JCB to create 350 jobs in the UK
Construction equipment manufacturer JCB is set to create 350 jobs over the next five years as part of a £41 million investment programme. The jobs boost came as the company launched a brand new fuel-efficient three-litre DieselMax engine.
Meanwhile, an additional £10 million is being invested into new machinery and processes as the company gears up for full production of the components which make up the engines, including cylinder heads, engine blocks and bedplates.
Airbus strategy chief to leave group
Airbus Group’s chief strategy and marketing officer Marwan Lahoud, one of the founders of Europe's largest aerospace group and its M&A leader for the past decade, is leaving the company at the end of February.
The company has not named his successor.
UK-China offshore wind initiative launched
The British Chamber of Commerce Shanghai has set up a UK-China hub for offshore wind.
The hub, which is supported by the Department for International Trade and RenewableUK, aims to create business opportunities in China for UK companies.
The hub will foster and promote bilateral trade and increase stake in the success of its members by promoting greater understanding of the UK expertise, creating deeper ties between members and the offshore wind industry in China.
Nasa’s man joins Uber to work on flying car
Mark Moore is leaving Nasa, where he has spent the past 30 years, to join Uber Technologies. Moore is taking on a new role as director of engineering for aviation at the
taxi company, working on a flying car initiative known as Uber Elevate.
Recruiter invests in new manufacturing hub
Engineering recruitment company Morson has donated £500,000 to help create a new manufacturing hub at the University of Salford.
The Eccles-based company made the donation to support the construction of a £16 million Engineering Showcase and ‘Morson Maker-Space’ at the Peel Park Campus.
The Morson Maker-Space, which will be equipped with high-tech lasers, cutters, computer-design and printer facilities, is billed as a ‘factory-floor’ space for businesses, researchers and students to work together on industrial techniques and processes.
Canada backs Bombardier
The government of Canada is to provide £226.3 million in repayable contributions to Bombardier to support thousands of jobs, strengthen the long-term competitiveness of the company, and help to build the aircraft of the future.
Alphabet sells satellite unit
Google’s parent company Alphabet has sold its satellite imagery unit, called Terra Bella and formerly known as Skybox, to start-up Planet Labs for an undisclosed sum.
Planet Labs focuses on using satellite imagery to provide data for industries like ecological research, agriculture, and mapping. As part of the deal, Planet will acquire Terra Bella’s collection of seven SkySat satellites and also enter into a data-purchasing agreement whereby Google will pay for high-resolution imagery to use for its products and services.
Planet plans to send up the most ever satellites in a single launch later this month — 88 in total aboard a rocket launching from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India.
Competition launched to find engineering stars
A nationwide search has been launched to find the next generation of engineering stars in the UK.
The ‘Future of Engineering’ competition, run by the Royal Academy of Engineering and Entrepreneur First, aims to discover and promote the best of the UK’s up and coming leaders in engineering.
The winner will receive a cash prize of £10,000 to put towards the development of their business or idea, while the runner up will receive £5,000. In addition, finalists will be given mentoring and advice.
The closing date for the competition is 31 March 2017.
Hitachi donates to National Railway Museum
Hitachi Rail Europe has donated a driver’s cab of the new intercity train to the National Railway Museum.
Visitors will be able to compare it directly to the cab of a 40-year old Intercity 125 High Speed Train, currently in passenger service, which is also included in the museum’s collection.