Img credit: ultimatescience.org
Dams in themselves are engineering and construction marvels that use the flow of water predominantly for irrigation and generating hydroelectricity. The Three Gorges Dam in China is by far the largest hydroelectric plant on earth but it’s not without controversy. While it certainly looks like an engineering masterpiece, there are a few things you may not have known. We take a look at the good, the bad and the ugly truth behind this man-made marvel.
Img Credit: Horizon Nuclear Power
Hitachi has suspended construction of the new nuclear power stations in Anglesey and Gloucestershire. The decision followed some speculation that Hitachi’s nuclear development plans were on hold after failed negotiations with the government based on financing. The Japanese conglomerate concluded that more time is needed to develop a financial structure for the Wylfa Newydd Project. That assessment also included the conditions for construction and operation of facilities.
The nuclear power stations were intended for Wylfa Newydd Anglesey in North Wales and Oldbury on Severn in South Gloucestershire. Horizon Nuclear Power, which Hitachi acquired in 2012, had planned to develop at least 5,800MW of nuclear power across the sites. Adding insult to injury, both sites would have created around 850 full-time positions and 9,000 jobs during construction.
Image Credit: Honda
Honda is making headlines once again as they seeking potential business and technology partners for their prototype off-road vehicle. Honda’s Autonomous Work Vehicle combines the automaker’s all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and advanced autonomous technology. Honda R&D Americas have designed the Autonomous Work Vehicles to improve efficiency and safety.
They aim to target public, commercial and consumer enterprises with the potential to support a host of industries. Some of these include search and rescue, firefighting, construction, agriculture, landscaping and snow removal. Honda will feature their Autonomous Work Vehicle at CES 2019 in Las Vegas Convention Center from January 8-11, 2019.
Metalwork fabrication is a broad term referring to processes involving cutting, shaping or moulding metals into a final product. It is a specialist process that requires expertly trained staff and cutting-edge machinery. Metal components are widely available in a variety of dimensions and materials including sheet metal, metal rods and metal bars.
For the most part, good metalwork fabrication shops can produce products in a wide range of shapes and sizes. Manufacturers often require a non-standard component or a unique metal product which means they need custom fabrication services. It provides them with design and production assistance for built-to-order parts.
The world of construction and technology is advancing at a rapid pace achieving what no-one thought possible only a few years ago. A split-pylon concept bridge is the focus of an EPSRC-funded project at Sheffield and Brunel University. Partnering with a long span bridge expert, Ian Firth, the team of UK engineers used mathematical modelling techniques to identify new bridge designs. They claim that it could beat the current record of a 2 km single span bridge.
Newly identified bridge structures could allow for the construction of significantly longer bridges in the near future. The possibility to make a crossing over the Strait of Gibraltar, from the Iberian Peninsula to Morocco is very real.
3D printing, often referred to as Additive Manufacturing (AM) is the sequential layering of materials using computers to create three-dimensional shapes. The process appears relatively simple as a 3D digital model of the item is created. This is done either through computer aided design (CAD) or using a 3D scanner.
The printer reads the design and “prints” successive layers of a medium, either liquid, powder, or sheet material. These are joined together or fused to create the final product or item. While the 3d printing process can sometimes be slow, it can create almost any shape which is particularly useful for geometrically complex components.
The future of construction lies with robots getting down and dirty while implementing 3D printing technology. And now, 3D printing has found yet another purpose with the US military building barracks using a large 3D printer.
The word “fabrication” means to make something from raw material. Steel fabrication is no different and plays an extremely important role in the world’s infrastructure and economy. Practically every aspect of our civilization benefits from some form of fabricated metal. From household appliances to vehicles and parts, our lives would be unrecognisable without carbon steel, stainless steel and aluminium.
Although the construction of steel buildings dates back to the 20th century, they became more popular during World War II. Thereafter, steel buildings expanded significantly once steel became more readily available. Modern technology, machinery and computer aided design software have pushed steel fabrication to the next level as we see it today. Steel fabrication now involves the implementation of various manufacturing processes including bending, cutting, grinding, brazing and welding.
Several industries currently benefit from aluminium fabrication, which relates to the construction of metal structures by means of cutting, bending and joining. Most extrusions go through some form of further processes such as fabrication, machining and surface treatment. The properties of aluminium make extrusions highly suitable for almost any type of fabrication.
Although fabrication can be applied to any metal, aluminium is considered one of the most common. As a result, there is a big demand for aluminium fabrication services all over the world. If you look at your home or office building, aluminium is all around us. Some of the most common features are aluminium gates and aluminium frameworks used for doors, windows and showers.
The latest monthly CBI Industrial Trends Survey reports that UK Manufacturing output looks promising. They suggest that output has increased strongly and faster since the end of 2017. According to CBI, growth was broad-based, with output increasing in 14 out of 17 sub-sectors. Among the top performers are food, drink and tobacco and mechanical engineering.
Total order books show similar, healthy levels resembling that of December 2017. Exports remained stable, well above average and in line with the past 16 months. Output price expectations for inflation softened to the weakest in almost a year while stock levels moved below average. It hasn’t been smooth sailing as the UK Manufacturing sector faced some serious challenges.
While the CBI believes manufacturers will continue to benefit from robust external demand and the lower exchange rate, overall economic growth is expected to remain subdued. This comes as a result of weak consumer income growth and the continuous uncertainty stemming investments.
A new research study by A.T. Kearney and HP Inc has revealed some interesting data. The UK is placed fifth overall in adopting 3D printing and additive manufacturing behind the US, Germany, Korea and Japan. Within Europe, Britain came in second only behind Germany (placed second globally), and ahead of Sweden (eighth), France (ninth), and Italy at twelve.
According to HP Inc, Germany is the only European country with a more positive environment for the technology to transform manufacturing. Although we’ll see some positive data on 3D printing and additive manufacturing, it’s not all sunshine and roses.
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