Airbus selects new head of engineering for commercial aircraft
Airbus has appointed Jean-Brice Dumont as head of engineering at its commercial aircraft division.
Dumont, who is currently head of engineering at Airbus Helicopters, would join Airbus in September and take over from retiring Charles Champion in December following a transitional phase.
ETI names new CEO
The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) has appointed Jonathan Wills as its new chief executive, with immediate effect. He succeeds Dr David Clarke who sadly passed away at the beginning of February.
Wills has worked for the ETI in a variety of roles since 2011, most recently as the programme delivery director where he was responsible for the continued development of the ETI’s portfolio of technology programmes. Prior to joining the ETI, he worked for BAE Systems for 20 years.
Consortium secures €4.4m EU funding for tidal turbine subsystem
A European tidal energy consortium has secured €4.4 million (£3.8 million) funding to develop tidal turbine subsystem.
The funding, secured under European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, will be used to develop and validate a subsystem called direct drive power take-off (PTO) for tidal turbines. The PTO subsystem is a component, which converts the mechanical power in the tidal turbine rotor into electricity that is exported into the grid.
The consortium comprises of Nova Innovation, Siemens, SKF, the University of Edinburgh, RWTH Aachen University, Delft Technical University and Wood Group Kenny and SgurrEnergy.
UK Space Agency selects CEO
The UK Space Agency has named Graham Turnock as its new chief executive.
Turnock, who will lead a team of more than 100, replaces interim chief executive Katherine Courtney, who has been with the agency since April 2016.
Turnock has been chief executive of the Better Regulation Executive, a unit within the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, since 2011.
UK automotive sector remains upbeat
The UK automotive industry remains resilient despite ongoing uncertainty presented by the global economy and the UK’s future relationship with the EU, according to research from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.
The research revealed average investment over the next two years is due to hold firm at 19% of turnover and forecast a 15% growth in turnover over the next two years. Almost 40% expect growth to come from new product development, while some plan to support growth by investing in infrastructure (22%) and pursuing mergers and acquisitions (20%).
UK manufacturers’ commitment to innovation has increased, with firms planning to invest an average of 24% of current turnover into R&D over the next two years, up from 17%. In particular, 57% of respondents said they had already made moves to develop driverless technology.
NDA names new CEO
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has appointed of David Peattie as its chief executive.
Peattie will be responsible for leading the NDA in the decommissioning and clean-up of 17 legacy nuclear sites across the UK, including Sellafield. He replaces outgoing chief executive John Clarke, who steps down after five years in the role.
Costain reports increased profits
Engineering contractor Costain has reported an increase in pre-tax profit and turnover for 2016 after seeing an increase in spending on infrastructure projects.
The company said its pre-tax profits were up to £37.5 million the year ending 31 December 2016, compared with £29.9 million a year earlier. Its turnover increased to £1.7 billion from £1.3 billion a year earlier.
The company said it aims to lead the technology revolution under way in construction as it continues to recruit more people in hi-tech roles.
Rolls-Royce and Areva complete nuclear upgrade
Rolls-Royce and Areva have successfully installed and commissioned the latest digital safety instrumentation and control (I&C) technologies on to the first two reactors at Cattenom and Paluel nuclear power stations in France, part of the world’s largest I&C modernisation programme.
The 14-year upgrade programme involves supplying 880 new electronic cabinets and modifying 180 existing cabinets with safety systems such as the Reactor Protection System, the Neutron Instrumentation System and the Rod Control System, ensuring the latest I&C safety-critical technology for the 20 reactors of EDF’s 1300MW fleet in France.
Babcock remains on target
British engineering support and outsourcing company Babcock International said it remains on track to meet full year targets.
In a trading update the company said the second half has continued to trade in line with its expectations, boosted by a strong performance in the international business as it begins work on new contracts.
The company’s order book and bid pipeline has been maintained at its half-year level of £30 billion. New orders include a €500 million contract with the French Air Force and a further six maritime equipment support contracts for the Royal Navy.
UK consortium to develop robots for nuclear clean ups
The University of Manchester is to lead a consortium to build robots that are more durable and perceptive for use in nuclear sites.
The new group – comprising Manchester, the University of Birmingham, University of the West of England and industrial partners Sellafield, EDF Energy, the UK Atomic Energy Authority and NuGen – has been awarded £4.6 million funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
It will develop robots which have improved, power, sensing, communications and processing power. They will also develop systems which are able to address issues around grasping and manipulation, computer vision and perception.
Banks Renewables wins funding for three UK wind farms
Banks Renewables has secured £210 million in finance to support the construction of three UK wind farms totalling 151MW.
The projects are the 88MW Kype Muir and 51MW Middle Muir projects in South Lanarkshire and the 12MW Moor House wind farm near Darlington in northeast England.
All three projects will feature Senvion hardware. Kype Muir will consist of 26 3.4M104 machines, Middle Muir will comprise 15 3.4M114 turbines and Moor House will feature six MM100 units.