The last possible reason to buy a CO2 laser cutting machine – namely to process thicker materials economically – has been removed, according to Jon Till, joint owner of Accurate Laser Cutting.
Handling 30 million parts and producing 9,000 vehicles a day, it’s little wonder that logistics sits at the centre of BMW Group’s globe-spanning operation. Jonny Williamson reports.
With high-level maintenance & repair skills seemingly in short supply, executives from Rockwell Automation tell Jonny Williamson how its Services & Solutions can help fill the gap.
Ground-breaking research from the University of Surrey and Augmented Optics, in collaboration with the University of Bristol, has developed potentially transformational technology which could revolutionise the capabilities of appliances that have previously relied on battery power to work.
BAE Systems has begun another tranche of ground-breaking unmanned aircraft technology trials as part of collaborative efforts across the country to assess how autonomous air vehicles could be integrated in UK airspace.
This year, it’s been impossible to miss the buzz surrounding Industry 4.0, the ‘fourth industrial revolution’. And while the world of business is full of fads and fashions, most observers agree that Industry 4.0 has undeniable substance. But talking about Smart Factories is one thing, and building them quite another.
Machining, composite and integrated manufacturing specialists at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre have joined forces to build what is believed to be the world’s first reconfigurable carbon composite robotic machine tool.
Have you ever looked at your system and thought: “Upgrading our equipment is too expensive and likely to cause downtime. Let’s just keep it running.” Ultimately, you made a risk decision. While cyber security hasn’t been a critical risk factor until recently, it has quickly emerged as one of today’s biggest risks.
Human factors and ergonomics provide a scientific approach to prepare workers for an increasingly automated manufacturing environment. Dr Sarah Fletcher, lead, Manufacturing Group, Chartered Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors and head of Industrial Psychology and Human Factors Group at Cranfield University, reports.
