‘This is Engineering’ campaign seeks to change the image of the industry
A national, digital campaign to promote engineering will launch in January 2018. ‘This is Engineering’ is a major campaign by the Royal Academy of Engineering to change perceptions of the profession. It will begin with a series of high-impact videos to challenge young people’s views of engineering, and highlight the role engineering plays in society. Read more...
Eighteenth century pump and solar power technology provide irrigation solution
A pump developed at the beginning of the industrial revolution has been combined with modern solar power technology to help subsistence farmers in sub-Saharan Africa irrigate their fields. The system, being developed by product design engineering agency the Imagination Factory as part of an InnovateUK-funded competition for the Department for International Development, is designed to pump up to six tonnes of water per day, while requiring very little operation or maintenance. Read more...
Britain’s bosses not prepared for cyber attacks
Top firms in Britain urgently need to do more to protect themselves from online threats, according to new Government research and a ‘cyber health check’. The survey of the UK’s biggest 350 companies found more than two thirds of boards had not received training to deal with a cyber incident (68%) despite more than half saying cyber threats were a top risk to their business (54%). Read more...
UK car industry urged to invest more in digitisation
Rapid development of digital technology within the automotive industry will give an annual benefit of £8.6bn cumulating to a total benefit of £74bn by 2025, according to the SMMT. As it has the potential to significantly enhance the competitiveness of the UK car industry, digitalisation deserves, according to the ‘Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Ltd.’ (SMMT), greater focus from both the Government and the industry. Read more...
SMEs hope for EU free trade
Small to medium sized manufacturers have underlined their hopes for a Free Trade arrangement with the EU following Brexit, according to the latest National Manufacturing Barometer. The quarterly survey, which questioned 331 industry leaders, asked SMEs to share their concerns about Brexit. Maintaining a Free Trade arrangement with the European Union was cited as a key priority by around 50% of respondents, as well as the need for the Government to move more quickly through the negotiation process. Read more...
UK engineers fight landmines with fire
Engineers from Imperial College London have developed a new way of detecting landmines in peaty soil, using smouldering fire to uncover their position. Known as O-Revealer, the prototype device uses an electric power source and a heating coil that is inserted into the top layer of peaty ground. It then slowly heats the peat to 500 degrees Celsius, igniting it and causing a smouldering, flameless fire that reveals the position of landmines below. Read more...