The Engineer articles from July 2008

The Engineer archives from July 2008

COMMENT: Dig deep for innovation.
July 14, 2008... To many of us in the UK the word mining conjures up images of our industrial history - the coal fields of Yorkshire and South Wales or the tin mines of Cornwall. That heritage is important, but any perception that the mining industry is...

NEWS: Damage control.
July 14, 2008... UK collaboration aims to develop crack-arresting systems for composite structures A team of UK researchers has been awarded a #1.2m research grant to develop and integrate crack-arresting and self-healing capabilities into composite...

NEWS: Simulated safety.
July 14, 2008... Software shows concept plane meets evacuation rules Simulation software developed at Greenwich University has shown that a concept aircraft can satisfy emergency evacuation certification criteria - even in the event of a cabin fire. ...

NEWS: Face the future.
July 14, 2008... 3D software used to custom-build body parts damaged though injury or disease A Cardiff-based partnership is using 3D touch-based software to design prostheses to replace facial features that are damaged or missing through disease,...

NEWS: Waste away.
July 14, 2008... Rapid heating technology said to efficiently aid disposal of animal by- products A UK company has developed a small-scale heating system that can treat certain categories of animal by-products, prior to them being put through an anaerobic...

NEWS: Model of detection for prostate tumours.
July 14, 2008... A two-year project could result in a system to help doctors detect prostate cancer and make earlier, life-saving diagnoses. Visualisation specialist See3D, an Aberystwyth University spin-off, will develop computer-generated models that will...

NEWS: Seismic shift.
July 14, 2008... Aircraft or ship-mounted device set to measure minute changes in Earth's gravity field Geologists could soon get a better picture of what lies beneath the Earth's surface using a tool that measures minute changes in the planet's gravity...

NEWS: Clean speed ahead.
July 14, 2008... A new marine engine being developed in Switzerland promises greater efficiency and fewer emissions Finnish marine propulsion giant Wartsila has unveiled a shipping engine that it claims will offer improved reliability, reduced...

NEWS: Split-second timing.
July 14, 2008... An acoustic system has been specially developed to help Olympic competitors hone their shooting skills The British Olympic shooting team is testing an acoustic system developed by BAE Systems that may help athletes improve their...

NEWS: Spot checks.
July 14, 2008... Researchers have developed a faster method of detecting food poisoning bacteria with a portable chip Food-borne diseases could take only minutes to detect with a new lab-on- a-chip device that uses a material more commonly found in the...

VIEWPOINT: Collaborate for change.
July 14, 2008... Co-operation between industry and academia is key to the success of large-scale deployment of renewable energy, says David Clarke MEETING THE 2050 targets for the reduction in CO2 and increase in renewable energy is going to be challenging....

LETTER: French lesson.(Letter to the editor)
July 14, 2008... Building new electricity generating capacity in the UK (The Engineer, passim) will take forever - build it in France. This country, with its coterie of protest groups and specialist lawyers, has a well-practised ability to stall major...

LETTER: Stirring response.(Letter to the editor)
July 14, 2008... You are always banging on about 'sexing up' engineering to attract more young people to the profession. So why do you insist on including letters such as 'Causing a stir' (Talking Point, 30 June) which dealt with the most effective...

LETTER: Scotch this space.(Letter to the editor)
July 14, 2008... Your editorial 'French revolution' (Online leader) highlighting the French government's plans to use its presidency of the EU to kickstart a European space revolution to rival the space shuttle, sums up the argument beautifully. This is just...

LETTER: What about freight?(Letter to the editor)
July 14, 2008... Most of the interest in a new high-speed rail network concentrates on its benefits for moving people around the country and getting them off the roads - but I think this is missing an important point. Most road journeys are short or...

LETTER: Lines of opportunity.(Letter to the editor)
July 14, 2008... In our Online leader article 'Train in vain' we discussed Network Rail's announcement that it is to commission a study into a network of new high-speed train lines linking the UK's cities. Here is a selection of your emails. This old...

MINE OF THE FUTURE: The new iron age.
July 14, 2008... As global demand stretches the world's mines to the limit, operators plan to meet the challenge with automated mega-sites the size of the UK. Jon Excell reports IN THE IRON ore fields of Pilbara, Western Australia, a brave new world is...

FUEL TECHNOLOGY: Late bloomer.
July 14, 2008... Producing biofuels from algae could ease the pressure on land use and even help with carbon capture and storage, but technological problems are stalling development. Stuart Nathan reports The image of biofuels has taken a pounding in the...

INSIGHT: Internal affairs.
July 14, 2008... Remotely-guided cameras in pill form could soon provide an alternative to uncomfortable and expensive traditional endoscopy. Stuart Nathan reports Despite impressive advances in medical imaging systems, sometimes there is no way to...

INTERVIEW: Millennium man.(Interview)
July 14, 2008... Prof Robert Langer, latest winner of the Millennium Prize, is a pioneer of biomaterials for controlled drug release and tissue regeneration but sees himself as primarily an engineer. Berenice Baker reports In today's rapidly evolving...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING: Spin doctor.
July 14, 2008... UK engineers pioneer the use of eddy current probe technology to monitor the health of individual turbine blades as they turn. Siobhan Wagner reports TWO UK COMPANIES have developed a turbine condition monitoring system that they claim...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - MICROSTRUCTURES: Great shapes.
July 14, 2008... A new technique could enable manufacturers to produce microstructured polymer surfaces at lower cost and with more flexibility. Siobhan Wagner reports A microstructure manufacturing technique being developed by university researchers...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - INSPECTION TECHNOLOGY: Fast food image.
July 14, 2008... Low-energy X-ray inspection technology said to produce fast, highly- detailed images of food products and packaged goods while still on the production line. Siobhan Wagner reports AN X-ray inspection technology using low-energy radiation...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - MANAGING TECHNOLOGY: Chemical reaction.
July 14, 2008... Strict EU regulations on chemicals and substances means all companies will need to be aware of exactly what they are using, says Phil Woolas The registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals (REACH) programme began...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - POWER TRANSMISSION: Force to reckon with.
July 14, 2008... To ensure power transmission systems run in the most cost-efficient way a wide range of gear technology is available in many types and sizes. Colin Carter report Direct drive motors, both mechanical and electrical, are used where a...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - HYDRAULICS: Tough test.
July 14, 2008... From ship-hoisting in the Gulf to contamination-free medical clean rooms, technology is keeping pace with the increasingly complex demands made of control applications. Julia Pierce reports Whether working in construction in the deserts of...

TECHNOLOGY UK: Driven to diversification.
July 14, 2008... The West Midlands may have lost many famous car names, but enduring automotive strengths and a focus on four other key sectors ensures the region is thriving. Berenice Baker reports Hear the West Midlands and the automotive sector mentioned...

CAREERS: Hidden talents.
July 14, 2008... If employers did more to encourage women back to work they could help solve their recruitment shortage and unleash new skills. Anh Nguyen reports UK ENGINEERING is missing a golden opportunity to plug the growing skills gap by failing to...

CAREERS IN BRIEF: Decision time for HND holders.
July 14, 2008... Engineers with a HND qualification and seven years relevant work experience can now take a part-time Masters degree in decision engineering at Cranfield University. The course, previously only available to those with an honours degree, aims to...

CAREERS IN BRIEF: Cash for training.
July 14, 2008... England-based employers in the processing and manufacturing industries can access a new training budget of #62m if they sign up to the sector's skills council pledge to deliver professional development. The UK government has earmarked the...

CAREERS IN BRIEF: Skills boost for NI.
July 14, 2008... The National Skills Academy for Manufacturing has opened an office in Northern Ireland, based at the Engineering Training Council, to help solve the region's engineering skills gap. The shortage was highlighted by a new report by Semta, which...

CAREERS IN BRIEF: Warning on scam registration.
July 14, 2008... Fraudsters are targeting overseas engineers by offering them an opportunity to register with the Engineering Council UK through an agent on the payment of a fee, the organisation has warned. Registration to the council can only be made directly...

CAREERS: Priceless opportunity.
July 14, 2008... The soaring cost of oil has led to a scramble for new sources of energy and companies are competing with each other for engineers with skills in all fields. Julia Pierce reports As oil prices threaten to top $150 a barrel the demand for...

COMMENT: UK's best can still produce the goods.
July 28, 2008... Earlier this year The Engineer joined news organisations from around the world in baking desert heat for a milestone event for the Middle East's energy sector, the official inauguration of the Dolphin Gas Project in Qatar. Even by the...

NEWS: Shape up.
July 28, 2008... New technique to heat-form aluminimum alloys could mean lighter car parts in one go A Process for heat-forming aluminium alloys could help meet the growing demand from the automotive industry for lightweight materials. Researchers at...

NEWS: Going with the grain.
July 28, 2008... Mapping technology gives 3D view of metal stress Researchers have used a new, non-destructive mapping technique to determine how a growing crack interacts with the internal 3D crystal structure of stainless steel. The development could...

NEWS: Child's play.
July 28, 2008... Researchers build 'cute' robots with software that allows them to learn concepts in the same way as children Language-learning techniques designed for children are being used in a bid to break new ground by developing algorithms that...

NEWS: Breath of fresh air.
July 28, 2008... Fluid flow sensor monitor could prove a lifesaver for those who rely on bottled oxygen Three neighbours have developed a device that could potentially improve, and in some cases save, the lives of people who suffer from breathing...

NEWS: Total hazard.
July 28, 2008... Immersive reality technology provides learning scenarios for disaster planning A training company and a multimedia organisation have collaborated to produce an immersive 3D industrial simulator that lets users learn how to handle...

NEWS: Sea change.
July 28, 2008... Consortium plans to use depleted North Sea oil and gas fields for CO2 storage Scientists at Durham University are studying the detailed geological impact of storing CO2 from fossil-fuel power stations in former North Sea oil and gas...

NEWS: In search of silver linings.
July 28, 2008... A commercial recording material for holograms that can produce more life-like holographic displays has been developed by a group of European researchers. Under the SilverCross project, researchers from the North East Wales Institute of...

VIEWPOINT: Product of success.
July 28, 2008... UK manufacturing needs to fight its negative stereotype and talk up its achievements, says Shriti Vadera It never ceases to amaze me that instead of recognising manufacturing as one of the most successful business sectors in the UK, it...

LETTER: The right mix.(Letter to the editor)
July 28, 2008... It's a pity Ian Brixey feels he is stereotyped as a nerdy, badly- dressed, socially inept dweeb (Letters, 14 July). I am a retired engineer and have never felt anything of the sort. Nevertheless, Shirley Batten raised in her coffee-stirring...

LETTER: Dirty business.(Letter to the editor)
July 28, 2008... In our online leader article 'Bug business' we highlighted the challenge faced by the NHS to rid our hospitals of life-threatening infections and bacteria. Here is a selection of your emails. A complete re-think is required about the way...

HAPTIC TECHNOLOGY: Magic touch.
July 28, 2008... Advanced tactile interfaces that enable users to 'feel' the digital world could take our relationship with computers to a new level. Jon Excell reports Gary Todd's technology makes people feel sick. While this may sound like a strange...

ECO MOTORING: Car plant.
July 28, 2008... The use of natural products in automotive assembly takes root at the British Motor Show. Stuart Nathan reports Low-carbon motoring usually conjures ideas of energy-efficient engines, alternative fuels or even the varieties of electric...

INSIGHT: Ocean current.
July 28, 2008... Wind energy generators are racing to develop turbines that can be deployed far offshore to exploit the strong winds over the open sea. Stuart Nathan reports Spurred on by agreements to increase the proportion of renewables in the energy...

INTERVIEW: Print pioneer.(Interview)
July 28, 2008... Prof Sir Alec Jeffreys' discovery of DNA fingerprinting has transformed forensic investigation and become the scientific bedrock of genetic testing. Berenice Baker reports From news reports detailing the latest criminal conviction, to the...

DESIGN ENGINEERING: Loud and clear.
July 28, 2008... Researchers claim to have reduced the size, weight and thickness of flat panel speakers without compromising performance. Siobhan Wagner reports A NEW-STYLE ultra-thin, lightweight loudspeaker that is flexible and inexpensive to...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - ENERGY SAVING: Paint it black.
July 28, 2008... Solar-reflecting pigments promise lower roof heat absorption to keep homes cooler, cut energy consumption and extend the roof's lifetime. Siobhan Wagner reports Black pigments designed to reflect the sun's heat could decrease the amount...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - WAVE POWER: Tube test.
July 28, 2008... Snake-like rubber devices being developed and tested in the UK could provide wave power technology with a difference within five years. Siobhan Wagner reports Giant rubber tubes anchored below the sea's surface could each produce 1MW of...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - MANAGING TECHNOLOGY: Tools for the job.
July 28, 2008... Engineers will soon be able to develop wind turbines more cost efficiently, thanks to a range of versatile technologies, says Robert Lee Although research into renewable energy technology has been ongoing for some time, the rapid...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - AUTOMATION: High-fibre diet.
July 28, 2008... Carbon fibre composite materials, used in everything from tennis rackets to entire jet airliners, have an impressive strength to weight ratio and are becoming increasingly popular. Carbon fibre is seen as one of the engineering materials of the...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - MEASUREMENT & INSPECTION: Safe solutions.
July 28, 2008... Measuring the properties of a material and estimating how long it will last is big business - especially in safety-critical situations - so it's comforting to know someone is keeping an eye on the state of aircraft wings or making sure...

CAREERS: Catching the trade winds.
July 28, 2008... Rapid growth in offshore wind power could boost the North East of England's manufacturing sector and help establish the region as a skills hub for renewable energy, the government has claimed. Ministers hope the increasing number of...

CAREERS IN BRIEF: Skills agreement.
July 28, 2008... The Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the National Skills Academy for Manufacturing have signed a memorandum of understanding to help solve engineering skills shortages. As part of the agreement, NSA-M will present a number of NVQs to...

CAREERS IN BRIEF: Space studies.
July 28, 2008... A new degree in space engineering is being offered at Brunel University from September 2009. The course will combine electronic and computer, mechanical and design engineering modules to equip students with space instrumentation development...

CAREERS IN BRIEF: Howden postgrads.
July 28, 2008... Howden, an engineering company based in Scotland, has joined up with Glasgow Caledonian University to create an international postgraduate programme. The three-week course at the Howden Academy, designed by the company's engineers, will...

CAREERS IN BRIEF: Oil and gas co-operation.
July 28, 2008... OPITO and the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) have formed a partnership to meet the needs of employers in the oil and gas industry. Under the alliance agreement, the organisations have committed to a number of...

CAREERS: Supply and demand.
July 28, 2008... With the need to meet demanding targets, the 'green collar' industry is going through a period of dramatic growth, and seeks an army of recruits with the right skills. Julia Pierce reports With high oil and gas prices dominating the...