165 YEARS OF TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
JANUARY 2021
Green sky thinking
Why hydrogen is at the heart of plans to decarbonise civil aviation
22 30 50 TheEngineerUK theengineeruk The Engineer UK
interview: THALES UK CEO Alex moon spiders: The uk space startup late great engineers: the hard cresswell on why it’s a great time hoping to the put the first crawl- life and times of soviet rocket man to be an engineer ing robot on the lunar surface Sergei korolev The most advanced 3D CAD software just got better. GET A FREE TRIAL TODAY Speak to a member of our team or scan the code.
01926 333 777 solidsolutions.co.uk/trial ESTABLISHED 1856 165 CONTENTS YEARS OF TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION VOLUME 301 • ISSUE 7923 • January 2021
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4 Editor’s Comment 10 NEWS analysis 22 INTERVIEW 34 tech trends Uncertainty or certainty, that is the Could engineering SMEs help lead the Thales UK CEO Alex Cresswell on the A selection of articles from The question for 2021 UK’s post-pandemic recovery? career opportunities presented by Engineer’s recent Tech Trends digital current and future challenges supplement 6 NEWS 12 cover story UCL team develops wearable cap for How hydrogen is at the heart of 26 expert Q&A 50 Late great engineers monitoring baby brain activity ambitious plans to decarbonise civil An expert panel discusses the benefi ts The hard life and times of the aviation and practicalities of reshoring legendary Soviet rocket engineer 7 NEWS Sergei Korolev Haptic fi ngertip prosthesis could deliver 17 viewpoint 30 Space exploration sensation to amputees Markforged engineer Jeremy Drew on UK startup Spacebit hopes to put the 52 archive how the pandemic has accelerated fi rst British built spacecraft on the The untimely demise of the iconic 8 NEWS additive manufacturing adoption surface of the moon UK aircraft maker Handley Page Space debris fi rm gets ready to demonstrate satellite 20 talking point 32 Product Q&A 55 Digest removal technology Could road-charging pay for the fuel Expert insight from leading names in the Complete our monthly crossword duty lost through the switch to EVs? world of additive manufacturing
COVER Image: Airbus
Editor & Publisher Jon Excell Commercial director Justyn Gidley Production News 020 8076 0576 +44 (0)20 8076 0575 +44 (0)20 7738 5454 Kyri Apostolou Display 020 8076 0582 [email protected] [email protected] +44 (0)20 807 6779 Recruitment 020 8076 0581 [email protected] Senior reporter Andrew Wade Business development manager UK subscriptions £75 pa UK/£117 pa overseas. +44 (0)20 7738 5454 andrew.wade@ Paul Tilston Publishing director Paul Fanning Contact comments@ theengineer.co.uk. markallengroup.com +44 (0)20 7738 5454 [email protected] All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior Mark Allen Group, St Jude’s News editor Jason Ford Senior account manager Subscriptions & Customer Services permission from the publisher. Church, Dulwich Road, +44 (0)20 7738 5454 Lindsay Smith [email protected] London, SE24 OPB [email protected] +44 (0)20 7738 5454 Visit www.theengineer.co.uk www.markallengroup.com The Engineer is available for International for constantly updated news, Editorial Assistant Melissa Bradshaw Art Director licensing and syndication. products and jobs and to sign ISSN 0013-7758. Printed by Pensord, [email protected] Andrew Ganassin For more information please email up for our FREE weekly email Press Ltd, Blackwood, NP12 2YA [email protected] [email protected] newsletter and tailored job alert
3 January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk EDITOR’SNOVEMBER COMMENT 2019
JON EXCELL
READ MORE ONLINE Innovating in an Space, electrifi cation and manufacturing a route out uncertain world of the pandemic s this issue went to press, the UK’s future trading relationship with the EU was still - to no-one’s great surprise - hanging in the balance. www.theengineer.co.uk But although recent history tells us it would be foolish to rule out anything follow us at A(including some last-minute transition extension that prolongs the purgatory @TheEngineerUK well into 2021) it seems more likely that by the time this issue lands, the key question 5 THINGS theengineeruk on whether a free-trade deal is agreed by 31st January will have will have been The Engineer UK resolved one way or the other. WE’VE As the fi ndings of our annual business confi dence survey reveal (p34) industry’s The Engineer UK confi dence about the next twelve months is inextricably bound up with the LEARNT implications of Brexit, and the outcome of the current talks will have a profound THIS impact on the UK’s industrial economy over the months and years ahead. ENGINEER JOBS A deal - even one which is inferior to the current trading relationship - should ISSUE Find your next engineering job online at The EngineerJobs spell an end to four-and-a-half years of uncertainty, give businesses a clear view of the climate in which they must now operate and – it is to be hoped - enable us all to UK government 1 to invest £12bn move on from an issue that has toxifi ed UK society and damaged its international in “green revolution” standing. If no deal is done, however, all bets are off . Post Brexit trade talks between the UK Engineering and EU will drag on. Uncertainty will reign. And a government that has routinely 2 SMEs are dismissed the concerns of the business community and which - in the space of less creating jobs three than 12 months – has moved from promising an “oven-ready deal” to talk of deploying times faster than gun ships in the Channel, will surely have some serious questions to answer. larger organisations Along with the vast majority of engineering companies, trade bodies, and 77 per cent of professional engineers, The Engineer hopes and prays that this la er scenario has 3 The Engineer MISSION been avoided by the time this article lands. readers are opposed But one thing that’s certain - as we’ve seen over the past 12 months – is that to road charging STATEMENT whatever challenges it faces, the UK’s manufacturing and engineering base will The aim of do its best to adapt to the circumstances it fi nds itself in, however unwelcome and 4 Hydrogen has unhelpful they might be. the same The Engineer energy level as We’ve seen a compelling illustration of this inherent resilience in the entries to is to champion kerosene with one and promote The Engineer’s 2020 Collaborate to Innovate awards, which comes to its conclusion third of the weight next month. Despite the obvious obstacles to collaboration presented by the engineering pandemic, this year’s shortlist is one of the strongest in the competition’s fi ve-year 50 per cent of innovation and history. And we would urge readers to visit our website (www.theengineer.co.uk) 5 The Engineer’s technology during the fi rst week of February to learn all about this year’s winners and receive a readers are confi dent development welcome dose of optimism about the state of UK engineering innovation. about the year ahead across all of the UK’s key engineering sectors. EDITOR • [email protected] Excell
January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk 4 Take precision seriously with the new
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Read more online Follow us at: @TheEngineerUK AEROSPACE theengineeruk • Funding boost for Scottish satellite launch site The Engineer UK • Owl feather finlets on leading The Engineer UK edge of reduced aircraft noise www.theengineer.CO.UK AUTOMOTIVE NEWS • Partnership to introduce autonomous tow tractors • Ineos and Hyundai to explore Baby brain activity mapped fuel cell for Grenadier • WaveWalker wades into with non-invasive cap Dawlish for sea wall repairs Breakthrough could provide insights into developmental conditions DEFENCE • UK defence secures largest JASON FORD reports investment since the Cold War
CL-led researchers have ELECTRONICS & demonstrated a wearable, COMMUNICATIONS baby-friendly brain • Hydrogel e-skin stretches mapping technology sensory limits likely to lead to a better Uunderstanding of developmental MEDICAL conditions such as autism • ‘Smart’ wearable sensor spectrum disorder and cerebral developed to track healing palsy. • New ‘lab-on-a-chip’ aims for The technology, developed by UCL spinout company Gowerlabs portable diagnostics Ltd, uses harmless levels of red and near-infrared light delivered via a wearable cap to generate detailed 3D images of babies’ brain activity. It means doctors and to create high-quality, 3D images participant to the bench,” he said. neuroscientists can image a baby’s of baby brain activity for the first “Furthermore, applying enough brain without needing MRI, which time outside an MRI scanner. fibres to make good quality images is expensive and difficult to apply Project lead Dr Rob Cooper, is really difficult in any participant while babies are awake. UCL Medical Physics & Biomedical and nearly impossible in infants.” Jobs online It also means researchers can Engineering, said: “There is a lot He added that the current study the infant brain in almost we still don’t know about how the breakthrough came from LOOKING FOR A any environment, including in the brain develops, and a big part of Gowerlabs’ Dr. Nick Everdell NEW ROLE? home. the problem is that studying the who realised that to move the Visit jobs.theengineer. In a paper published in infant brain is really difficult with electronics to the head, and still NeuroImage, academics and traditional scanners. allow the devices to be wearable co.uk to search hundreds engineers from UCL, Cambridge “As any parent knows, 6-month and to conform to the curve of of vacancies with leading University, the Rosie Hospital old babies are very active; they the scalp, required a modular employers from across in Cambridge and Gowerlabs move around all the time and design architecture with multiple industry Ltd demonstrate the technique are easily distracted. Using a independent modules providing - high-density diffuse optical technique like MRI, the subject emitters and detectors of near- tomography (HD-DOT) - in six- has to remain completely still, infrared light. month old infants. The wearable which is almost impossible with “Multiple modules are then cap employs hundreds of LEDs babies unless they are asleep or combined to form a network of and optical detectors arranged in sedated.” modules that all talk to each other a dense network over the scalp to Dr Cooper told The Engineer to produce a dense spider’s web of map changes in oxygenation in the that current advanced HD-DOT measurements,” said Dr Cooper. brain. systems rely on optical fibres “This is key to allowing these These changes in oxygenation to carry light to and from the optical devices to produce images show the areas of the brain that participant. of the brain, because the denser are processing information, “These fibres are heavy and the measurements, the better the meaning the team was were able cumbersome and tether the image resolution.”
January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk 6 TECHNOLOGY NEWS
PROLIMB project aims for NEWS IN BRIEF CROSS CONSENSUS enhanced upper limb prosthesis Politicians from Britain’s three biggest parties have been Touchscreen interaction broadens scope of prostheses appointed to a new group that will MELISSA BRADSHAW reports campaign for a manufacturing revival in the UK. The nine- new project led by of digit design through body- University’s Medical School, member panel will serve as the Warwick University aims powered motion and haptic explained that although there are advisory board for the recently to develop an aff ordable sensing, drawing on expertise currently upper limb prostheses formed Institute for Prosperity, fi ngertip prosthesis from UCL’s Soft Haptics and available, these tend to be either set up by JML founder John with integrated Robotics Lab. ‘prohibitively expensive’ or less Mills. Its stated aim is to direct Amechanical haptic Chappell told The eff ective. It is hoped that the economic policy towards a feedback. Engineer that EPSRC funding project will enable the team to manufacturing revival, increasing The project - supported a PhD develop a prosthesis that is not the sector’s contribution from A sensorimotor student who had only low-cost but able to deliver less than 10 per cent to 15 per PROsthesis for been looking at sensation and functionality to cent. the upper LIMB grasp taxonomies for patients who have undergone (PROLIMB) - is the hand, and how partial amputation of the hand. COMMUNITY FUSION a collaboration common grasps have “A total hand amputation is The government is inviting UK with University changed based upon very debilitating, but it is also regions and communities to put College London current usage today. very rare – single digits, such as a forward proposals to become (UCL) and University “There’s a lot more thumb, are much more common the home of STEP - the Spherical Hospitals Coventry and usage of tablets, keyboards and without a thumb the function Tokamak for Energy Production Warwickshire (UHCW). and phones which means that of the hand becomes very hard,” – the UK’s programme to design Funded by the common hand grasps have Hardwicke said. “I think using the and build a prototype fusion Engineering and Physical changed dramatically over design technologies we already plant. Communities have until Sciences Research the years,” he said. have available in the NHS, if we the end of March 2021 to submit Council (EPSRC), Through the use of can make this into a functional their nominations and will need to PROLIMB will be led by mathematical modelling to prosthesis, it’ll be a real game demonstrate that their area has principal investigator derive fi ner scale models of changer.” the right mix of social, commercial Prof. Michael Chappell hand motion, the team hopes The PROLIMB project will and technical conditions to host with co-investigator to pave the way for the involve establishing an expert the new plant. Dr Neil Evans from design of future prostheses. working group including Warwick’s School of Co-investigator clinicians who will off er advice Engineering. It aims to Joseph Hardwicke, and support across all stages of combine mathematical consultant plastic and the research. Patient and Public modelling and motion reconstructive surgeon Involvement groups will also be capture capabilities at UHCW and associate included, as well as key industrial with practical aspects professor at Warwick NHS providers based in Leeds.
RAIL RESTORATION Sustainability and Climate Change including for trialling hydrogen homes Communities in England left PM UNVEILS GREEN lead at the Institution of Engineering and developing new hydrogen production without passenger rail transport REVOLUTION PLAN and Technology (IET). “For engineers to facilities. This development comes at following the Beeching cuts are to deliver this ‘Green Industrial Revolution’, a time when UK businesses have been have services restored. A total of Boris Johnson has outlined details of government must invest intelligently.” urging the PM to back the emerging 15 schemes have been awarded the government’s ten-point plan for a Sustainable energy sources hydrogen sector, with members of up to £50,000 to accelerate plans Green Industrial Revolution. mentioned in the plan include offshore cross-industry group Hydrogen Strategy that could restore lines lost in the Promising £12bn of government wind and nuclear. Also included is Now pledging to pump £3bn into the UK 1960s when passenger services investment to create up to 250,000 hydrogen, which will generate 5GW of low hydrogen economy. were ended on around a third of UK jobs, the PM’s new blueprint covers carbon hydrogen production capacity by Backed by BOC, JCB and EDF, the rail network, with more than energy, transport, nature and new 2030 for industry, transport, power and the collective believes that a UK- 2,300 stations closed and up to technologies. homes. wide hydrogen economy will achieve 5,000 miles of track axed across “Engineering is at the heart of One goal is for the fi rst town heated signifi cant progress towards net zero, the UK. the list of the government’s plans and entirely by hydrogen to be developed improving air quality in towns and cities, investments towards achieving net-zero by the end of the decade. Up to £500m securing private investment into the UK, Read more at www.theengineer.co.uk
Image Credit: RAEng Credit: Image by 2050,” commented James Robottom, is planned for investment in hydrogen, and increasing energy security. MB
7 January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk TECHNOLOGY NEWS
tumbling docking. NHS TRIAL According to John Auburn, managing director of Astroscale’s FOR AI UK offi ce, ELSA-d will demonstrate CANCER TEST the fi rst semi-autonomous capture of a non-responsive, A new blood test that tumbling client, as well as the fi rst incorporates AI into its identifi cation of a client located diagnostic techniques to outside the servicer’s sensor fi eld detect over 50 types of of view. cancer will be trialled by “Our priority is safety,” he said. the NHS this year. “We can abort any manoeuvre and The Galleri test, developed move backwards to a safe position, by California-based biotech if required.” company Grail, screens for Astroscale opens window Auburn added that Astroscale cell-free nucleic acids (cfNAs), is focussed on developing the small fragments of DNA and for clean-up in space Active Debris Removal (ADR) RNA thought to be cast off by Demonstration mission to prove satellite capability for large constellations, tumours in the body. These removal technology is set for Spring 2021 primarily for broadband cfNAs refl ect the genomic communications in Low Earth profi le of the tumours where JASON FORD reports Orbit. “In parallel we are building they originated, allowing not a business case to extend the life only the potential presence company aiming to on-orbit servicing market. of telecommunication satellites in of cancer to be detected, but remove defunct satellites According to Astroscale, the Geostationary orbit,” he said. also its location within the from orbit is set to ELSA-d mission will demonstrate To date, Astroscale has been body. Galleri uses AI to help launch a demonstration several dynamically complex supporting OneWeb and Altius distinguish cancerous cfNA’s mission from Baikonur capture activities necessary to to design a docking plate that is from other genomic material in ACosmodrome, Kazakhstan, in remove defunct objects from compatible with the company’s the bloodstream. March 2021. orbit using a servicer (~175kg) debris removal capability. Auburn Grail claims a US clinical Astroscale Holdings will and a client (~17kg), launched explained that this docking plate is study using an earlier iteration launch its End-of-Life Services together. The servicer, equipped designed for fi tment to spacecraft of Galleri successfully detected by Astroscale-demonstration with proximity rendezvous with minimum supporting over 50 types of cancer with (ELSA-d) on a Soyuz rocket before technologies and a magnetic modifi cation. a low false-positive rate engaging in a series of tests to capture mechanism, will “Features such as mass and of less than one per cent validate its technology. repeatedly release and dock magnetic characteristics are through a single blood draw. If the tests are successful, with the client, which has been carefully designed to integrate The company’s own modelling satellite operators will be able to prepared with a ferromagnetic unobtrusively with the wider indicates the test has the safely dispose of their hardware docking plate. Astroscale intends satellite design,” he said. “OneWeb potential to decrease the once missions are complete to prove the capabilities required is planning to launch new number of cancers diagnosed at and, in the words of Seita Iizuka, for debris removal, including client satellites with the Altius grappling late stage by nearly half. AW
ELSA-d project manager, establish search, inspection and rendezvous, fi xture capability in the near Read more at Astroscale as a global leader in the and both non-tumbling and future.” www.theengineer.co.uk
upstream and downstream supply the future strength of the entire UK BRITISHVOLT NAMES SITE OF HQ chain companies.” economy. JASON FORD reports According to Britishvolt CEO, Orral To this end, Britishvolt has named a Nadjari the company will produce site in Blyth, Northumberland where it Britishvolt, the company aiming to petrol and diesel vehicle production by world-class batteries that are will invest £2.6bn to build the UK’s fi rst establish the UK as a force in advanced 2030. strategically important for the future battery gigaplant. battery technology, is to locate its Commenting on the Britishvolt’s of the UK automotive industry and By the fi nal phase of the project headquarters in the West Midlands. decision, Prof David Greenwood, CEO in 2027 it will employ up to 3000 Set to be operational by 2022, the WMG centre HVM Catapult and Director staff who will produce over 300,000 new 5000m2 facility will be located at of Industrial Engagement said: “The lithium-ion batteries for the UK the MIRA Technology Park Campus near establishment of large-scale battery automotive industry. A further 5000 Coventry and will lead the development manufacturing in the UK is critical jobs are expected to be provided in of battery technologies for future to retaining and growing the UK car the wider supply chain. electrifi ed vehicles. The announcement industry. With such a facility in place, Construction at the site will begin follows the UK government’s to ban all this opens up opportunities for both in the summer.
January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk 8 TECHNOLOGY NEWS EMEC goes with the flow in tidal battery first ANDREW WADE reports
ontinuous green hydrogen hydrogen electrolysis. from tidal power will be “This is the first time that a produced as part of a new flow battery will have been coupled flow battery installation at with tidal energy and hydrogen Scotland’s European Marine production,” said Neil Kermode, CEnergy Centre in Orkney. managing director at EMEC. qualities to integrate battery place, allowing electrical energy Claimed to be a world first, the “Following a technical review technology with the renewable to be stored and subsequently project will see Invinity Energy looking at how to improve the power generation and hydrogen discharged. Systems delivering a 1.8MWh efficiencies of the electrolyser, production process.” The technology relies on the vanadium flow battery (VFB) we assessed that flow batteries Invinity’s battery system ability of vanadium to exist in four at EMEC’s tidal energy test site. would be the best fit for the energy consists of two separate tanks different oxidation states (V2+, V3+, VFBs can store and discharge system. As flow batteries store of vanadium electrolyte with V4+ and V5+), each of which holds industrial levels of power over electrical charge in a liquid rather different charges, which are a different electrical charge. As the multiple daily cycles and have than a solid, they can provide connected to a central fuel cell same element – albeit in different a lifespan of 25 years, with little industrial quantities of power for stack. Electrolyte from the tanks states – is used for both the positive degradation. The pilot project will a sustained period, can deeply is pumped through the fuel cell and negative sides of the battery, aim to demonstrate that VFBs can discharge without damaging itself, stack, where an ion exchange many of the contamination and act as a bridge between the natural as well as stand fully charged for occurs across a membrane. When degradation problems that can variations of tidal power and the extended periods without losing this exchange occurs, a reversible occur in other batteries over time consistent energy requirements of charge. These are all necessary electrochemical reaction takes can be avoided. COVID-19 SITE SAFETY AT NETWORK RAIL ARIEL SET FOR JASON FORD reports EXOPLANET
etwork Rail is using thermal imaging systems ESA’s space-based Ariel mission, which from Thales to help protect staff against COVID-19 will survey around 1,000 planets beyond Nat over 108 sites. our solar system, has been formally A key indicator of COVID-19 is an elevated adopted by the agency. temperature, so by monitoring the body temperatures Scheduled to launch in 2029, Ariel will of staff to within a specific range on entry to site, be the first mission to study the chemical the cameras are able to help detect and prevent the composition and thermal atmospheric potential spread of the virus within Network Rail’s properties of exoplanets as they transit workforce. distant stars. These measurements will The thermal detection solution combines a highly be observed using a one-metre class sensitive thermal imaging camera with calibration cryogenic telescope that will operate and monitoring equipment to ensure that raised at temperatures of 35-40 Kelvin (-238 temperatures in staff are detected. The technology above the threshold then the individual is asked to go to -233 Celsius), collecting visible and gives an indication of an individual’s body temperature home and follow the current government guidance.” infrared light. An onboard guidance to within +/- 0.3°C, so that staff at critical sites can The cameras, which work in a range of light system will allow the telescope to focus identify anyone potentially carrying the COVID-19 conditions and in real-time, are capable of measuring on exoplanets with high precision, while virus. the temperature of up to 30 people simultaneously. a photometer and spectrometer will “[If] The system detects an individual with a high According to Taylor, the camera works at ranges help detect the presence of clouds as temperature, 37.8°C or higher, an audio and visual typically between two-to-five metres and that well as the chemicals in the planets’ alarm are triggered,” said David Taylor, Network Rail the temperature threshold is set upon the latest atmospheres. AW Account Manager, Thales. “The individual is then scientific advice. He added that system installation, instructed to wait in a cool, safe place for 15 minutes configuration and familiarisation typically takes half Read more about batteries at after which they then retest. If their temperature is a day. www.theengineer.co.uk
9 January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk NOVEMBERNews analysis 2019
ormer PM Theresa May from investors, a steady company denied the existence of a could become a fast-growth one Magic Money Tree in 2017 over a short period of time,” he but her successor Boris said. Johnson and his chancellor According to Tony Sartorius, Rishi Sunak knew exactly Chairman of Wednesbury-based Fwhere to find it in 2020. Alucast a key differentiator Forced into unplanned between the financial crash of spending to cope with the 2008 and Covid-19 crisis is that Covid-19 crisis, the government the government can – and has had was estimated by the National to – intervene, adding that their Audit Office to have spent £210bn spending should be seen as an during the first six months of the investment for the future rather pandemic. than ‘a current revenue expense’. Out of necessity, funds were “Businesses will be supported released for a raft of measures and, in turn, will be there in future including the procurement of to re-employ when the pandemic PPE for front line healthcare ends,” he said. “If they close now, workers, the design and build Backbone of start-ups will be difficult and the of new ventilators, the much economy will have been damaged criticised NHS Test and Trace in the long-term.” programme, furlough and funding Britain “People, businesses and banks to support the self-employed and all responded much quicker, businesses struggling to cope with Dire predictions for the economy could be offset with a real cash preservation government imposed lockdown by the UK’s agile SMEs focus as many of us could see conditions. disruption lasting for a year or The cost of spending has WRITTEN BY JASON FORD longer,” added Crozier. “To be fair inevitable consequences and to the government, some of its Sunak’s Spending Review in the face of vast unemployment. Managing Director of Rowley ‘unprecedented’ financial support November 2020 brought the In June 2020, IW Capital Regis-based Cube Engineering. “At has been helpful and contributed financial cost of Covid-19 invested £10m into Welsh paper a time when Covid-19 and Brexit to mitigating some of the shorter- into sharp focus. Referring to packaging supplier Transcend are delivering daily challenges, term risks we’re facing.” predictions from the Office of Packaging, which demonstrated the ability to make changes to Brexit uncertainty aside Budget Responsibility he told its agility in the face of Covid-19 your business, whether that is (negotiations were ongoing at parliament that unemployment by switching to the production investment or cutting costs, means the time of writing), the PM has would peak at around 2.6 million of plastic-free PPE, leading to a agile businesses are very attractive promised many tens of thousands in the second quarter of 2021 doubling of its workforce in four at present. of jobs as the UK recovers from and that economic output is not months. “In Cube Precision’s case, we the pandemic. HS2 is underway expected to return to pre-crisis IW Capital’s own research have managed to pick up more and commitments worth a levels until the fourth quarter of found 44 per cent of investors than £675,000 of orders from prime total of £31bn have been made 2022. now looking to back UK-based and tier 1 aerospace customers for low-carbon energy and the “Our economic emergency has companies instead of global firms, over the last three months despite defence sector, which could only just begun,” he said. and a similar number feel their the industry suffering from the provide a massive opportunity Out of the gloom come figures ‘risk-appetite’ has increased due to effects of the pandemic.” for SMEs to focus fully on their from the Office of National Covid-19, as ‘safe’ investments in Rowan Crozier, CEO of core competences . The way Statistics that show SMEs creating big companies are no longer viable. Birmingham-based Brandauer in which they approach these jobs at a rate which is three “The advantage of most SMEs added that many SMEs are owner- opportunities, however, could times higher than that of large is that we are able to adapt and managed, giving them a strong prove crucial. businesses over the past five years, change approach a lot quicker than financial base and manageable “Collaboration is key to SMEs,” adding 1.7million jobs compared to larger rivals,” said Neil Clifton, debt. “With additional backing said Crozier. “It is very difficult around 650,000. to muscle in on the ‘big boys’ on SMEs employ 16 million people your own; a better approach is to in the UK and Luke Davis, CEO of WE HAVE MANAGED TO PICK UP MORE THAN see if you can work in partnership IW Capital, believes that further with them and try to create your investment into these businesses £675,000 OF ORDERS FROM PRIME AND TIER 1 own niche as a contributor to a is proving ever more important in AEROSPACE CUSTOMERS consortium.”
January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk 10 CAREERS THAT COUNT
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L3HARRIS.COM/CAREERS GreenCOVER feature aerospace
Clean, green and coming to an aircraft near you soon. Jon Excell looks at how hydrogen - the most abundant element in the universe - is now at the heart of plans to skydecarbonise civil aviation
thinkingJanuary 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk 12 n the ongoing push for cleaner, The catch, of course, is in the volume. Another fundamental component that will need to be low carbon passenger aircraft, Indeed, at isoenergetic conditions the de-risked and studied, said Vi adini, is hydrogen cryogenics. engineers have - in recent years - volume of hydrogen is four times that “Hydrogen is a gas and it turns into liquid at -253C,” she said, “so explored a wide variety of technology of kerosene. And as Vi adini explained, it will be key to bring hydrogen to that temperature and keep it pathways: from the refi nement of this means that one of the big challenges there throughout all phases of fl ight.” existing turbine technology, to the that lies ahead is tank design and These challenges and others are already under investigation development of new sustainable integration. she said, adding that Airbus aims to have initial results from a fuels, and even the application of hybrid- Exactly how this will be overcome zero emissions demonstrator at some point this year. According Ielectric ba ery systems. is yet to be decided, but all three of the to the company’s VP of engineering Jean-Brice Dumont it will But last year - as a sector laid low by Airbus concepts off er some suggestions be another three to fi ve years before the fi rm se les on the the ravages of COVID-19 contemplated on how it might be achieved: with the likely candidate. its future - the balance of power swung turboprop and turbofan concepts se ing Crucially, Airbus’ vote of confi dence in our planet’s most fi rmly in favour of an energy carrier aside the aft section of the fuselage for abundant element refl ects a strengthening view across the that’s viewed as an increasingly fuel storage, whilst the blended wing sector. Professor Iain Gray, director of aerospace at Cranfi eld important component of our future concept illustrates how future airframe University, and a veteran of the UK aerospace industry, recently energy mix: hydrogen. designs could evolve around this told The Engineer that he increasingly views hydrogen as the Whilst interest in hydrogen has requirement. main contender: “I’m a great believer in hydrogen I do think its been growing for some time, the most striking sign of its ascendance came in September 2020, when Airbus - the world’s largest aircraft manufacturer - announced that hydrogen fuelled propulsion systems would be at the heart of an ambitious plan to introduce a new zero-emissions commercial aircraft by 2035. In a headline grabbing statement of intent, the aerospace giant unveiled concepts for three hydrogen-combustion powered airliners that off er a glimpse of what this future might look like. Codenamed ‘ZEROe’ the three concepts include a turbofan design Airbus’ concept ZEROe turbofan variant would be powered by a aimed at the 2000 nautical mile, 120 – 200 modifi ed gas-turbine engine and have a range of 2000 + nautical miles passenger segment; a smaller turboprop concept catering for fl ights of around time has come in in aerospace and Airbus have made that fi rm 1000 nautical miles; and - most strikingly commitment” he said. of all - a futuristic looking blended-wing Hydrogen also has some clear advantages over ba eries aircraft that shows how the quest for when it comes to aviation, he said, something borne out by last low carbon aviation could usher in a year’s decision to cancel E-Fan X, the joint Airbus / Rolls-Royce revolution in airframe design. hybrid electric aircraft project. “I think a useful conclusion Speaking during the online hydrogen has Airbus made was that it showed that ba eries and ba ery unveiling of the airliners, Airbus chief the same energy electric wasn’t going to be the long-term solution for the kind technology offi cer Grazia Vi adini of A320 replacement type of product,” he said. “I think it was said that whilst the company remains level as kerosene, a brave step to cancel it when they did, but on refl ection it was interested in various low carbon generatating the probably the right time to draw the positive conclusions and technologies, hydrogen is now emerging same type of range move onto hydrogen.” as the most promising route to zero Glenn Llewellyn - Airbus’ VP for Zero Emission Aircraft - emission aviation. Indeed, thanks to and performance agrees that hydrogen now appears to have taken its place at the its compelling energy density, it could, with one third of top of the low carbon pecking order. “We need an energy carrier she claimed, ultimately account for as that can be created using renewable energy and then carried much as 50 per cent of civil aviation’s the weight on board an aircraft,” he said. “Our experience with ba eries decarbonisation. “Hydrogen has the Grazia Vittadini, CTO - Airbus shows us that ba ery technology is not moving at the pace we same energy level as kerosene generating want – and this where hydrogen comes in – it’s got several times the same type of range and performance more energy per kilogram than ba eries have today.” with one third of the weight,” she said. In the meantime, whilst Airbus’ historically ambitious
13 January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk COVERCOVER feature feature MARINE aerospace TECHNOLOGY
plans are a number of years away from fruition, the distinction like ba ery recycling. You can achieve government ambition.” of being the fi rst company to put a commercial scale hydrogen something like 90 percent life-cycle Tapping into this expertise has fuelled passenger aircraft in the air goes to one of the sector’s emission reduction.” been key to addressing some fairly emerging stars: US startup, ZeroAvia Whilst ZeroAvia is a US founded fi rm, fundamental engineering problems, not Late last summer - in what has been hailed as a landmark it’s notable that the bulk of the research least, he said, overcoming the packaging moment for low carbon fl ight - a modifi ed six-seater Piper activity has taken place in the UK. challenges of accommodating a fuel cell M-Class aircraft, powered by a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain Indeed, according to Renz, the expertise system and hydrogen storage tank in a (that combines oxygen from the air with hydrogen from the at Cranfi eld and the wider UK aviation relatively small aircraft. “The airframe tanks to form water and electricity) entered aviation history ecosystem has been key to ge ing the we chose is made to fl y fast which when it took to the skies above the fi rm’s R&D base at Cranfi eld project off the ground. “We realised two generally means there is li le space airport in the UK. things early on,” he said. “One, that a lot available,” he said, “fi ing the fuel cell The fl ight was conducted as part of the HyFlyer project, of our supply chain is in Europe and two, system in the available space was a big an Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) funded initiative a lot of the interest both by government challenge for us so we spent a lot of time aimed at demonstrating low carbon powertrain technology for and potential customers is in Europe. on that.” propeller aircraft. Led by ZeroAvia, the project also involves UK We looked at the entire European Another key challenge has been fuel cell specialist Intelligent Energy and the European Marine off ering and realised that the UK has the around thermal management, and Energy Centre (EMEC) which has developed a green hydrogen best set up in terms of talent, proximity fi nding innovative ways to remove the refuelling system for the aircraft. to our supply chain and in terms of waste heat generated by the fuel cell. “A At the time of writing, the project team was gearing up for a longer 250 mile fl ight out of an airfi eld in Orkney, an achievement that HyFlyer project manager Julian Renz said will bring the company a step closer to its ambition of decarbonising short sub-regional and regional fl ight. He added that the company could potentially be ready to launch a commercial product as soon as 2023. Renz explained that like Airbus, ZeroAvia investigated a number of diff erent technology pathways before concluding that hydrogen - in this case hydrogen electric - represented the best solution for this class of aircraft. “Ba eries fall short because of the simple energy density,” he said. “You cannot store enough energy in the amount of mass you have available on an airplane. And If you look at the hybrid electric approach (burning jet fuel in a turbine and driving a generator that produces electricity) the more research that was done the more people realised that the cost and environmental credentials don’t improve substantially over a very effi cient turbine engine.” That’s when the group decided that hydrogen ticked the The HyFlyer project has also considered greatest number of boxes. “We realised from a cost perspective the wider hydrogen ecosystem, developing a truck the reason it looks very good because you get the maintenance cost mounted refuelling system and also demonstrating we have carbon benefi ts from electrifi cation, from a fuel perspective it looks green hydrogen production and storage technology good because you can produce zero emission hydrogen, and also emissions is because HyFlyer’s modifi ed hydrogen fuell cell powered from an environmental perspective you don’t have problems aircraft takes to the skies above Cranfi eld airport of the propulsion systems. That’s what we want to change Julian renz, ZeroAVIA
January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk 14 good rule of thumb is fuel cell systems going to be a really exciting are 50 – 60 per cent effi cient – for every opportunity,” he said. wa you generate as useful power you What’s more, whilst there pre y much generate a wa of waste will inevitably be challenges heat – that means you have quite a lot in driving such a fundamental of waste heat you need to get rid of and transformation, it’s important thermal management was really the to note that that the sector second big engineering challenge.” will be able to tap into the Signifi cantly, the HyFlyer project existing momentum behind team hasn’t restricted its focus to the hydrogen in many other areas aircraft, but has used the initiative to of the economy. “We’ve got demonstrate the key components of some real strengths in the UK,” a future hydrogen airport ecosystem: said Gray, “we’re strong on including green hydrogen production, production and storage, and the hydrogen storage, and refuelling use of hydrogen in transport is technology. Indeed, through the project, already deeply embedded. What EMEC has developed an end-to-end we’re seeing is aviation starting hydrogen refuelling system consisting to recognise what advantage it can take. “ This certainly seems to be a factor that’s driving Airbus’ interest. “Hydrogen is an energy Airbus’ trio of hydrogen fuelled source that’s required by many ZEROe concept planes industries in order to meet the Paris targets,” said Llewellyn, “the scaling that were’ going to see over the next few years is going to signifi cantly bring the cost down and this makes it it seems paradoxical, but i would say very interesting for aviation.” It would be wrong to ignore to a young grad going into aerospace that the hardships and challenges there’s never been a better time to join the that the pandemic has imposed industry Professor Iain Gray on the civil aviation sector over the past 12 months. Many people working in the industry have lost their jobs, and some organisations dependent on its of an electrolyser to produce hydrogen industry. “I think people are thinking a continued growth have simply ceased to exist. on site, a trail-mounted compressor for bit more about the ecosystem and how it But there is also a growing sense of momentum behind preparing the hydrogen for storage, and all fi ts together rather than just a focus the sector’s push for a low carbon future, and that - despite a specially developed refuelling truck. on point design of aeroplanes, and that everything - makes it an exciting time. “It seems paradoxical, Understanding and catering for makes it quite exciting,” he said. but I would say to a young grad going into aerospace that there’s these broader challenges will, said It’s a trend that he believes will never been a be er time to join the industry,” said Gray. “You Renz, be key to taking the technology inevitably drive more cross sector have a chance to shape things, to do things a bit diff erently and to the next level. “Today even if we had collaboration; “This is likely to drive to get involved in companies that are going to be doing things a commercially available product we far greater levels of cross-sector that were inconceivable two years ago” couldn’t sell it because no airline would collaboration than has traditionally For Airbus’ Grazia Vi adini, there is no doubt that the be able to fuel a hydrogen aircraft. So been the case. The aerospace sector can’t industry is at a pivotal moment in terms of determining its we need to start showing people that solve all of its challenges on its own…. low carbon future. And, as things stand, it looks as though hydrogen is not some kind of miracle the solution is going to come by people hydrogen will be at the heart of this vision. “There are many fuel, that you can produce it on site with working together,” he said. reasons to believe in hydrogen and our estimation is that it electricity and water and you can store For Airbus’ Glen Llewllyn it all adds will contribute by more than 50 fi fty per cent along our journey it on site.” up to a very diff erent and exciting future to decarbonising aviation,” she said. “it is one of the most Iain Gray echoed the importance for engineers working in the sector: “In promising technology vectors to allow mobility to continue of this more joined up view, and is terms of partnering and working across fulfi lling the basic human need for mobility in be er harmony heartened that there appears to be subjects, which as an industry we’ve with our environment…..to enable future generations to enjoy a growing recognition of this across not had to deal with in the past, this is fl ying just as much as we do.”
15 January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk Royal Academy of Engineering: Industry Engagement Schemes – Now Open
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January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk 16 BUSINESSVIEWPOINT NEWS
s the world is cycling solution – as the cost per part through lock-downs, we analysis simply didn’t add up when have all learned lessons compared to importing the metal from the fi rst time around components. When faced with and developed new ways COVID-related delays and supply to keep businesses, supply chain disruptions, however, the Achains and life in general moving decision to invest in additive was forward. Whether it’s printing from made quickly to help keep things home or garages, or half-empty Jeremy Drew moving. factory fl oors, additive By printing the part with manufacturing has helped continuous carbon fi bre embedded businesses to adapt to rapidly within a tough nylon/CF base changing circumstances, making How COVID matrix material, the companies them more agile and robust in the were able to create parts with the face of the unexpected. has accelerated same strength as the original In the name of agility and metallic version, but at a fraction of keeping supply chains moving, the weight. This resulted in engineers are fi nding they are no additive adoption increased line speed and longer shackled to the convention productivity. With less mass to of an over-simplistic “part-cost” The supply chain challenges posed by the pandemic move, the robotic arms were less model that previously stymied have helped accelerate industry’s understanding stressed and line stops were ingenuity and limited their reduced. Using AM also led to approach when it came to additive of the benefi ts and applications of additive further design refi nements from manufacturing. Conversely, they manufacturing explains Jeremy Drew, engineering engineering teams – helping to are now freer to explore new ways applications manager at Markforged EMEA further improve business metrics. of working with the technology, the Consequently, part-cost is no longer overall value it can bring, problems them to perform a test run of Delayed parts are not the only considered a barrier to further AM it can solve and business risks it their full manufacturing process, supply chain issues businesses are adoption within the business. can mitigate. These changes in se ing up and sequencing facing due to the pandemic. Engineers and industrial designers thinking were already starting to machines and inspection Lockdown and shutdowns in the are now fi nding themselves in the take place, but have been equipment in advance so it was Far East earlier this year have led to role of ‘makers’ more frequently – accelerated by the global pandemic fi ne-tuned and ready for the cast some manufacturers struggling to taking advantages of the agility forcing us to adopt new ways of part as soon as it arrived. This not access some specialist materials additive off ers to iterate new working. only saved valuable production and metal alloys. Limited supplies designs that previously would have We’ve seen the creativity of the time, but also allowed their design have led some companies to turn to been too expensive or risky to try. engineering community at work team to improve upon the future additively produced alternatives to Echoing proven use cases printing and heard amazing stories of design of cast part. Shortening the keep their production lines legacy tooling or parts on site in innovation over the past few feedback / continuous- running, rather than being subject remote areas like ba lefi elds or months, with businesses beginning improvement loop within the to delays due to disrupted supply disaster zones, we’ve also been to harness the full potential of their business has made the company chains. hearing stories from engineers industrial grade 3D printers and more agile, profi table and enabled As an example, several taking their printers home during use them in diff erent and their engineers to fully express high-volume manufacturers using lockdown to keep businesses and sometimes unexpected ways. themselves. Adopting this robots, cobots and other highly healthcare providers moving – For example, when faced with “Design-Print” methodology has robotic automated handling adding a whole new dimension to extended waiting times for specifi c also helped to reduce and promote systems hadn’t previously ‘working from home’. medical grade raw material casting engineering ingenuity. considered using additive as a These examples are only a few due to COVID-related delays, one that illustrate how engineers can orthopaedics business put this do incredible things with the right time to good use to set about tools. Fuelled by the necessity to streamlining their manufacturing change the way of doing business, processes with the help of their we’ve seen so many companies industrial 3D printers. Already looking diff erently at additive this using additive to print tooling jigs year. Turning convention on its and fi xtures, they conceived to head to discover new, unexpected print a ‘digital twin’ of the raw cast applications – and benefi ts. It is this part they were waiting for in a design freedom and agility that composite material. may spell the end of the ‘part-cost’ This ‘dummy part’ allowed decision making process.
17 January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk TALKINGMailbox POINT
Britishvolt selects the cleverest people on the Northumberland for UK’s planet are pu ing that data to good use. Still on track fi rst gigafactory Richard Jenvey In a recent poll we asked whether HS2 should be reconsidered in the wake of the pandemic? The problem is, there is It is surprising how few no substantial market for EV people I talk to really ba eries in the UK, and the appreciate what was achieved Government is working to during this momentous make exporting to the EU a lot rocket ‘fl ight’. I still need to more diffi cult. So with no fi nd a list of how many ‘fi rsts’ prospect of commercial and records were gained return, the company is trying during this incredible human to create publicity to force the engineering feat. Well Done Government to contribute the Space-X funding, which the keith penny Government may have to do to protect its green Drone fl ights to the Scilly credentials and prevent isles begin another Brexit related disaster. When drones fi rst Alex T appeared en-masse there were numerous predictions By the time it is fully the sky would be black with operational in the late 2030s swarms of the things. This, as (fi ngers crossed), COVID-19 with so many other will be a distant memory technically focused (but and we’ll be u erly commercially off line ) preoccupied dealing with predictions has not the consequences of materialised on anything like I Really didn’t see the need for climate change. Without the scale the advocates of this it in the fi rst place, but with the HS2, fi ghting that ba le will technology set would have us pandemic and the damage that is be a lot harder. believe was imminent. Lines being done to the economy there is Gareth Dennis between feasibility, even less need for 20 minutes. The A prototype of SpaceX’s desirability and harsh amount of pubic money spent, Starship spacecraft has economics seem to be could have gone on improving the limiting applications. whole of the rail network! shown beyond any doubt that a exploded on landing Phil Mortimer Donald McHarrie high speed rail line is irrelevant in following a test fl ight our small country and that high All they needed do was Overall, this is a vanity project speed communication links are far Spacex learned ask any competent RC which will benefi t the few and more important. And the projected everything they wanted from modeller & UAV fl ights would compromise spending on essential costs now are just ludicrous. this test vehicle. The fi nal, be running across the UK. A services for the many. Simon Brown fast landing was due to an quick search on YouTube Nick Colloff issue ge ing the small reserve reveals many model fl ights It never should have go en off tanks to feed the turbo- over 100’s of Km,with Apart from the folly of the drawing board, a colossal waste pumps in the engines. This hobbyist grade electronics & cancelling a project that is not just of money that totally undermines was always a concern: emi ing zero emissions as shovel-ready but actually under the entire UK rail network to guaranteeing an they’re powered by ba eries. way, I think the capacity argument benefi t a few well off suits in uninterrupted, pressurised Presently, we have to obtain still stands. Even if commuting London. The initial USPs were: it fl ow to the pumps and they certifi cation & are limited to does drop somewhat with working would save 45 minutes between needed data on how the fuel line of sight distances all from home, the capacity problem London and Birmingham; It would would behave during the because of the morons that was so gross that it doesn’t go away. revitalise the North; it would ‘only’ transition from horizontal to were fl ying quadcopters near William Barter cost £50Bn. Every one of those vertical. Now they have it and airports. points has been proven false. we can be sure that some of Adam M Cherry The past few months have Another Steve
Jjanuary 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk 18 “At Babcock, our people don’t just work with technology, they make it work for them.” Jon Hall, Managing Director
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IN OUR OPINION
he UK government is communities with poor reported to be considering transport links. road pricing to make up In our poll on this thorny for an estimated £40bn issue we asked a simple tax shortfall resulting question: is road-pricing the from the proposed 2030 solution to the problem? Tban on the sale of new petrol and One for But such a simple question diesel vehicles. raises many more talking The fast-tracking of the points. Perhaps such a scheme ban on sales of fossil-fuelled is the right solution to the vehicles from the original date problem. But if so, how should of 2035 has been hailed by some the road it be structured? Should, for as a sign of the government’s Could a “pay by the mile” model be used to instance, the drivers of the strengthening commitment to its generate the tax revenues that will be lost large number of petrol driven net-zero strategy, and a statement through the switch to zero carbon motoring, vehicles remaining on the roads of intent that it’s serious about – who will still presumably be supporting the low carbon asks Jon Excell? paying vehicle tax – be exempt vehicle sector. from the charge? However, with taxes on you drive” concept to replace the huge swathes of the population, Maybe a less divisive motoring currently raising lost tax revenue. a lot has changed since 2007. solution might be to continue around £40bn per year, and the Road-pricing has been And the shift to zero carbon with some form of motoring bulk of this revenue linked to fuel suggested many times in the transportation certainly creates tax for all vehicles regardless duties, it’s feared that without past, and has never gone down a more compelling case for such of their green credentials. significant changes to the tax particularly well. When former a scheme. But then how would this be system the speeded up transition PM Tony Blair explored the idea But should the government balanced with the incentives could leave a huge hole in public back in 2007, motoring groups press ahead with this plan, that are currently in place to finances. and the shadow conservative it’s going to have to tread encourage the adoption of low The government is said to be government of the time accused incredibly carefully and work carbon vehicles? considering a number of options him of trying to introduce a hard with industry to develop a Or perhaps our relationship for addressing this, including stealth tax and “big brother” technologically complex system with transport technology will – perhaps most controversially surveillance system. that is practical to implement have altered so fundamentally – the introduction of a national Whilst any serious attempt and fair and nuanced in use: by 2030 that none of these road-pricing scheme that would to revisit the issue is likely to which doesn’t – for instance things will be issues that
use either road tolls or a “pay as be similarly unpopular with – disproportionately impact concern us today. Productions/stock.adobe.com Jevanto Credit:
January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk 20 Read more comment, news and features www.theengineer.co.uk
Poll: UK road pricing – 23% HAVE yes or no? YES YOUR In our online poll on the topic we asked a simple question. Were SAY readers opposed to or in favour of the introduction of road-pricing Visit our website from 2035? Unsurprisingly, such an emotive topic attracted a to take part in the high level of interest, with 2713 readers taking part. The poll also continuing debate stimulated a lively discussion, with 82 comments submitted, on this emotive a number of which were broadly supportive of road-pricing. topic However, poll respondents were overwhelmingly opposed to the 77% concept, with 77 per cent choosing the “no” option. Clearly, the government is going to have to mount an impressive charm offen- sive if it’s to win over readers of The Engineer with this proposal! NO
IN YOUR OPINION I think it’s inevitable. Where else will the government get the revenue lost by major routes and causing congestion and danger When we move to electric cars, we stop paying the switch from fossil fuels to electric? on minor roads. However, surely we have the fuel duty. So road pricing would be a replacement You can’t tax electricity to the same technology to implement a fair ‘pay as you go’ tax – not an additional tax. There are good extent. It could also eliminate city centre system. economic reasons to have road pricing as well – it congestion charging systems , road tolls Pete can be varied not just according to distance, but also congestion levels. Congestion is the biggest and bridge tolls. We would need a way It’s just wrong to replace an unfair tax with one social cost of driving – more so than pollution. to charge vehicles coming over from that is even more unfair and which represents Ideally even now we’d have lower fuel duty and the continent, but it’s likely that all of a further big brother intrusion into the lives of road pricing that is higher in more congested Europe will do the same so it could be citizens. At least the fuel tax is partially arguable areas, encouraging the more effi cient use of the coordinated. on the grounds of being a green tax. Road usage limited road space available. Paul Usher isn’t. The lost income needs to come via general I would hope engineers could see the sense in taxation, probably the fairest is a rise in income it – it’s one of the reasons why you get cross overs tax. by engineers into economics. That understanding Brian of the importance of systems. And being able to deal with numbers! Yes, but not in the big-brother, GPS-tracked Bear in mind that electricity pricing is going to David Jones manner it was proposed under Blair (though change. If you want to use electricity at 6pm on this was before black-boxes in cars for motor a cold, still , winter’s day, you’ll have to pay more insurance). Road pricing could be charged in than if you use it at 3am, or when it’s sunny or the same manner as domestic gas or electric is windy. now – you can submit odometer readings to get an Likewise with roads. You will have to pay more Whatever system is fi nally decided accurate estimate of use, and this can be verifi ed to use a congested road at 5pm than in the wilds upon this time it needs to ensure that by a third party during the MOT. If people want the of North Yorkshire at 3am (though your insurance HGVs pay an appropriate amount for the convenience, perhaps a module could plug into a may be higher on the latter). And that needs GPS damage to our roadways. car and use the same network as for smart-meters and map matching. to send the usage data automatically. Alex T They are largely responsible for ripping GPS tracking is not going to be accepted, but the road surfaces to shreds and at simple tax on mileage would be hard to argue As a country dweller, I often think successive present Joe Bloggs the motorist against. governments have a plan to tax us all into towns shoulders the largest proportion of the Christopher and cities. Road pricing is another way of doing this as the further you travel the more you pay. cost of repair. Special fuel rates with We can’t have roads for free and without fuel duty, Similarly I cannot afford to purchase a new electric lower tax ensures that the ordinary which is in effect a Tax per mile, then we should car, and wonder how many others will be in this motorist subsidises the HGVs. expect to pay for using our roads. position? Neil Desperandum There is a danger of driving traffi c away from Richard S
21 January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk INTERVIEW INTERVIEW Alex Paul Cresswell Stein MADE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE Thales UK CEO and Chairman Alex Cresswell believes that current and future challenges will provide opportunities for engineers that are too good to miss
JASON FORD reports
hales’ presence in the UK can be appealing in Britain as they are across the engineers. We would like to see greater traced to Glasgow in the late 1880s English Channel. diversity, but this starts much earlier in the when an engineer and a physicist “Having spent 10 years in France and seen educational system. I think STEM responded to a tender from industry at first-hand how they view and respect ambassadors have a massive role to play. You after the poor performance of artillery engineers in society, I think it’s critical we can only be inspired by what you see at an rangefinders during the Boer War. focus on our future,” he said. “We cannot keep early age - and I speak from experience.” The tender asked for improved losing the ‘best of the best’ engineers to careers Indeed, Cresswell’s journey to becoming an Tequipment that could be operated by soldiers in banking. Engineering and scientific careers aeronautical engineer began with a childhood of ‘average intelligence’ and the two academics also have to be appealing to everyone, fascination for aeromodelling (a hobby funded – who went onto form Barr & Stroud – regardless of ‘class’ or background. by a paper round) and a visit with his cemented a relationship with the UK’s armed “Without a doubt we in Thales want grandmother to the National Air & Space forces that continues to this day. talented, commercially astute and innovative Museum in Washington, which he says, Barr & Stroud’s range-finding technology ‘remains one of my favourite places in the was deployed on the Royal Navy’s first world.’ submarine and Thales has since gone on to the potential civil Cresswell’s obvious enthusiasm is buoyed provide periscopes, then optronic masts, to and military use of by the belief that science and technology every single submarine in the Royal Navy. provide considerable societal benefits and that “There are three original periscopes from autonomy is massive the impact of Covid-19, whilst severe for many, that period left,” said Alex Cresswell, Chief and it’s not just an is likely to present similarly advantageous Executive Officer and Chairman of Thales UK. challenges and benefits as we emerge from the “One is in the Thales foyer at Glasgow, the engineering challenge. pandemic other is in the Maritime Museum and the third in the air it is going That said, Thales has not escaped is at St Andrew’s Golf Club where you can look to be overcoming the disruption to production chains and projects through it and view the first hole!” and has had to introduce a Global Crisis Cresswell’s appointment in the UK follows challenge of operating Adaptation Plan to strengthen its resilience. several years as Executive Vice-President, in uncontrolled The company’s civil aeronautics business – Thales Land and Air Systems in France, and he which generated sales of approximately is keen for engineering careers to be as airspace €2.15bn in 2019 - recorded a 45 per cent sales
January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk 22 slump in third quarter of 2020. “After the 2008 crash, it took five years for the [civil aerospace] industry to recover and we could be looking at something similar,” Cresswell said. “And I think we’re going to see a much-changed rationale to travel with a higher emphasis on green issues and the environment. “At one end of the spectrum, it could be airlines retiring the big aircraft...and at the other it will be the greater use of AI and technology to improve the green footprint of the industry,” he continued. “By combining AI with our expertise in trajectory prediction algorithms for flight management systems, it is possible to predict air traffic with a degree of reliability, and thus anticipate the decisions that will need to be made; improving factors such as cutting down on aircraft circling waiting to land, burning fuel, aircraft waiting on taxiways.” According to Cresswell, the challenges and opportunities of a technology-led bounce back from Covid will very likely involve autonomy, AI, IoT connectivity, cyber security and big data. He notes that the importance of data and algorithms to extract important information from vast quantities of data will grow, but a strong case will remain in the autonomous realm for keeping a human in certain decision-making loops. Furthermore, algorithms are inextricably linked to autonomy and trust in autonomy will be critical as new platforms and use cases emerge. “The potential civil and military use of autonomy is massive and it’s not just an engineering challenge,” he said. “In the air, it is going to be overcoming the challenge of operating in the uncontrolled airspace – the
23 January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk At Frazer-Nash, we harness creativity and innovation to deliver competitive advantage…
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In an uncertain world, we contribute to national security in a huge number of ways. We help make sure that power is generated and distributed to everyone who needs it. We support moving people and goods around and between the big cities of an increasingly urbanised society. We work to make the world a more sustainable place. We ensure governments save time and money when public spending globally is under huge pressure. And we help our clients wrestle with the challenges and opportunities of an ever-accelerating digital revolution.
SYSTEMS AND ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY www.fnc.co.uk INTERVIEW Alex Cresswell
a fresh pipeline of talent and Cresswell concedes that companies will have to look beyond the conventional tertiary route . “The old model of graduate and PhD recruitment is being supplemented these days by really talented young people joining at a younger age and going on to get a degree through an apprenticeship route,” he said. “We have an excellent partnership with Manchester Met University for a degree apprenticeship that provides students with a solid academic foundation in Computer Science/Software Engineering, along with real life project and workplace skills.” Cresswell joined Thomson CSF (latterly Thales) in 1992 with the intention of leaving after three years. He remained due to the ‘huge variety of meaningful projects’ he was responsible for and is confident that the sheer Autonomous maritime technology is being developed at pace and scale of change will help inspire the Turnchapel, Plymouth next generation of engineering talent. “We’re the eyes and ears of the UK Dreadnought Class nuclear submarines… we’re 1,000ft ‘in line of sight’ area below. we’re going to going to play a key role in the building of the “At Turnchapel, Plymouth we’ve invested in habitat and refuelling modules for the Gateway a centre to develop these maritime autonomous mars as part of the space station as part of the Artemis mission to technologies. The most advanced is mine exomars mission land on the Moon….we’re going to Mars as part countermeasures (MMCM). Effectively, it’s of the Exomars mission in 2022 where our taking the sailor out of the dull, dirty and in 2022 where our sensors will play a central role in the mission to dangerous and its proving highly effective.” sensors will play a find signs of life. Early into the Covid-19 pandemic Thales and central role in the “Just as I did, engineers will want to come partners mobilised in civilian airspace to bring and work on these sorts of challenges. It’s a beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) capabilities mission to find signs perennial, personal thing: to contribute and to drones delivering PPE and medical of life make a difference.” equipment from the Scottish mainland to a remote hospital on the Island of Mull. (The Engineer, April 2020). “I think it demonstrated the positive role that unmanned technology can play in our society and hopefully represents a landmark step to accelerate its adoption,” Cresswell said. A piloted aircraft with the potential to operate with a degree of autonomy is scheduled to enter service in the mid-2030s. The Tempest Future Combat Air System includes Thales as a team member and the platform’s proposed capabilities will make today’s military jets seem antiquated in comparison. “We will explore how we will play a leading role in designing and securing the digital operating environment,” Cresswell said. “It’s not just a platform, it’s the ability to share and assimilate massive amounts of data in a trusted command structure and secure direct effects as a consequence.” Thales is heading to space Getting Tempest airborne, keeping MMCMs with the Artemis NASA space afloat, and accommodating a greater number of programme unmanned and autonomous drones will require
25 January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk Q&ANOVEMBER reshoring 2019
Q&A: Reshoring UK manufacturing: how, why and who? An expert panel discusses the challenges, benefits and practicalities of reshoring manufacturing to the UK
jon excell reports
fforts to beef up UK supply bolstering UK manufacturing resilience and ensuring that its GTMA and head of the Reshoring chains and encourage manufacturing supply chains are fit for an uncertain future. UK, an initiative which is helping manufacturers to favour For this special report, in an effort to understand more manufacturers tap into the UK existing domestic production have been about the benefits, challenges and practicalities of reshoring, supply chain. gathering momentum for a while The Engineer approached some of those at the sharp end now. of this phenomenon, including one firm that has actually How can reshoring benefit businesses EBut the challenges presented by recently reshored production to the UK: Industrial hardware and the wider manufacturing economy? the Covid-19 pandemic – coupled with specialist Albert Jagger. Julia Moore: Ever since manufacturers concerns over the impact of Brexit But first, to get a broader perspective on the benefits of began outsourcing production to - have turbocharged these arguments reshoring and the assistance that’s available we caught up more competitively priced overseas and reshoring is now being seen as with Make UK’s Senior Campaigns and Skills Policy Manager economies such as China and India
an increasingly important in terms of Bhavina Bharkada; and Julia Moore, Chief Executive of there has been a race to the bottom RA/stock.adobe.com EGAS credit: Image
January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk 26 Read more about manufacturing at www.theengineer.co.uk
supply of critical items. There is now the overseas price advantage that enticed more impetus put on re-establishing many businesses just a decade ago has been UK production of these parts and protect SME manufacturing. progressively eroded Julia Moore, Reshoring UK Even before the global threat from COVID-19 there was a paradigm shift from OEMs looking at the benefits based on price. However, the overseas multiple suppliers, home or abroad, of reshoring, as highlighted by the price advantage that enticed many in different locations helps to reduce Lloyds Bank report ‘Business in businesses just a decade ago has disruptions by spreading the risk. It can Britain: Manufacturing’. A sponsor of been progressively eroded, but it is also increase agility as there are more the Reshoring UK facility, research the combined business reality that supplier options to draw from. from Lloyds Bank showed more than the flexibility of local supply, quality As we look ahead to the challenges a third (37%) of firms asked said they issues, lead times, volume demands manufacturers may face in the longer Julia Moore were planning to move manufacturing and easier face-to-face personal contact term, it’s not a question of if another Chief Executive of processes back to the UK that had that is driving the need to return to UK geopolitical event will occur, but GTMA and head of previously been offshored to territories suppliers. when. It’s clear that manufacturers the Reshoring UK like Asia and eastern Europe There is an intrinsic value attached will have to prioritise connectivity The prime motive for this, cited by to making things here in the UK, and diversification as ways of reducing 71% of those with these plans, was to not least being the opportunities to risk. With increased investment in improve quality – a telling endorsement innovate. Reshoring UK highlights the technology, UK manufacturers can of the high standards that British skills and resources of the UK supply do that by building smart, resilient manufacturers and workers uphold, chains and aids manufacturers when supply chains that can withstand these which also has extremely positive considering domestic production external shocks. implications for UK supply chains. for new projects or for the relocation Bhavina Bharkada Some of the recent joiners of ‘onshore’ of existing work programmes. Is reshoring actually happening in the Senior Campaigns Reshoring UK have been prompted by Of course, we do not expect that UK? and Skills Policy current events and talk of onshoring everything is going to come back to Julia Moore: What Ventilator Challenge Manager, Make UK activities. Now, there is greater the UK, we are not so naive, but we UK revealed was a whole world of power and resonance behind the core are saying to those manufacturers, do subcontractors in the UK that OEMs message of the initiative that is seeing consider dual sourcing. Something have no direct knowledge of or contact momentum build and increasing like this pandemic is likely to happen with. This pandemic has exposed the its ability to engage with more again. They need to consider how we frailties of many of the UK supply organisations. mitigate our risk against being exposed chains, highlighting just how reliant Bhavina Bharkada: Bringing to this situation in the future. With many have become on the overseas manufacturing back to the UK is so much to be gained for both sides, manufacturers only need to look at the advantages of right-shoring, near- Graph 1: How do you anticipate the proportion of your company’s suppliers will change in the next two years? shoring - whatever we call it - to see the benefits of shortening the supply chains to gain the benefit of reducing costs, innovation and convenience of a supply chain to manufacturing in the UK, and we know that companies are taking steps in this direction. Bhavina Bharkada: For manufacturers, reshoring is a form of diversification and this comes through our latest survey of manufacturers carried out over the summer [2020]. The results showed that manufacturers are diversifying their supply chains, with 15% using multiple suppliers, and a further 15% also reporting that they are increasing their use of local suppliers. Being able to draw on Source: Make UK / Oracle survey, 2020
27 January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk Q&ANOVEMBER reshoring 2019
certainly a hot topic, but our survey manufacturers are looking to resilient, agile and responsive. also found that in spite of recent geopolitical events (including diversify supply chains as a means of What is your organisation doing to help? the pandemic) the proportion of spreading risk Bhavina Bharkada, Make UK Julia Moore: Established over five manufacturers’ suppliers’ bases has not years ago, the Reshoring UK initiative changed significantly in the past two has been developing an online years. Contrary to belief, there has not Reshoring UK platform appreciates the complexities supplier database over that time. A been a huge sway towards re-shoring, involved when transferring manufacturing from overseas. key point about this facility is that it with only 21% of manufacturers saying The website portal has been created to help re-establish leverages existing trade associations, they have moderately increased the capability required to meet manufacturers demands sector organisations and other suppliers based in the UK. Global and those businesses that have used it in this current crisis groupings, some 26 currently. So, it suppliers, whether in Europe or have realised just how much capability and competence is is not recreating another network further afield remain important to UK available within the UK. or group but building upon existing manufacturing supply chains. The key thing is to get the primes, OEMs, and Tier 1s foundations that already exist. These But as we look ahead to the next involved in this. The pandemic threat has shown many existing organisations know their two years, our survey found over a third businesses that they did not know where the tail-end of membership base intimately, and of manufacturers reported that they their supply chain was. It really has highlighted the frailty there is sustainability because they intend to moderately increase their use of the whole globalised manufacturing and logistical know whether each company is still of UK-based suppliers in the next two infrastructure. in membership. They are responsible years, with a further 12% indicating a Manufacturers are constantly experiencing global for maintaining that data ensuring significant increase. This is different shocks which affect their supplies. Companies transporting reliability. to previous years which showed products across the world are constantly experiencing these Reshoring UK is a neutral platform manufacturers had not significantly blockages from political unrest, natural disasters, collapse that clearly displays the depth of increased the number of UK suppliers. of financial markets and perhaps for the UK, with Brexit just the UK SME supply chain universe. Whilst this is only showing the around the corner, our departure from the EU and the long Any enquiries linked to suppliers are intention to re-shore, it does indicate term effects of this pandemic will affect our stability in the distributed to the supplier’s trade that manufacturers are beginning UK. association; the link is always between to address the international supply Reshoring UK’s aim is to bring the top and bottom of the association and its member. A chain risks highlighted by Covid-19. the supply chain together. With so much value to be gained strength of a trade association is that Evidently manufacturers are looking by both sides, large manufacturers only need to look more it can create a supply chain or cluster to diversify their supply chains as a closely at what is already available to them in this country, group for an industry need from within way of spreading risk, and exploring in terms of innovation, technology and quality and ease of its membership. the options to use local suppliers is one access to see just how important this agile marketplace can For example, through our Medical option. Increasing their use of local be for cross industry knowledge transfer. Manufacturing is Cluster of 100 companies, the GTMA suppliers was in the top three strategies urged to seize this opportunity to reconsider its supply base. was involved in early March 2020, manufacturers reported to have Bhavina Bharkada: Transferring manufacturing back to working with UCL on the CPAP undertaken to improve their supply the UK will be no easy feat. Long standing supply chain ventilator in which our members chain performance. networks such as those in the automotive sector have been were involved, proving SMEs are agile Instead, as we think about building in place for many decades, therefore upping and moving and can transfer their skills from supply chains that shift in focus from them to any place will be challenging and costly. It can take automotive to medical manufacture. ‘just in time’ to ‘just in case’, we may many years to move supply chains, to setup new ones, and Bhavina Bharkada: Make UK are see changes in where manufacturers’ ensure that you have the people and skills to deliver this. supporting manufacturers to build supplier bases are. This includes With only 13% of manufacturers having full visibility of smart, resilient supply chains by diversification across different their supply chains, talk of reshoring may be premature. adopting and embracing digital continents to help mitigate the impact What the pandemic has done is highlighted that supply solutions. Whether it’s web-based or of geopolitical events in one particular chains are critical for our sector and this needs to be an issue cloud-based solutions, better visibility region. However it still remains too as important as people and finances. Tipping the balance through digitalisation will prove early to tell if attitudes have shifted further towards diversification through digitalisation will advantageous in the medium to long and if supply chain networks will really help manufacturers and the sector as a whole become more term. Our series of blogs with practical shorten following the latest Covid-19 steps on what manufacturers need pandemic. to be thinking about when it comes manufacturers need to look more to supply chains is available on the What are the key challenges involved in closely at what’s already available Make UK website. You can also access transferring manufacturing back from our free webinars in partnership with overseas? to them in this country Julia Moore Oracle where we discuss practical steps Julia Moore: Everyone behind the with manufacturers too.
January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk 28 Read more about supply chain issues www.theengineer.co.uk
Assistance from the MTC was key to helping the company shift Moves production back like to the UK Jagger
Mark Hilton and Andrew Cooper, Operations Director and Director at industrial hardware specialist Albert Jagger explain how reshoring put the company in total control of its product.
aving initially conducted a risk assessment of our supply chain and evaluated the financials around the upon thousands of unit inventory. Meaning a complete understanding of the entire process entire reshoring process, we realised that rather than focus on the cost per unit, as it was not as simple as just reshoring the that once we factored in all of the customers are now looking at the benefits product. Whilst we didn’t necessarily lack the shipping, the handling of port and the of having units available to them at their skills to change, the MTC highlighted certain Henvironmental impact, the overall terms were preference. This also has allowed us to avoid a issues and brought them to light, which was far better for the customer and the outgoing cost price war. simply not possible to do without their help. was cheaper for Albert Jagger. Following this, By being able to see where the new we then took it upon ourselves to ‘myth bust’ Key challenges workstations would be positioned and how they many of the misguided perceptions attached to The closure of the factory for a month in order looked through virtual reality, the MTC helped procuring from China – especially with regards for it to be improved upon was probably the build the relationship of trust between our staff to the total procurement cost. most hard-hitting obstacle. The core challenge and the management team. They also worked We then invested £300,000 in the necessary was working with our head office for weeks and with us to make more efficient layouts, assisted equipment to manufacture that product in the months to ensure that whilst our factory was with costing, helped come up with progression UK as well as reskilling our workforce to operate closed parts were still available to sell. tooling and most importantly set deadlines for our new CNC machines – the Citizen Cincom To ensure that the manufacturing output everything. L20 and L32 machine and the IMECA Boss 338 was maximised, we had to make improvements HD bar feeders. to the factory’s layout, roof, flooring, quality Key advice By reshoring our manufacturing operations department and lighting. In essence, for the Probably two core pieces of advice would back to the UK, we are now in total control of the process to be done correctly we were forced to certainly be to start with the data and to get product from start to finish. invest in an entirely new factory. In total these a handle on the total cost of importing your improvements totaled around £500,000. products – whether it be from China or an Key benefits We also had to commit to £320,000 of capital alternative market, and to not be afraid of Originally we were forecasting to make 750,000 investment into two CNC Machining Centres challenging the status quo. units per year but after securing multiple and to improving the tooling in the press shop. Once all the costs are factored, businesses contracts since finalising the reshoring Another core piece of investment was in the will be able challenge and ‘myth bust’ many process we are now expecting that to increase staff as they had to be trained in a brand-new of the preconceptions regarding procuring significantly to 1,500,000 per year. skillset – predominantly in CNC proficiency from overseas. One such being that for Albert This substantial rise in sales was generated operation and programming. Jagger in particular, it was no longer cheaper to as a result of the fact that we are now able to purchase from China. demonstrate absolute control over the supply Helping hand Planning, as well as taking stock of what chain. We worked very closely with the MTC, whose infrastructure, equipment and skill set a By bringing our manufacturing operations assistance was vital in ensuring the reshoring business has at its disposal is also vital. back to home soil this has also shortened the process was possible. They facilitated the For these reasons, we also recommend to chain – which has benefited our customers optimisation of the layout of the factory by sticking to reshoring a family of products rather significantly as they no longer have to using state-of-the-art virtual reality software than use the scattergun approach of bringing commit themselves to purchasing thousands and hardware and ensured our workforce had back a catalogue of different items.
29 January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk SPACE
rom the 2016 Rosetta comet by UK startup Spacebit becomes the landing, to the development first British built craft to reach the lunar of the Mars rover for ESA’s surface. forthcoming mission to the Perhaps even more intriguingly , red planet, British space this diminutive robot (which weighs scientists and engineers around 1.3kg and is built on a 10x10cm are at the heart of some cube sat frame) will break the mould of the world’s most ambitious and for planetary rovers, which typically Fchallenging space-exploration efforts. move about on tracks, and instead Which makes it all the more surprising scuttle across the moon’s surface on four that our nearest cosmic neighbour - the spider-like legs. According to Spacebit moon - has never been visited by a UK CEO Pavlo Tanasyuk, the autonomous developed probe or robot. Until now battery-powered rover - known as A diminutive four-legged that is. “Asagumo” - will be the first legged robot robot looks set to become the Because in the summer of 2021 - if to explore anywhere other than Earth. UK’s first visitor to the moon. all goes according to plan - this notable The curious looking system will gap in the sector’s CV looks set to be hitch a ride aboard one of the first new Jon Excell reports plugged when a small rover developed wave of commercial lunar spacecraft; Crawl space
January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk 30 Astrobotic’s Peregrine lunar lander Tanasyuk admits that it is unlikely that the rover will get - currently scheduled to launch in an opportunity to explore these sub-surface tunnels during its June 2021 – where it will share the maiden mission, but is confident that the group has overcome journey with around 30 other payloads many of the key challenges that will make this possible in including a number from NASA, with future visits. whom Astrobotic has a $79.5m One of these is the development of robotic legs that are contract. able to cope with the varied depth and consistency of the On arrival, Asagumo’s initial aims lunar regolith (or soil) which feature snowshoe like footers are modest: demonstrate the core to prevent the rover from sinking into the surface. Tanasyuk technology by crawling a few metres A prototype model said that the team is also experimenting with different gaits over the lunar surface and use a suite of the Asagumo robot for different ground conditions. “Altering the gait, we can Spacebit’s of cameras and LIDAR sensors to wheeled rover choose the optimal parameters for a particular area, manage gather data. But if this first mission is a (Mission 2) the balance between speed, stability, energy consumption,” he success, Tanasyuk hopes that the rover Astrobotic’s said. could put the UK firmly at the forefront Peregrine lunar Another key challenge has been around packaging all of the lander of a lunar resources market that is system’s electronics and sensor payload into such a small and expected to be huge in the years ahead. lightweight design, something that Tanasyuk said has led to Talking to The Engineer late last year, Tanasyuk explained that whilst he has always had a fascination with the moon, Spacebit – which was founded in 2014 – originally started out as an effort to build a decentralised organisation that uses blockchain technology for space-based data applications. Whilst this remains a key aim, the recent emergence of private space organisations with the capability to deliver payloads to the moon has, he said, accelerated ambitions to actually put a vehicle on the lunar surface. He added that a walking vehicle has been chosen because it is thought to represent the best option for accessing a number of trade-off and compromises in hard to reach crevices and tunnels, terms of things like battery weight. and gathering valuable data that could However, whilst the rover’s relatively be key to enabling humans to both small size does present some major tap into the moon’s mineral resources challenges, it could also prove to be its and identify natural structures and biggest advantage, said Tanasyuk, who materials that could one day be used to believes the concept could fundamentally build a sustainable habitat. change the approach to planetary The team is particularly interested exploration. “The reason it is small is that in using the robot to explore the moon’s ultimately we believe it can change the lava tubes: natural tunnels formed approach to space exploration,” he said. “If in its geological past that are thought you can send something which is smaller to hold promise for future human and cheaper then you can send multiple habitations. “Astronauts, when they systems and you can also allow for risk. We go back, will have to build structures can have more data and more exploration at on the lunar surface, or underneath it, lower cost,” he said so that you can sustain life or a colony Whilst Asagumo’s unusual appearance and unconventional on the moon,” said Tanasyuk. “If you method of locomotion means that it’s destined to grab many have a lava tube, you already have an of the headlines, Spacebit is not pinning all of its hopes on a environment that is shielded from legged rover. Indeed, at the time of writing it had announced radiation and many other things. You plans to send a second wheeled rover, aboard another are getting an environment where you privately developed lander - this time Intuitive Machine’s can already store stuff, and you can live Nova-C vehicle, which is due to arrive at the moon’s Vallis and work there.” Schroteris in September or October of next year.
31 January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk PRODUCT Q&A:NOVEMBER Additive 2019 manufacturing
rom the Large Hadron Collider at Q&A: of deeply experienced application CERN to shoes and swab tests, the engineers. The AIG works with entire additive manufacturing our customers to understand their ecosystem is evolving to provide application need and then develop the customers with a digitally best solution – including materials, integrated solution. The Engineer END-TO-END hardware, and software – to achieve Fspoke to experts from Stratasys, 3D the desired outcome. This enables Systems and EOS about their customers’ 3D Systems to architect custom AM requirements as we enter 2021. solutions for a breadth of applications PRECISION in industries such as dental, medical Meet the panel device design & manufacturing, Reji Puthenveetil - Executive Vice Experts from EOS, 3D Systems, and aerospace & defence, transportation President, Industrial Solutions, 3D Stratasys provide a fascinating & motorsports, energy, high tech, Systems glimpse into the year ahead for consumer goods, and jewellery. For Andreas Langfeld - President EMEA additive manufacturing highly regulated industries such as Stratasys aerospace and healthcare, our team also Markus Glasser - Senior Vice President JASON FORD reports has deep experience in process and part EMEA, EOS validation and certifi cation. AL: In design, there is an What industry sectors are you increasing need for full-colour, focusing on in 2021? multi-material prototyping RP: We are focusing on markets capabilities. This is an area and applications that demand we are addressing with our performance and reliability advanced J-Series family while maintaining strict process of PolyJet 3D printers. control. Additionally, we want Automotive design is one to work with organisations that area in which we’re seeing seek product innovation as a this, and Volkswagen is just means of delivering value to their one example. For engineers, customers. To deliver on this a key driver is the need purpose, the company embarked for engineering-grade on a restructuring eff ort that materials and machine resulted in the creation of two TECH accuracy to address more market-focused business units DETAILS functional prototyping requirements. - Healthcare Solutions and Industrial as our customers turn to additive The EOS P 500 Our industrial F123 Series and MakerBot Solutions. We believe our unparalleled manufacturing and decentralised laser sintering METHOD range of 3D printers off er platform is off ering of hardware, software, production methods to support their claimed to industrial-grade additive manufacturing materials, and services, combined response to the pandemic. We are seeing offer excellent capabilities at highly accessible with our leadership in application testing kit swabs engineered more homogenous price-points. In manufacturing, we’re knowledge, uniquely positions us through additive techniques, allowing part quality and seeing signifi cant demand for tooling to provide additive manufacturing for a more distributed approach to dimensional applications and we also believe we accuracy close solutions for specifi c, high-value manufacturing and logistics. Our focus to that of injec- are reaching an infl ection point for applications in these growing markets. in healthcare remains with our work tion moulded explosive growth in 3D printing for end AL: At Stratasys, we will focus on our developing AM technology solutions parts use parts. core competencies and R&D in four across implants, prostheses, and more. MG: Let us take consumer goods as specifi c key areas – design, engineering, We are seeing more exciting applications an example. Here, it is imperative to manufacturing, and healthcare. Our in consumer products, particularly provide the right Cost Per Part (CPP) aim is to create a fully digital additive on the polymer side of the business— criteria to ensure the product is value chain, designed for Industry 4.0 from HEXR’s 3D printed cycle helmets positioned in a way that fi ts logically integration, to help our customers thrive to footwear brands creating additive into the market. Longer-term, the in an uncertain world, and be ready midsoles. We also have aerospace for sector looks for production methods for any opportunity. We’re particularly cabin interiors, plus 3D printing in that can be optimised end-to-end and focused on the expected growth in context of e-mobility. customised promptly in accordance manufacturing applications. In fact, we with shifting market demands, ensuring estimate this should be a $25bn market What are those sectors asking of you and the product remains reliable, profi table, by 2025, up from $2.4bn in 2015. what solutions are you providing? and viable. This is where our additive MG: COVID has undoubtedly driven RP: We have a global Application manufacturing technologies step in. our focus in the medical space, Innovation Group (AIG) comprised Sustainability will continue to be a
January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk 32 Read more about 3D printing at www.theengineer.co.uk
priority area for us. Many companies up to 5x and to reduce cost per part TECH are looking to use materials with DETAILS signifi cantly. environmentally friendly properties. 3D Systems’ Off ering a material like our PA 1101, Accura Fidelity What is the key product for you currently, which is based on renewable resources material is a and how is it being applied? in the form of castor oil, is just a resin optimised RP: Investment Casting customers beginning. for Investment are integrating our stereolithography Casting platform in workfl ows to directly What innovations will move your offering produce sacrifi cial casting pa erns. forward in 2021? Additionally, we recently announced our RP: We think about innovation in terms Accura Fidelity material – an antimony of solutions that include hardware, free, low viscosity clean burn resin software, materials, and optimised that is optimised for high-performance processes versus discrete products. we are excited about our joint venture Investment Casting. In combination Something we are engaged in deeply with Xaar through whom we’re working with our new QuickCast Diamond build and will continue to be in 2021 is the to enable high-speed manufacturing style we continue to present innovations Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN of production parts using powder-bed that our customers value. Another is where the team required production fusion technology. We will reveal more Reji Puthenveetil our Direct Metal Printing platform - the of high precision cryogenic cooling details on this next year and expect - Executive DMP Factory 500. The platform’s build components. These parts are extremely to further broaden our technology Vice President, volume - 500mmx500mmx500mm - complex, very diffi cult to manufacture portfolio. Industrial has facilitated a host of applications in using traditional methods, must be MG: One of our key innovations for Solutions, 3D industrial gas turbine and aerospace very high precision, high density with polymer is FDR - Fine Detail Resolution – Systems industries that value large radial no porosity, and must be pristine clean. technology. It uses a laser with an output symmetry. 3D Systems’ additive manufacturing of 50W and produces a very fi ne beam AL: With trillions of dollars of global solution comprising our Direct Metal with a focus diameter twice as small output each year, manufacturing is Printing technology, advanced software, as existing Laser Sinter technologies. much too diverse and requires multiple and processing of our advanced The technology achieves extremely fi ne additive technologies. However, for materials facilitated production of these surfaces, as well as delicate but stable engineers, one I’d like to particularly unique parts. parts with a minimum wall thickness highlight for functional prototypes Andreas Langfeld AL: We expect to only accelerate our of just 0.22mm. This opens new fi elds is our METHOD 3D printing platform - President EMEA innovation pace in 2021, recognising of applications for series production. from MakerBot. METHOD combines Stratasys there is no one silver bullet technology On the metals side, one innovation industrial 3D printing technologies with that can meet the array of diverse we are looking into is scaling up the desktop fl exibility in terms of materials application needs in a growing range productivity by scaling up the laser spot and the openness of the platform. It’s of industry sectors. A blend of 3D size. After starting with a fi rst feasibility the only 3D printer in its price class printing solutions is required, and we study on 316L we can state that there is that provides guaranteed dimensional are constantly developing our portfolio a huge potential in using a bigger spot accuracy on printed parts. to ensure we have the broadest line of size combined with high laser power to MG: For metals, we have our M 300 Series technologies available. For example, speed up the additive manufacturing Markus Glasser which is a key product for industrial process by a factor of - Senior Vice manufacturers to produce high-quality President EMEA, metal parts. The platform clearly is EOS designed for industrial applications, off ering customers the fl exibility to choose the degree of automation that best suits their needs for an optimised workfl ow as well as the option to easily ramp-up as demand increases. On the polymers side, one of our key products TECH is the EOS P 500. The laser sintering DETAILS platform is used for example by our Volkswagen is customer 1zu1 for prototype production using Stratasys and series applications where extremely J850 3D print- high repeatability is crucial. Parts 3D ers to create printed on this system off er an excellent ultra-realistic prototypes for homogeneous part quality, as well as a car interiors dimensional accuracy very close to that of injection moulded parts.
33 January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk The Engineer 2021 Business Confidence Survey / In partnership with Dassault Syst e mes TAKING INDUSTRY’S TEMPERATURE The findings of The Engineer’s first annual business confidence survey reveal an industry that is both concerned and unexpectedly bullish about the prospects for the next twelve months. Jon Excell reports.
The survey attracted 389 respondents from a range of sectors f the UK economy’s anxiety levels were already high at the beginning of 2020, then the events of the last 12 months 5% Academia have surely driven them into the stratosphere. 8% Aerospace The emergence of a number of apparently effective 15% All others vaccines has provided a realistic hope that we will at 8% Automotive some point this year start talking about the pandemic Iin the past tense; but the lingering consequences of its 9% None of these staggering economic impact will - as the Chancellor Rishi 4% Defence & Security Sunak warned in his December spending review - be with 4% Oil & Gas 4% Electronics us all for many years to come. 4% Medical Faced with this stark economic backdrop, not to 5% Energy mention continuing uncertainty (at the time of writing) 4% Food & Drink over the UK’s future trading relationship with the EU, key 31% Manufacturing sectors of the UK economy can rarely have contemplated such a challenging and uncertain future. And this is particularly true of its engineering and manufacturing sectors. Currently under about what the future holds. The same goes for those This November, in order to find out how industry’s top construction, the working in sectors viewed as key to the UK’s economic engineers are feeling about the challenges they face, The LSST in Chile will help recovery, such as renewables and healthcare. identify targets for Engineer conducted its first annual business confidence Confidence levels were lowest in those sectors that Comet Interceptor survey. We asked our readers - drawn from the highest have been hardest hit by the pandemic, with engineers in levels of the sector - to tell us how they are feeling about the KEY FINDINGS the aerospace and automotive sectors feeling particularly year ahead, what technology areas and sectors they expect gloomy about the future. to dominate, and how they expect their own organisations per cent of respondents Asked to identify the drivers for views on the year to perform. The key findings are highlighted here. 50 are confident about the ahead, respondents offered a range of views. Those at the The survey was completed by 389 respondents from a year ahead positive end of the spectrum cited strong order books, range of different sectors. The largest single response group diversified product portfolios, and a continued demand for (121 respondents) was from manufacturing, with the next per cent of say product as reasons to be cheerful. For those viewing the largest sample groups from the automotive and aerospace 85 business confidence months ahead with more trepidation the lingering effects sectors, which accounted for 7.7 per cent and eight per cent will be enhanced by a UK / EU of COVID-19, coupled with fears over the impact of Brexit, respectively. 90 per cent of the overall sample group were trade deal were the dominant areas of concern. at senior engineer level or above, with 12.9 per cent at CEO or MD level. More than a third expect Industry trends investment in R&D and NPD to Asked to rank a number of key industry trends in order Confidence snapshot flatline of importance over the coming months, respondents In a gratifying and somewhat surprising sign that UK identified digitalisation and automation as main areas to engineering firms are in a bullish mood, just over 50 per percent say the watch in 2021. cent of respondents said they were confident about the 54 pandemic has been a The perceived importance of these fields isn’t new. prospects for their businesses over the next 12 months. spur for innovation Indeed, both have been priority areas for a number of Meanwhile 31.6 per cent said that they were uncertain years and are viewed as key to improving the UK industry’s about 2021 will bring, whilst just 16 per cent of respondents Digitalisation & Automation productivity. However, as The Engineer has reported report feeling actively concerned about next year’s identifies as key technology throughout 2020, and as a number of articles in this prospects areas for 2021 supplement attest, there is little doubt that the challenges Image credit: LSST Project.NSF.AURA LSST credit: Image Unsurprisingly, these confidence levels varied from posed by the pandemic have highlighted the capabilities of sector to sector. Engineers working in areas that have been The pharma, medical and products in these technology areas and helped accelerate relatively unaffected by the pandemic - such as telecomms, renewables sectors are their adoption. Indeed, 54 per cent of our respondents defence, and consumer goods - were generally positive expected to enjoy a strong year told us that they believe COVID-19 has acted as a spur for
January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk 34 innovation within their business. To what extent do you agree with the following statements? Another trend expected to define industry activity in Strongly Strongly 2021 is energy efficiency and net zero engineering. Whether Agreee Agree Disagree Disgree Responses it is developing the technology to decarbonise mobility “My business confidence will be greatly improved if the UK secures a trade deal with the EU” and power generation, or implementing the processes and Count 132 194 43 15 384 systems that enable our factories to run more efficiently, Row % 34.4% 50.5% 11.2% 3.9% engineering will be at forefront of delivering on the UK’s “I’m excited about the business opportunities created by the UK’s exit from the EU” 2050 net zero ambitions and it was no surprise to see this Count 49 115 16 98 378 issue resonating with respondents. Row % 13.0% 30.4% 30.7% 25.9% Of the remaining options offered to respondents “The COVID-19 Pandemic is acting as a spur for innovation within my business” servitisation (which describes a shift towards more service Count 54 146 131 40 371 oriented business models) and reshoring (the process Row % 14.6% 39.4% 35.3% 10.8% of relocating manufacturing operations to the UK) were Total placed in fourth and fifth place respectively. Total Responses 384
Investing in the future As the UK economy attempts to drag itself out of recession, cent of respondents to see any collaboration at all. investment in the future will be key, and we asked from aerospace expect to Asked to shed some light on why collaboration is respondents whether, within their own organisations, see a reduction in R&D becoming increasingly important, respondents highlighted they expected to see increased investment in research and investment over the course a range of factors including the requirement to tap into development (R&D) and new product development (NPD). of next year. new skills; changes in the technological landscape – In both areas our findings paint a mixed picture with particularly with regard to net zero – requiring a more just under one third of respondents expecting either an Collaboration joined-up cross-sectoral approach; and the fact that - at a increase or a reduction in investment. The largest sample Addressing the challenges time of scarce resources and limited budgets - working with group expected to see no change on 2020 levels (38 per cent of the future increasingly partner organisations is often the only way of getting the for NPD and 42 per cent for R&D). requires high levels of job done. As with other questions, there were some significant collaboration - often Based on submitted written responses, engineers variations from sector to sector, with respondents between sectors and appear to be divided on the impact of the pandemic on from sectors displaying the highest confidence levels disciplines that have the collaborative climate. Some respondents said that the anticipating the greatest levels of investment. A in the past operated in social distancing requirements imposed by the virus made reasonably high proportion of respondents from the isolation - and this year’s collaboration difficult, whilst others suggested that the consumer, electronics, food and drink, marine, nuclear, survey appears to back mass adoption of remote conferencing tools triggered by renewables and rail sectors expect to increased high this up with almost half the crisis has helped make collaboration easier. levels of investment in NPD, whilst respondents from the of our respondents (48 renewables, electronics, marine, nuclear , food and drink per cent) telling us that Deal or no deal? and consumer goods sectors all expect to see an increase in they expect to see high At the time of writing trade discussions between the EU R&D investment in 2021. levels of collaboration with and the UK were ongoing (and expected to last well into Worryingly, the most pronounced declines in other organisations over December) but the outcome of these discussions is likely investment are expected in the automotive and aerospace the course of the next 12 to have a major impact on industry’s health as well as the sectors whose relative health supports much of the months. Indeed, only eight confidence of respondents. industrial activity in other sectors. Indeed, 33 per cent per cent of those surveyed Asked to rank the key business challenges presented of respondents from the automotive sector, and 40 per said that they didn’t expect by the UK’s exit from the EU in order of importance, respondents identified supply chain disruption, followed by the impact of tariffs as the key challenges that they will In general, how confident are you feeling about your business prospects face. over the next 12 months? These were followed by concerns over reduced access 8% Very concerned to key markets, fears that there would be reduced levels of 11% Very confident involvement in collaborative projects and worries about access to skills. 9% Concerned Whilst there are clearly many areas of concern, it appears that many of these concerns will be alleviated to some degree if the UK secures a trade deal with the EU, with 85 per cent of respondents agreeing that a trade deal would greatly improve their business confidence. 32% Uncertain However, whilst some respondents claim to be actively excited about the opportunities presented by 41% Confident Brexit, the majority (56 per cent) were unconvinced that leaving the EU – with or without a deal – will be good for business.
35 January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk ADVERTORIAL Digitalisation
DIGITALISATION IS NOT THE FUTURE. IT’S THE NOW. Julie Driscoll, Chief Product Officer at aPriori Technologies, explains how 2020 has brought the future colliding into the present − and the need for digitalisation sharply into the spotlight.
fter a year like 2020, we’re all acutely aware of the importance of digitalisation for the future of our processes, communications, and collaborations. It’s right there at the top of many an engineer’s wish list. And that’s the problem. It shouldn’t be on the wish list − digitalisation should be the A‘now’ and the norm. It should already be fully embedded and adopted across organisations and industry.
Resistance is not an option Sticking to the manufacturing modus operandi may have worked well for many in the past, but it will prove a perilous path going forward. Resisting digitalisation could see the demise of many legacy manufacturers as nimble start-ups swiftly embrace strategies, such as model-based definition, digital factories, automated manufacturability simulation, and web-based applications that facilitate global collaboration. When it comes to future insights, success will depend on our ability to use data to learn from the past, manage how global manufacturers can move toward that future the present and gain insight into the challenges, quickly and effectively. opportunities, and trends of the future. 2021 represents an opportunity for positive change for global manufacturing Connecting the dots through digitalisation, whatever that future may hold. Historic and predictive analysis of supply chain data gives us valuable insights into behaviours and patterns. This Smoothing out the supply chain data can also play a serious role in strengthening Supply chain disruption has been a common issue this collaboration and business relationships, while protecting year, but it existed long before COVID. The last 12−18 production schedules. But maximising the success and months have been beset with global challenges including efficacy of the digitalisation process will rely on trade wars, new trade agreements and rising international accessibility and using the right metrics. Effective tensions, and there’s more to come. Many companies are “EFFECTIVE digitalisation is about connecting the dots and utilising the now sourcing onshore or changing their default offshore DIGITALISATION CAN entire organisation’s skill set: all teams needs to be able to suppliers to countries in South East Asia, India, and HAVE A SIGNIFICANT share, and to understand and utilise data effectively, rather Mexico. IMPACT ON TWO MODERN than waiting for a specialist to analyse it. Applying the right Digitalisation is becoming an invaluable tool for metrics to supply chain data allows suppliers and partners informing our reaction to − and navigation of − this MANUFACTURING to mitigate future disruptions, and to streamline supply shifting landscape and building more resilient supply CHALLENGES: chain processes and management. chains that can flex and withstand the challenges ahead. COUNTERING SUPPLY Going forward, the ability to access at-a-glance, Stephanie Feraday, President and CEO of aPriori, explains CHAIN DISRUPTION, understandable, and pertinent data in real time can more about the importance of building a resilient supply provide manufacturers with the ultimate early warning chain for future competitive advantage in her recent AND DESIGN FOR system, and the mechanisms essential to change gears as article in Supply Chain Brain which offers guidance on MANUFACTURABILITY.” required.
January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk 36 Digitalisation aPriori Technologies
Designing for Manufacturability: a digital solution simulations? aPriori’s suite of simulation software can FORWARD THINKING Design for Manufacturability (DFM) technology is quickly help you generate reliable manufacturability insights in AND FUTURE PROOF becoming an essential way of working. Manufacturability minutes. As digitalisation’s power to issues often come to light once a product has already gone Can you integrate the software with key internal systems, revolutionise processes and to production, having a negative impact on time and such as Quoting and PLM? optimise efficiencies continues profits. DFM software helps designers to see beyond the Enables: Smarter working, smoother processes and to build, companies that lean into drawing board, CAD or existing PLM environment, by optimal cross-company visibility the change as an investment allowing optimum visibility of costs and alternative Collaborate in the future stand a greater materials early on in the design process. This significantly Lockdown doesn’t mean shutdown. The future is effective chance of surviving and thriving reduces risk and exposure to the potential cost drivers remote working via Cloud-based common data platforms. in our ever-evolving industrial that usually accompany new product development and Enables: Teams can work anywhere, at any time, with landscape. These five companies innovation. anyone. have embraced technology and recognised the power of Enhancing simulation with improved data As we face an uncertain future, rather than digitalisation as an accelerant, Simulation in design and engineering is nothing new, but dehumanising the process of manufacturing, helping them stay ahead of the the technology is constantly evolving. Utilising both digitalisation offers an essentially human advantage: curve and the competition. historic and real-time technical data to optimise connection, inclusivity, and security. It brings an end simulation and streamline production is a fundamental to departmental silos, opening up communication and • Cisco Systems leveraged model- benefit of modern digital tech. DFM technology can propel collaboration - from product design to engineering, to based design with aPriori, allowing a company out of fire-fighting mode into preparedness, sourcing, suppliers, and cost engineering. It speeds up optimal collaboration between and toward the ultimate goal: getting ahead of the time to revenue and reduces costs − saving businesses, design and manufacturing to reduce competition. jobs, and livelihoods. costs. Download this practical guide to Design for Looking forward, perhaps digitalisation will prove Manufacturability to learn more about how DFM can itself to be one of our most human innovations to • Commercial vehicle manufacturer, maximise efficiency. date. Kenworth Truck, moved from Get the right technology when it comes to matching manufacturing complex products the needs of your enterprise to the right digital • Julie Driscoll is Chief Product Officer at aPriori without established geometry to technology, consider not only what the tech can do, but Technologies, providers of comprehensive digital introducing a simple 3-step scan, also what it can enable for your business and your people. manufacturing simulation software and service entity extraction model and CAD solutions. model, made possible with aPriori. Simulate Does your simulation software leverage all the data in Find out more at www.apriori.com where you can • Global farming solutions your digital twin in digital factories? Are your designs watch a video or download more information about manufacturer, AGCO, utilised aPriori based on real manufacturing insights from your aPriori’s revolutionary software, Cost Insight Generate. to facilitate bulk costing, improve production cycle times, and provide better should-cost analysis.
• London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) identified 25−40% savings using aPriori, by implementing a more sophisticated solution with costing models and preloaded industry data.
• Engineering firm, Danfoss, successfully utilised aPriori to improve product cost management and are investing in digitalisation across their organisation in Connected Products & Services, Digital Customer Experiences, Speed & Agility, and IT.
To read more about how aPriori customers are accelerating business check out https://resources.apriori.com/
37 January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk ADVERTORIAL Electric Vehicles
POWERING THE FUTURE OF EV Unipart Logistics Automotive Director Richard Hankinson discusses the rapid rise of electric vehicles, and the challenges facing manufacturers when it comes to the battery
How does electrification fit into the mega trends driving the forays into this field, which when perfected will lead to automotive industry? fewer collisions, and less wear and tear. All of which will The mega trends driving the industry are ‘autonomous, mean the demand for new vehicles and for aftermarket connected, electric and shared’ mobility automotive parts will dramatically reduce over the next decade. technology, known collectively as ACES. Electrification has already begun in earnest and Why are consumers increasingly turning towards EVs? will continue apace as environmental awareness drives Traditional barriers to EV ownership are quickly being government carbon neutral agendas, municipal zero- eroded away. The cost of new EVs is coming down, range emissions zones and consumer demand. anxiety is diminishing as new models go further on a single Connected vehicles will be the next big ticket item. charge, and the charging network itself is growing every Over time outright car ownership will reduce as consumers day. move away from being tied to an asset which statistically Even through the Covid pandemic, which has hit the does nothing but sit on your driveway 80 percent of the automotive industry hard, EV sales continue to rise. Now time. Just as consumers used to buy vinyl and CDs but the world has seen a glimpse of roads without the noise and now pay to stream music rather than own it, vehicles pollution of internal combustion engines, many see the will increasingly be shared between users using internet pandemic as a chance to hit ‘reset’ and focus on sustainable technology. mobility. The UK market in lockdown reflects this: EV sales Then as connectivity achieves greater sophistication, have bucked the trend of the steep decline in petrol and mobility’s next milestone will be fully autonomous diesel sales during the pandemic and are actually higher vehicles. Tech giants have already made well publicised than in the same period last year.
January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk 38 Electric Vehicles Unipart
In the race to meet consumer demand and keep up with the competition, automotive manufacturers (commonly Why is storage so important for EV batteries? known as original equipment manufacturers or OEMs) are High-voltage lithium ion ba eries have a risk of thermal focused on the front end of the market, producing more runaway which can lead to ba eries starting their own self- new electric vehicles than ever before. The market is set for sustaining fi re. This would have devastating consequences an onslaught of them over the next three years. for large quantities of assets. Storing ba eries safely and The next hurdle is how they provide aftermarket correctly will reduce this risk. support to this fl ood of new technology through a network At the moment the industry overcomes this issue by of dealerships and other partners rooted in the internal locating expendable storage units well away from other combustion engine sector. buildings. Ironically, while regulation surrounding ba ery life Richard Hankinson Why is the battery life cycle such a big challenge for EV cycle is a worry for OEMs, ba ery storage regulation is manufacturers? relatively open as the UK wants to remain competitive EV manufacturers are responsible for the whole life of the with the world’s biggest EV producer China. In some ba eries in the vehicles they produce, which means when ways insurance premiums can be a bigger infl uence than those ba eries fail or come to the end of their life, the OEM regulation. needs to fi nd a way of either repairing them, reusing them Smart storage is the next big trend. Unipart was or recycling them. involved in a UK Government research programme called With OEMs investing so much into this technology and Project Detain, which sought to identify how storage rapidly producing greater quantities of ba eries, a ba ery conditions could be controlled digitally using sensors to end-of-life solution is not only a vital piece of the EV jigsaw, improve safety (and hopefully the confi dence of insurers). but also still the missing piece. A circular economy needs to As smart storage becomes more prevalent, a be er network be created, supported by both business and THE BIGGEST BATTERY of EV ba ery storage should make for a stronger supply government. CHALLENGES chain. The raw materials needed to build a FACING ELECTRIC VEHICLETHE BIGGESTMANUFACTURERS BATTERY ba ery aren’t inexhaustible, so OEMs must Who should EV manufacturers be looking to ConsumerCHALLENGES demand for electric vehicles is growing rapidly, fuelled by fi nd a way to reuse or recycle them. environmental awareness, increased range, an expandingFACING charging ELECTRIC partner with to solve battery challenges? network and reduced cost of ownership. EV legacy items are one example of this VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS Knowledge and capability in automotive But what areConsumer the issues demand arising for electric vehicles is growing rapidly, fuelled by out of manufacturers’environmental lifecycle awareness, increased range, an expanding charging looming problem. Where an EV model has responsibilitynetwork for EV and batteries, reduced cost of ownership. logistics is paramount. EV manufacturers need and how can they overcome them? passed out of production, how does the But what are the issues arising to fi nd a partner who understands both the out of manufacturers’ lifecycle OEM continue to replace and repair failed responsibility for EV batteries, forward and reverse supply chain, with heritage REVERSE SUPPLYand howCHAIN can they overcome them? ba eries from dwindling stocks? They need ISSUE: Safe transportation and storage in the automotive industry but who is also of in-production batteries on the road REVERSE SUPPLY CHAIN SOLUTION: a partner with automotive manufacturing A logistics par tner with a track already working with the big brands on their ISSUE: Safe transportation and storage record of automotive aftermarket of in-production batteries on the road and aftermarket logistics experience and and SOLUTION:capability to handle battery electrifi cation. stockA safelylogistics and par tneref ciently with a track TRANSPORTATION & STORAGE record of automotive aftermarket capability. and capability to handle battery Unipart Logistics has a strong track stock safely and ef ciently ISSUE:TRANSPORTATION Batteries need to & STORAGE SOLUTION: be stored safely to avoid Smart storage and forward record in the end-to-end supply chain, not thermal runaway events supplySOLUTION: chain logistics partner ISSUE: Batteries need to with an exemplary safety record What will EV manufacturers be mindful of (self-sustainingbe res) stored safely to avoid Smart storage and forward just in automotive but also in the technology thermal runaway events supply chain logistics partner in 2021? (self-sustaining res) with an exemplary safety record sector. We have been working with premium LEGACY ITEMS While EV sales have continued to rise in LEGACY ITEMS telecoms consumer brands for years, reusing ISSUE: Dwindling stock for hybrid and full electric batteries ISSUE: Dwindling stock for SOLUTION: 2020, the market is not totally immune to in vehicles no longer in production and recycling ba eries in mobile devices which hybrid and full electric batteries A manufacturingSOLUTION: and logistics which need to bein vehicles replaced no longer in production providerA manufacturing who can repair and logistics which need to be replaced the pandemic, and global supply chain or repaired and providerreplace who can repair often contain many of the same rare metals as EV or repaired and replace disruption will continue to be a concern.SECONDSECOND LIFE LIFE ba eries.
In the UK in particular, supply chain ISSUE: BatteriesISSUE: Batteries When it comes to the aftermarket, from at the end of theirat the end of their original purposeoriginal purpose SOLUTION:SOLUTION: apprehensions are exacerbated by the A logisticsA logistics partner partner who who can can take take in-production EVs to legacy items, OEMs need a care careof refurbishing, of refurbishing, repurposing repurposing spectre of Brexit inching ever closer. or recyclingor recycling batteries batteries partner with cu ing-edge expertise in EV ba ery
FindFind out more aboutabout howhow Unipart Unipart Group Group is ispowering powering the the Just-in-time production was pioneered Find out morefuture about of EV: how unipart.com/ev Unipart Group is powering the manufacture. future of EV:future unipart.com/ev of EV: unipart.com/ev and refi ned by the automotive industry, Hyperbat is Unipart Manufacturing’s joint and as a result the UK’s entire supply venture with Williams Advanced Engineering, chain is based on frictionless trade. How and is leading the way in high-performance EV is that aff ected by potential border delays arising out of the unipart.com/ev ba eries in automotive and other sectors. Recently, UK’s exit from the EU? Hyperbat was part of a Unipart initiative to develop zero- One consequence of Brexit planning on the automotive emission rail technology which won a share of £9.4m industry is storage, or more poignantly lack of storage. Department for Transport and Innovate UK funding. With details unclear of how the post-Brexit world will look, Finally, a strong safety record is crucial. Unipart OEMs’ mitigation plans revolve around keeping additional has won more British Safety Council Swords of stock in case of supply chain disruption. EV manufacturers Honour than any other company in its sector. EV are looking for logistics partners who are agile and fl exible. technology is in the ascendance but needs a safe pair of Nowhere is this more relevant than EV ba ery storage. hands to thrive.
39 January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk ADVERTORIAL Metrology IMPROVING
improve their productivity. This is a big shift in mindset from a traditional PRODUCTIVITY approach to metrology, so we suggest a series of steppingstones. We recommend that manufacturers take four steps to digitise quality management — integrate, MEANS WORKING automate, connect, comply (IACC). Integrate The first step is to ditch the paper — integrate all quality management data into an electronic system. SMARTER NOT In a traditional paper system, businesses in a tiered supply chain may be performing quality checks, only for the parts to inspected again when they arrive at the next manufacturer’s site. By integrating all quality HARDER management into one unified, digital system, companies across the supply chain can share quality data from the same system, eliminating unnecessary extra steps. According to Make UK’s Manufacturing Monitor Similarly, staff across a business can easily access in October 2020, only 26 per cent of manufacturers information for business forecasting, reporting or other expected to be at full operating levels by the start of functions. 2021. Could Quality 4.0 be key to bouncing back in Automate the year ahead? Mike John, managing director at The next step is to use programmable systems like industrial metrology supplier The Sempre Group, robotics to automate manufacturing and measurement explores the relationship between Quality 4.0 and processes, making them more efficient, traceable and manufacturing productivity and gives guidance on how productive. Collaborative robots can be placed on manufacturers can start their journey. production lines to move parts 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Then, staff are free to work on more difficult and creative tasks, adding more value to the business. Instead of having a person loading, measuring tudies have shown that while British workers Automating quality and unloading parts on a metrology system all day, put in the longest hours, our productivity lags processes including manufacturers can simply program the system to do it compared with major European competitors — we auto-ballooning of GD&T drawings and creation of need to up our game. To drive profitability and inspection plans growth, many businesses are reflecting on how to increase production speed, reduce costs and drive Sefficiency. Traditionally, manufacturers don’t include metrology in their plans to digitise. It’s often treated like Cinderella, last in line for an invite to the ball. It has historically been used as a policing mechanism rather than a vehicle for change. But could metrology hold some of the answers to our productivity challenges?
Quality 4.0 Digitising quality management is central to realising Industry 4.0 and driving real value in the future. Investing in digital technologies can give manufacturers full control over their measurement data, so they can use it to make better decisions, improve traceability and improve productivity. A fully digitised approach to quality removes the challenge of integrating data from fragmented sources, reduces room for error and enables manufacturers to
January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk 40 Metrology The Sempre Group
for them. The cobot can pick the parts from the line, place it in a system for measurements and accept or reject the parts accordingly.
Connect Connectivity is a central part of Industry 4.0, as it is Quality 4.0. Wireless connectivity of equipment to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and portable tablets means manufacturers can easily implement a factory- wide data collection network. The manufacturer can connect suppliers, operations, customers and products with edge analytics and bring the data together into a common SQL database for all business processes. Integrated manufacturing and quality management solutions, such as High QA can help to connect MACHINE TENDING &INSPECTION FROM SEMPRE Simple and fast to program, manufacturing and quality data across the supply collaborative robot loading chain. Companies of any size and in any industry can Hardwicke Enterprise, a subcontract CNC machining specialist, parts onto Sempre’s Micro-Vu use systems like this to automate internal processes Optical CMM for micron level approached us with a clear objective — upscale production to meet and extend it to supply chain partners. This inspection inspection a new, high volume contract. manager automates every part of the process, from As this was a one off project, Hardwicke wanted an easy-to- 2D/3D ballooning to extract geometric, dimensioning use, flexible system that they could simply and quickly add to and tolerancing (GD&T) from drawings, to real-time their existing production line. The Sempre Group provided support measurement data recording and reporting. at every stage of the process, from consultation, to installation There’s no need to go into step four, as the previous and servicing to ensure that the automated system benefited the steps make meeting compliance obligations easy! manufacturer. Manufacturers can generate reports automatically, We rapidly developed a bespoke automated machine tending whether it is first article inspection reports (FAIRs), system to work alongside Hardwicke’s super mini mill CNC machine initial sample inspection reports (ISIRs) or production producing the parts. In one week, the team designed gripper fingers part approval process (PPAP) documents, to comply with to handle the components, made modifications to the chucks and standard like ISO 17025, ISO 9000, 21 CFR or AS9100. implemented an easy-to-use pallet system. The team also installed a collaborative robot to pick and place the parts for measurement Outcome focused in a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) and installed Sempre While technology plays a large role in automating Connect software to control the systems. production, manufacturers should not focus solely Once it was complete, the system was quick to set up and went on equipment. Industry 4.0 is about more than just from van to operation in three hours. The Hardwicke team reported technology, it is about how we use technology, people and that the system saved around 52 hours of operator time, which it data to drive operations and growth. reallocated to other projects — almost a full day each per employee. As manufacturers think about how they can bounce As a supplier we know how important it is to collaborate with back in the year to come using technology, it is important partners and provide the entire package. It is no longer good to first establish what outcomes they want from enough to sell equipment and leave a manufacturer to do the rest digitisation. Technology can also be a big investment. — we know that collaboration during the entire product lifecycle So, at a time when manufacturers want to cut costs, they achieves the best results, including on calibration and servicing. should make sure that any equipment they purchase adds So, we are preparing ourselves to provide everything that manufac- real value to production. By focussing on the outcome and turers need to increase productivity in the future, whether it is new not the equipment, manufacturers can make the right equipment, software, bespoke systems, or guidance and support. choice for their application. Manufacturers must change their mindset about metrology if they want to boost productivity. In the future, instead of just using The Sempre Group, previously Metrology Direct, measurement systems to check for quality, we expect to see provides comprehensive measurement, inspection and industry begin using it as a tool to add value to the business and efficiency solutions across the UK and Ireland. help achieve the outcomes they want. By investing in digital quality www.thesempregroup.com management, 2021 could be the year that we transform manufac- +44(0)1452 632712 turing and fully embrace Quality 4.0. [email protected]
41 January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk ADVERTORIAL ADVERTORIAL Virtual and Augmented reality TIME TO PUT XR INTO YOUR PLAN FOR 2021
The use of Augmented Reality (AR), Mixed Reality (MR) a phase of planning how best to deploy, and achieve a financial return from, investments in XR. or Virtual Reality (VR) (collectively known as Extended Companies are now assembling teams to study Reality (XR)) in engineering and manufacturing is still how XR technologies can be applied to the process in its infancy, but has seen a steady rate of growth and of designing and manufacturing products. Leading adoption for the past few years. companies recognise that their customers expect them to be leaders in this area. Many of these early adopters are now beginning to deploy XR solutions. To make XR meaningful for a business, you have ntegrating more modern, innovative technology into AR, MR and VR Devices to understand that there’s got to be a relevant use case. existing workflows involves investment, and is time include tablets, smartphones, Without a strong use case, there will not be any traction. consuming to begin with, but in the long run it will save headsets and smartglasses The big question for 2021 is: Is XR ready for industrial Imanufacturers money and cut lead times by improving use and how do companies deploy it? processes. But for those thinking 2021 is the year to jump on the XR bandwagon, what do they need to consider? Research and educate People talk in grandiose terms about having an XR It’s not about the devices anymore… strategy, but you can’t really have a strategy on XR unless The AR/VR market has been driven over the last 5 years you understand something about the technology and by a raft of new headsets and mobile devices- many where it’s going to benefit your business. What you have from familiar names like Apple, Facebook, HTC, Google, to recognise is that you are going to have to go through an Collaborative design review Microsoft and Samsung- along with dozens of start-ups. education and learning process, which means that you’ve session with colleagues in The headset devices can cost from £250.00 to £3,500.00 different locations got to invest in that in order to have some understanding which means price, certainly at the of how XR might impact your business. lower end, is not a barrier to adoption. One of the key factors is to accept Other than an expectation that that it has to be use case driven, Apple will release an MR headset which really means it has to be led sometime in the next 12 -24 months, by end user departments. That said, there is no expected “breakthrough”, or those departments may need help major change to the technologies, just and support, and so IT or innovation a lot of incremental improvement to groups who are often looking at XR what already exists. as a technology may also need to be involved. It’s about the use case. The result is that business is moving Creating the correct business case away from focusing on the So the first thing companies technology and devices, to should focus on is to decide
January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk 42 The Sempre Group Virtual and Augmented reality Theorem
what area of their business do they think XR might help The COVID-19 pandemic has Start small been a factor in increasing them in, whether it’s design, manufacturing, inspection, Don’t try and boil the ocean. Choose a use case, break the rate of adoption because training or remote assistance. people need new ways to that down into small elements which will improve your When researching XR, don’t fall into the trap of collaborate due to travel business, and then go out and solve that, and prove that believing everything you see on YouTube, and don’t get restrictions and health and it does benefit your business. If you choose a practical hung up on devices – e.g. ‘Should it be HTC Vive, Oculus safety concerns – the fact is use case, choose elements of that which can be delivered Rift, HoloLens, Magic Leap?’ The pace of change around that people still need to work today. You will then show benefit to the business. If you both hardware and software is very rapid. What’s the in a team environment, they try to be too broad in your approach, with all the dynamics right decision on a device today will change in 12 months. just need to do it from home that are going on, the chances are you won’t get there. Focus on the use case. instead of the office or plant, Companies need to implement a use case where they and XR can deliver that today. Don’t get left behind in 2021 can run it on many different devices, and they need to With the shift in 2020 to the way many are working due be device and data neutral i.e. whatever data they create, to the COVID-19 global pandemic, and the fact that it they need to create it so that they can use it on the next looks like it’s going to continue into 2021 and beyond, generation of devices. That’s a trend people are beginning the remote collaboration capabilities of XR are more Laying out a work cell, to grasp. relevant than ever. Now is the time to start making some production line or full factory Obviously you’ve got to select decisions around your engineering a technology and an approach and manufacturing processes and the to it, but don’t get concerned technology that you could be using. that because you’ve gone for a Today, some organisations have particular device type, it will made significant progress. They cause problems later. Yes, there have adopted this technology and will be a level of upheaval if you use it every day – they rely on it to choose a particular technology perform at a higher level. It has kept and device, but it shouldn’t stop them from having to slow down, or you moving forward. completely shut down, when others Once you’ve got that have. What started as an idea is now knowledge and an appreciation being used by teams globally; growth of the technologies and how they and adoption is still accelerating might address certain things, you as more people are exposed to the need to stand back and choose benefits it brings. your use case. Because having a The XR industry is still a good use case will create a good relatively new one, so advancements business case, and without a good in software and hardware will business case, you’re not going to continually be evolving. There will get budget for the investment that always be a constant stream of bigger, you’re going to need to make. better apps and devices- that’s the nature of technology. But if there is Off the shelf or do it yourself? no real world use for any of it, then The other thing to think about what’s the point? to think about is ‘how do you get a solution?’, because there are About Theorem-XR different approaches. You can go Theorem provides products for Following step by step to solution providers and buy off the shelf, out the box instructions in a Virtual engineering and manufacturing companies to improve technologies, you can develop it yourself, or potentially training session their design, engineering and manufacturing processes contract somebody to develop it for you. This is another by utilising their CAD and PLM assets in innovative key decision that needs to be made fairly early on. Augmented, Mixed and Virtual Reality experiences- our If you’re going for an ‘out the box’ solution, do some Theorem-XR suite. research on who are solution providers in relation to Theorem-XR provides a fully automated process your use case. Speak with them, try out their technology. enabling you to quickly and easily use your existing 3D You’ve got to make some early investment in hardware CAD data in eXtended Reality (XR) to address a number to do that, but that’s relatively low cost. Make those of different use cases, including Design Review, Factory fundamental decisions of ‘are we looking to take Layout, Training, Work Instructions, Visualization and the something off the shelf, or are we looking to develop it?’ Visual Digital Twin. That will obviously then guide how much effort, time and support you need from IT and/or internal development For more information visit groups to do that. https://www.theorem.com/extended-reality
43 January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk ADVERTORIAL Defence & Security
Maintaining the UK’s lead in defence and security technologies
Dave Short, Technology Director at BAE Systems plc explores some of the key themes and innovations that will drive technology development at the firm throughout 2021 and beyond
ike many sectors, the defence and security world has its own language, and the word ‘trends’ is not one in regular use. We could argue that ‘trends’ may be more relevant for the commercial or fast moving consumable goods sector, as trends by nature are short-lived. Our products often remain in use for Lyears, sometimes decades, such as submarines or ships. Even so, there is constant change and we always have to make sure our customers have an advantage, so we need to think ahead and ensure these longer-term products stay up to date with the latest technology. It is also vital that BAE Systems and the defence sector stays aware of technology trends in the commercial world and how we can apply them, particularly when responding to urgent operational requirements and rapidly emerging threats. In the last century and before, the defence world was often the key driver of innovation and technology development, which then moved into commercial markets – carbon fibre, the internet and GPS BAE Systems’ Factory intelligence that will help us maintain them more being key examples. of the Future, where intuitively and at a lower cost. While there are areas where defence still leads, long- revolutionary technologies Clearly, Industry 4.0 isn’t just about manufacturing. meet an adaptable and term changes in our society mean that the commercial Our digital shipyard and digital twin projects use a full digitally minded engineering world is often now first with innovations, so BAE Systems workforce to create incredible model-based systems engineering approach, where we consistently can and does incorporate new technology solutions to the problems of can model entire platforms and all their sub-systems in trends from a variety of commercial sectors to support tomorrow a collaborative digital environment. In parallel, we can our own in-house R&D capability. This approach to ‘open test our products in these digitally accurate and fully innovation’ drives collaboration with businesses and representative virtual environments to ensure they academia, develops skills and delivers economic growth perform as expected and meet the highest standards across the UK’s engineering and manufacturing sectors. of safety and security. Once our physical products are Here are some of the themes that are likely to delivered to customers in the real world, we can use continue driving technology development in BAE Systems secure Internet of Things technology to monitor them for throughout 2021 and beyond. maintenance as well as looking for continual performance improvements. Industry 4.0 – digital design, manufacture and test Together with Government-supported programmes Throughout our 34,000-strong UK business, we will like Made Smarter, we will continue to support our continue to deploy at pace the newest Industry 4.0 supply chain and wider UK SMEs in harnessing digital digital technologies to design, test, manufacture and technologies – helping the UK to remain competitive. deliver training for our military customers. We are already building our 5G enabled ‘factory of the future’ Trusted Information Advantage in Lancashire, supported by our development of The exponential growth of data shows no sign of slowing Tempest - the next generation combat air system. In our – if anything it is speeding up. The new radar sensor in maritime business, we have equipped ships with artificial development for our Tempest Future Combat Air System
January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk 44 Defence & Security BAE Systems
will generate much more data than existing systems, improving safety as well as providing be er operational equivalent to the entire internet traffi c of a large city risk assessment during inclement weather. We are already such as Edinburgh, every second. This sort of data can in a time when Augmented Reality is making its way into only be useful if we can digest it and turn it into useful a range of everyday consumer devices, such as glasses and information; one way of doing this is to use artifi cial in the near future perhaps even contact lenses. intelligence to cut through the noise, make sense of it and Information advantage also extends to improving present the pertinent information clearly and quickly to operational availability and reducing maintenance costs. human operators in a way that helps them make the right Our condition-based monitoring system has shown decisions. it can spot maintenance issues early, or even reduce Sharing this data securely is also a challenge, Dave Short, Technology maintenance on systems that we can now show will especially between diff erent types of platform or even Director, BAE Systems continue to perform well. diff erent cooperating military forces, such as found in NATO. Our Applied Intelligence business is developing Sustainable technologies that deliver economic growth a tool that does exactly that, allowing large volumes of The requirement for greater sustainability and cost data to be shared at diff erent security levels with multiple savings will mean that emerging technologies in the users, in real time. defence world need shorter development and production We are also helping the security services make sense times, and must generate a smaller carbon footprint. Solar of growing volumes of data. We’ve helped UK agencies HALE, our high altitude solar powered autonomous plane, involved in child protection fuse various discrete data is one project that meets all those criteria. It also went sources while maintaining privacy, allowing them to from concept to test fl ight in less than 20 months, ge ing identify vulnerable children at an earlier stage than was off the ground in record time. It could soon be providing previously possible. Working with Gloucestershire’s mobile phone and internet coverage or long-term tracking Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub, we were able to gather during humanitarian disasters, such as earthquakes. data from all relevant authorities, then in just four hours As well as being essential for our protection, we analysed three years of data. This revealed over 100 risk technology generates prosperity and skills in the UK. indicators, which the system was able to present clearly to Many of our projects have signifi cant export value as well help agencies take action. As government agencies collect as potential in the commercial sector, such as our hybrid and store more data, being able to analyse it eff ectively will electric drive technology, our augmented reality glasses help protect more vulnerable people from harm. The more or our AI-based system to deconfl ict drone fl ights as they data that is available, the greater the insights that can be become used more frequently in delivery services. achieved. A model of BAE’s next We can only make these projects happen by generation fi ghter jet, In the military world, we are enhancing radar to give Tempest, undergoes advanced working with expert partners. As well as Small Medium a clearer picture at greater range, meaning commanders wind tunnel testing Enterprises (SMEs), our customers and the wider defence can make decisions based on a more accurate threat sector, this also includes UK academia. One assessment and we are reducing the cognitive example is our work with the University load on operators of Southampton, where we are developing in maritime control active noise control – now commonly rooms. The UK is found in many consumer headphones also a leader in next – to reduce marine noise. This could generation sensing reduce harm to marine wildlife as well as that uses quantum providing military advantages. technologies, which is Finally, for next year, and whilst something we support clearly not a ‘trend’, I remain optimistic through our strategic at the prospect of our daily lives University partners. slowly returning to normal as a Quantum sensing has result of magnifi cent work in vaccine incredible potential development. As we at BAE Systems that could be used in play our part in undoing the impact the commercial sector of COVID-19, technology and working in future. We have also in the digital environment will be brought technologies critical in growing the UK economy from our military Head- and inspiring the next generation of Up Display business to scientists and engineers. improve the training of pilots in taxiing and take-off , h ps://www.baesystems.com/
45 January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk ADVERTORIAL Simulation DEMOCRATISING SIMULATION WITH APPLICATIONS Simulation applications (and the ability to distribute them) benefi t organisations by making modelling accessible to a wider range of engineers, colleagues and customers.
imulation is a powerful tool that enables users have a lot of functionality, and for Veryst, they are to save time and money by studying physics also a good marketing tool. As Elabbasi explained, “In phenomena within designs to predict operating the applications, you have access to extensive Java® conditions before prototyping. However, functionality,” which means that Veryst can link computational modelling is often left to the applications to their material library, PolyUMod, allowing simulation specialist, which can limit resources for even more advanced application development to share Sand production within a company. While other team with their customers. members may not be experts in simulation, their insights To give collaborators access to applications, there can be invaluable to research, design and manufacturing are two methods: compiling standalone executable fi les processes. or distributing them via an application management Extending the reach of multiphysics simulation tool. As the name implies, COMSOL Compiler™ is used enables companies to get higher-quality products to for creating compiled applications that can be run market faster and cheaper than by developing iteration without a COMSOL® software license on Windows®, after iteration of a prototype. By creating and distributing Linux® or macOS. COMSOL Server™ is the choice for simulation applications, specialists can include Figure 1: Users can access those who want to upload and manage applications for nonexperts in simulation in the process, demystifying applications via COMSOL their organisation and let their application users run it and breaking down barriers within an organisation so Server™ and run them on a simulations via web browser or client (Figures 1–2). web browser or client. that there is more room for collaboration, prediction of outcomes, innovation and optimisation. At Veryst Engineering, AltaSim Technologies and GLL Bio-Med Analytics, building and distributing applications helps make their customers’ design workfl ows more effi cient.
Application Development and Distribution Made Easy Applications enable anyone to test parameters and run repeated analyses without a simulation specialist. This larger group of customers or colleagues without engineering backgrounds can make quick, informed decisions with confi dence. This way, teams can work together more eff ectively. To get an overview of the workfl ow from model to Figure 2: Applications and application, a simulation expert will start by creating a their usage can be managed Presenting Simulation Applications as Customer Solutions model in COMSOL Multiphysics®. Then, the expert can using COMSOL Server™. The ways in which consultants use simulation use the Application Builder in COMSOL Multiphysics to applications with their customers varies. For instance, turn the model into an application. Applications can be GLL has received positive feedback from their customers created in minutes using drag-and-drop functionality. about how applications allow even those without a The result is a specialised interface with restricted inputs physics background to run analyses. “You can see a light and outputs, so that the end user focuses only on the going on in their head,” says Gary Long of GLL, “when parameters pertinent to their work. they realise they can produce their own simulations and “The application development process itself is very results.” easy and user friendly,” says Nagi Elabbasi from Veryst Sometimes, a customer realises the possibilities Engineering, a consulting fi rm that off ers simulation opened up by applications after working with a model expertise to customers. He added that applications developed for them. In Veryst’s experience, customers
January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk 46 Simulation Comsol
will “realise how the model is useful to them, want to use from a range of specialties can run as many tests as they it internally and then they see how an application can need, leading to increased productivity and revenue. help them do that,” says Elabbasi, adding that the more (Figure 4) the awareness of applications spreads, the earlier they Many of GLL’s customers are medical device startups will be able to introduce applications when working with that often perform their own experiments. GLL simulates customers. these experiments to demonstrate the accuracy of At AltaSim, applications come into play after learning modelling to their customers. “It’s very powerful to see the more about what their customers need. “We go through a [simulation] results and compare them to experimental lot of discovery with our clients to understand what it is, Figure 4: An application can results,” says Long. They then build applications from the exactly, that they’re looking for,” says Kyle Koppenhoefer be built with restricted inputs validated models to get simulation engineers, application of AltaSim, “and if we fi nd some key parameters, then we (left) and outputs (right) for users and other team members (often doctors) on the ease of use. Image courtesy typically suggest an application.” same page by visualising simulation results in real time. AltaSim Technologies. Building Specialised Applications to Meet a Variety of Customer Needs Even the most complex models can translate into easy- to-use interfaces (applications). Veryst’s customers use applications to simulate design variations and perform parametric studies and sensitivity analyses, which “helps them focus on their core expertise of improving the product,” says Elabbasi, “and not worry about the simulation se ings.” Some of Veryst’s customers just use applications as interactive model viewers that enable them to visualise model results in 3D, including rotating GLL built a medical device application (Figure 5) that the model, looking at results at diff erent cross-sections simulates thermal and nonthermal tumour ablation. The or at diff erent times and more (Figure 3). That helps them application helps engineers design devices that ablate be er understand the model predictions. cancer cells, visualise ablation zones and even import MRI and CT scans for specifi c anatomies. The user interface for the application includes a menu so that users can easily choose a study. For instance, because the temperature and thermal necrotic zones are time dependent, users can specify a time at which they can see the damage due to the Figure 5: Two simulations in heat or temperature profi le in the results (Figure 6). The one application: a thermal and application includes three inputs for parameters: thermal nonthermal tumour ablation application created by Gary voltage, nonthermal voltage and electrode spacing. The Long of GLL. current can be plo ed via the experimental current so Image courtesy GLL. that users can easily validate the simulation.
Figure 3: A spring calculator application. Image courtesy Veryst Engineering.
Applications enable organisations’ internal simulation experts to focus on more advanced modelling projects by distributing applications to other teams. Figure 6: A medical device Koppenhoefer says that applications give fi eld engineers a Collaboration Promotes Innovation application enables users to be er understanding of how their designs operate, so they study thermal or nonthermal As illustrated by these three simulation experts, the are be er able to make design decisions. necrosis zones. Image democratisation of applications is well underway. The AltaSim assists with their customers’ challenge of courtesy GLL. Application Builder makes it simple to build a simulation reducing rework. For example, variations in factors like application in as li le as a few minutes and COMSOL temperature and fl ow rate make it diffi cult to accurately Server and COMSOL Compiler help bring the applications predict a device’s real-world behaviour, leading to designs to the people. Through the democratisation of simulation, that have to be continuously reworked. This process can specialists, researchers, engineers and customers can be greatly reduced with applications, because engineers develop and innovate by working together.
47 January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk ADVERTORIAL Industry 4.0 DRIVING DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION Minitab’s Joshua Zable on how engineering’s people and data tech come together to realise your company’s vision of digital transformation.
s Digital Transformation A Struggle? processes regarding digitalisation, they constantly wrestle In 2020, our global economy transformed, and those with what comes first: people or technology? And while enabled quicker by technology pivoted and executed. they debate the proverbial “chicken or the egg,” they are INow access to data is becoming easier and faster. “THE TRUTH IS YOU missing the point. Digital transformation is all about leveraging The first step toward digital transformation is technologies and data to improve continuously. We see DON’T HAVE TO BE empowering your people with the right technology to gain leaders from the C-suite down have bought into the GOOD TO START DIGITAL deeper insights from their data. “what,” but continue to struggle with the “how?” Business TRANSFORMATION... transformation programmes, data analytics and cultural YOU JUST HAVE TO Avoid Blind Investment transformation are in the top 3 solutions they are willing to Any company that hopped on the big data bandwagon in invest in. START TO BE GOOD!” the past 15 years can tell you: blindly investing in creating If the support is there and investment is available, why a silo of data scientists does not light up your path to is digital transformation such a struggle? business excellence. While innovating newer, quicker and more reliable Missing The Point ways to glean insights from data needs data science, just As leaders attempt to rethink their business models and as critical to successfully improving your operations are
January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk 48 Industry 4.0 Minitab
domain expertise and day-to-day experience. Every time Minitab helps organisations transform, It is not about you developing a complex formula or the success occurs because we help them to bridge the algorithm. It IS about enabling everyday people to use gap between process improvement practitioners, data proven mathematical and statistical methods to deliver scientists and everyday business decision-makers. value. Our founders at Minitab led this modern approach to analytics nearly 50 years ago, and it is even more critical The Path Forward To Digitalise Your Business today. If you are a leader, you likely know that incorporating data analysis into day-to-day decision-making results in The Good News: You Are Halfway There be er questions, deeper understanding and defensible The good news is your people are likely doing some sort of conclusions. analysis already, so you’re halfway there. You also know that growth requires change – and In fact, they’re probably presenting data and graphs addressing that fear of things like “statistics” or “machine all the time. The problem is, they’re not really providing learning” will hold you back. insight. Want to know the number of engineering defects or When we make data-driven decisions, we remove your highest-selling region? Look at a chart. “ WANT TO KNOW the bias and opinions that we unknowingly bring to WHAT’S INFLUENCING discussions. Even Better, You Have The Experts! THOSE OUTCOMES? Enabling your employees with technology to access The even be er news is that there are people within your and analyse data is key to digitalising your business. organisation who solve these types of challenges every day. NOW YOU NEED Data-driven decision-making across your organisation is • Your engineering experts are using statistics to ensure ANALYSIS. “ actually one of the fi rst things we outline to customers as the quality of your products… we help them realise their vision of success. • Continuous improvement departments are analysing Joshua Zable is the Chief Marketing and Strategic data every day…. Planning Offi cer at Minitab a solutions analytics company • Research and Development are designing and developer of data analysis and process excellence experiments to create innovations… software. These folks can all be leveraged to help your If you want to leave behind a legacy of change and organisation. Want to know what’s infl uencing those innovation, you will fi nd the key is in empowering your outcomes? Now you need analysis. current workforce to move the whole operation toward success. Bring your people and your data together. Let’s get This Is Essential: Democratise Your Data you started! With your colleagues ready to read data, analyse it and Find out more at www.minitab.com make decisions from it, there is going to be greater demand for accessing numbers in real-time and collaborating globally. Your people will need easy-to- use analysis packages, and they’re going to want to be empowered to quickly share valuable insights and demonstrate results. Successful cultures of digital transformation have essentially democratised their data. From associates to managers to executives, they develop a universal language that connects: • the processes for collecting and analysing their data • the best practices for data- driven decision-making •and the institutional memory to continuously replicate and improve upon past successes. That is why we see the future of data technology is not surface-level reporting: it is whatever empowers data- driven workforces to communicate and gain real insights.
49 January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk Late, great engineers SERGEI KOROLEV: DESIGNATED ‘DESIGNER’ Known during his lifetime only as ‘Chief Designer,’ Soviet rocket engineer and spacecraft designer Sergei Korolev was the technological genius behind putting the first man into space.
Written BY nick smith
osmonaut Alexei Leonov gained his pilot’s license and started described Sergei Korolev, one to push aircraft to their operational of the most important rocket limits, intrigued by what might be scientists of the 20th century, beyond their altitude ceiling. The as “the mastermind behind following year, he helped to establish the Soviet space programme.” the state-sponsored rocket development And although Korolev’s establishment GIRD that, after several Cname is now legend, “he was only ever incarnations, became the Jet Propulsion referred to by the mysterious title of Research Institute. Korolev eventually ‘Chief Designer.’ For those on the space rose to become Deputy Chief, working programme there was no authority on guided missiles and gyroscope higher.” His true identity shrouded stabilisation systems to maintain in secrecy until his death, the Soviet stability along programmed trajectories. authorities kept the name of their Immediately prior to the outbreak ‘Glavny Konstruktor’ hidden from the of the Second World War, in 1938 world. They claimed it was to protect the Korolev was arrested after having man they once sent to the labour camps been denounced by the head of the of Siberia from assassination by the institute Andrei Kostikov. Korolev was Americans. accused of deliberately slowing the Sergei Pavlovich Korolev was born organisation’s research efforts to allow in early 1907 into the era of the Russian its rocket programme to be overtaken Empire under ‘the Last Emperor of by technological developments in All Russia’ Tsar Nicholas II, with both Sergei Korolev 1907-1966 Nazi Germany. Korolev was sent the First World War and the Russian to a forced labour camp in Siberia Revolution looming in the decade that formal education created by the Russian Revolution of 1917, where, in atrocious conditions he was followed. The son of a Russian language maintaining his studies at home under Balanin’s tutelage. treated brutally and lost his teeth to teacher and a wealthy merchant, The first hint that Korolev was destined for a career in scurvy. While incarcerated, Korolev Korolev grew up in the city of Nizhyn aeronautical engineering came in 1913 when, after attending an appealed to the General Secretary of (that’s now in Ukraine) periodically air show, the young carpentry student at the Odessa Building the Communist Party Joseph Stalin, with his grandparents. A lonely child, Trades School started work on a glider. Within a decade he and eventually the head of the NKVD his prodigious ability in mathematics had joined the Society of Aviation and Aerial Navigation of (People’s Commissariat for Internal exposed him to school bullies which, Ukraine and the Crimea (OAVUK), where he designed another Affairs) Laventri Beria ordered Korolev’s according to his biographer James glider called the K-5. After studying mathematics, physics and retrial based on reduced charges. The Harford, only prompted Korolev to engineering at Kiev Polytechnic Institute, he transferred to engineer was handed down a sentence excel at his studies. On his mother’s the Bauman Moscow State Technical University, where for the of eight years in a sharashka – an remarriage to his stepfather – electrical remainder of the 1920s he benefited from the increasing Soviet R&D laboratory operating within the engineer Grigory Balanin – the family emphasis on technology and was mentored by the influential Soviet Gulag labour-camp system – relocated to Odessa where, suffering aeronautical engineer Andrei Tupolev. By 1930, Korolev was at where, reunited with Tupolev and the effects of food shortages and the 4th Experimental section design bureau OPO-4, working under constant threat of execution,
typhus, Korolev sidestepped the lack of on the Tupolev TB-3 heavy bomber. This was also where he he designed rocket-assisted take off LIBRARY SPUTNIK/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY; PHOTO RAVENSWAAY/SCIENCE DETLEV VAN credits Image
January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk 50 Read more of our Late, Great Engineers at www.theengineer.co.uk
boosters. As Stalin made post-war missile development a national priority, Korolev travelled to Germany There is no such where, now a colonel in the Red Army, he was charged with recovering the thing as an unsolvable technology of the Nazi V-2 rocket. In the newly-established NII-88 institute, problem. Korolev managed a team of nearly Sergei Korolev 200 German technologists in order to produce a replica of the V-2. The R-1 was the fi rst of several generations of technology that would lead to the fi rst ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile), the R-7 Semyorka. With the successful 1957 launch of the R-7 – ahead of competing American technology – Korolev was ‘rehabilitated,’ eff ectively pardoned by the state, although his identity was kept secret. Although a signifi cant turning point in the Cold War, inspired by the orbiting The launch of the Vostok 1 spacecraft carrying Yuri Gagarin on the fi rst manned fl ight in space. Launched on April 12, possibilities of ICBMs, Korolev had 1961, from Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Vostok 1 made one full orbit before returning to Earth 108 minutes later. raised the issue of launching a satellite into space with the Central Commi ee of the Communist Party three years spacecraft to go into Earth orbit, it into orbit but were killed in an explosion. Less than a month earlier. While his fi rst appeal fell would be the fi rst to carry a living being, later Belka and Strelka became the fi rst living creatures to on stony ground, his persistence in a stray mongrel dog from the streets return from space, having successfully completed 18 Earth alerting the party to developments in of Moscow named Laika (literally orbits in a Vostok spacecraft. On 12th April 1961, Soviet Air America’s own space programme paid ‘barker’). While inevitably perhaps Forces pilot Yuri Gagarin became the fi rst human to go into off . On 4th October 1957, the world’s fi rst American journalists gave the canine space – propelled by an R-7 – with Korolev in the role as capsule artifi cial Earth satellite – Sputnik 1 – the tag ‘Mu nik,’ the fact remains that co-ordinator speaking to Gagarin in the spacecraft. On 16th was launched. It was a project thrown she met with a miserable death, not June 1963, the fi nal Vostok fl ight launched with cosmonaut together in a month, overseen by euthanised before she died of oxygen Valentina Tereshkova – the fi rst woman in space – on board, Korolev, and put into space by a rocket depletion as the Soviet authorities orbiting Earth 48 times over the course of almost three days. that had only been used once before. claimed, but from overheating when Spurred on by success on the international political stage, While rudimentary – it was essentially the R-7 developed a fault. Laika is Khrushchev ordered more propaganda milestones from li le more than a ba ery-powered immortalised in the Monument to the Korolev in short order, including multi-crewed missions. transmi er with four antennae Conquerors of Space in Moscow. While This created tensions between the engineers and politicians, a ached – Sputnik triggered the ‘Space the instrument-laden Sputnik 3 was a as Korolev believed that the three-person Soyuz project was Race’, in which the USA and the USSR relative failure, it served as a catalyst several years down the track. However, Korolev’s Voskhod competed over a series of ‘fi rsts’ in for US space exploration. program, that led to another ‘fi rst’ in the form of a space walk spacefl ight capability. Until 20th July Despite the success of Sputnik, it by Alexei Leonov on 18th March 1965, restored his favourable 1969, when the US Apollo 11 astronauts would be the crewed Vostok series of status with the new leader of the Soviet Union Leonid Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin missions that permanently inscribed Brezhnev, who charged Korolev with beating the United States became the fi rst humans to set foot on Korolev’s name in the history books. to the Moon. the Moon, largely thanks to Korolev’s This was the programme that would Korolev would not live to see America win the race, as unstinting eff orts the Soviet Union was put the fi rst human into orbit and send outlined in US President John F Kennedy’s words of, “landing the undisputed race victor. the fi rst woman cosmonaut into space. a man on the Moon and returning him safely to Earth.” From The unqualifi ed success of Sputnik To achieve these ambitions Korolev the beginning of the 1960s, he had suff ered from heart and 1 caused such a sensation that the recruited space engineer Konstantin kidney problems, exacerbated by overwork and the hardships First Secretary of the Communist Feoktistov as his principal designer. he’d endured in the Gulags and died in January 1966 following Party of the Soviet Union Nikita As with Sputnik, Korolev worked on surgery to remove a tumour from his abdomen. At the time, he Khrushchev ordered Korolev to develop Vostok at a furious pace. In May 1960 was unknown to the people of Russia, who only became aware its successor – the more ambitious an unmanned prototype was sent of their Chief Designer’s role in the nation’s supremacy in the Sputnik 2 – to coincide with the fortieth into orbit, but its re-entry manoeuvre space race after his obituary appeared in the newspaper Prada anniversary of the October Revolution. failed. Two months later, the space dogs alongside a photograph of Korolev resplendently sporting While this would be the second Chaika and Lishichka were launched countless medals.
51 January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk ARCHIVE FEATURE
january 1956 Turbulent times Changing engineblow technology to an iconic and aircraft competing manufacturer manufacturers dealt a written by JASON FORD
an accurate and stable outer surface and a smooth inner surface which is particularly convenient for tank bays, andley Page is synonymous with the UK’s aviation luggage compartments, and so on. On the wing leading industry but bad timing and resistance to change edge the channels in the core are used to conduct hot air would ultimately lead to its downfall in 1970. for de-icing.” Things looked diff erent in the 1950s when the The Herald was intended for ‘under-developed company was plo ing its own route around the airfi elds’ whilst Sco ish Aviation’s short take-off and Hworld of civilian and military aviation, but the cracks landing Twin Pioneer could operate in very confi ned appeared in 1955 when it brought a new commercial airfi elds but with the relative economy of a fi xed-wing, airliner to the Farnborough Air Show. piston-engined aircraft. The root of the problem was the four Alvis Leonides “By making generous use of high-lift devices…it Major piston aero engines used on the new Herald, an is possible to a ain cruising speeds that would be aircraft that Handley Page thought could challenge the very costly with a helicopter, while not requiring off ered its refl ections an aerodrome out of all proportion to that which Douglas DC-3. The Engineer In January 1956, would be needed for regular all-weather helicopter on Farnborough 1955 and looked also at the Twin Pioneer services,” said The Engineer. “The initial cost of from Sco ish Aviation, the company that acquired the machine refl ects the absence of rotor drive Handley Page’s fi nal aircraft design and made it viable for and pitch control mechanism, and of heavily years after the collapse of the Hertfordshire fi rm. loaded aerofoils subject to continuously According to The Engineer, the Herald was fl uctuating stresses.” ‘characteristically a British airliner in appearance’ and was In an example of its performance, it was
constructed by dividing the airframe into subassemblies. noted that the Twin Pioneer could carry 16 passengers, or January 1956 January – Handley Page Herald Page Handley – This method, used with the wartime Handley Page aircraft, 3000lb of freight and fl y 600 miles in fi ve hours on 1150lb allowed for the maximum number of employees to work of fuel. on one aircraft. Like the Twin Pioneer, the Herald could be confi gured “The Herald employs a technique of construction for passengers in its pressurised cabin or be easily that allows the outer skin panels to carry a great deal of converted to carry freight. Its target airlines were smaller the structural loads; the skin is formed to the required operators who’d previously favoured piston engines contour and placed in a jig, and a corrugated sheet laid on before the Vickers Viscount had proven the reliability and the inside,” said The Engineer. “In the case of panels with economical operation of turboprops. This development cylindrical or conical curvature the corrugated sheet does prompted Handley Page convert its piston powered not have to be pre-formed.” prototypes with two Rolls-Royce Dart engines. Our reporter added that the crests of the corrugations This switch was mis-timed and observers noted that were then joined to the skin by spot welding which at the Fokker had already opted for turboprops on the F-27 time was described as ‘an advanced technique of preparing Friendship, an aircraft designed to compete in the same the sheets and inspecting the welds, rendering this process market as the Herald. Handley’s airliner was popular with acceptable for primary structure.’ pilots, but this did not translate into sales for the Herald, “The curvature is then locked into the panel by placing which by 1960 was competing also with the Avro 748 in the an inner skin on the corrugated core, drilling through so-called ‘feeder line’ market. where it rests on the core, and a aching it by blind riveting,” our correspondent added. “These panels have
January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk 52 Handley Page thought it could Flying into a commercial revive its fortunes in the military market but was thwarted by a caveat from the government that said it had A switch to Rolls-Royce Dart turbo-prop engines came too late to merge with the British Aircraft Corporation before being considered for the Handley Page Herald for military contracts. It didn’t, and in one last throw of the dice set about developing the Jetstream, a turbo-prop commuter aircraft designed for 12 to 18 passengers that was met with success but did not arrive in time to save Handley Page, which went into liquidation in 1970. The design for the Jetstream was picked up by Sco ish Aviation, which – like the British Aircraft Corporation and Hawker Siddeley – merged into British Aerospace in 1977. With a seating capacity of 29, a Jetstream 41 still operates today with UK airline Eastern Airways.
53 January 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk NOVEMBERComment 2019
he UK’s oil and gas sector the oil and gas sector. These are faces a big problem. As we tried and tested, and we know will work towards ending our be robust and serve our purposes dependency on fossil fuels, well. Again, it is just applying this industry must similar requirements to different diversify to embrace and environments. And as hydrogen Tincorporate new, cleaner energy production systems are not reliant solutions. This will protect not on oil rigs in the North Sea, for only our environment, but the Bill Ireland example, you can adjust in a much communities around the country less challenging environment. It’s that rely on the jobs provided both often using similar instrumentation directly and indirectly. Engineers on a far smaller scale, in convenient are already finding that work Why oil and gas engineers locations closer to home. Indeed, a opportunities are becoming thin great benefit of hydrogen energy is on the ground. And time is should consider a career that is can be generated almost running out. anywhere, negating the need to The UK government is in hydrogen spend time away from family in committed to reaching ambitious distant locations. Net Zero targets in the next few As net zero beckons career opportunities in oil and decades. I believe hydrogen energy Working together is one solution that will help attain gas are not what they used to be. But engineers These shared skill sets, knowledge these goals. Not necessarily the working in the industry are well placed to pursue and experience will enable a Just whole answer, but certainly a large a new career in the burgeoning hydrogen sector Transition towards cleaner energy part of it. writes Bill Ireland, CEO of Logan Energy production for our oil and gas communities. It is crucial that we A bold new frontier learn from the mistakes of our past The hydrogen sector offers As exciting as it is to work on which is vital to our economy in and avoid the cruel impact the engineers currently working in oil the front lines of the clean energy the current climate. decimation of our coal and steel and gas a sound alternative career revolution, it also presents a industries had on the people who path. The valuable skills and challenge in driving recruitment Transferable skills relied upon these for their knowledge gleaned from their from existing energy sectors such When it comes down to it, both livelihoods. time in O&G will enable them to as O&G. Currently, although sectors rely upon basic Not only can our burgeoning not only make the switch, but expensive to drill for, oil has a engineering skills. That’s it. If you hydrogen sector provide alternative work at the frontier of this much higher ROI. We must are considering making the jump employment opportunities to O&G, upcoming sector, building strong generate the hydrogen; we don’t to hydrogen from oil and gas, the but we can work with the industry foundations that future just pull it from the ground. We requirements at a base level are to upskill the existing workforce generations will rely upon. As the simply cannot compete with the similar. We need mechanical and help realign the current hydrogen sector continues to high salaries usually enjoyed by fitters, electricians, people skilled infrastructure as it makes the expand, job numbers are engineers working with fossil at welding, fixing or terminating switch to clean energy. However, it increasing, offering a great fuels. There is a disparity between cabling. Fitting things into boxes. is vital that these communities alternative for those struggling to expectation of what you must do All these skills are important. We show willingness to rescale and find work in O&G. to get paid at a certain level. just need you to have the ability to redeploy to make this work. And this is what is so However, with the changing reapply these skills to different Education is key to helping important. We must consider climate in the O&G sector, and the environments, scale and people understand the great hydrogen as the bedrock upon price per barrel coming down, applications, and an appetite to opportunities that are becoming which future clean energy systems wages may remain high, but there drive real change in our energy increasingly available. When you are built. This is not a quick fix and are fewer opportunities available. sector. enter a new industry like hydrogen, will take skill and dedication. It is What the hydrogen sector can offer At Logan Energy, a number of you must learn and even invent. vital that we get the right people is increasing employment the components we use, and their Oil and gas has become stagnant into the right jobs, and quickly. opportunity as the sector grows, suppliers, have been established in and uses many of the same Anyone looking to make the switch processes developed years ago. must understand that this is Hydrogen requires true innovation difficult, but important work. The THE HYDROGEN SECTOR OFFERS ENGINEERS and new ideas to thrive. I always long-term goal is to battle climate say, if I don’t learn five new things a change and ensure we repair at CURRENTLY WORKING IN OIL AND GAS A SOUND day, I’m disappointed. Working in least some of the damage we have ALTERNATIVE CAREER PATH the hydrogen sector means I rarely done to our planet. am.
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