E-news
Sept 05 |
National Composites
Network
growing a successful UK
composites industry |
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In this issue -
First technology workshop at Airbus Composites Centre, Filton
A very successful workshop was held on 6 September as part of a regional programme of events planned at the Airbus Composites Centre, Filton. Around 45 attendees from the region and beyond listened to presentations from Airbus, GKN Aerospace, VT Halmatic and W & J Tod.
The event was run in collaboration with the West of England Aerospace Forum. The audience also took part in an interactive innovation audit, facilitated by PERA as part of the regional Aeronautics and Space Innovation Technology Panel (ASITP) programme.
Following the presentations and a healthy discussion session, those attending were able to see the Centre’s facilities and meet some of the Airbus engineers over lunch. A number of SMEs at the event then met with relevant experts provided by the NCN Outreach programme to discuss individual issues and queries. The majority of these companies will now benefit from further support from the knowledge and capabilities base of the NCN.
More events to come
The workshop was heavily over-subscribed and the intention is to run a series of regional events with similar technology themes. They will showcase a number of UK facilities and inform the audience of the status of effective technology insertion in industry, as well as other diagnostic surgeries for addressing individual company issues
Register with NCN - don't miss out on valuable information
Registering with NCN allows you to be kept informed of latest news and events from the programme. It also gives you exclusive access to specialist composites information, expertise and training directories and more, on the NCN website. You can register via the NCN homepage at http://www.ncn-uk.co.uk
Advanced Materials Forum
The Advanced Materials Forum (AMF) is a web portal designed to support the UK materials community, including composites. As well as bringing together the latest news, information and reports on materials from around the world, the Forum has been established to debate future priorities for materials application and development, and to facilitate the transfer of knowledge from the science and technology base to UK business. Registration is free on the AMF
Registration is free on the AMF homepage http://amf.globalwatchonline.com/epicentric_portal/site/AMF/ and gives you access to information on:
- Functional materials
- Structural materials including composites
- application areas
- materials innovation and growth team (MatIGT)
- Policy and support
- Roadmaps, standards and measurement
Free composites information, tech support & consultancy starts with a call to the NCN helpdesk.
As well as providing information, the Helpdesk sets up one-to-one consultations with experts and organises direct practical assistance through NCN’s Information, Diagnostics and Solutions range of in-depth tech support services (summarised in a printable leaflet on the NCN website).
ALL THIS IS PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE!
Visit the NCN website at http://www.ncn-uk.co.uk
Design, QA and Standards Task Group
The Design, QA and Standards Task Group is one of four established by NCN to date. This Task Group aims to look at the total design process which, when correctly undertaken, includes: the necessary quality assurance aspects drawn from codes and standards at the design level; the subsequent QA requirements; and the underpinning materials testing standards and specifications. It will concentrate on structural engineering applications.
At the first meeting, presentations were given on the issues faced by speakers from several industries (e.g. aerospace, construction, F1, oil/off-shore, automobile). A wide-ranging discussion covered many issues, including:
- design of joints, testing of surfaces prior to bonding, bond integrity
- service inspection, NDE
- material interchangeability/replacement
- need for best practice guidance
- maintenance and repair
- tolerances, installation and handling
- design processes, safety factors applicable
The overall aim of the Task Group is to identify the current status in the above issues, which will be made available as Best Practice Guidance that can be used to support code preparation and standardisation in different applications or industry sectors, and to identify forward plans to meet outstanding needs. Initially, a skeleton outlining the issues will be prepared covering the full design and installation process (full life-cycle analysis). The next meeting is planned for late October/early November at the Airbus Composites Centre, Filton.
For further information contact Graham D Sims graham.sims@npl.co.uk and visit http://www.npl.co.uk/cog/index.html
News of upcoming events
Second NCN Annual Forum
28 September 2005; ‘At-Bristol’
The Second Annual Forum of the NCN will showcase activities of the NCN during its first year. Key speakers include: Iain Gray, MD of Airbus UK; David Way, Director of Strategy, Innovation Group at DTI; and Andy Rendall, Focus for Composites at EPSRC.
For more information and to register for the Forum please contact Rachel Wall at TWI Ltd, email rachel.wall@twi.co.uk tel. 01223 891 162. More information on the At-Bristol venue at www.at-bristol.org.uk
Composites manufacture: meet the experts
11 October 2005; Delcam development headquarters, Birmingham
Following on from a very successful event at Delcam in March 2005, a further workshop focusing specifically on low cost manufacturing technologies and their impact so far in industry is planned for 11 October at Delcam in Birmingham. Speakers include key personnel from Boeing, Hexcel and GKN Aerospace.
This free workshop will show where the opportunities are and how to benefit from them. You can register online at www.delcam.co.uk (and download a copy of the event leaflet for full details): click ‘Seminars’ on Delcam’s home page (under ‘Downloads’).
Composites, sensors & networks in structural integrity monitoring: 12th SIMoNET meeting
23 November 2005; NDE Centre, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London
Active since 1999, SIMoNET is a network with the primary objective of operating an international multidisciplinary group for the exchange of information and experience on structural integrity monitoring (SIM). The aim is to link industry and university in order to exchange information and solve problems of common interest.
In March of this year NCN initiated a formal connection with SIMoNET to achieve a focus for composites SIM through increased links between the composites community and members of SIMoNET. As a consequence, this SIMoNET workshop event spotlights SIM of composites, with key speakers from Airbus, Mouchel Parkman and the National Group for Composites in Construction (NGCC). For more information visit the SIMoNET website at http://www.simonet.org or email Professor Bill Dover at University College London at wddover@btinternet.com.
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Further information
For more information on any aspect of the National Composites Network, please contact -
NCN Helpdesk: 01223 894 662
Email: info@ncn-uk.co.uk
Fax: 01223 891 284
Website: www.ncn-uk.co.uk
Part of the Materials Knowledge Transfer Network
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