South Region www.nearyou.imeche.org/near-you/UK/South-Wales

CONTENTS  Welcome from the South January 2013 Wales Committee  Reviews – Past Events Happy New Year From Your IMechE In South Wales  Summer Social - Alford By Dr. Andrew Bayton CEng MIMechE Technologies, Wiltshire Hello and welcome to the 2013 newsletter. Can I start  Previews – Future Events by thanking Region Administrator Ian Weslake-Hill for the great job that he has done over the past few years. It  Regional Matters is our intention on the South Wales committee to Compiled and edited by: provide you, our members with a good service. We Dr. Andrew Bayton endeavour to facilitate several quality lectures throughout the year on topics that should be of interest. If you have any comments about this We also do our best to engage with our members on Newsletter or would like to contribute to future editions, then please do not both a professional and social level which was a first for hesitate to contact us. us last year. Our lecture topics also fit in the key themes determined centrally by the IMechE and we also have a Dr. Andrew Bayton new key theme of Manufacturing! If you were one of Treasurer E: [email protected] A Meeting of the Regional Committee the many members who came along to our events to see Officers what we do with your subscription then thank you for attending and we hope to see you again in 2013!

Last year, we the committee tried a few different things to provide a good service to our members. We held a members and partners evening on 9th March that included a talk by the mountaineer – Ian Woodall titled “The Tao of Everest” During the talk Ian spoke about his experiences on the mountain along with his wife who has joined him during his two successful trips to the summit. The evening concluded with a light buffet at the Bear Hotel, Cowbridge before everyone headed off home for the night. We hope to undertake a similar event this year and do hope that you, our members, will come along for this social event on 8th March. Please check the Region’s website for further details. I feel that our annual dinner event in May is really worth attending. I have been going to this event for several years now and I sincerely believe that it is really worthwhile for members to gather annually and celebrate engineering. Last year we engaged the services of Mr Roy Noble OBE. For anyone who attended I am sure you will agree that it really was an excellent evening. This year we are also trying the same approach by having Mr Derek Brockway from BBC Wales and the Meteorological Office as an after dinner speaker. Not only does the company of our President Elect plus the quality of our speaker befit such an occasion and its surroundings, but the dinner is truly superb also. So members, if you come to only one of our events this year why not make it the AGM and annual dinner? I guarantee you will not be disappointed!

Education Energy Environment Transport Manufacturing ______Reviews – Past Events “The Fukushima Event and the Response of the Nuclear Industry” - 7th February 2012

The Japanese Earthquake Response Programme team from of the operational staff to restore control and cool the reactors EDF Energy gave an excellent presentation on the whole and spent fuel, severe damage of the fuel and a series of aspect of nuclear power generation and the aftermath of the hydrogen explosions occurred. We were shown that not only Fukushima event. On March 11th 2011 an earthquake had the UK government technically reviewed the incident occurred on the east coast of Japan, its epicentre 130km from with regard to safety and lessons learnt but the EU the coast at a depth of 24km. This generated a series of Commission had developed a document scoping how ‘stress Tsunami surges, the highest of which measured 38.9m. The tests’ would be performed on plants across Europe. This is earthquake caused the automatic protection systems inside the where companies like EDF Energy could and would respond reactors to trip (inserting the control rods). However off site in the event of a similar incident occurring in Europe. This power was lost due to the earthquake and, as designed all was the most ‘reassuring’ part of the lecture where emergency diesel power generators came into action. contingencies were discussed and also the level of response Following this some 46 minutes later, the series of tsunami was addressed for particular incidents. surges hit the Fukushima Dai-ichi site. Despite the best efforts

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Airbus A400M – Towards Entry Into Service – 13th March 2012 A Lecture under the joint auspices of The Institution of now progressing through Civil and Military Certification Mechanical Engineers and The Royal Aeronautical Society towards entry into service which is due in early 2013. was given by Brian Kitson, Aerodynamics Manager A400M The lecture provided an overview of the programme, the as part of the Celebration of National Science and Engineering Service Requirements, the Design and Manufacturing Week (NSEW) and was hosted, at the Faraday Lecture Processes, and the route to Certification, Qualification and Theatre, by Swansea University and was attended by sixty Structure Testing. five people. The latter section of the lecture focussed on the Flight Test The Airbus A400M is a versatile Air lifter which has been Campaign, showing some quite spectacular video highlights designed to meet the Tactical and Strategic Airlift of the Test Programme, including some of the problems Requirements of a group of European Air Forces. encountered and the specific tests required for Military Following a difficult couple of years at the end of the design Operations. phase, the Aircraft entered flight test in December 2009 and is By: Eur. Ing. Derek Sheehan MBE, C.Eng, MIMechE

Airbus A400M in action at Farnborough Festival ______Monitored Professional Development Scheme Awards – Student Prize 2012

As is customary, the South Wales Region makes an award to the best Year In Industry placement student on the MPDS scheme. Last year Ryan Marks won the prize which was awarded by our President Elect, Isobel Pollock at our annual dinner. Throughout his year in industry Ryan showed excellent progress along with a mature professionalism in his work. It is for these reasons that he was chosen as a very worthy winner indeed. Ryan also joined us for the annual dinner along with tutor Geoff Evans. May we all take this opportunity to wish Ryan a long and successful career in engineering!

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Member to Fellow – Do you have what it takes?

If you hold MIMechE status and feel that you are ready to Fellow is not a re-assessment of competence as this has take it to the next level then why don’t you apply to become already been assessed and approved by the Engineering Fellow of the Institution? Usually individuals really make a Council. The key action is for an applicant to prove they have contribution to the setting of strategy, controlling budgets and the qualities to become FIMechE when applying. If you are some become experts in their field. We will be holding a interested in becoming a Fellow of the Institution then please workshop this year so please keep a look out for this event if follow the link below. you are interested. It will also be a chance for members to meet the committee and discuss any particular aspect of the http://www.imeche.org/training-and-professional- application process. Please remember that any application for development/career-development/fellowship/upgrade-to-fellow

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Summer Social – More Bang For Your Buck! - 27th July 2012 For anybody who does not know about Alford Technologies the company was founded in 1985 by Dr. Sidney Alford who, over the last 25 years, has built up a formidable reputation as one of the world's leading inventors and creators of novel ways of using explosives. After a short presentation we proceeded into the quarry where we observed a number of impressive demonstrations culminating in a high powered finale which had to be observed from the upper edge of the quarry! The event was followed by a buffet at The Westbury Inn, This Summer Social was definitely one to impress everyone and with around 30 people in attendance it was definitely an event to remember! Dr. Sidney Alford of Alford Technologies

______The 10th Annual Ian Hewerdine Memorial Lecture – 27th November 2012

This annual lecture series, with a Health and significant design considerations have been Safety related theme, was instigated in 2003 in undertaken with regard to building in resilience to memory of a highly respected late member. Ian any new build nuclear power station. Hewerdine was a leading figure in South Wales, David also spoke about his role with the UK serving on the Branch committee for many years government in providing a response for ministers and as Chairman from 1993-1995. in the aftermath of the Fukushima event. David delivered an excellent and informative The tenth lecture in this series was entitled “So presentation fully in keeping with the professional what impact has Fukushima had on the design of standards of this lecture series and crammed with The late a nuclear power plant?" by David Shuffleton who useful information for all members regardless of Eur Ing Ian Hewerdine is Safety Director for NNB Power Generation Ltd their knowledge with regard to nuclear power CEng FIMechE MIOSH (Part of EDF Energy). David showed that generation.

______Previews – Future Events “Building The Blast Furnace – Sustainable Steel For The Future” – 5th February 2013 Tata Steel UK is responsible for one of Wales’ largest Venue: The Hub @ The Village Hotel, 29 Pendwyallt Rd, capital projects. will be talking about the enormous Coryton, , CF14 7EF engineering challenges that have been faced by the project team. The project which is costing over £120 million and has Time: 7.00pm Start taken several years to complete is one the most significant investments by Tata Steel over recent years. Anyone with an Speaker: To be announced interest in major project co-ordination will surely be interested in this event. Contact Andrew Bayton at [email protected]

“The Crossrail Project: Design, Planning and Construction” – 11th March 2013 By Chris Dulake, Chief Engineer, Crossrail. Crossrail is a new provide an update on construction progress and explain how railway which is being built under . It will connect engineering solutions have been developed to cope with the Heathrow Airport and Maidenhead in the west to Canary challenges presented by delivering such a complex project in Wharf, Abbey Wood and Shenfield in the east. It is the the heart of a congested city. biggest engineering project in Europe. Work is progressing to create 21km of new twin-bore tunnels, 8 new sub-surface Venue: Cardiff University, Room T2.09, stations, and a new fleet of electric trains. This lecture will Trevithick Building, The Parade CF24 3AA describe key aspects of the project design and planning, Time: 5.15pm Start

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“Novel Developments in the Design of Helicopter Rotor Blades” – 19th March 2013”

By Simon Stacey of Augusta Westland Helicopters. Detail Ltd is provided, illustrating the latest design requirements and is drawn from the rotor developments achieved by the British features. The presentation concludes by reviewing candidate Experimental Rotor Programme, which has been maturing technologies for the next generation of helicopter rotor. new technologies and producing innovative new rotor blade This is a joint event with RAeS Cardiff Branch. We hope designs since the early 1970s, and provided significant you will join us for what promises to be an interesting lecture. improvements in rotor systems technology for a range of military helicopter types operated by both UK and overseas Venue: Main Lecture Theatre, Faraday Building, Swansea Armed Forces. University, Singleton Park, Swansea. SA2 8PP. An overview of the fourth incarnation of the British Time: 7.00pm Start Experimental Programme carried out by Augusta Westland Contact Derek Sheehan at [email protected] ______The South Wales Region Annual General Meeting, and Annual Dinner – 17th May 2013 After Dinner Speaker – Mr Derek Brockway This year we will be continuing with our new format for Centre, broadcasting on several BBC Radio stations across the our annual dinner on the evening of Friday 17th May 2013 at Midlands. our regular haunt of Cardiff City Hall. Registration In December 1995 Derek moved to London and worked in the commences at 6:00 p.m. in the Lower Hall. world of television preparing the ITV National Weather and weather. He has also broadcast on GMTV's 'The The South Wales Region Annual General Meeting – Sunday Programme'. He is the main weather presenter on This will precede the dinner at 6:30 for 6:45 p.m. in the BBC Wales television and radio. Council Chamber of the City Hall, Cardiff. Formal notice of the Annual General Meeting is given below. The Annual Dinner will again take place in the impressive Marble Hall (adjoining the Council Chamber) following the The Annual Dinner – This will immediately follow the AGM AGM. Just like last year the dress code is formal (dinner in the Council Chamber and is timed for 7:30 p.m. This year jacket and black tie). we are changing the format of the annual dinner event. The Attendance at the AGM is free, but the dinner costs £30 prestige lecture will take a break this year and we have an per head for Members and their family or guests (within after dinner speaker. This year’s speaker is Mr Derek reason!) and £60 per head for bookings by non-members. Brockway. Upon leaving school Derek joined the Met. Remaining places are rapidly being taken up, and note that Office, based mainly at Cardiff Weather Centre but with spells booking is essential for both formal and informal parts of the observing the weather at , Airport evening due to room capacity. The combined programme / and eight months in the Falkland Islands! He qualified as a admission ticket / menu will be sent out only after receipt of forecaster in 1995 and was posted to Birmingham Weather cheque for payment – see the contact below. Contact Andrew Bayton at [email protected] (07808 099208)

______Regional Matters

Notice of Annual General Meeting Notice is hereby given that the 2013 Annual General Meeting of the South Wales Region of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers will be held on: Date: Friday 17th May 2013 Venue: The Council Chamber Time: 6:30 for 6:45 p.m. The City Hall, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3ND Nominations for the Regional Committee, including the signature of the nominator and signed written consent of the nominee(s) should be sent at the earliest opportunity and before 26th April 2013 to: Mr Andy Pugh, Secretary, IMechE South Wales Region Email: [email protected]

Rule 18(b) – After the list of nominations by the Committee has been presented at the meeting, any member of the Branch/Region who is a Corporate Member of the Institution shall be entitled to add to the list a candidate for election to any or each of the offices to be filled, by causing to be delivered to the Chairman at the meeting nominations signed by him as nominator, together with the written consent of his nominees. Any additions shall be confined to the offices of the Committee for which the nominations have been made by the Committee.

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