EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

Stronger, cheaper 3D-printed titanium

Engineers from RMIT University in Australia have produced a new type of 3D-printed titanium that is about a third cheaper than commonly used titanium alloys. The team used readily available and cheaper alternative materials to replace the increasingly expensive vanadium.

RMIT has filed a provisional patent on its innovative approach as the team considers commercial opportunities to develop the new low-cost approach for aerospace and medical device industries. RMIT’s Centre for Additive Manufacturing (RCAM) PhD candidate and study lead author Ryan Brooke says testing of the alloy shows improved strength and performance compared with standard 3D-printed titanium alloys (Ti-6Al-4V). 

More information www.bit.ly/3V4U4Yt

UK Battery Manufacturing Training

Helping to bridge a national skills gap that is challenging manufacturers, Atlas Copco Tools and Industrial Assembly Solutions is actively supporting a new training initiative for advanced battery manufacturing, which is the UK’s first fully accredited and industry-backed programme.

Launched by University College Birmingham, in partnership with City & Guilds and Innovate UK, the Battery Manufacturing Skills Pathway (B-MSP) is the first of its kind to be developed with the direct involvement of industry, to tackle a critical skills deficit in UK battery manufacturing. From day one, B-MSP students interact with live production equipment used in gigafactories and the broader supply chain, building their capabilities, confidence and workforce readiness.

More information www.atlascopco.com/en-uk/itba

40 years of engineering innovation at EMS

Electro Mechanical Systems (EMS), a UK-based distributor and manufacturer of precision drive solutions, is marking its 40th anniversary. Founded in Berkshire in 1985 by two employees, the company has since grown to 90 team members. Today, EMS has eight motor and actuation partners and is the sole UK and Ireland distributor of precision micro-motor manufacturer, Faulhaber. Housing 80 highly skilled workers, the site includes precision CNC gear cutting, multi-axis milling and turning, fixed- and sliding-head lathes, 3D printing, and in-house design, testing and assembly services.

More information www.ems-limited.co.uk

Whitehouse Names Business Development Manager

Whitehouse Machine Tools, a supplier of CNC production solutions to manufacturers in the UK and Ireland, has expanded its national sales team with the appointment of Owen Gibbons. As business development manager, Gibbons will be responsible for supporting customers across the southeast of England. 

With a strong technical background and a proven track record in engineering, Gibbons has spent virtually his entire career in the machine tool industry. Known for his personable approach and deep understanding of customer needs, he is set to play a pivotal role in strengthening relationships, helping customers identify the right equipment for their production challenges, and driving business growth in the region.

More information www.wmtcnc.com

BAE invests in start-up

BAE Systems has made a strategic investment in Oxford Dynamics, a UK-based deep-tech start-up specialising in AI and robotics, as part of its ongoing drive to identify and harness innovative technologies for rapid deployment. The collaboration will see BAE Systems combine its defence and security knowledge with Oxford Dynamics’ AI-driven data expertise to explore ways to deliver next-generation advantages to the UK and its allies across all domains of the modern battlespace; air, land, sea, space and cyber. The first stage of this work will embed the company’s AI technology into BAE Systems’ Prophesea platformMore information www.baesystems.com/digital