EAL appoints new head of operations

EAL, a major UK awarding organisation, has appointed Mirasol Edgcombe as head of operations. She will play a pivotal part in driving operational excellence and enhancing synergies across EAL’s key areas of customer experience, quality assurance and assessment delivery. With over 20 years of experience, Edgcombe’s career includes senior roles at City & Guilds, where she served as head of IT service operations, and head of fulfilment and operational delivery. EAL creates and assesses qualifications in, among other disciplines, engineering and manufacturing.

More information www.eal.org.uk

£2.5bn for prototype fusion plant

The Government has announced a record £2.5bn investment in fusion energy, which includes support for a new prototype fusion energy plant in Nottinghamshire. The prototype plant, known as STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production), will be built at the site of the former West Burton A coal power station near Retford and Gainsborough. The project’s delivery is expected to create over 10,000 jobs.

A groundbreaking and world-first scientific endeavour, STEP works by combining hydrogen gases, deuterium and tritium, which are heated to over 150 million degrees Celsius and confined within a powerful magnetic field. The energy produced can be used to create steam and turn a turbine, ultimately generating electricity.

More information https://step.ukaea.uk/

University of Surrey partners with SYS Systems

Listed among the leading universities in the UK, the University of Surrey is committed to innovation and maintaining its position as a top institution for higher education. At the forefront of that ambition is the Faculty of Engineering, which continues to enhance its offering to students by integrating the latest technological advancements into its teaching. By partnering with SYS Systems, the University of Surrey has invested in Stratasys additive manufacturing technology to provide learners with state-of-the-art equipment for producing realistic, functional components.

While a selection of desktop 3D printers had previously provided students with some exposure to the technology, but both staff and students were looking for a more professional solution.

The University of Surrey invested in two Stratasys 3D printing systems, initially the Objet30 Prime as part of a trade-in for a legacy machine, followed by the J55, both of which use PolyJet technology to deliver high levels of part accuracy and full-colour printing.

Design and engineering manager Myles Jenkinson says: “Our department is the School of Engineering, but the whole university makes use of the 3D printer. We’ve produced parts for the vet school based on MRI scans of animal skulls and created moulds for other departments. The smooth surface finish from the PolyJet printer is perfect for those kinds of applications. Additive manufacturing here is not just about supporting the university; we also have companies reaching out to us to access the technology because what we have is genuinely state-of-the-art. I would definitely recommend SYS Systems to other universities.”

More information www.sys-uk.com

US Navy training contract will grow marine AM

EOS, a supplier of additive manufacturing (AM) solutions for industrial 3D printing, has secured a contract to support the US Navy’s ‘Maritime Industrial Base (MIB)’, an initiative that provides end-to-end LPBF (laser powder-bed fusion) training for MIB suppliers.

MIB aims to strengthen AM efficiency and bridge the maritime AM education and workforce gap. Commencing last month, the training programme is taking place at the Additive Minds Academy Center in Novi, Michigan. It combines online coursework with hands-on experience to equip MIB suppliers with critical skills in AM software, LPBF system operation and ASTM machine certifications free of charge.

“The programme helps the US Navy offer suppliers skilled personnel trained in new technologies like LPBF, which will enable us to fill critical component gaps that our traditional manufacturing base can’t provide in a timely fashion,” explains Dr Justin Rettaliata, MIB program additive manufacturing lead. “Through initiatives like this, the programme is advancing more agile and responsive manufacturing technologies in the US Navy’s supply chain to produce parts quickly.”
 

Notably, the initiative aims to strengthen AM efficiency and bridge the maritime AM education and workforce development gap. All courses will be led by EOS and ASTM-certified Additive Minds Academy trainers. Upon completion, participants will earn industry-recognised certifications for metal AM data preparation and metal machine operation, certified by ASTM.

“In recent years, the need for faster, more adaptable manufacturing processes to meet the US Navy’s production objectives has become increasingly evident,” says Fabian Alefeld, director of business development and the Additive Minds Academy at EOS. “Bridging this manufacturing gap demands innovative thinking, advanced technologies and, most critically, a skilled workforce equipped to leverage these new tools effectively.”

More information www.eos.info

Armadillo Additive Expands with AddUp Machines

Armadillo Additive, an ISO 13485-certified contract manufacturer serving the medical industry, is expanding its metal 3D printing capacity with two additional AddUp FormUp 350 laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) machines. The investment brings Armadillo Additive’s FormUp 350 total to three. Now, the company is adding 17-4 stainless steel and Grade 1 titanium to complement its existing offering of Grade 23 titanium.

“By adding two more FormUp 350 machines, our team is uniquely positioned to offer unmatched throughput and material versatility to customers,” says Noah Smith, director of operations at Armadillo Additive. “Our first FormUp 350 has proven its reliability, surface finish quality and overall throughput. We’re excited to continue our growth alongside AddUp and remain a trusted partner for our customers.”

Armadillo Additive says it selected AddUp’s FormUp 350 machines based on their reliability, production efficiency and strong safety features. The autonomous powder module and advanced filtration system contribute to a safer working environment. FormUp 350 machines also deliver high-quality surface finish straight from the printer, reducing the need for extensive post-processing.

The machine’s large build volume and quad-laser configuration allow for increased productivity and flexibility in manufacturing. These features combined with AddUp’s robust software suite ensures consistency and confidence in production that Armadillo Additive expects from their machines.

This expansion allows Armadillo to support a broader range of applications, including R&D, implants, and intricate lattice structures that optimise strength and material efficiency.

Says Smith: “Our expertise in orthopaedic applications – along with our in-house services like laser marking, heat treatment and bead blasting – ensures we deliver complete solutions that meet the rigorous demands of medical engineering.”

More information https://addupsolutions.com/