EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

Project drives energy savings at Airbus UK

Airbus UK saved enough energy to power 60 homes for a year as part of a pioneering ‘future factories’ project by AMRC Cymru to help businesses boost productivity while meeting net zero targets.Over a five-month period, AMRC Cymru and Airbus, who share a building in Broughton, saw electricity savings equivalent to powering 41 three-bedroom homes for a year, and gas savings equivalent to powering 21 three-bedroom homes for a year. The Airbus team saw a reduction in electricity usage of almost 20%.

Luis Rivera, wing accelerator industrial leader at Airbus, says the collaboration between Airbus and the AMRC has been positive on many levels: “The AMRC used their research and innovation core knowledge to explore and discover new possibilities beyond our day-to-day activities, expanding our area of interest to new topics that will help the introduction of any future production line.”
For further information www.amrc.co.uk

NORTEC show realignment

Messe Stuttgart and the VDW (German Machine Tool Builders’ Association)are now assuming jointresponsibility for the established NORTEC production engineering exhibition in Hamburg after concluding discussions with the previous organiser, Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH. Moving forward, the joint objective of Messe Stuttgart and the VDW is to extend the focus areas of NORTEC and enhance its profile. The VDW is therefore bringing METAV (International Exhibition for Metal Working Technologies) into NORTEC, the next edition of which will take place at the Hamburg Trade Fair Centreon 23-36 January 2024.
For further information www.messe-stuttgart.de/nortec

UK aerospace receives £80m boost

The UK is to benefit from an£50m boost to composites R&D for aero-structure manufacturing, with a new research facility set for construction in South Yorkshire that has aerospace giant Boeing as its first major research partner.The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) has secured the investment to establish the Compass (Composites at Speed and Scale) facility in Sheffield. The news was announced on 13 July by UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, as part of the South Yorkshire Investment Zone.

“Our first Investment Zone is a shining example of how we will drive growth across the country,” he said. “It’s already secured more than £80m of private investment, including backing from Boeing, and will help support more than 8000 jobs by 2030.”On the back of the research, Boeing has committed to procuring in excess of £2bn of UK-manufactured goods per year to support the production of the company’s next civil passenger aircraft.
For further information www.amrc.co.uk

Metal AM collaboration

3D Systems and Oerlikon AM are entering a collaboration agreement to help further scale metal additive manufacturing (AM). Combining 3D Systems’ Direct Metal Printing platform and Oerlikon AM’s surface engineering capabilities will enable a faster path to market for applications in high-criticality industries such as aerospace. As part of the agreement, Oerlikon AM is acquiring its fourth 3D Systems DMP Factory 500 system, the first Oerlikon AM is adding in the US, as part of the manufacturing workflow at its North Carolina facility. The move will help expand Oerlikon’s end-to-end supply chain solution for high-precision, complex aluminium components for the US market.
For further information www.3dsystems.com

Laser cutting expert moves to Ficep UK

Well-respected laser cutting system specialist, Lisa Cooper, has joined Ficep UK as business development engineer in a move that will see her switch from aftercare to sales.Cooper gained 30 years of experience working in machine aftersales at Bystronic, primarily supporting customers with laser cutting, press brakes, tube laser cutting and plate storage systems. Her appointment coincides with Ficep UK’s recent introduction of the Cutlite Penta Plus 30kW laser system, an asset which Cooper will further support the growth of in the UK.

“Becoming business development engineer is a new challenge for me, yet I’m looking forward to drawing on my knowledge of systems and the market to add value to the process,” she says.“It’s an exciting time to be joining Ficep UK as the company continues to innovate and explore new systems such as the new Cutlite Penta Plus laser.”
For further information www.ficep.co.uk