automotive sector is thriving.” He added: “Our supply chain firms are helping to create jobs and generate growth, but there is more to be done. That is why last month we announced £10m of government money to address skills shortages in the auto supply chain to help UK companies win more contracts.”

The fact that an extra £2bn of sourcing opportunities have been discovered is great news for the UK economy. This has seen businesses become more confident about their individual futures with many expecting significant growth in the near-term.

Daniel Stephens Group Editor

Magazine Manager Daniel Beardsley Feature Managers Tom Waite Elliott Jenkinson Daniel Duggan Group Editor Daniel Stephens Editor Ciaran Jarosz Contributors Jeff senior Art Director Steve Williams Art Editor Stacey Brewer Designer Carla Taylor Production Vicki Lindsay Lisa Pollinger Lisa Barrans Accounts Nick Charalambous Manufacturing and Engineering Magazine is published by: Trafalgar Publishing Ltd, 6th Floor, Crown House, Southgate, Huddersfield, HD1 1DE Tel: 01484 437300

Manufacturing and Engineering magazine is published by Trafalgar Publishing Ltd. Company registered in England & Wales. All material is the copyright of Trafalgar Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved. Manufacturing and Engineering magazine is the property of Trafalgar Publishing Ltd. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form whole or part without the written permission of a director of Trafalgar Publishing Ltd. Liability: while every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, the publishers cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of information herein, or any consequence arising from it. In the case of company or product reviews or comments, these have been based upon the true and honest opinion of the Editor at the time of going to press.

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Contents

ISSUE 411

SECTIONS

www.memuk.org

MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING

8 TRANSPORT 22 MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING 36 ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

ASSOCIATIONS 8 ADS GROUP

The premier trade organisation advancing the UK Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space industries.

22 SMMT

Mike Hawes, Chief Executive Officer of The SMMT Industry Forum talks about their range of training.

49 ACHILLES

Achilles creates and manages a global network of collaborative industry communities.

REGULARS 4 UPDATE

The latest news from the industry.

52 LOOKING BACK AT..

...Tim Berners-Lee, the man who invented the internet

43 THE 3D REVOLUTION TRANSPORT

24 EUROMO TI

VE

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12 AIRBUS

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37 DENHOLM REES & O’DONNELL

ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT 55 SURETANK

12 AIRBUS GROUP UK

We take a look at how Airbus are setting the standards for the aviation industry.

19 TATA STEEL

With operations in 26 countries Tata Steel is one of the world’s most geographical diversified steel producers.

24 EUROMOTIVE

We take a look at one of the major players within the transport conversion industry.

37 DENHOLM REES & O’DONNELL

Denholm Rees & O’Donnell offer a precision engineering manufacturing service.

45 THE 3D REVOLUTION

The history of 3D printing, how it works and its many uses.

52 DOLPHIN GEOPHYSICAL

58 REEKIE MACHINING

A global, full range, asset light supplier of marine geophysical services.

55 SURETANK

A world-leading manufacturer of CCUs for the offshore oil and gas industry.

58 REEKIE MACHINING

The leading machining solutions provider.

62 ARC ENERGY RESOURCES

Specialists in the supply of corrosion resistant weld overlay cladding and the manufacture of specialist fabrications.

IN THE NEXT

M M M

52 DOLPHIN GEOPHYSICAL

FEATURES

ROLLS ROYCE | SPRINGCO AYRSHIRE PRECISION...

AND MUCH MORE...

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UPDATE

US and China strike deal on carbon emissions WITH the topic of climate change obvious in its absence from the G20 agenda, President Barack Obama and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have taken matters into their own hands during a summit of World Leaders in China and reached an historic bilateral agreement to limit carbon emissions.

It marks the first time that China, which has commonly been seen as a major hindrance to a global consensus on emissions reduction, has made a cross-country commitment to cap carbon emissions.

For the US, the agreement will mean a 26-28% reduction below 2005 levels by 2025, the first time the president has set a goal beyond the existing 2020 target of 17%. By comparison, China, due to its ‘developing nation’ status, has agreed that its emissions will peak and then begin to reduce by 2030. This goal is also related to China’s declaration that it is committing to have 20% of its power generation provided by renewable sources by 2030, which, it is roughly estimated, will be

equivalent to the entire electricity consumption of the US. The combined emissions of the two countries account for approximately 40% of the world’s greenhouse gasses, and the agreement is likely to increase the chance of a new international post-2020 target when climate negotiators meet in Paris in December next year.

The targets have been hailed as very encouraging but meeting the targets will prove difficult for both countries.

Playstation Vue hopes to overtake cable TV SONY are to release an online television package called Playstation Vue that it hopes will eliminate the need for a cable subscription.

The system is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2015 and will not operate the same as regular cable. Instead of numbered channels, Playstation Vue will have a dial 4

that viewers can use to navigate.

One of the more enticing features will be its personalised channel, which pulls together favourite shows from across other networks.

According to what Playstation Vue senior director Amit Nag told Bloomberg, “Anecdotally, this is where people give us the most feedback, like ‘Wow, I watch a lot

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more TV now, because you just sit there and it keeps feeding you.”

Other media firms have tried to build online system like this before, namely Intel with its OnCue program, but they all failed to secure deals with key networks and television channels.

Sony has brought Viacom on board so that Playstation Vue will house Nickelodeon, MV, Comedy

Central and others as well as some mainstream American networks like CBS, Fox and NBCUniversal.

The total number of channels to be included so far reaches 70 but there are still some missing gems. Deals with Disney, ABC, ESPN and others have yet to be made, putting the package at a disadvantage to generic cable.

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UPDATE IN BRIEF ◆ Automation supply and maintenance firm, CP Automation has launched a new website with a heavy emphasis on trustworthy supply.

The new site focuses on providing an easy yet secure online experience for the customer. The new online shop now means that after browsing the site’s bountiful array of technical data sheets, there is a safe and secure option to buy right there and then.

Need a new house, just press print SCIENTISTS claim to have developed a revolutionary new giant 3D concrete printer that can build a 2,500-square-foot house in just 24 hours.

The 3D printer, developed by Professor Behrokh Khoshnevis from the University of Southern California, could be used to build a whole house, layer by layer, in a single day.

The giant robot replaces construction workers with a nozzle on a gantry, which squirts out concrete and can quickly build a home based on a computer pattern, MSN News reported.

It is “basically scaling up 3D printing to the scale of building,” said Khoshnevis.

‘Contour Crafting’ is a layered fabrication technology and has great potential for

automating the construction of whole structures as well as sub-components, according to the project website.

Using this process, a single house or a colony of houses, each with possibly a different design, may be automatically constructed in a single run, embedded in each house all the conduits for electrical, plumbing and air-conditioning.

The potential applications of this technology are far reaching including in emergency, low-income, and commercial housing.

The technology may potentially reduce energy use and emissions by using a rapidprototype or 3D printing process to fabricate large components, according to the project website.

MoD considers pulling £4bn Clyde frigate contract THE MINISTRY of Defence has admitted it is considering abandoning its promise to build the new type 26 frigates on the Clyde and instead seek an alternative from abroad, the head of Royal Navy has admitted.

With the MoD and defence contractor BAE in the midst of a dispute over terms of the contract for the frigates there has been speculation the UK could purchase French

warships instead and Scotland would lose out on a £4 billion contract while the ship building industry could collapse potentially costing more than 11,000 jobs.

If the Royal Navy goes abroad for warships it will be the first time it has done it in peace time and would break a key pledge made to Scottish voters by the UK government during the referendum that the new frigates would be built on the Clyde.

◆ Sigma Composites – part of Sigma Components – has invested £50,000 in a braiding machine to take its composites business to the next level. The move is part of an ongoing programme of investments across Sigma’s businesses that has already seen it develop components for high-performance industries with capabilities not previously available, as well as bringing key capabilities in house. ◆ Rilmac Group, a premier supplier of construction services based in the East Midlands for almost 60 years are expanding into the South East following a series of new contract wins in the Capital and wider region. ◆ The latest edition of the Marsh report on The 100 Largest Losses revealed that safety failures have cost the hydrocarbon industry more than $34 billion in the last 40 years. Petrochemical expert and thermal transfer fluid provider, Gobal Heat Transfer, calls for the industry to tighten control barriers within process and safety management procedures. ◆ SGL, a leading provider of content archive and storage management software for media and entertainment, has announced two key new appointments as it continues to strengthen its technical support infrastructure.

Glyn Jones joins as Development Projects Manager and Ashley Smith as Web Services Developer. ◆ Basingstoke based Gordian Strapping has supplied an OMS 078 compression strapping machine with TR18 Strapping Head to Conversion Solutions in Macclesfield.

Conversion Solutions are manufacturers of custom, cut flat paper which is supplied to the printing industry. Its operation runs 24 hours a day, 5 days a week. Conversion Solutions’ parent company, Paperlinx, is one of the world’s leading merchants of paper, communication materials and diversified products and services.

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UPDATE

BDUK passes 1.5 million premises THE GOVERNMENT’S roll-out of superfast broadband has now touched 1.5 million homes and businesses across the UK, just three months after it celebrated passing its millionth premises.

From a troubled start, and despite the criticism that still besets it, Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) is now passing more than 40,000 new properties every week, the government claimed. It is now entering the fastest stage of deployment, with a good number of the 44 local authorities participating in the scheme understood to be ahead of schedule.

“Our transformation of the UK’s digital landscape is progressing at an incredible rate and delivering a tremendous boost to the nation’s economy,” said culture secretary Sajid Javid.

BDUK’s only partner, BT, said it had now rolled out 25,000 km of fibre-optic cabling around the country and deployed 8,500 street cabinets in rural communities.

Coupled with commercial

roll-outs, both BT’s and others' average national broadband speed in the UK has now quadrupled from 5.2Mbps in May 2010 to 18.7Mbps in May 2014.

The government said it remained confident the roll-out would cover 95% of the UK by the original 2017 deadline.

Currently, 80% of premises can access superfast broadband under the government definition, up from 45% in 2009.

BT managing director of next generation access Bill Murphy acknowledged the scale of the work still to be done.

“BT is investing more than £3bn of our shareholders’ money to plan, design and build a national network that reaches as many homes and businesses as possible,” he said.

“The fibre broadband roll-out is bringing really positive social and economic benefits to people all over the UK, and this programme is a great example of successful partnership between the private sector, local and national government.”

Yahoo buys video ad service BrightRoll for $640m TECHNOLOGY giant Yahoo said it will buy digital video advertising service BrightRoll for $640m (£402m).

The move would allow Yahoo to grow its video advertising platform, “making it the largest in the US”, the firm said.

BrightRoll does automated online video advertising for some of the world’s biggest brands and its net revenue is expected to exceed $100m this year.

A jump in video advertising would also help

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offset Yahoo’s slowing growth and boost declining display ad revenues.

“Here at Yahoo, video is one of the largest growth opportunities, and BrightRoll is a terrific, strategic and financially compelling fit for our video advertising business,” said chief executive Marissa Mayer in a statement on Tuesday.

Last month, Yahoo had reported that its third quarter revenue from ads fell by 5% from a year earlier. It has struggled to keep up

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with rivals like Google that have seen ad revenue grow by 17% in third quarter from a year ago.

The acquisition is also Yahoo's first major purchase since receiving $9.4bn in September from selling part of its stake in Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba.

News of the takeover comes after reports in October that said Yahoo was close to investing millions of dollars in mobile messaging startup Snapchat.

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UPDATE

NHS medicine costs rising

Amazon seeking drone experts UK DRONE experts are being sought by Amazon to help with its fledgling dronebased delivery service.

Amazon's Prime Air will use small drones to deliver packages up to 2.3kg (5lb) in weight to customers within 30 minutes of an order being placed.

Drone testing will take place in Cambridge at a site Amazon acquired when it bought Evi Technologies.

Prime Air-related ads for engineers, software developers and scientists have now appeared on Amazon’s jobs site.

The ads come as Imperial College unveils plans to create the UK's most advanced drone research lab.

Funding for two new projects

HOSPITAL medicine costs in England are increasing, accounting for over 40 per cent of the total expenditure on drugs in the NHS in 2013-14, according to a new report.

The UK Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) report ‘Hospital Prescribing: England, 2013-14’, published this week, provides a comparison of the use of medicines in primary and secondary care settings, as well as information on the estimated cost of each drug positively appraised by the health watchdog NICE. It finds that the overall expenditure on medicines by the NHS in 2013-14 was £14.4 billion. Of this, 40.1 per cent was for hospital use, rising from 37.5 per cent in 2012-13.

The cost of medicines overall rose by 7.6 per cent over the previous year, but by 15.1 per cent in hospitals. In 2012, the total cost of medicines rose just 1.5 per cent on the previous year, with a figure of 11.1 per cent in hospitals.

Of the drugs approved by NICE, the greatest expense in all settings was on arthritis treatment Humira (Adalimumab), which was also the greatest cost in hospitals. This was the same in 2012.

Commenting on the report, the head of commercial at the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), David Watson, said: “It is encouraging to see growth in

prescribing of medicines in hospital settings, as appropriate prescribing of medicines plays a valuable part in care pathways. Despite this overall increase in hospital prescribing there remains an issue in the UK with the use of newer innovative medicines, where many barriers still exist which prevent their use. The growth in hospital spending as shown in this report also reflects the increased growth of medicines for more specialist conditions which have smaller patient populations and are treated in the hospital setting.

“The 2014 PPRS [Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme] agreement is designed to encourage the use of innovative new medicines and under the current agreement the pharmaceutical industry will help keep NHS expenditure on branded medicines in the scheme flat for two years and keep the growth rate below 2 per cent for a further three years by underwriting any further expenditure by the NHS. Industry is committed to work with the Government and the NHS to ensure that patients have access to the innovative medicines they need.”

With the National Audit Office warning about the worsening financial situation in the NHS in its own report earlier this week and the General Election looming next year, future funding of healthcare remains a key issue for all politicians.

BUSINESS Secretary Vince Cable has announced a further £32 million for two new projects to research manufacturing technology for electric motors and develop cleaner internal combustion engines.

The two new projects are led by Jaguar Land Rover. They will be part of the projects announced this year that will safeguard 2,500 jobs, in the £1bn industry and government commitment to turn low carbon propulsion technology into products developed in the UK.

New waste system gets first delivery A Surrey company specialising in products for gas cleaning, gas compression and hydrogen production has seen first delivery of its product simplifying waste transformation.

RE Hydrogen, formed in 2009 in Crainleigh, delivered its first biogas upgrading and refueller system to an Andover-based firm this week.

The system will be used in a project aimed at turning food waste into raw biogas, with the RE Hydrogen product converting the biogas into clean biomethane.

This will then be compressed up to 250bar, before being stored into a bank of gas cylinders for storage and refuelling of delivery vans by the end customer.

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TRANSPORT ADS GROUP

A UNITED VOICE

ADS Group is the premier trade organisation advancing the UK aerospace, defence, security and space industries.

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he aim of the ADS Group is to support the UK’s aerospace, defence, security and space sectors.

That’s particularly important because it’s an area where the UK is a world leader and the intention is to maintain that position.

ADS Group was established as

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a trade organisation in 2009 but, since it was formed by a merger of organisations that already represented the different elements, it retains knowledge and expertise from the original organisations. It is, therefore, the voice of authority regarding the needs, challenges and opportunities for industries vital to the UK economy as major

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drivers for growth and prosperity.

Challenges have been particularly acute during the global economic crisis. “We have seen a dynamic response from the industries we represent, with businesses coming together and working with government through the Aerospace Growth Partnership and the Defence Growth Partnership to identify

opportunities and make the most of these opportunities,” recalls Chief Executive Paul Everitt.

“For the defence sector, government spending remains constrained. However, the UK is home to a well-established and world-leading defence sector, which puts it in a good position to make the most of new export opportunities as long as the right investment and

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TRANSPORT ADS GROUP

focus is placed in the development of future technologies.

“ADS continues to work closely with government and has played a prominent role in the Aerospace Growth Partnership and the Defence Growth Partnership — important government and industry initiatives to prioritise opportunities and encourage the right investment to ensure we

retain our world-leading market position for the long-term. We have also been working closely with the Home Office on the establishment of the Security and Resilience Growth Partnership.”

The outcome is the UK aerospace industry is growing ten times faster than the UK overall, employs 109,100 people directly and supports many thousands in

other sectors. The sector has grown 14% annually since 2011, with improved business confidence, investment and a focus on driving growth through exports. Paul says: “The Aerospace Growth Partnership has worked hard to put the right support in place to help UK industry make the most of significant increases in demand for new aircraft. The positive

impact of this work is being felt, with almost three quarters of companies planning to increase investment next year and one in four looking at reshoring activity back to the UK.” ADS has around 900 members in the UK, ranging from small start-ups to large corporations and global operations. They include manufacturers, equipment

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TRANSPORT ADS GROUP suppliers, service companies and operators and, for them, the organisation provides support in many ways. “ADS offers a packed programme of more than 170 events per year in addition to organising UK groups at international exhibitions, offering a valuable opportunity for networking and forging new connections,” outlines Paul. “We facilitate access to the latest tender and business opportunities and provide assistance for SMEs with government funding and business development or building links with prime contractors. ADS has an important role to play in influencing UK and EU governments, representing the interests of industry. Members can participate in more than sixty boards, committees and special interest groups which offer a valuable mechanism to discuss and debate particular issues or challenges faced by businesses.”

The biggest and best known event is the Farnborough International Airshow, organised by wholly-owned subsidiary Farnborough International Limited.

This year’s event attracted more

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“ADS has an important role to play in influencing UK and EU governments” than 100,000 trade visitors and 1,500 exhibitors from 75 countries, affording ADS members the opportunity to showcase the country’s world-leading capabilities to a global audience. A record breaking $201 billion of orders and commitments were made at the show.

Another arm of ADS is the British Aviation Group, the leading representative body for UK companies in the airport and aviation development sector. It has 200 member companies and its primary role is to help UK companies win business in the UK and overseas as well as helping them identify suppliers.

ADS is a member of the Aerospace and Defence Federation that unites alliances

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and provides a single voice for the industries. It manages SC21 (21st Century Supply Chains) that aims to improve supply chains for increased competitiveness of UK industry. Paul says: “Around 650 businesses are on the continuous improvement journey, more than 300 of which have been presented with an award for their work on the programme. To achieve an SC21 award, a company must demonstrate world-class business performance in all aspects, including delivery and services to customers, internal business efficiency and a continuous sustainable improvement culture throughout the organisation.”

Recent years have seen increased collaboration between

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TRANSPORT ADS GROUP

ADS has a packed programme of more than 170 events per year

industry and government to develop strategies, identify new opportunities and make the most of them. Its relationship with key influencers and decision makers enabled ADS, as Paul explains, to significantly influence the content of the Defence Reform Act: “During the legislative process, ADS played an active role in lobbying at each stage of the Bill to ensure key decision-makers were aware of key industry concerns.

ADS engaged constructively with Ministers, MPs and key MOD officials to propose positive and constructive solutions to improve it. As a result, many of these solutions have been adopted.”

Its work on the Defence Reform Act resulted in important changes that ensured intellectual property will be protected and the Single Source Regulatory Office will remain impartial. Additional exemption of contracts from the new regulations will only be

applied in exceptional circumstances, MOD challenges to contract prices will be limited number and SMEs will be protected from excessive burdens.

“Looking towards the end of 2014 and into 2015, our priority will be a continued focus on delivering key objectives, building on our success to ensure we maintain and build our influence over key activities such as industrial strategy, innovation policy and the upcoming Security and Defence Strategic Review,” remarks Paul.

“Our sectors are critical to driving the innovation, exports and well-paid jobs that will secure UK economic growth and we will continue to work to raise awareness of this as well as continuing campaigns and policy initiatives to support our members’ success.”

For more information: www.adsgroup.org.uk Tel: 020 70914500

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TRANSPORT AIRBUS GROUP UK

A PIONEERING SPIRIT Airbus is the world’s leading commercial aircraft manufacturer whose customer focus, commercial know-how, technological leadership and manufacturing efficiency have set the standard for the aviation industry.

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TRANSPORT AIRBUS GROUP UK

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The Airbus Group, which has its headquarters in Toulouse, France, is a multinational aerospace and defence corporation consisting of three divisions: Airbus, Airbus Defence and Space, and Airbus Helicopters. Airbus SAS is the company’s manufacturing division. Based in Blagnac, France, the company runs production and manufacturing facilities both in France and elsewhere in Europe including Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom.

Across these four countries, Airbus employs more than 60,000 people at sixteen different sites where it has produced the first commercially viable fly-by-wire airliner, the Airbus A320, and the world's largest passenger airliner, the A380.

In the UK, the Group has generated more than 100,000 jobs both directly and indirectly through its extended supply chain of over 400 companies. At Filton, over 4,000 people are employed in the design office and in business support roles such as procurement, finance and customer service. Core activities at Filton include the design, engineering and support for Airbus wings, fuel systems and landing gear integration. Teams also work on systems,

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TRANSPORT AIRBUS GROUP UK structures, and aerodynamics research, development and test facilities.

More than 2,000 engineers at Filton are involved in a range of areas, including wing integration, flight physics, structures and systems.

Filton also is responsible for wing assembly and equipping for the A400M multi-role airlifter.

AEROSPACE BUSINESS PARK Airbus’ presence in Filton is being enhanced with the construction of a new aerospace business park that consolidates the site’s engineering, design, customer support and other employees into one highly efficient office block.

Features of this 12-acre facility, which Airbus began building in March 2012, include modern office space and an auditorium.

At its Broughton site, where such aviation classics as De Havilland’s Comet and Mosquito were produced during its history – staff are responsible for assembling the wings for all Airbus civil aircraft, including the new A350 XWB. Producing over 1,000 wings a year, the site employs more than 6,000 people – primarily in manufacturing, but also in engineering and support functions such as procurement and finance.

After assembly at Broughton, the A380’s wings are transported by road and then by river craft to Mostyn harbour, where they are loaded onto a custom-built roll-on, roll-off ferry for the trip to France.

SUCCESSES Recent successes in the UK include eastJet’s order of 27 additional A320 engines, taking its combined total order for the type to 315 aircraft. With an all Airbus fleet, easyJet selected the A320 Family aircraft as it delivers the best operating economics and the roomiest cabin for unequalled passenger comfort in the single aisle category.

“easyJet is the largest A320 Family customer and operator in Europe and operates one of Europe’s most extensive route networks.”

“We are bringing new aircraft into the fleet as we continue to see a significant number of new profitable opportunities in our core markets in the near term and in order to maintain our cost advantage,” said Carolyn McCall, easyJet Chief Executive. “easyJet is a demanding customer and this repeat order is as solid an endorsement as you can get for the A320’s proven productivity, reliability and comfort. The A320 Family has the widest cabin which also helps with faster air-

port turnaround times,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers.

The A320 Family aircraft already offer the lowest operating costs of any single aisle aircraft and the Sharklet wing tip devices help to reduce fuel burn by a further 4% and to increase range by 100nm.

Currently the low-cost airliner operates a fleet of some 225 A320 Family aircraft. In June 2013, easyJet became a customer for the A320neo, with an order for 100 aircraft.

Altogether, with this latest order, easyJet’s combined total order for all members of the A320 Family rises to 415 aircraft.

LARGEST OPERATOR IN EUROPE easyJet is the largest A320 Family customer and operator in Europe and operates one of Europe’s most extensive route networks. The airline is the UK’s largest by numbers of passengers carried. The A320 Family is the world’s most successful with nearly 11,000 ordered and over 6,200 delivered to over 400 customers and operators.

After a thorough technical evaluation, easyJet has earmarked the Airbus A320neo for its future fleet requirements. Based on the company’s growth forecasts, the A320 was selected for offering the best productivity, lowest operating cost and best fuel efficiency of any single aisle aircraft in the 180 seat sector. Currently

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TRANSPORT AIRBUS GROUP UK easyJet operates a fleet largely based on the smaller A319 seating 156 passengers.

“The NEO is without doubt the most productive and fuel efficient aircraft around. It has the widest and tallest cabin of any single aisle aircraft for faster turnaround operations and better passenger comfort. We are delighted our reliable aircraft have met easyJet’s demanding criteria,” added John Leahy. This order will sustain nearly 2,500 jobs as well as some 7,500 in the extended supply chain in the UK.

IMPROVING AIR TRAFFIC SERVICES Elsewhere this year, air traffic service provider NATS has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Airbus ProSky to jointly devise solutions for improving the air traffic system’s efficiency.

This agreement was signed by NATS Chief Executive Officer Richard Deakin and PaulFranck Bijou, Chief Executive Officer of Airbus ProSky – which is an Airbus subsidiary dedicated to the development and support of modern air traffic management (ATM) systems.

An early priority for this collaboration will be the improvement of airport resilience in adverse weather, including in low visibility, thunderstorms and high headwinds. NATS and Airbus ProSky also will work together – contributing their respective expertise in air traffic management and innovative solutions for airborne capabilities – to target ways of improving capacity by enhancing airport technology and proce-

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dures. Other cooperation areas include air traffic flow management and airspace design.

Launched in 2011, Airbus ProSky – which includes the Metron Aviation, Quovadis and ATRiCs companies – is committed to working side-by-side with air navigation service providers, aircraft operators and airport authorities to build a truly collaborative system with greater capacity, better performance and environmental sustainability for all stakeholders.

In addition, Airbus is playing a key role in a new UK collaborative research and development project with the goal of improving modelling techniques to support aerospace technology inno-

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TRANSPORT AIRBUS GROUP UK

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TRANSPORT AIRBUS GROUP UK vation under auspices of the Aerospace Growth Partnership and UK Centre of Aerodynamics.

This project – called Geometry Handling and Integration (GHandI) – brings together organisations from the UK aerodynamics community that are leading the exploration and optimisation of new airframe shapes, and represents a £5m investment shared between the UK’s Technology Strategy Board innovation agency and industry.

Missile system developer and manufacturer MBDA is leading the effort, which in addition to Airbus, includes Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems, aerodynamic modelling and technology providers (Transcendata, Altran UK Ltd, ARA and Cambridge Flow Solutions), along with teams from five universities (Queens University Belfast and the Universities of Bristol, Cambridge, Southampton and Strathclyde).

KNOWLEDGE-SHARING In addition to developing improved modelling techniques, the project will facilitate knowledge-sharing and give individuals and teams opportunities to work together on research and development, as well.

“Improving aerodynamic modelling techniques is becoming increasingly important as we move forward,” said Airbus Head of Business Development Colin Sirett. “Design is

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becoming more complex and sophisticated as we endeavour to combine quality and performance with efficiency and sustainability.

“By forging partnerships with the wider aerodynamics community and working with experts in industry and academia, we will be able to develop as a team and share techniques that will benefit the wider UK aerospace industry.”

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE As Airbus looks to the future of air travel, it sees larger cabins as being key to its development.

The new Airbus ACJ319 will be the widest and tallest cabin of any business jet, and will feature lounge areas at the front, a bedroom with ensuite bathroom and shower in the middle, and business-class seating in the rear, and is certificated for 19 passengers.

“More space in the cabin is desirable for many reasons other than the greater comfort and freedom of movement that it brings,” explains John Leahy. “The larger cabin volume and floor-area of Airbus corporate jets means you can take more people with you when you travel, be more productive along the way, and carry more baggage.”

The desire for a large cabin is one of the findings of Airbus’ ACJ Billionaire Study, announced earlier this year, which highlighted the wish of high net-worth individuals to take

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with them when they travel, those that look after them at work and at home.

Airbus’ ACJ318, ACJ319, ACJ320 and ACJ321 fit into the same sort of ramp space as traditional business jets, but their cabins are almost twice as large, offering a very different travel experience, in which people can socialise more easily by moving around the cabin.

Airbus corporate jets deliver more than traditional business jets, such as extra baggagespace, pilot-pleasing Category 3B autoland, and mechanic-friendly engine and systems access.

Part of the world’s most modern aircraft family, Airbus’ ACJ318, ACJ319, ACJ320 and ACJ321 are enjoying huge success with airlines, which have now ordered more than 11,000 of them.

VERSATILITY This airliner heritage confers robust reliability, the likelihood of finding other operators of similar aircraft wherever a customer flies, and an all-encompassing network supporting more than 500 customers and operators around the world. Airbus has sold over 170 corporate jets to date, and these aircraft are flying on every continent, highlighting their versatility.

For more information: Tel: Broughton 01244 520444 / Filton 01179 69 3831 www.airbus.com

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TRANSPORT TATA STEEL

UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL OF Tata Steel is one of the world’s most geographically diversified steel producers, with operations in 26 countries and commercial offices in over 35 countries.

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Tata Steel is one of the world’s most geographically diversified steel producers, with operations in 26 countries and commercial offices in over 35 countries. In Europe it is the second largest steel producer. Through serving many demanding markets worldwide, including Aerospace, Automotive, Construction, Consumer Products, Defence & Security, Energy & Power, Lifting & Excavating, Packaging, Rail, and Shipbuilding, Tata Steel has developed a deep understanding of the varying customer needs of each market.

Tata Steel Projects designs, manufactures and erects modular structures, which deliver a wide range of off-site construction benefits, such as enhanced speed of construction, greater accuracy and improved site efficiency.

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TRANSPORT TATA STEEL A notable project recently was conducted for Sisk Rail. The two-week, £160,000 programme of works concerned Tata Steel assisting Sisk Rail replace a failing concrete trestle platform at one of Network Rail’s stations.

Time was of the essence as the 600mm drop was restricting access to trains and reducing services. Sisk Rail engaged Tata Steel Projects to design and develop a solution which would address existing ground conditions, which required a steel pile foundation, and minimise the use of heavy plant and machinery.

3-BAY MODULAR PLATFORM To meet these requirements Tata Steel Projects designed a new 3-bay modular platform; this platform system uses lightweight components that could be transported to the site manually but when installed this lightweight system spans 3.66m between pairs of small diameter piles. The replacement of the 33 metres of failing platform was completed in only two weeks.

Through the team’s proactive approach, problems, such as when unknown buried services were located and piles needed to be

moved, were quickly and effectively dealt with.

Both Sisk Rail and Network Rail were pleased with the speed of installation and the quality of the product.

TRUSTED TECHNIQUE The Tata Steel Projects Modular Platform Systems is a long established and trusted technique for the construction of new railway platforms, platform extensions, platform widening, walkways and ramps with the emphasis on delivering projects in the most challenging of environments. The systems that are available offer a range of construction options from lightweight systems that can be installed without the need for mechanical lifting with minimal disruption through to large pre-finished units that can be installed rapidly and maximise the benefits of off-site construction. All the Modular Platform systems have flexibility and adaptability engineered into the design to ensure that the system is easy to install and has the potential for future alteration.

Using innovative concepts such as Offsite Roofing Cassettes, Tata Steel Projects has

All the Modular Platform systems have flexibility and adaptability engineered into the design

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developed systems that enable Modular Platform Canopies and Station Roofs to be constructed with a high-degree of factory preinstallation and pre-finishing. And, as with all of Tata Steel Projects’ systems, the solution can be tailored to suit particular client and site requirements.

SPECIALIST SOLUTIONS

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Elsewhere, Tata Steel provides specialist solutions for defence and security applications to protect people and vital infrastructure assets, including the design, installation and project management of robust physical security measures to protect against incidents both accidental and deliberate. It has also established strong links with the solar farm market through its Tata Steel Ground mount system; a durable support frame, that can be produced in large volumes at an economic price, yet remaining flexible, to accommodate site specific requirements.

For more information: Tel: 020 7717 4444 www.tatasteeleurope.com

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TRANSPORT: SMMT INDUSTRY FORUM

BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT SOLUTIONS Dr Chris Owen, Chief Executive Officer, SMMT Industry Forum explains how to analyse and transform your manufacturing and supply chain operations.

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very business has its own way of operating, organically developing its strengths based on its workforce, processes, management and market place over a period of time to create opportunities for improved efficiency, productivity and profitability.

Because every organisation is different, there is no one-size-fits all approach to business improvement. A strategy that works for one organisation simply won’t work for another.

Since 1996, SMMT Industry Forum has worked across an array of sectors, including automotive, aerospace, electrical, food and 22

drink, and industrial manufacturing. Our clients include Boeing, Carlsberg, Phillips and Toyota. Such variety means that we are adept at tailoring our services to each client.

SMMT Industry Forum ensures that your business gets the help it needs to gain a competitive advantage. Our engineers will engage your business at every level to deliver sustainable results in four practical ways.

Firstly, they will diagnose the issues and opportunities your organisation should address. Then, we will deliver prioritised, rapid response actions to get production on track. Following this, the engineers will work to build capacity or efficiency through precision intervention and

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“SMMT Industry Forum ensures that your business gets the help it needs to gain a competitive advantage” monitoring. Finally, we will introduce step change initiatives to grow processes, people or capacity.

These initiatives can come in a number of forms, including Lean

Manufacturing processes and Total Production Maintenance, while every step is backed up by expert training packages.

Nowadays, most UK manufacturers are aware of the

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concept of Lean Manufacturing, even if they are not properly practising it. SMMT Industry Forum was among the first organisations to bring Lean processes from Japan nearly 20 years ago. Today, our Lean Manufacturing course is among one of the most visited in the world.

SMMT Industry Forum is the only UK practitioner for Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) in the UK to be accredited by the Japanese Institute of Plant

Maintenance (JIPM), which is the holder of the world-renowned TPM Excellence awards. Originally practised in Japan, TPM makes production more economical by increasing efficiency and eliminating accidents, quality defects and breakdowns. Typically, our clients can cut production costs by around 30% by properly implementing TPM. To ensure that these principles are properly adhered to, SMMT Industry Forum offers a range of implementation and training

support. Each year, we also run the Japan Best Practice Programme, in which delegates travel to Japan with our Lean Manufacturing and TPM specialists, to see how the principles are put into action.

This year’s programme runs in November, and those interested in attending should visit our website for further information on the programme content and to see the benefits that participating in the programme can bring to businesses.

All of SMMT Industry Forum’s trainers are expert practitioners with hands-on experience in their field. Our range of training packages improve skills in all areas of your business to make sure it works more effectively, assessing its work processes, efficiencies and analysis. SMMT Industry Forum also offers ISO/TS16949 accreditation training.

For more information: www.industryforum.co.uk.

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BESPOKE SOLUTIONS

A flexible approach to tailor-made conversions that meet individual needs means that Euromotive is the preferred converter for a wide variety of customers, including local authorities, community transport organisations, charitable organisations and private bodies, and is a recommended supplier of PTS vehicles to the NHS.

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Dating back 20 years, Euromotive was founded by a group of four directors, each of which possessing extensive experience in the coachbuilding sector and bringing to the table a wealth of industry knowledge.

Through the hard work of all the Directors, Paul Wrigley, Desmond Goldup, Michael Jones, Dennis Noble and their employees Euromotive has become one of the leading converters of vans and accessible minibuses and PTS Vehicles in the UK. Having started out with a small group of approximately 10 employees, Euromotive has enjoyed massive growth and expansion and now works with around 30 employees, producing up to 400 conversions each and every year.

In addition to this, the company has made great strides in expanding its service portfolio and now looks to not only convert, but also produce vehicles. Michael explains these developments further: “January of this year we subsequently took over another company building commer-

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cial vehicles and it gives us the scope of producing a vast range of vehicles from DPV’s, Minibuses, accessible vehicles and Trucks from 3.5t–26t. We are now capable of producing M1, M2, N1, N2 and N3 category vehicles. This makes Euromotive a unique company to offer a one stop shop for our customers.” The combined workforce now stands at 60 employees and is capable of producing 400 conversions and 500 truck bodies.

Michael, as Production Director looks after all aspects of vehicle legislation and production for Euromotive, a company which has proven itself a pioneer and market-leader in type approval alongside The Department for Transport for the introduction of the IVA scheme: “Looking forward from that with the subsequent purchase of the new company and the type-approval side of it, our experience from the minibus side has thrown over to the

“We are now capable of producing M1, M2, N1, N2 and N3 category vehicles. This makes Euromotive a unique company to offer a one stop shop for our customers.”

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TRANSPORT EUROMOTIVE large-scale vehicles and subsequently we have completed three types of truck bodies already for type approval which not a lot of companies have achieved and they’ve been in body-building for a number of years.” This level of success and the astounding speed of Euromotive’s progress in the newly accessed sector is true testament to Michael’s own expertise and the incredible work he and his team has been doing with Euromotive to develop the production arm of the company.

BEST SERVICE POSSIBLE Explaining the lengths which Euromotive goes to in meeting both industry-wide standards, regulation and in striving to provide the best service possible to clients, the company states: “Our knowledge and engineering experience, commitment to safety and the very best components, and appliance of the latest CAD technology, mean that we can meet the most exacting standards required. And we take pride in sticking to our delivery dates every time.

“Since many customers have their own requirements regarding specification, we endeavour to be as flexible as possible, and we are pleased to advise on new systems and products, plus safety issues where and whenever possible.

“Finally, thanks to the extra peace of mind that our quality components and production control techniques provide, we are able to offer an aftersales service and warranty that are second to none.”

Offering a complete, one-stop-shop service, Euromotive utilises the highest quality components and production techniques alongside after-sales service and warranty to ensure that

“Offering a complete, one-stop-shop service, Euromotive utilises the highest quality components and production techniques...”

SOME OF THE VEHICLES COVERED MOBILE COFFEE BARS DOG TRANSPORTERS MOBILE NEEDLE EXCHANGE UNITS MOBILE EYE SCREENING UNITS FIRE BRIGADE WATER RESCUE VEHICLE MOBILE TICKET OFFICES MOBILE COMPUTER CLASSROOMS MOBILE YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH UNITS PLUS A WIDE RANGE OF CREW AND MESSING VEHICLES

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TRANSPORT EUROMOTIVE all clients receive a service that goes above and beyond value for money and allows them to rest assured that they can rely on Euromotive to keep their best interests at heart. Much of Euromotive’s growth can be attributed to the great reputation which the company has built up over the years, with swarms of positive feedback through word of mouth and customer testimonials: “We have a very good reputation for our after-sales service. The sale is one part of it but we also believe that with our after-sales service we must have a good backup; that’s what a lot of our customers say, that we have a good backup to resolve any problems.”

STRONG WORKING RELATIONSHIPS As a result of a keenness to satisfy clients displayed by Euromotive, the company has successfully managed to build up strong working relationships with many of its long-standing customers as Production Director, Michael Jones explains: “We’ve built up a large number

of working relationships with many dealers.

Our customer base is vast and ranges from London Boroughs, Local Authorities large and small construction firms, lease and hire companies and charitable groups.”

Through stringent controls on how a vehicle “Should be” produced, Euromotive has introduced a number of initiatives to improve on critical areas in the production and conversion of vehicles where they must be controlled to meet COP regulation as part of the type approval scheme. These great strides in the production process have been achieved through utilising jigs and drawings alongside plasma technology to ensure efficiency, quality and repeatability. Additionally, With all vehicles having a 100% inspection before going out, customer feedback on receipt of the vehicle, along with a close liaison with dealerships, Euromotive is able to provide the highest quality of service through effective communication, adapting its systems to the needs of individual

“Euromotive has successfully managed to build up strong working relationships with many of its long-standing customers.”

clients and continually striving to reach new levels of service excellence.

As Euromotive continuously seeks to refine and redefine its standards of service, the company intends to utilise its recent successes in developing the production process and will be using these as case studies for future works. By analysing the areas in which new processes have proven improved efficiency, quality and overall standards, Euromotive has highlighted such areas of success and aims to build these systems in to future works, as Michael explains: “The recent vehicles we produced for type approval shows good liaison with our component manufacturing and ensuring that all of their components are approved under EEC. We use solid works, computer drawing and plasma technology which has also made us much more efficient and more compliant because we can now repeat that build time and time again.”

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TRANSPORT EUROMOTIVE By working with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), Euromotive has been able to more effectively integrate itself into the industry, liaise more closely with other industry-related organisations and benefit from the combined knowledge and support available directly from the SMMT. Michael says: “Regarding growth, I’d certainly say this has mostly been done by networking, our reputation and our active role within the SMMT with the bus and coach technical committee meeting and the body-building technical committee meeting. The network side of it has proved dividends because then the word gets around that we’ re building vehicles effectively and to the latest legislative requirements which the base vehicle manufacturers will always look at somebody that is wanting to do the build to the correct methods. The SMMT, certainly from my side of it have been very knowledgeable on regulation and they’ve always been available for us, so all I’ve got to do is pick the telephone up and I’ve got the technical query answered quickly so that we can introduce that into our build or clarify a customers question.”

Looking to support and promote the interests of the UK automotive industry at home and abroad, SMMT serves as the voice of the motor industry and works intently to ensure that the industry reaches its full potential. This is achieved through promoting and supporting competitiveness, consumer protection, educa-

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tion and training, environmental practices, globalisation, new technology and information regarding legislation. As a key member of the SMMT, Euromotive has not only reaped the rewards offered through membership of the society, but has also taken a key role in returning the favour and working for the benefit of the society and all of its members: “Over the last two to three years Euromotive has played a very active part in presenting at seminars because of our pioneering efforts on IVA and type approval,” explains Michael.

In effectively managing sustainability goals, Euromotive recycles any and all raw materials used as well as trying to promote sustainable practices and measures wherever possible through its operations. Michael adds: “We do

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Eberspacher UK, based in Ringwood, Hampshire and South Eastern Auto Electrical Services have been supplying and installing leading commercial vehicle converter Euromotive with a UK designed and manufactured range of very compact, high output heating, air conditioning and climate control products for their home and export markets for many years. With a varied, market leading product range famous for its reliability, performance and value for money, Eberspacher supplies robust systems ideal for the welfare, accessible vehicle, minibus, ambulance and specialist vehicle market while Euromotive continues to supply a quality product to the major operators in these markets.

Originally looking to introduce diesel fuelled independent heating systems into the UK and Eire car, commercial vehicle and marine markets to create a nationwide network of dealers, Eberspacher has since expanded into air conditioning and climate control as

well as becoming a major key supplier to car and commercial vehicle manufacturers including rail, defence, ambulance, welfare, motorhome, off-road and marine vehicles.

Eberspacher uses its experienced, versatile and knowledgeable engineers to provide tailor made solutions and system design service to ensure maximum performance, reliability and compatibility with its full product range at all times.

Founded in 1938 as a one-man manufacturing and distributing business, SE Auto Electrical Services is a family owned, third generation business and possibly the largest independent Auto Electrical company in South East England. With a large storage facility housing thousands of associated parts and accessories, SE Auto Electrical Services serves the general public, motor trade, road transport, agricultural, plant, vehicle manufacture and marine industries.

With fully equipped workshops, trained and accredited engineers, SE Auto Electrical

Services in Maidstone provides Euromotive with a reliable, flexible installation service for the Eberspacher product to meet the high expectations of Euromotive’s tight build schedule. These modern workshops are designed specifically so as to cater for all shapes and sizes of vehicle and, utilising the latest in computerised diagnostic equipment and qualified engineers, SE Auto Electrical Services is fully equipped to undertake an assortment of electrical works.

Displaying an impressive wealth of knowledge, expertise and a highly trained, dedicated workforce, SE Auto Electrical Services offers quick, efficient and competitive service for electrical works, engine management, air conditioning and much more. Supported by an efficient, computerised and well-planned network of stores, SE Auto Electrical Services ensures the supply of high quality parts whether directly from stock or from the company's comprehensive supplier and parts database.

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solutions

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whatever is possible to reduce our carbon footprint and vehicle-wise, whenever we’re using materials we try to use the materials that can be recycled. We also make our customers aware that we have a recycling policy to recycle as much as we can.” In addition to this, the company is currently looking into the possibility of furthering sustainability initiatives and promoting even more green practices with its clients in the future as part of overarching aims to reach ISO 14008 standards.

HEALTH & SAFETY For Health & Safety management, Euromotive issues all supply chain partners with a detailed policy statement to ensure that all members of the supply chain are aware of the company’s aims, goals and policies regarding effective safety management: “We also vet them to make sure that they’re suitable for doing subcontractor work for us and we monitor them,” adds Michael who is also keen to promote an ingrained safety culture both within Euromotive

“If they can think of a safer way that a component can be mounted or used on a vehicle then we encourage that.” and its supply chain partners to both ensure that everyone remains safety conscious and encourage further suggestions on safety improvements for working practices and on vehicle safety: “If they can think of a safer way that a component can be mounted or used on a vehicle then we encourage that.”

With an extensive in-house training portfolio, Euromotive has a selection of criteria for each different area and trade associated such as welding, woodwork or trimming with separate inhouse training schedules to ensure that all operatives are effectively skilled and ready to work in support of Euromotive’s incredible reputation for high standards of work. Further supported by its subcontractor network, Euromotive is also able to tap into the wealth of knowledge of a number of key training service providers who

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TRANSPORT EUROMOTIVE provide technical, specialist training courses for even further staff qualification.

In being a company that is keen to work towards official standards and maintain ethical practices across the board, Euromotive has proven itself as a role model of excellence for its ethical practices for safety, sustainability and fostering a new generation of highly skilled workers whilst also undertaking considerable work with charitable organisations to further enforce the fact that Euromotive is an organisations with the best interests of all stakeholders, and the even the rest of the UK at heart.

Through recognising the work that Euromotive both promotes and undertakes in these key areas, both the quality and standards displayed in Euromotive’ s work serve as role model practices for the wider sector and are a testament to the company’s good name.

WORKS CLOSELY Euromotive works closely with its supply chain through promoting the use of type approved components and supply chain members have proven themselves capable of providing such approved components consistently to Euromotive, thus supporting the company’s overarching operations the quality control processes. Through working closely with these partners, Euromotive has been able to benefit from reliable quality, delivery time-frames and even on pricing in a way which has enabled Euromotive to consistently improve the reliability of its own service in turn with the reliability of work undertaken with its supply chain partners: “We don’t tend to go anywhere else

“We don’t tend to go anywhere else because they give us a good service and give us exactly what we want.” because they give us a good service and give us exactly what we want. To be able to just pick the phone up and send an email, getting a response and getting some action makes my job and those of my colleagues a lot easier,” adds Michael.

On a parting note, Michael comments: “Thank you for the continued support of our suppliers and subcontractors and their commitment to vehicle safety and type approval, because it’s all about working as a team. That’s why we use the suppliers and subcontractors that we do, because they have the same commitment as ourselves to produce a safer vehicle.” Looking to the future it is expected that Euromotive will continue to pioneer the vehicle conversions sector and take its latest avenue, the production of commercial vehicles by storm and for this we wish them the best of luck as a company that sticks by its morals and provides a service both exceeding expectation and ethical in practice.

For more information: Tel: 01303 267900 www.euromotive.co.uk

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MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING DENHOLM REES & O’DONNELL LTD

PRECISION ENGINEERS From state of the art CNC machining services through to comprehensive fabrication and assembly facilities, Denholm ensures you receive the components and products you need on budget and to your delivery schedule.

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The company’s focus is on high quality at the right cost and to each customer’s delivery schedule. That’s based on an ethos of having a combination of the latest machinery and highly skilled staff in the right environment, which in turn requires an awareness of what’s required and a commitment to investing in the future.

Precision engineering is the name of the game at manufacturing service provider Denholm Rees & O’Donnell Ltd. The company provides this service for the production of anything from a single component through to complete assemblies and can offer a genuine one-stop-shop for a customer’s requirements.

The company’s reputation remains strong thanks to securing experience and clients in a variety of sectors. This includes Oil & Gas, Petrochemicals & Plastics, Motor Manufacturing (OEM), Aerospace, Marine and Food Processing. Thanks to state of the art CNC machining services through to comprehensive fabrication and assembly facilities, Denholm works to fully certified quality and process management systems to ensure customers receive the components and products they need on budget and to the agreed delivery schedule.

VALUE FOR MONEY Recently, the company has developed its operations to ensure maximum efficiency and value for money. The management team within the group recognised that increasingly customers were looking for ways to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness in the supply process and avoid the time and administrative costs involved in going backwards and forwards between different suppliers to attain each finished component.

While turning to larger “one-stop” suppliers to take care of everything was an obvious answer, it meant losing all the benefits of working with smaller, specialist companies, where their personalised approach and the wealth of dedicated experience and skill delivered real benefit.

Denholm Rees & O’Donnell together with sister company C E Edwards set out to create a best practice solution by forging partnerships with other OEM suppliers

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MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING DENHOLM REES & O’DONNELL LTD

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MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING DENHOLM REES & O’DONNELL LTD to offer customers all their dedicated knowledge and service through a narrower, more integrated supply chain. They have been able to draw on their existing relationships and extensive understanding of the technical and manufacturing elements of the process to bring together suppliers and customers to everyone’s benefit.

The concept was devised as a way of delivering the best of both worlds for all concerned, streamlining the process to cut out unnecessary costs and delays without losing the highly focused knowledge and skills, as well as the flexibility and individualised service, offered by smaller specialist companies. It now encompasses a focus on partnerships all the way along the supply chain to give a series of strong, seamless links for the best possible results.

POSITIVE RESPONSE Managers at the two sister companies are delighted with the positive response to the initiative, with smaller OEMs retaining contracts and clients enjoying the advantages of working with them with none of the potential downsides.

It is an evolving model in which all parties are engaged to deliver best quality and best value.

The business also took an alternative approach through its partnering with other OEM suppliers in order to offer a narrower supply chain which still taps into the key skills of dedicated sub-contract engineering specialists.

For example, a major European pump manufacturer was looking to reduce its supply chain by sourcing cast components fully machined and finished complete from a single supplier.

Historically these components had been sourced by the OEM as castings from a dedicated foundry and then shipped to machining specialists for processing and final supply back to the OEM as finished machined items with each

Denholm and CE Edwards have common characteristics that are aimed at producing quality products supplier providing their key skills, knowledge and experience to the production process.

Denholm and CE Edwards have common characteristics that are aimed at producing quality products, on-time delivery and a reliable, cost-effective service to meet customers’ requirements. To be able to do that, they focus on building long-term relationships with customers and that involves members of the man-

agement teams of both companies, as an integral part of their roles, covering many miles visiting those customers on a regular basis, often making overseas trips across Europe and further afield.

ALTERNATIVE APPROACH A major benefit of that is company management learns the real and up-to-date needs of customers and the market generally. That resulted in the introduction of an alternative approach to the typical supply chain in recognition of customers increasingly looking for ways to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness in the supply process. This included avoiding the time and administrative costs required to go backwards and forwards between suppliers to obtain a finished component, thereby making the business leaner and more efficient.

That can be achieved by shrinking the supplier base, often turning to larger ‘one-stop’ suppliers who handle everything. But it can mean losing all the benefits of working with smaller, specialist companies that deliver real benefits through a personalised approach, technical skills, increased flexibility and a wealth of dedicated experience. The answer from CE Edwards and Denholm Rees & O’Donnell was to create a ‘best practice solution’ by forging partnerships with other OEM

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MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING DENHOLM REES & O’DONNELL LTD suppliers so they could together offer customers all their dedicated knowledge and service through a narrower and more integrated supply chain. It meant drawing on existing relationships and their extensive understanding of the technical and manufacturing elements of the process in order to bring together suppliers and customers for everyone’s benefit.

Forging long relationships with suppliers also aids operational standards. For example, Denholm currently uses Q8 oils and would highly recommend them. The company has searched for many years to find an oil supplier that would take the pain out of soluble oil maintenance and Denholm found this in Q8.

“They have been our preferred supplier for approximately five years now. They have supplied us with a complete package supported by regular monthly visits to site where by they test every machine’s soluble oil and provide an in depth report and a solution to any problems found. The report gives our production manager time to plan when to take the machine out for a full soluble oil change preventing contamination to the machines coolant systems. This works on a traffic light system and is very easy to identify potential issues,” said Ian Johns, Works Director.

INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT The company’s ethos of treating every project on an individual level to deliver a solution that’s tailored specifically to each client’s requirements is the basis for its success. That’s in terms of technology, equipment, budget, time frame and anything else relevant and is only possible

through a solid understanding of who the customer is and exactly what each wants to achieve.

Whilst meeting clients’ existing needs with the highest possible levels of workmanship, service, efficiency and value, there’s also an emphasis on looking to the future in order to understand how those needs will grow and develop. Again, that comes through regular dialogue with clients backed up by gathering and acting on feedback.

It is an integral part of predicting and preparing for clients’ evolving needs so changes in demand never affect the speed, efficiency and extremely high standard of work carried out. The approach, coupled with a general upturn in economic activity that has caused a strong growth in orders from new and existing customers, led to CE Edwards having the confidence to run a second shift for the first time at its Stoke on Trent base. Plans for opening the double shift had been in preparation for some time, allowing a dramatic increase in production to be achieved without disruption.

GROWTH Growth has also caused a substantial level of investment to add to the range of existing equipment that includes extensive turning, machining, shaping, grinding, drilling and boring machines, both conventional and CNC, to meet customer requirements. A process of introducing new machinery ensures work can be undertaken efficiently and to the highest specification while changes to shop floor layout help maximise effective workflow.

The latest acquisition is a £350,000 Sacem MSMG-125, the group’s largest ever horizontal boring and milling machine, which offers the group an unmatched capacity. It uses up-tothe-minute 6-axis CNC technology with a 40

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MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING DENHOLM REES & O’DONNELL LTD Heidenhain TNC 430 system, combining size and power with state-of-the-art accuracy and control that makes it the ideal solution to wide-ranging requirements. The market-leading acquisition is part of the continuing policy to invest in world-class manufacturing plant and equipment so it can completely satisfy clients’ current needs and stay one step ahead as these needs evolve.

Staying ahead also involves quality remaining high and both companies operate under strict quality management systems in accordance with ISO 9001. Quality has always been a priority and a process that’s constantly developing. Following a review of inspection procedures at CE Edwards, it was felt a reorganisation would improve efficiency. That led to a restructuring of the layout of the machine shop so the inspection department could be relocated to an ideal location next to goods-out. At the same time, the opportunity was taken to enhance the inspection measurement capability by installing a Co-ordinate Measuring Machine (CMM), a 3D device for measuring the physical geometrical characteristics of an object.

This device, a FARO GAGE, represents the latest technology for ensuring accurate dimensions on engineered components and the new version is one of a generation of portable CMMs that can be quickly set up, giving unri-

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Staying ahead also involves quality remaining high and both companies operate under strict quality management systems valled opportunity to ensure accurate dimension measurement of all types and configurations of components.

“The new FARO GAGE at CE Edwards is an important investment,” comments Ian Johns, Works Director. “It will play a vital role in helping to maintain our position as leading sub-contract engineers focusing on building strong, collaborative relationships with our clients to deliver world-class service now and into the future.”

RECRUITMENT PROCESS To reinforce recent successes, which have seen both companies record profitable trading years in line with expectations, a recruitment process is underway across the business. This ensures optimum use is made of the latest equipment and includes machine operators to work on con-

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ventional tools and the new CNC horizontal borer plus engineering apprentices. The aim is to have staff with the necessary experience and skills to deliver the top quality service demanded by our customers combined with a long term commitment to build those skills from within in order to replace older skilled staff as they retire.

Managing Director Alan Hayes says: “We know how important new blood is to the success of our business and there is no question that an engineering apprenticeship is a great way for young people who have the commitment and drive to succeed, to develop skills and talent to make them valuable and valued members of our team.”

For more information: Tel: 01782 202400 www.ceedwards.co.uk, www.denholms.co.uk

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MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING 3D PRINTING

THE NEW INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

3D Printing or additive manufacturing as it is also known, has the potential to become the biggest single disruptive phenomenon to impact global industry since assembly lines were first introduced in early twentieth century.

MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING MAGAZINE

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MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING 3D PRINTING

A HISTORY OF 3D PRINTING In just 3 decades 3D printing has developed from being a fun novelty into something that is revolutionising the manufacturing world.

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The 3D printer uses additive manufacturing under computer control to produce three-dimensional objects. Additive processes are used in which successive layers of material are laid down in order to create almost any shape or geometry from a 3D model or other electronic data source. 3D printers, which are a type of industrial robot, use formulated additives, such as plastics, that are then formed into successive layers of material typically laid down on a platform in different shapes.

Recently, 3D printers have grown in stature thanks to an increased mainstream interest in the process. New companies such as MakerBot have produced printers capable of turning digital models into real-world objects, but these are not the first such tools to find their way to market.

Hideo Kodama of Nagoya Municipal Industrial Research Institute is credited with

the first published account of a successful printed solid model. This was in 1982. Two years later, Charles W. Hull of 3D Systems Corp created the first working 3D printer when he invented a process known as stereolithography, in which layers are added by curing photopolymers with UV lasers. Hull defined the process as a “system for generating three-dimensional objects by creating a cross-sectional pattern of the object to be formed.” He also developed the digital slicing and infill strategies common to many processes today.

At this time, the process was a costly affair, meaning it wasn’t feasible for the general market. However, in recent years, costs have dramatically dropped making 3D printing a more viable option in the mainstream market.

For example, the cost of 3D printers dropped from an average price of £12,000 in 2010 to less than £600 today. In the near future, 3D printers will be available at under £250.

In its early days, additive manufacturing was considered a viable process for metalwork production but did not see widespread use. Nearly all metalwork production at the time was by casting, fabrication, stamping, and machining; even though plenty of automation was applied to those technologies (such as by robot welding and CNC).

The idea that a tool or head moving through a 3D work envelope transforming a mass of raw material into a desired shape layer by layer was associated by most people only with processes that removed metal rather than adding it such as CNC milling, CNC EDM, and many others.

By the 2000s, however, additive manufacturing was becoming more widely used and it

“In its early days, additive manufacturing was considered a viable process for metalwork production but did not see widespread use.”

A BRIEF TIMELINE OF 3D PRINTING DEVELOPMENT 1982

1884

Charles Hull invents stereolithography

The first working 3D printer created Charles Hull

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1986 Charles Hull founds 3D Systems

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1995

2005

Researchers at MIT develop ZPrinting.

The concept of 3D printed self-replicating machines was introduced by Klaus Lackner and Chistopher Wendt

Dr Bowyer founds RepRap, an open source printer project

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MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING 3D PRINTING

HOW 3D PRINTING WORKS 3D printers work like inkjet printers, but instead of ink, they deposit the desired material in successive layers to create a physical object from a digital file.

CHOOSE DESIGN

OUTPUT

became clear that metal removal would no longer be the only use of the process. By the 2010s, the term 3D printing became synonymous with the technique and the process grew in mainstream popularity.

It is predicted by some 3D printing advocates that the process will change the nature of commerce, because end users will be able to do much of their own manufacturing rather than engaging in trade to buy products from other people and corporations.

3D printers continue to develop at an alarming rate with those capable of outputting in colour and multiple materials already existing. Soon, functional products will be the norm.

With effects on product availability, construction and sciences, energy use, waste reduction, medicine and art, 3D printing is set to change the manufacturing world as we know it.

2008 RepRap launches the Darwin self-replicating printer and Shapeways launches as a private beta site

clothing

o o ✓ o o o o o

UPLOAD

Chocolate Glass Metal Nylon Paper Plastic Rubber

PRINT

toys

car parts

medical

aircraft parts

and more...

1. A laser source sends a laser beam to solidify the material.

1. Laser Source

2. The elevator raises and lowers the platform to help lay the layers.

2. Elevator

3. The vat contains the material used to create the 3D object.

4. The 3D object is created as parts are layered on top of each other.

3. Vat

5. Advanced 3D printers use one or more materials, including plastic, resin, titanium, polymers and even gold and silver.

4. Layered Parts 5. Material

2009

2010

2013

2014

The patent for FDM technology expires allowing companies like MasterBolt Industries to produce affordable consumer printers

NASA Begins evaluating Contour Crafting 3D for 3D printing in space

First 3D printed prosthetic arm The world’s first 3D printed car prototype

Expiration of key 3D printing patents

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MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING 3D PRINTING

THE USES OF 3D PRINTING

TRANSPORT Right now the largest 3D printers in the world are printing titanium fuselage and wing parts for Chinese passengers jets.

3D printed cars have already been produced.

From transport through to fashion 3D printing is used extensively throughout many industries. In medicine, everything from dental braces to prosthetic limbs are 3D printed.

An F-18 fighter jet contains 90 3D-printed parts. It’s cheaper to create maintenance parts this way.

MEDICAL Everything from dental braces to prosthetic limbs are 3D printed.

CLOTHING AND JEWELLERY Some fashion designers, like Australia-based XYZ Workshop, are making their designs available for download, which means anyone with a 3D printer can customize and create their own clothing. With 3D printers becoming more prevalent and affordable, it’s truly the next frontier in fashion.

FOOD

US Scientists used a 3D printer in 2013 to build a functioning human liver from living cells. It survived for 40 days in the lab and points to a future when transplant patients will not have to rely on suitable donors.

CONSTRUCTION

SPACE NASA has successfully tested 3D printing during parabolic flights. This could soon be used onboard the ISS to manufacture spare parts.

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A Chinese construction firm based in Shanghai has succeeded in building 10 houses each measuring 200 square metres in 24 hours by using an enormous 3D printer.

The houses are all eco-friendly and constructed from 3D-printed building blocks made from layers of recycled construction waste and glass fibre and mixed with cement.

In the futu fixture as thing from

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MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING IGNITEC

IGNITEC:

DESIGN. TECHNOLOGY. PROTOTYPE. MANUFACTURE. Ignitec is a full service industrial design consultancy

FOOD In the future, 3D printers will be as common a kitchen fixture as the microwave oven, and you’ll print everything from ready-made meals to fresh fruit on them.

Worldwide shipment of 3D printers is expected to reach just less than 100,000 units this year. It is expected to double in 2015.

❱

Ignitec is an expert in industrial design, technology, mechanical engineering and manufacturing; from identifying market opportunities, generating IP and building winning brands, through to product manufacture and routes to market. Through its specialist solutions the company empowers businesses to identify and exploit opportunities in new product development and technology.

Ignitec’s streamlined process brings togeth-

er the expertise of skilled designers, engineers, technologists and a dedicated project manager; from the point of identifying an opportunity to shipping a new product and everything in between.

It is also an expert in commercial product design, technology, rapid prototyping and manufacturing. This has seen it develop products, technology and IP for a diverse range of esteemed clients; from aerospace manufacturers to government agencies.

MEM IN 3D

The Objet30 Pro combines the accuracy and versatility of a high-end rapid prototyping machine with the small footprint of a desktop 3D printer. Highlighting the potential of the PolyJet technology, MEM magazine saw its logo printed using VeroWhitePlus, one of eight different 3D printing materials available on the Objet30 Pro. Indeed, it features the industry’s best print resolution so you get smooth surfaces.

Objet30 Pro is ideal for prototyping consumer goods, consumer electronics, medical devices and more.

The Objet30 Pro gives you the power to create realistic models in-house quickly and easily.

For more information: call - 0117 329 1286 or visit- ignitec.com MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING MAGAZINE

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ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT ACHILLES

POWER IN

NUMBERS

Achilles creates and manages a global network of collaborative industry communities, allowing trading partners to share high quality, structured, real-time data.

A

chilles plays a vital role in allowing its trading partners to share high quality, structured, real-time data.

Through the creation and management of a global network of collaborative industry communities, Achilles acts as an independent partner, providing validated data and insightful analytics to enable buyers across a variety of sectors identify and manage risk while suppliers can

increase market reach and compliance in addition to minimising costs across the network as a whole.

The success of Achilles over the years is represented by its membership with around 800 of the world’s leading buying organisations and 90,000 key suppliers currently benefiting from the Achilles’ network of over 40 different communities in 11 industry sectors. Consistent development also sees the services expanding into new markets regularly.

This network of communities is supported by over 950 dedicated employees, providing local support in 29 different languages, based in 23 different countries. Indeed, if the proof is in the pudding, Achilles enduring achievements and valuable customer support can be seen in its work with some of the world’s best-known companies. These include Shell, Balfour Beatty, Toyota Motor Europe, E.ON, EDF, Vale, ABB, Santos, Petrobas, Chevron, Maersk, Skanska, Statoil, Vattenfall, Repsol YPF, Alstom,

Iberdrola, Acciona, Abertis, National Grid, BHP Billiton, Yamana Gold, Halliburton, Anglo American, Aston Martin, Jaguar Landrover Petrobras and Exxon Mobil.

Achilles works through the “power of a network of communities.” This structure allows buyers with access to a broader range of verified, compliant suppliers while suppliers themselves gain access to a broader range of potential buyers.

The required verification and data gathering processes are

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ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT ACHILLES standardised within the community and are facilitated by Achilles’ local support teams based around the world.

The result is a significant reduction in the work required by both suppliers and buyers to manage and reduce risk within their community and a substantially lower cost of compliance for the community as a whole.

Achilles’ communities range in scope from large individual enterprises seeking to improve compliance and risk management across their multi-national base of subsidiaries to broad, industry-wide communities of over 100 major buyers and 10,000 suppliers.

SHARING BEST PRACTICE The global network produces additional benefits by sharing best practice in compliance and risk management between industry sectors and across geographies and allows buyers and suppliers to open up trading opportunities in new markets.

Services are comprehensive and tailored. Achilles provides its

“Working together, Achilles and the utilities industry have seen significant increases in business critical areas”

communities with a SaaS-based buyer and supplier compliance, risk and performance management platform alongside expertise in the specific industry sector and in procurement compliance and risk management issues in general.

Support is also given to assist suppliers in compiling the relevant information and achieving compliance. In addition, resources to continuously update, verify and, if required, audit the information are available.

The business first began in 1990 when it was founded in

Norway with the goal of helping organisations identify, assess, qualify, and monitor suppliers throughout the supply chain.

Achilles’ first success came with the launch of a supplier pre-qualification service for Norway's oil and gas industry.

The principal driver was to reduce operating costs. It was established “by the industry for the industry” against a background of low oil prices.

The concept was that ifyou can collect and provide information once only and share it with all, it avoids the significant duplication of effort and the associated resource time consumed in doing that.

From this simple business model, which is applicable to any industry or geography, Achilles has rapidly expanded into 23 countries across all continents.

Indeed, the company now operates in multiple industries and sectors, from automotive to utilities with a group turnover of around £70m.

GREATER VISIBILITY

ACHILLES HAS 22 GLOBAL OPERATIONS ARGENTINA / AUSTRALIA / BRAZIL / CHILE / COLOMBIA / DENMARK / GERMANY / HONG KONG / INDIA / IRELAND / ITALY / NETHERLANDS / NIGERIA / NORWAY / PERU / PORTUGAL / SLOVAKIA / SPAIN / SWEDEN / UK / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES / USA

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As supply chains become more globalised, buyers and suppliers need greater visibility of supply chain risks. The Achilles solution today is not just about reducing operating cost. It therefore offers a broad range of procurement risk management tools and services including on-site supplier audits, carbon footprint data, sustainability and CSR information, multi-tier supply

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ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT ACHILLES

ACHILLES SECTORS AUTOMOTIVE TRANSPORT ICT CONSTRUCTION UTILITIES PHARMACEUTICAL OIL & GAS FMCG MINING & CEMENT POWER & TECH PUBLIC SECTOR SERVICE INDUSTRIES

chain mapping and procurement legislation advice.

Recent achievements include the cementing of its reputation as the world’s leading provider of supplier pre-qualification, audit and compliance services for the utilities industry, with the renewal of the contract to independently manage these functions for all the main companies in the UK.

UVDB Achilles has operated the Utilities supplier pre-qualification system UVDB in the UK for the last 20 years, working on behalf of the principal Utilities buying organisations to independently risk-assess more than 10,000 suppliers, carry out comprehensive audits and help businesses comply with EU regulations. UVDB is now the biggest buyer and supplier community in Europe.

After a full market review comprising representatives from over 40 companies including EDF

Energy, Northern Powergrid, Scottish Power, SSE, Wales and West Utilities, Western Power Distribution and UK Power Networks, agreed that Achilles’ solution performed best in terms of effectiveness, global reach and value for money. Achilles will now continue to run the service for a further minimum period of five years.

Adrian Chamberlain, Chief Executive of Achilles, said: “It is a real honour that after a full market appraisal, the UK’s biggest utilities companies have extended their 20year working relationship with Achilles.

“Working together, Achilles and the utilities industry have seen significant increases in business critical areas, such as health and safety, compliance, corporate social responsibility and we are proud this has been recognised.

“However, we are by no means complacent and part of the continuous improvement of the service, we have pledged a series

of additional innovations to further enhance user experience for buyers and suppliers. We look forward to working with the community to implement these improvements over the coming months.”

In total, Achilles now manages 19 pre-qualification communities for the utilities industry across the world, working on behalf of 189 buying organisations to manage the pre-qualification activities of more than 39,000 suppliers.

Across all the communities, Achilles provides a managed service including a technology platform to collect information

from suppliers, validate the data, and publish information to buying organisations in a way that is compliant with procurement rules in each country. Users can also access additional services such as on-site safety, health and environmental audits, advisory services and site-specific information and an advertising platform for “call for competition” notices, and award announcements.

For more information: Tel: 01235 820813 www.achilles.com

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ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT DOLPHIN GEOPHYSICAL

DELIVERING POWERFUL SOLUTIONS

Dolphin Geophysical operates a fleet of new generation, high capacity seismic vessels and offers contract seismic surveys, multi-client projects and processing services on a worldwide basis.

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Dolphin Geophysical is a global, fullrange, asset light supplier of marine geophysical services. The company operates a fleet of new generation, high capacity seismic vessels and offers contract seismic surveys, multi-client projects and processing services on a worldwide basis. Its expert management team, in which each member has over 15 years' experience in the industry, has a tremendous track record of building solid and reliable enterprises. As a technology driven company, its focus on safety, human resources and creativity remains paramount at all times. Dolphin is now pre-qualified with many E&P companies and has already worked in most of the major exploration provinces across the World.

Recent activity includes being selected as the first shortlisted contractor for two major projects in India. The announcement was made in a public bid opening ceremony in Mumbai by a repeat client. Dolphin plan to accept contract proposal according to its submitted bids and

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ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT DOLPHIN GEOPHYSICAL

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ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT DOLPHIN GEOPHYSICAL has confirmed vessel availability for two Dolphin vessels for a total of approximately 10 months to commence project start in fourth quarter of 2014.

ARTEMIS ARCTIC Elsewhere, Dolphin continues to build strong winter back-log and has been awarded a 3D seismic contract in the Indian Ocean for an independent oil company for approximately 60 days. The 3D seismic vessel, Artemis Arctic, will commence this contract in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Dolphin has also been awarded an industry first ever 16-streamer 3D seismic contract for an undisclosed client in the Kara Sea. The contract has a duration of approximately three months and will commence in 2015. Dolphin will utilise one of the high capacity ice classed 3D seismic vessels for the survey and fully take advantage of its wide-tow and powerful solution capabilities towing a large 16-streamer configuration with 100 metres separation, which will enable the client to acquire their large seismic programme in a short time frame.

Closer to home, Dolphin was awarded two additional 4D seismic contracts over producing fields in the North Sea. The contracts have been entered into with an undisclosed International Oil

“This achievement shows Dolphin’s commitment to providing the highest quality services to our clients, and underscores our efforts to continuously improve our systems and services.” company. Dolphin utilised the 3D vessel Artemis Arctic for these two surveys that began in April.

“Dolphin continues to build back-log for 2014 and it is a tribute to our professional crew and employees that these advanced 4D production contracts are awarded to Dolphin,” commented Atle Jacobsen, CEO.

DEDICATION TO STANDARDS Highlighting the company’s dedication to standards, it was awarded ISO 9001:2008 certification this year. The certification was awarded by DNV GL, one of the top three certification bodies in the world and the leading technical advisor to the oil and gas industry, following multiple site and vessel audits.

“Dolphin’s very first purchase order in 2010 was for Integrum, an electronic QHSE compliance system based on an ISO architecture.

We are therefore pleased to have achieved recognition of our work so far, and look forward to further ISO certification of the other facets of our integrated QHSE management system,” says Chief Operating Officer, Peter Hooper. “This achievement shows Dolphin’s commitment to providing the highest quality services to our clients, and underscores our efforts to continuously improve our systems and services.”

For more information: Tel: 01892 701000 www.dolphingeo.com

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ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT SURETANK

ENGINEERING A BETTER, SAFER 4 FUTURE

Established in 1995 Suretank is a world-leading manufacturer of CCUs (cargo carrying units) for the offshore oil and gas industry.

Providing high quality engineered solutions to the oil and gas industry was Suretank’s aim when it started in 1995 and that’s been the basis of its success since then. It’s now gone on to become the world’s leading supplier of engineered solutions for the offshore oil and gas Industry, employing over 600 people and with a turnover exceeding $100 million.

From its headquarters in Dunleer, Ireland, Suretank operates design and manufacturing facilities in Ireland, the UK, Poland, Thailand, Brazil and China with sales offices elsewhere, and is the world’s largest manufacturer of cargo-carrying units for the offshore oil and gas industry as well as the leader in the transport tank industry. Its customer base includes all leading global oil service and rental companies and its products can be found throughout the world.

Success has been built on a dynamic, motivated and team-based culture backed by strong investment that has included a new €2 million corporate centre in 2014. It’s been part of a period of significant change for Suretank that has seen the appointment of a new

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ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT SURETANK CEO, a new Director of Customer Care as part of the company’s commitment to excellent customer service and Norwegian-based HitechVision, a leading investor in the international oil and gas industry, becoming the majority shareholder.

Suretank’s reputation for innovation has been enhanced recently by its launch of the world’s first heated mud container that’s used for the transport and disposal of drill cuttings. It’s been developed in partnership with Norwegian company Onsite Treatment Technologies and is an example of the partnership approach that included Suretank and Niplast engineers working together to produce innovative polypropylene tanks for the storage of sodium bromide and hydrochloric acid that would corrode standard steel tanks. There’s also been close working with Halliburton to meet very specific requirements for three types of tanks it needed for its onboard modular simulation plant in India.

The company’s long-term strategy is to build locally in markets worldwide. As part of that, a formal agreement with long term Dutch partner Stainless Equipment Works has seen the establishment of Suretank Netherlands that will further strengthen the company’s share of the Dutch offshore industry. Similarly, a partnership agreement with Louisiana-based manufacturer Amgulf Fabrication Inc offers the full

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“Suretank’s reputation for innovation has been enhanced recently by its launch of the world’s first heated mud container.” range DNV 2.7-1 certified equipment with others to be added in the future. The company is also extending its operations in Brazil and Latin America with the launch of Suretank Latin America after having been active in Brazil for over two years. Its new state of the art facility will house design, engineering quality, manufacturing, sales and marketing activities.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS Another significant recent development has been a range of low profile tanks for the transport of oilfield chemicals and fuels. These have been produced in response to industry trends for increased safety awareness and are below the international threshold of 1.8 metres for working at height. That reflects Suretank’s setting of the highest standards of product safety and fits in with its Changing Attitudes Towards

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Safety initiative that aims to reduce the number of work-based incidents for improved employee safety and productivity. The latter has also been helped by the company’s LEAN initiative that is providing a focused approach to reducing and eliminating non-core activities as well as removing the causes of defects.

A recent notable achievement is the delivery of a substantial fleet of cargo carrying units for OAG Offshore Rentals of Cyprus. These included mud cutting skips, half length containers, mini containers, boat shaped skips and cargo baskets for the rapidly emerging Eastern Mediterranean offshore market. It’s also produced a highly specialised, custom-built container for the transportation of a new range of pipeline recovery tools. The open top container is specially fitted to hold and transport the Hyperlast 101 Twin Sealing system from First Subsea.

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ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT SURETANK

Having had a highly successful track record supplying heavy duty ISO tanks for Russian railway transport operations based on standard IMDG regulations, Suretank decided to go a step further to ensure all equipment is built to the highest standards possible for this harsh environment. As a result, its Chinese factory has become the only one outside Russia to achieve Russian Maritime Register of Shipping build approval for the manufacture of offshore tanks. Combined with the robust design and engineering excellence, it ensures the tanks are built to the best possible standards.

Suretank’s vision is to be recognised as the world’s leading provider of engineering solutions to the offshore oil and gas industry, delivering a consistent, world class experience to all clients. That’s helped by it employing qualified engineers within its sales team worldwide and it having more accreditations than any other company in the field. The gaining of Achilles FPAL accreditation, a system recognised across the industry, will further enhance Suretank's position as a world-leading provider of engineering solutions, especially important to new customers in developing markets.

For more information: Tel: +353 416862022 www.suretank.com

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ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT REEKIE MACHINING

‘SOLVING THE UNSOLVABLE’

With a reputation built on technical excellence and integrity, Reekie Machining is a leading machining solutions provider with years of experience servicing the full spectrum of energy, marine, manufacturing and process sectors.

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Accredited with the creation of the UK’s first portable machine tools, Reekie Machining is widely renown as a pioneering company which strives to break the boundaries of innovation and provide truly ground-breaking machining solutions. Backed up by the extensive technical experience, training and knowledge of Reekie Machining’s team, the company has enjoyed great success at the front of the machining sector and moves from strength to strength with each and every year.

“Established in 1947, we specialise in on-site machining, so any equipment that is too large or cannot be stripped down for conventional machining in a machine shop we will send men to the site to carry out the machining operations required to minimise down time. This covers a full range of industries including all utilities, onshore, offshore, naval, submarines, nuclear power stations and more; as part of that we’ve also got our own subcontract machine shop as well so we offer a complete machining package,” explains Jared Reekie, Business Development Director of Reekie Machining. As testament to Reekie Machining’s success and expertise within these sectors, the company has worked with a number of key, renown clients such as EDF with whom they have worked with since the 1960s and has built up a very strong relationship: “This year we’ve carried out some work at Heysham and Hartlepool power stations working on the boilers with Doosan Babcock who came along to see if we could produce a job-specific machining tool, which we did

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ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT REEKIE MACHINING showing that we supply a complete machining service by designing and machining the machine tool in house as well as supply machines.”

As Business Development Director, Jared handles a wide variety of business-related areas for Reekie Machining and works very closely with the wider team on creating business systems that both work, and create a foundation for which the company can thrive upon in later years: “The building blocks that we’ve put into position have really taken off this year. It’s been a very good year for us this year, with a very full order book. What we are aiming to be is the number one choice for machining solutions and that’s where we’d like to be, but if not that then we would at least be a clear second choice,” explains Jared.

Renowned as “Problem solvers,” Reekie Machining takes a very forward-thinking approach to its work and endeavours to both seek, and rise to each and every challenge which businesses are solving; Jared explains further: “A lot of our clients come to us when they have a machining problem on-site and 90% of the time we can actually come up with a solution.”

“Reekie Machining takes a very forward-thinking approach to its work” Through taking these challenges on board, Reekie Machining has been able to work with a wide array of clients and facilitate their own success through opening up both new avenues and enhancing those already in operation.

As evidence of Reekie Machining’s problem solving nature, in works previously undertaken on behalf of the British Airways Maintenance Team (BAMT), the company was asked to develop a new machine which would then be used to carry out both boring and facing operations on the side stay attachment of an Airbus A320 aircraft in an attempt to reduce maintenance periods and improve overall efficiencies. Though significant challenges were faced due to constraints of having to produce a machine capable of both facing and boring operations while being considerably faster than BAMT’s current machine, Reekie Machining successfully provided a brand new machine, designated the RB40 which utilises a self-aligning system of movable bearings to set itself to the existing bore, ensuring accuracy and reducing the associated set-up time. Commenting on the solution provided to BAMT, Reekie Machining states: “We needed to design a special facing head which could be used by the machine as

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ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT REEKIE MACHINING well as the boring tool. Our solution allows for the depth of the cut to be pre-set, stopping the feed automatically once the desired depth had been reached.”

WORKING WITH THE BEST This ability to “Solve the unsolvable” is provided

by Reekie Machining as a result of historical and incredible expertise displayed by its team: “We only employ time served engineers,” adds Jared, who is keen to work with the best, brightest and most qualified engineers who can contribute to the company’s reputation. In promoting further growth for its team, Reekie Machining works closely with its operatives on degree-level programmes and in promoting them to get as much hands on experience as possible – through promoting both training and experience amongst its team, the company has been able to develop a network of both highly qualified and experienced operatives able to take on the most difficult of tasks.

Now putting KPIs in place as part of an ongoing process to both monitor and ensure the highest of standards of work throughout all projects, Reekie Machining intends to expand on what is already an incredible service portfolio and provide truly revolutionary machining

“Having worked in a number of crucial, challenging environments, Reekie Machining has undertaken vast amounts of ground-breaking solutions”

services to its clients on a daily basis. Although Reekie Machining’s reputable workforce have already proven themselves capable of taking on almost any task, big or small, it is expected that through Reekie Machining’s continual improvement of these systems that the company will be able to bring its excellent 90% solution rate even closer to the end-goal of 100%.

Having worked in a number of crucial, challenging environments, Reekie Machining has undertaken vast amounts of ground-breaking solutions for which the company is unable to talk about: “You never really hear about us but sometimes we get involved in high profile projects, but we’re not permitted to mention them,” explains Jared. Although these works have not resulted in Reekie Machining being able to ben-

efit much from direct publicity, the reputation which the company has built up through providing solutions in the most dire and important projects truly sets it apart as a company pioneering the sector, leading the sector and producing the most innovate machining solutions available.

As a parting note, Jared adds: “We’re a company that can be trusted and we have the welfare of our employees at heart,” so if you’re in the market for a company that cares both about its workers and in providing machining solutions tailored to the most specific of requirements, then Reekie Machining is there to help.

For more information: Tel: (0)141 812 0411 www.reekiemachining.co.uk

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ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT ARC ENERGY RESOURCES

WELDING ENGINEERING SPECIALISTS Arc specialises in the supply of corrosion resistant weld overlay cladding and the manufacture of specialist fabrications

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Arc Energy Resources supplies the oil and gas, nuclear, renewable, water and wastewater, and naval industries with corrosion resistant weld overlay cladding and the manufacture of specialist fabrications. Established in 1994 by International and European Welding Engineer, Alan Robinson, the company’s first year of trading saw it operate with just four staff and return sales figures totalling a little over £1,000. Today, Arc Energy has expanded into a multi-million pound business with 70 staff, regularly trading with some of the largest companies in the world.

Driven by a dedication to customer service and high standards, quality remains the bedrock of success for Arc Energy. Indeed, in 1995, just a year after inception, Arc Energy signalled its intent by achieving ISO 9002. With this accreditation on board, Arc Energy’s rapid growth began. Sales topped half a million pounds in 1996, doubling to over £1m in 1997.

NEW PREMISES By 1999, Arc Energy had out-grown its premises, and moved into a new 15,000 sq ft factory in Eastington, Gloucestershire. With new premises, the company continued its progress of growth, and in 2002, true to company philosophy, achieved ISO 9001 and ISO 3834-2 certification.

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2004 saw sales in excess of £2m for the first time. It was also the first year that Arc Energy became a corporate sponsor of Gloucester Rugby Football Club. In recognition of the company’s dedication to quality through people, the prestigious Investors in People award was bestowed for the first time.

With continuous growth, Arc Energy expanded again in 2005, taking on two extra company directors, increasing the board to four. As well as this, it also increased workspace by taking on two extra units. In 2007, Arc Energy was certified as an ASME U & National Board R Stamp holder, becoming the first weld overlay specialist in Western Europe to hold the certification.

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ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT ARC ENERGY RESOURCES

By the end of 2008, sales had risen to ÂŁ5m with the business employing 65 staff and further expanding its base of operations. The environmental standard ISO 14001 was achieved in 2010, and the Investors in People accreditation was renewed with another glowing report. In early 2012, accreditation for OHSAS 18001 was also gained.

INVESTORS IN PEOPLE 2013 saw Arc Energy Resources achieve the Investors in People Bronze award, an outstanding achievement for an SME. Arc Energy also became one of only seven companies in the UK able to offer ASME U2 services, through accreditation by ASME. This year, Arc Energy celebrates 20 years in business. With significant recent investments in machinery, premises and people, the company has every reason to look positively to the future, continuing its philosophy of supplying quality assured goods, whilst providing unsurpassed technical support.

For more information: Tel: 01453 823 523 www.arcenergy.co.uk

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LOOKING BACK AT...

SIR TIM BERNERS-LEE the man who invented the internet

We take a look at some of the pioneers, inventors and inventions that have helped shape the manufacturing and engineering industries

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hile there are countless inventors throughout history who could claim to have discovered the most important development in human history, few have such a recognisable claim to fame as English computer scientist Sir Tim Berners-Lee. That’s because he is the man who invented the World Wide Web, the online communication device we all use and rely upon every single day.

Its uses are immeasurable and its potential is quite possibly unimaginable.

Berners-Lee first made a proposal for an information management system in March of 1989 before he implemented the first successful communication between a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) client and server via the Internet later that year.

His early career saw him leave university and begin working as an engineer at the telecommunications company Plessey in Poole before joining D.G. Nash to help create typesetting software for printers. It was not until he began working as an independent contractor at CERN that the seeds of the World Wide Web first began to grow. It was here that he proposed the context of hypertext to facilitate sharing and updating information among researchers. To demonstrate his theory, he built a prototype system called Enquire.

Berners-Lee then learned more about computer networking during his time with John Poole’s Image Computer Systems Ltd when he worked on a project concerning “real-time remote procedure call”. He took this knowledge

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with him as he returned to CERN which, by 1989, had become the largest node (communications network) in Europe. The computer scientist saw an opportunity to join hypertext with the internet.

He said: “I just had to take the hypertext idea and connect it to the Transmission Control Protocol and domain name system ideas and— ta-da!—the World Wide Web. Creating the web was really an act of desperation, because the situation without it was very difficult when I was working at CERN later. Most of the technology involved in the web, like the hypertext, like the Internet, multifont text objects, had all been

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designed already. I just had to put them together. It was a step of generalising, going to a higher level of abstraction, thinking about all the documentation systems out there as being possibly part of a larger imaginary documentation system.”

Today, Berners-Lee is the director of the allseeing internet “eye” - the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). He also holds positions in a number of organisations concerning the development of the web and innovation in computer software. In 2004, for his groundbreaking work, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.

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ISSUE 411

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M M MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING MAGAZINE

THE NEW INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION 3D printing is set to change the manufacturing world. We take a look at its development, how it works and its uses.

ISSUE 411

EUROMOTIVE...

AIRBUS GROUP UK

...Is the preferred converter for a wide variety of customers, including local authorities, community transport organisations, charitable organisations and private bodies.

Airbus is the world’s leading commercial aircraft manufacturer whose commercial know-how, and manufacturing efficiency have set the standard for the aviation industry.

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4Suretank 4Tata Steel 4Reekie Machining 4SMMT 4Achilles ...Plus much more