Engineering news
Williams Advanced Engineering takes F1 expertise off road
Professional Engineering
The off road electric racing series Extreme-E kicked off last weekend, powered by batteries from Williams Advanced Engineering. The firm’s cutting-edge electrification and lightweight technology is transforming modern motorsport – but its innovative work will have a far wider impact.
New car market grows for first time in months
E&T
The UK new car market grew 11.5% in March, the first increase for more than half a year. Registrations were nonetheless down 36.9% compared to the March average for 2010-2019, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said.
Quality manager bins 6.8m substandard parts in 2020
Professional Engineering
More than 6.8m ‘substandard’ parts were removed from the manufacturing process by a quality management provider last year, as the pandemic caused huge disruption to normal working practices. Automotive quality specialist G&P, which operates out of more than 100 of its clients’ manufacturing facilities around the world, also reworked more than 27m parts to OEM standard in 2020 – a 73% increase on the previous four-year average.
Sunflower pollen sponge could absorb devastating oil spills
E&T
A team of researchers at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore have developed a sponge made from sunflower pollen. The reusable and biodegradable sponge, which also contains a fatty acid to repel water, could absorb oil and other solvents from water.
Dynamic platform cuts 3D printing waste by 35%
Professional Engineering
A dynamically controlled surface with moving metal platforms can cut material usage in 3D printing by reducing the need for “wasteful” printed supports, its developers have said. Printing times could also be shortened thanks to the new technique, said the researchers from the University of Southern California (USC).
Aluminium anode batteries offer low-cost renewable energy storage
Professional Engineering
A new type of battery incorporating low-cost aluminium could offer cheaper, safer and more environmentally friendly storage of renewable energy, its developers at Cornell University have said. The new approach resulted in rechargeable batteries offering up to 10,000 error-free cycles.
Manufacturing R&D increase continues despite pandemic
Process Engineering
The UK manufacturing sector spent a record £15.3bn on research and development in 2020, according to analysis of ONS data by tax relief consultancy Catax. The figure was a 4.4% rise on the previous year, despite widespread disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Paper waste could be eco-friendly addition to road cement
Professional Engineering
Millions of tonnes of waste from the pulp and paper industry could be diverted from landfill into road construction, researchers have claimed. Wood-based pulp mill fly ash (PFA) could be an economically sustainable and low-carbon binder for cement, said the team from the University of British Columbia Okanagan.
French rail operator buys hydrogen trains
The Engineer
French rail operator SNCF has ordered 12 electric-hydrogen trains from Alstom. The roughly €190m order comes as the country aims to phase out regional diesel express trains by 2035.
Hyperloop and maglev are no real challenge to the 'permanent way'
Professional Engineering
Conventional railway track – known as the permanent way – is still the most efficient way of carrying large numbers of passengers or freight, and will remain so into the future despite big claims made by exponents of Hyperloop and maglev technology, writes David Shirres.
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Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.