Bake Off contestant from NARMC

An engineering researcher at the University of Sheffield’s Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC) is taking part in The Great British Bake Off.

Dr Rahul Mandal, a research associate specialising in light-based measurement of engineered components, started baking cakes for colleagues at the NAMRC only two years ago. He is now a contestant in the 2018 series of the hit baking competition, broadcast on Channel 4 from 28 August. He joined the NAMRC in 2015, to develop automated techniques for inspecting components for contamination and flaws.
For further information www.namrc.co.uk

Expanded factory doubles production

Househam has completed work on a six-figure investment at its new factory in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire.

The new facility increases the company’s factory’s footprint by 30% and production capacity by 50%, with double the number of construction bays for Househam’s latest self-propelled agricultural sprayers. There is even space to test the biggest sprayers in the company’s range. The expansion comes after a successful 12 months for Househam, which saw the company grow its exports by 25%. The factory also houses a second-hand workshop, offering servicing and parts to its global customer base.
For further information www.househamsprayers.co.uk

MTI reports successful UMEX show

The UMEX used machinery exhibition proved a roaring success in New Delhi, India, at the end of August.

Some 304 exhibitors and 8422 visitors from nine countries attended the Pragati Maidan venue, with many seeking out deals on
pre-owned machine tools and manufacturing equipment. The show once again proved it can provide unparalleled opportunities for those in the used machinery sector.
The MTI pavilion (MTI is the co-organiser of UMEX) was a hive of activity. The friendly MTI team were kept busy the whole show, handing out copies of the exhibition issue to passing visitors, and hosting enquiries on the stand about both the magazine and the company’s industry leading website for used machinery sales, machinespotter.com. High levels of enquiries were taken, with many sales expected to be concluded in the coming weeks.
For further information www.umexonline.com

€1bn BMW plant

BMW continues to expand its production network in Europe, with a new facility to be built in Hungary, close to the town of Debrecen.

The plant will come at an investment of approximately €1bn, and offer capacity of up to 150,000 units a year and create over 1000 new jobs.
“The BMW Group’s decision to build this new plant reaffirms our perspective for global growth,” says Harald Krüger, chairman of the BMW AG Board of Management. “After significant investments in China, Mexico and the US, we are now strengthening our activities in Europe to maintain a worldwide balance of production between Asia, America and our home continent. Europe is the BMW Group’s largest production location. In 2018 alone we are investing more than €1bn in our German sites to upgrade and prepare them for electric mobility.”
For further information www.bmwgroup.com

Autodesk to champion generative design

Autodesk says it will champion generative design at Seco’s Inspiration through Innovation 2018 event in Alcester next month (9-10 October).

Photograph showing an engineer building a BAC Mono automobile. Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) Ltd. makes the BAC Mono, a lightweight, ultra high performance, road legal supercar that is designed and manufactured using the latest racing technology. The Mono is an aggressive design and will set a new benchmark in the small, but elite segment of radical, lightweight sports cars.

The company will deliver two machining demonstrations: the steering upright created for the BAC Mono project, which will be running on a Doosan machine supplied by Mills CNC; and a gearbox casing produced from scratch. The latter will highlight how manufacturers can reduce cycle time by up to 60% using PowerMill CAM software. At the end of the demonstration, visitors will be able to get their hands on the machined part and compare it with a cast gearbox casing.
For further information www.autodesk.co.uk