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Muller Commercial Solutions (MCS), one of Africa’s largest providers of computer input devices, including keyboards, mice, joysticks and touch screens, has chosen Star Prototype to provide a range of clear covers for a new hand held point of sale terminal. Rather than using acrylic, which can result in substandard prototypes due to its weaker properties, Star Prototype produced the covers in the stronger polycarbonate – a decision made thanks to its in-house vapour polishing unit. Gordon...
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A broader and more modern view of the economic value of manufacturing is needed to capture and stimulate new opportunities, according to a report published by the Royal Academy of Engineering. The Academy's report, Industrial Systems: capturing value through manufacturing, examines the importance and value of manufacturing and the industrial system in which it operates.
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Business Minister Mark Prisk has launched a nationwide competition to find the most innovative pre-market products, processes and concepts the UK has to offer. The 'Make it in Great Britain Challenge' is open to inventors, manufacturers, engineers, designers, businesses of all sizes, young people and the general public. It forms part of theMake it in Great Britain' campaign, which aims to change the image of modern manufacturing.
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Kraiburg TPE has introduced thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) materials with optimum grip even in the presence of moisture for a range of consumer, industrial and medical applications. Wet Grip technology, offered under the THERMOLAST W trade name, boasts up to three times the coefficient of friction of conventional TPEs for both dry and wet applications with no negative impact on physical and rheological performance.
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Qatar Ag and Prodrive to establish carbon fibre composite partnership (31/01/2012)
Qatar Automotive Gateway (Qatar Ag) and Prodrive have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore a strategic partnership for the development and production of advanced carbon fibre composite automotive parts and assemblies. The two companies have identified a significant opportunity to combine their respective skills, experiences and resources to meet the rapidly expanding demand for lightweight, cost-effective carbon composite-based products in numerous markets around the world.
Product design, engineering and manufacturing event (30/01/2012)
Develop3D magazine invites you to its inaugural product design, engineering and manufacturing event at Warwick University on March 20 2012. The single-day event will bring together experts from around the world, to give insights into what is coming next, the latest technology to give you competitive advantage and a host of genuinely new ideas to breath life into product development and manufacture, both in the UK and around the world. The one-day event will feature...
Granta to provide NIMS creep and fatigue data (30/01/2012)
Granta Design has announced an agreement with Japan’s National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) to provide searchable access to metals property data from NIMS. This data-set results from years of continuous testing of metals including steels (carbon steels, low alloy steels, high chromium steels, and austenitic stainless steels) as well as a wide range of alloys (iron-based, nickel-based, and cobalt-based). NIMS is world-renowned for its expertise on the long-term...
Cambridge design innovation to be showcased at major Design Council event (25/01/2012)
Cambridge’s position as an international hub for product design will be highlighted at a major Design Council-backed exhibition in February 2012. The Design Icons: Cambridge Innovation Festival demonstrates the contribution of Cambridge design to a variety of best-selling products from around the world. The 20 products selected for the exhibition span diverse sectors from housewares and consumer electronics to health and scientific devices. The interactive Design Icons...
Proto Labs extends 'Cool Idea! ' Award programme to European customers (19/01/2012)
After seeing the success of the first Cool Idea! Award programme, Proto Labs has announced the expansion of the programme to include the European Union in 2012. The Cool Idea! Award, which launched in the United States last year, gives product designers the opportunity to bring innovative product ideas to life. In addition to the expansion, Proto Labs has also increased the award amount from $100,000 to $250,000 worth of prototyping and short-run production services.
Campaign launches to support and raise profile of mid-sized businesses (13/01/2012)
‘Mid-sized businesses’ (MSBs) describes the 10,000 or so firms in the UK that do not fall into the category of either SMEs or the biggest firms. They represent just 0.2% of all UK firms – yet account for around one fifth of private sector employment and turnover - covering a range of sectors and regions and are often well-established, successful companies. The publication of the government's MSB Growth Review sees the start of a joint campaign to support the UK's MSBs. Launching the scheme,...
New report outlines full potential of Northamptonshire’s ‘High Performance Technologies’ sector (03/01/2012)
A new report from Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership has revealed that the successful diversification of Northamptonshire’s motorsport expertise has led to a ‘High Performance Technologies’ cluster in the county. While the county is well known for its motorsport expertise, the report has identified nearly 1,500 businesses operating in High Performance Technologies in the county, reflecting Northamptonshire’s breadth of expertise and successes in the wider sector. The...
New manufacturing advisory service is launched (03/01/2012)
A new national programme that will focus on helping small and medium manufacturing businesses to grow has been launched. The new Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) is now available to all manufacturing businesses across England, and will be delivered by the Manufacturing Advisory Consortium, comprising Grant Thornton, Pera, WM Manufacturing Consortium and SWMAS. It has been estimated that the new MAS will help to generate £1.5 billion in economic growth, 23,000 jobs and safeguard 50,000 jobs....
Spirol offers guide to compression limiters (03/01/2012)
Compression limiters protect the plastic components of an assembly from the compressive loads generated by the tightening of bolts. As the bolt is tightened the plastic compresses and the stress in the plastic increases until the head of the bolt comes into contact with the compression limiter. The compression limiter and plastic will compress at the same rate with the former absorbing additional clamping loads, without increased stress in the plastic material. Spirol's...
'Bring your own device' - a threat to, or boon for IT departments? (19/12/2011)
With Christmas almost upon us, it is likely that thousands of employees will come back to work in the New Year with new gadgets, smartphones, tablets and laptops. This time of the year highlights more than ever the desire among employees to use their personal devices for work, be it with a tablet to write emails, diverting emails to their personal phones or using their laptops for remote working. This raises a number of issues for...