Base to carry out Airbus engineering jobs - 23-06-2008 - 10:45

Belfast-based aerospace firm Base, which currently employs around 50 people in engineering jobs, has been boosted by the award of a major contract from Airbus.

It will carry out interior work on the A380 with Airbus engineers near Frankfurt in Germany, the engineer.co.uk reports.

The contract has been gained after the firm participated with Invest Northern Ireland at an expo in Hamburg.

Peter Hinds, director at Base, told the website the contract is an important award for the firm.

"It's a tremendous boost for all at Base because it shows that we have met the exacting requirements in terms of knowledge, experience, expertise and quality of a world-leading plane maker," he added.

The BBC recently revealed that engineers in Northern Ireland are producing composite material for aircraft which is lighter and stronger than aluminium.

Dr Justin Quinn, acting director of the University of Ulster's Engineering Composites Research Centre, told the news provider that by saving weight, money could also be saved.

Composite material engineering takes place in NI - 16-06-2008 - 10:56

Northern Irish engineers are using a modified loom to weave carbon fibres and create "composite material" for the manufacturing of aircraft, it has been revealed.

The University of Ulster's Engineering Composites Research Centre is making the material, which is lighter yet stronger than aluminium, the BBC reports.

Composites are then used for different parts of aircraft, ranging from wing components to seating.

Dr Justin Quinn, acting director of the university centre, told the news provider saving weight meant saving money.

He added: "The lighter the aircraft the more payload and passengers it can carry, and it can reduce carbon emissions by not using as much fuel to lug around unnecessary weight in the frame and the wings."

Bombardier Aerospace, which has been developing composite material in Belfast for 40 years, said it hoped its "next generation wing programme" will result in more environmentally-friendly flying.

Northern Ireland (NI) is the only Bombardier base outside of the Americas.

Its other facilities are in Montreal, Toronto, Kansas, US and Queretaro, Mexico.

New JHE premises creates engineering jobs in County Down - 30-05-2008 - 09:31

Almost 50 engineering jobs have become available in County Down in Northern Ireland after John Huddleston Engineering (JHE) opened a new premises at in Greyabbey.

Backed by Invest Northern Ireland, the factory will allow the engineering firm to expand production of its aerospace products, reports Northern Ireland News.

It will result in expanded production for JHE, which provides services for companies such as BAE Systems, Bombardier and GKN Aerospace, and means its workforce will rise by almost 50 per cent from 84 to 130 employees.

Opening the new facility, first minister Ian Paisley praised JHE for its "strong engineering heritage" which has seen it become a "significant international player".

He said: "This new factory will enhance JHE's high speed, high-tech precision engineering capability, which is unique to Northern Ireland, and puts it at the very forefront of the UK aerospace supply sector."

The creation of new engineering jobs in Country Down follows a recent construction recruitment day in Derry as continued growth of the industry in Northern Ireland continues to drive the need for workers.

Rolls-Royce and GKN Aerospace form joint venture - 29-05-2008 - 17:54

A joint venture to carry out research and development into the use of composite materials in aero engine fan blades has been announced between Rolls-Royce and GKN Aerospace.

Funding for work will cost around £11 million and is expected to look for key technologies and alternative materials to enhance the efficiency and environmental performance of products.

The venture, which builds on research already undertaken by the EU-funded VITAL programme into the development of composite blade applications, will be 51 per cent owned and funded by Rolls-Royce, while GKN Aerospace will be responsible for the other 49 per cent.

Ric Parker, research and technology director at Rolls-Royce, said the company is looking forward to building on its relationship with GKN Aerospace with the new joint venture.

He continued: "The composite technology research that this organisation will undertake is aimed at delivering light-weight and low-cost fan blades for engines for the next generation of airframe applications."

The research partnership between the two firms follows Rolls-Royce's launch of a new aero engine which is on display at this week's Berlin Airshow.

Rolls-Royce unveils new aero engine - 27-05-2008 - 19:21

The Berlin Airshow has been chosen by Rolls-Royce as the venue to present its latest aero engine.

Completed at a factory in nearby Dahlewitz a month ago, the BR725 is due to power Gulfstream G650 aircraft, expected in service by 2012.

German chancellor Dr Angela Merkel has already visited Rolls-Royce's stand at the Airshow, where the new engine is the centrepiece of its presentation.

Dr Michael Haidinger, president of Rolls-Royce Deutschland, said the company is delighted to unveil the new BR725 in Berlin.

He added: "This engine opens a new chapter in the success story of the market-leading BR700 family and also means value-adding growth for Rolls-Royce Deutschland.

"It proves that the sustainable investment by Rolls-Royce in its German sites and in the development of eco-friendly engine technology is more than paying off."

Rolls-Royce recently announced it has enjoyed a solid start to the year despite the current economic climate.

This is primarily due to growth in its energy and marine businesses but the company has also been boosted by a £2 billion contract with US airways.

New US plant for Rolls-Royce - 16-05-2008 - 15:05

Rolls-Royce is set to build an engineering plant in Virginia in the US, it has been reported.

The British manufacturing company has acquired a 1,000 acre plot at Prince George in the state and is expected to complete its first factory on the site sometime next year, Progress Index reports.

Another two factories will follow if the plant performs well, with 600 to 700 engineering jobs likely to be created as part of the construction.

Bob Stoddart, the executive vice-president of Rolls-Royce's Crosspointe operations, said Prince George would help the company expand its manufacturing output.

He continued: "Over a two-year process to find the best locations in the world, Prince George stood out for quality of life and great government incentives.

"It's important for us to expand our footprint here because the U.S is the biggest aerospace market."

Rolls-Royce has also announced it has opened a marine service facility in Mumbai, India, which will help support the growing shipping industry in the country.

Aerospace firm contributes £392m to Scots economy - 15-05-2008 - 18:17

BAE Systems' Surface Fleet Solutions (BAESSFS) business contributed £392 million to the Scottish economy last year, an increase of £139 million, research has revealed.

A study by the Fraser of Allander Institute found the company's Govan and Scotstoun operations contributed £107 million alone.

Its 3,194 jobs on the Clyde are believed to secure an additional 2,170 jobs in other industries in the country, supporting £132.2 million worth of wages across Scotland.

Vic Emery, managing director of BAESSFS, said the research showed shipbuilding on the Clyde is continuing to grow and indicates the industry is thriving.

He continued: "The level of growth we have seen in 2007 is substantial and I am delighted that our business has had such an extensive, positive impact on the country’s economy."

The research follows news that construction firm Barr is set to create around 50 construction jobs in Paisley.

It has been given planning permission to build a new £10 million civil engineering headquarters in the town by the Clyde.

Oxford set to become home to engineering jobs - 09-05-2008 - 18:02

Engineering jobs could become available in Oxford after its airport became the new base for fixed wing maintenance operations.

PremAir has announced it is to move from Blackbushe airport in Surrey to its new home in September.

An authorised service centre, it will continue work on Hawler beechcraft business aircraft in Oxford once it completes the relocation.

David McRobert, the managing director of PremAir, explained the move to a new hangar at Oxford airport had been agreed after Blackbushe became too short on capacity to provide for the company's growing maintenance operations.

He added: "It was therefore logical to find a new base for our fixed wing business and thereby create much needed space for further helicopter maintenance activity. We found the ideal solution at Oxford."

PremAir's move to enhance its production comes after the Conservatives announced they are to work with Rolls-Royce to stimulate the manufacturing sector.

The political party is looking at ways it could reinvigorate the sector as a whole, should it take power after the next general election.

Government announces supercarriers deal - 04-04-2008 - 11:10

The government has announced a £13 million deal for the construction of aircraft lifts on planned new supercarriers.

Scottish firm MacTaggart Scott has been awarded the contract and this appears to have calmed fears over delays in the contracts for the aircraft countries.

Baroness Ann Taylor, minister for defence equipment and support, said: "The order is a clear demonstration of the steady progress towards commencing building work at the shipyards."

Ministry of Defence team leader Rear Admiral Bob Love said that each carrier will have "two huge lifts" which will be able to carry 70 tonnes each from the hangar to the flight deck in 60 seconds.

The two new ships are set to be part-built and eventually based in Portsmouth, but there had been concerns raised over the delay in awarding contracts.

MacTaggart Scott was founded in 1898 and supplies submarine systems as well as surface ship systems.

Rolls-Royce gets new engine order from Kazakhstan - 07-01-2008 - 10:36

Air Astana, the national airline of Kazakhstan, has placed an order with Rolls-Royce for Trent 1000 engines for its three Boeing 787-8s.

Delivery of the engines will begin in 2016 and it is believed the order is worth $90 million (£45.6 million).

Mick Forey, senior vice president of civil large engines, Rolls-Royce, added: "This selection of the Trent 1000 gives us the opportunity to expand a valued relationship. Air Astana has a clear vision of the way it wishes to develop, and we are looking forward to supporting the Trent-powered flagship fleet in this exciting period of growth."

According to Peter Foster, president of Air Astana, the Trent 1000 will give the airline "outstanding efficiency and environmental performance".

The airline, which began operating in 2002, currently has 25 domestic routes and 21 international routes.

The Trent 1000 engine has a three-shaft design and was the rollout engine for the 787 Dreamliner.

Rolls-Royce wins £138 million contract - 07-12-2007 - 14:11

Rolls-Royce has won a £138 million order for Trent 700 engines that will provide a massive boost for the 2,200 staff working at its factory in Renfrewshire, which makes compressor blades and seals for the Trent range.

The order, from Hong Kong airline Cathay Pacific, is for eight Airbus A3330 twinjets that use Trent engines. It is due to be delivered between 2010 and 2012.

Rolls-Royce senior vice-president Mick Forey said: "(The Trent 700) has established a clear lead as the engine of choice on the A330 with 50 per cent of orders - a position underpinned by its green standards."

The engines are set to include the latest burn improvement modifications which make them more environmentally friendly.

Rolls-Royce recently announced that a contract signed to cover Saudi Arabia's purchase of 72 Eurofighter Typhoons is worth £1 billion in short term gains.

Living biochem detector developed - 28-11-2007 - 11:19

An aerospace engineer has developed a biological way of detecting the presence of biochemical weapons that cuts down on false positives by harnessing the power of living cells.

The cellular canary, which has been developed by engineer Benjamin Shapiro at the University of Maryland, overcomes the problems faced by traditional detectors by exploiting pathogen-specific pathways and apoptosis.

Existing biochemical detectors can't recognise the myriad ways that pathogens affect biological systems and so are not always accurate indicators of the presence of pathogens.

However, if the detector is instead made out of living cells that die in the presence of the pathogen, the room for error is much smaller.

Shapiro's team have selected and engineered cells which die with exposure to specific pathogens so that they produce a distinctive signal when they are under attack.

These cells are stored under a semi-permeable membrane on a chip that keeps them alive and monitors them.

BAE could build nuclear power components - 28-11-2007 - 11:15

Parts for nuclear power stations could be built at BAE Systems' new construction hall dubbed the "Son of DDH" in Barrow, according to reports.

The Barrrow site has been used for the construction of nuclear submarine parts so has the equipment and staff to carry out nuclear-related procedures.

Glynn Cragg, the head to the carrier project at the site told students at Chetwynde School that the Barrow plant has tested and commissioned reactor equipment for submarines and so counts with the expertise to construct nuclear power station components.

Meanwhile, he revealed that the plant had been selected to build 9,000 tonne hull sections for two carriers.

The construction of the central blocks of the carriers would create 700 jobs at Barrow, with work starting in 2009.

Other parts of the carriers, such as the aeroplane flight deck and hangar deck walls will be built at other places, with the modular approach to construction expected to cut the build time by six months.

Rolls-Royce engineer named Woman of the Future - 22-11-2007 - 11:08

A Rolls-Royce engineer has won an award recognizing her as an inspirational role model to other women earlier this month.

Dr Caroline Mohamed, who works at Rolls-Royce's base in Inchinnan, was crowned UK Woman of the Future at a ceremony in London.

The award, which has Cherie Booth QC as its patron was established to recognize women under the age of 35 forging ahead in business and industry and was awarded to Dr Mohamed on the basis of her scientific and technological achievements in a male dominated industry.

Dr Mohamed, who has worked with the aerospace engineering giant for 10 years, is chief of manufacturing capability and technology.

She has been using her PhD in combustion chemistry to help the company develop greener and more efficient jet engines.

Dr Mohamed told icRenfrewshire: "It is fantastic to be recognised for all my work.

"I am always keen to encourage more women into engineering and this award demonstrates what can be achieved if you work hard in the industry."

Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce has announced the decision to open new facilities for building the Trent engines in Singapore and the US.

Aviation academy gets £1.7m boost - 19-11-2007 - 15:03

Those looking to work in the aerospace engineering sector will be buoyed by the news of the expansion of a training academy recently built in the north-east.

Named the Newcastle Aviation Academy, the building opened its doors four years ago but has just been given a £1.7 million cash injection to improve its facilities.

Regional development agency One NorthEast has given the academy the extra funding which will enable it to take on more students.

Margaret Fay, One NorthEast chairman, said: "This project has been a successful collaboration between education and business, providing a worldwide showcase for the standard of training we can achieve here.

"Offering aviation engineering skills will provide learners with transferable generic engineering knowledge that can be shifted to other engineering careers, which will be a tremendous skills boost for the north-east."

The next generation of aerospace engineers can study for a range of qualifications from GCSEs to first and national diplomas as well as taking their industry standard Foundation Degree in Aeronautical Engineering.

Rolls-Royce engine powers gyroplane - 16-11-2007 - 10:49

A Rolls-Royce gas turbine engine is used in the world's first commercially viable modern gyroplane.

A gyroplane, or autogyro, is similar to a helicopter in that it generates the lift for take off using rotors but once it is in the air, an engine powered propeller provides the thrust which generates aerodynamic forces to drive the rotor.

The first successful flight was made by Juan de la Cierva in 1923, but the technology has since advanced, with Groen Brothers Aviation - which is to feature as one of Utah Business Magazines 2007 High Tech 20 list.

Groen Brothers have been developing the gyroplane since 1986, and designed the first autogiro to use a jet engine - the Hawk 4 Gyroplane.

First employed for security and aerial patrol missions at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, the Hawk caught the attention of the US Department of Defence.

Now Groen Brothers is under contract to design a proof of concept for a vertical take off and landing aircraft that can fly at high speeds for long distances with a search and rescue role in mind.

Rolls-Royce gets engine order - 15-11-2007 - 12:05

Rolls-Royce announced it had received an order for engines to power 10 Airbus A350 XWBs.

The aerospace giant affirmed that Yemenia Yemen, the flag carrying airline of the Middle Eastern country had placed the order for its Trent XWB engines.

Along with the engines, Rolls-Royce is also set to provide the TotalCare long-term agreement to service and maintain the engines.

As well as the new engine and maintenance contracts, Yemenia has also signed another Totalcare agreement for the Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines already powering its two Airbus A330-200s.

Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce is to work on the development of gas-to-liquid synthetic jet fuel along with Qatar Airways, Airbus, Shell, Qatar Fuel Co and Qatar Petroleum.

Testing was to start yesterday on the fuel which, with a density of four to five per cent higher than normal jet fuel would allow aircraft to fly the same distances while consuming less fuel, thereby reducing their carbon emissions.

Sheffield engineer firm in take over - 12-11-2007 - 11:40

A Sheffield engineering firm has attracted the attention of overseas investors and is set to be taken over in a $2 billion, (£945 billion) deal.

Firth Rixson, a specialist engineering firm in the aerospace industry, will be bought by private equity firm Oak Hill Capital from current owner Carylyle.

The firm, which was funded 160 years ago, was turned around by Carlyle from making a loss to its current annual revenues of £500 million.

Carlyle managing director Robert Easton said: "Firth Rixson is a fantastic growth story and the company has been transformed over the period of our ownership."

He added: "From its beginnings in Sheffield over 160 years ago, Firth now operates 11 facilities across the US, UK, Europe and China and supplies products to every major aerospace engine manufacturer in the world."

Some 980 people have jobs at the company's Sheffield base and the firm has bases in the US and Hungary as well.

Firth Rixson specialises in manufacturing highly engineered rings, industrial forgings and specialised metal products for aerospace engines.

When the company was taken over in 2003 by Carlyle, it was merged with Forged Metals.

Spacewalker fixes solar wing - 05-11-2007 - 11:11

An astronaut aboard the International Space Station completed an unprecedented space walk to repair a damaged solar power wing.

The repairs carried out by Scott Parazynski of the Discovery Shuttle, mean that construction on the ISS can go ahead as planned.

Mr Parazynski, who was anchored to the station's robot arm, attached replaced hinges that broke when the solar power wings were extended, with impromptu brackets made aboard the station.

His work, which was carried out as the wing was still generating high voltage electricity, allowed the solar power wings to extend fully, allowing station construction to continue.

The next element in the construction will be the attachment of Europe's Columbus laboratory in December.

"What an accomplishment," Mr Parazynski said. "Congratulations to the whole flight team that came up with this brilliant concept."

The Discovery team said a tearful goodbye on Sunday, with Clayton Anderson joining the homeward bound crew after five months in orbit and Daniel Tani joining the ISS team for a two month stint.

MoD test invisibility cloak - 02-11-2007 - 11:06

Invisibility on the battlefield is the ultimate camouflage, but until recently seemed the domain of sci-fi films - but the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is now testing technology to make troops and equipment disappear.

The technology, still at prototype stage, involves a range of cameras that film the surrounding area and project the images onto reflective materials on the troops or tanks.

Anybody looking at the vehicle will see a projected image of what is behind the vehicle, giving the appearance of looking through it, as if it wasn't there.

An MoD spokesman said: "We're researching new technologies to help disguise vehicles, and we've already had some results in making them 'appear' invisible. It's still early days."

But this is still a basic system, invisibility expert Prof Sir John Pendry of Imperial College told The Daily Telegraph.

He added that, because of its simplicity it could be used on the battlefield relatively soon, but that more high-tech solutions were on the horizon.

Using nanotechnology, he suggested a material which didn't rely on projection at all, and so offered invisibility when viewed from any angle could be created in ten years.

Prof Pendry said: "It doesn't use a video camera, rather the object to be hidden is wrapped in a cloak that guides light around it, like a chicane.

"Of course your eye doesn't know that because it only senses the direction of the rays that enter the eye."

He added that the technology to become invisible to radar in this way already exists.