Spirit AeroSystems has opened a composite manufacturing facility at its site in Prestwick.
The facility leverages advanced composite technology from Spirit’s research and development portfolio, and brings new work to the site in the form of the Airbus A320 family spoiler. The Rt Hon Nicola Sturgeon MSP, First Minister of Scotland, officially opened the new facility.
For further information www.spiritaero.com
The education and skills charity, WorldSkills UK, is looking for talented apprentice engineers to prove they are the country’s best.
Putting apprentice and student skills, knowledge and employability attributes to the test in a competitive environment, 90% of those who entered in 2019 said they had seen improvements in their career prospects. The WorldSkills UK competitions are designed by industry experts and are free to enter. Each successful entrant that makes it through the national qualifiers, taking place between April and June 2020, will represent the UK’s engineering industry in the national finals in November.
For further information www.worldskillsuk.org
As part of its commitment to the environment, sustainability and social responsibility, Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC) has changed all of the packaging on its UK-manufactured cutting tools to 100% recyclable materials.
The issue of plastic recycling and disposal was proving problematic to address, until ITC’s long-standing packaging partner, Rose Plastic, began producing its new range of BlockPack and TwistPack Plus tubes from environmentally friendly bioplastic.
Rose Plastic says that ITC has become the first UK cutting-tool manufacturer to embrace the environmentally friendly packaging. The new biopolymer plastic is produced using ethanol from sugar cane, as opposed to conventional polyethylene, maintaining 97% of the chemical properties of conventional HDPE. This make-up ensures that the packaging retains its performance and appearance characteristics while offering 100% recyclability and sustainability.
For further information www.itc-ltd.co.uk
The creation of a new centre in Northumberland for advanced manufacturing, the process industry and the engineering sector has moved a step closer, thanks to a multi-million pound investment.
Advance Northumberland, Northumberland County Council and the NELEP have agreed to support investment of £2.7m into Ashwood Business Park in Ashington. Ashwood Business Park is a NELEP Enterprise Zone, meaning that organisations locating there can benefit from 100% enhanced capital allowances. The 62-acre site is at the heart of one of the northeast’s strongest manufacturing clusters.
For further information www.advancenorthumberland.co.uk
Engis UK has installed one of its latest SPM 6000 bore-finishing machines at the company’s Henley-on-Thames headquarters, where it will undertake process and tooling trials for customers and prospects across Europe.
Engis offers customers a well-equipped bore-finishing laboratory that provides technical support and expertise in developing bore geometries for applications in sectors which include automotive, hydraulics and aerospace, using materials such as ceramics, steels, cast iron and aluminium. The introduction of the SPM 6000 expands on these capabilities, particularly as the machine is supported by leading-edge metrology equipment with the ability to measure the cylindricity, roundness and straightness of bores to an accuracy of 0.1 µm.
This investment in the laboratory demonstrates Engis UK’s belief in working closely with customers to develop optimum solutions to their manufacturing challenges. Each process, including stock removal rates, bore geometry requirements and surface finish, is studied, step-by-step, to ensure all the objectives are met.
Among the most critical features in any bore-finishing system is fixture design. Using the latest machine, Engis technicians will be able to review each application and determine and test the best approach to fixture the part. Other key factors, such as simplicity, versatility and quick change-over, are also taken into consideration so that the entire process can be trialled.
The SPM 6000 is designed to process small to medium-sized components with bores up to 50 mm diameter. Although the machine at Engis UK is a six-spindle model, the SPM 6000 can also be configured with four, eight or 10 spindles.
For further information www.engis.com
