|
E-news
July 05 |
National Composites
Network
growing a successful UK
composites industry |
|
In this issue -
Launch of Advanced Composites Facility
28 June 2005 saw the formal launch of the Advanced Composites Facility, located on the Osbourne site of GKN Aerospace, Isle of Wight.
The scene for the event was already set by the activities underway in the Solent for the 200th anniversary of the battle of Trafalgar. Opened by Alun Michael MP, Minister of State for Industry and the Regions, the 1500 square metre facility is jointly funded by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), the DTI and GKN. It will be focusing its research activities on the development of automated manufacturing processes for high performance carbon composite parts.
The new facility will soon be fully operational, and an NCN technology transfer event is planned for autumn 2005.
Full story on the GKN website
Free information, tech support & consultancy starts with the NCN Helpdesk
If you have a question on any aspect of composite materials please call the NCN Helpdesk on 01223 894 662 or email info@ncn-uk.co.uk You can use this free service as often as you need.
As well as providing information, the Helpdesk sets up one-to-one consultations with experts and organises direct practical assistance through the NCN’s tech support services – which are also free of charge.
Marine & Aerospace - defining industry drivers & needs
Marine sector
As part of the NCN’s activities in developing a cohesive strategy for the UK composites industry, a number of sector focus meetings are being held to define industry drivers and needs.
The first marine sector meeting on 16 June was hosted by the British Marine Federation, the primary trading body for this sector, aboard the Spirit of Portsmouth, moored at Southampton Docks during the Seawork 2005 show. Thirty attendees enjoyed a hearty breakfast, and the workshop set sail with an excellent technology overview presentation from Julian Spooner of the Advanced Composites Manufacturing Centre (ACMC), Plymouth University. This was followed by an equally inspiring view of technology transfer in action, given by Roger Davidson of CTG Ltd. Healthy discussion ensued, covering technology advancement, potential barriers to the marine industry’s future success, and suggestions for future NCN activities.
Aerospace sector
A similar meeting was held at TWI Ltd on 21 June to consider the aerospace sector. David Driver from the Materials & Structures National Advisory Committee presented an overview of the role this group already plays in defining a strategic view of future research needs for the aerospace and defence sectors. The aerospace sector group within the NCN will draw largely from this committee for top-level sector view but will also engage with the relevant trade bodies that represent the significant number of small companies which make up the aerospace supply-chain. In addition, a programme of events will be organised to promote and raise awareness of composites in general, as well as targeted technology transfer in key areas to meet future skill needs.
Progress on all sector focus group activities will be posted on the NCN website in due course.
NCN assesses feasibility of using new composite
Through its technology transfer activity, the NCN unites SMEs with expert subcontractors to solve a diverse range of problems and product development issues. One such partnership is between Ultimate Sports Engineering (USE) and expert subcontractor Engenuity.
World leaders in their market, USE is a small company of around 14 people which manufactures and supplies components to the specialist road and mountain biking market. They were looking to expand their composite component range using a new material; the new items would potentially rival conventional aluminium parts.
Before their plan could progress, USE needed to conduct research to assess the viability of their idea, and this is where NCN free tech support came in. A Product and Process Review was completed and, as a result, the NCN partnered USE with Engenuity, which continued with a Feasibility Study.
Engenuity specialises in problem solving. They provide advanced analysis information, using tools such as Finite Element Analysis, to optimise design and identify the physical requirements of a component.
This partnership has enabled USE to access expertise that would otherwise be unavailable to them. The project is still in progress using funding from the NCN.
If you would like more information on free technical support through the NCN’s technology transfer programme please e-mail info@ncn-uk.co.uk
News of upcoming events
Composite materials technology – challenges and opportunities for the manufacturing supply-chain
6 September 2005; Airbus Composite Structures Development Centre, Airbus, Filton
This half-day, cross-sectoral workshop will not only assess the implications for SMEs of using composites throughout the manufacturing supply-chain but will also provide an appreciation of future trends in composite materials.
Further information in the event leaflet on the NCN website or through Rachel Wall at TWI: 01223 891 162, rachel@twi.co.uk
NCN Programme Director
Introducing Deborah Pullen
After her PhD, Deborah did 3 years research on high performance thermoplastic materials, and in 1993 she moved to Ciba Composites, developing improved thermoset composite systems.
In 1995 Deborah joined DERA’s composites group and led collaborative projects on thermoset composite processing and novel high performance polymeric fibre systems for aerospace applications. In 1997 she became their Composites Group Manager, holding the role - through the formation of QinetiQ in 2001 - for 5 years, managing the change from predominantly MOD and DTI collaborative programmes to increased income from civil markets for contract research and licencing.
Deborah became manager of TWI’s polymer group in 2003, and since July 2004 she has also been the NCN Programme Director. Deborah told NCN E-news ‘In the past year I have seen at first hand the increasing challenges facing any manufacturing industry in the western world; but I’ve also seen inspired innovation and resourcefulness, increasingly so in many small companies.
‘It is my ambition to see composites realise their full potential as a unique materials class, and for the associated UK industry to maximise its business as a consequence.’
If you would like to contact Deborah you can do so by e-mailing the NCN Helpdesk - please put ‘For the attention of Deborah Pullen’ in the Subject line.
Further information
For more information on any aspect of the National Composites Network, please contact -
|