Flat pack truck
The OX is the worlds first flat pack truck, designed to provide aid and everyday transport in developing areas, and unveiled at the recent LCV 16 exhibition. Designed in the UK by leading vehicle designer Gordon Murray.
Designs of the year
The London Design Museum will be holding the Beasley Designs of the Year event including categories for product and transport design such as the carbon fibre oko e-bike. The event coincides with the opening of the Design Museums new home at the Commonwealth Institute in Kensington on 24 November onwards.
Sea front zip wire
Councillors have approved a 300m zip wire on Brighton sea front, replacing the recently removed Brighton wheel. The wire will start 22m high, and cost £1.7m to install.
Equality
Brighton has just received an Athena Swan equality award for its work in encouraging women’s careers in engineering and other STEMM subjects. Just 1 of 5 universities to have achieved this.
Tomorrows engineers
Can you inspire the next generation of young people to become the engineers of the future . . . Tomorrow’s Engineers week is 7th to 11th November.
Galaxy 7 recall
Lithium ion batteries are known to be problematic. The liquid inside most lithium ion batteries is highly flammable and if the battery short-circuits through a punture in the thin sheet of plastic separating the positive and negative sides of the battery then the puncture point is the route of least resistance for electricity to flow and the flammable liquid is heated at that point. Despite changing battery suppliers, Samsungs’ replacement Galaxy 7 phones have suffered from the same overheating problem and sales have now been put on hold.
The engineering Mayor
Keep your eyes open on Monday 17th for a visit to Brighton University by the Mayor of Brighton Pete West, who is an electrical engineering graduate of the university.
Brexit
Brexit is certain to affect some people more that others, with most engineering businesses not wanting a ‘hard exit’ (the loss of access to the single market following a restriction on migration). The current fall in the value of the pound casued partially by the uncertainty of the future of the UK is having mixed effects. It makes imports more expensive, but might encourage inward investment and make exports easier. Share values are hence climbing to new highs particularly for those service companies (who may not rely on importing materials and equipment) who are operating overseas.
Future of Mobility
Goodyears Future of Mobility 2016 event for this interested in seeing visions of future transport will run tomorrow at the London Transport Mueseum
FT live
Contrary to popular opionion, UK manufacturing might have shrunk but is not dead and is in fact ranked 11th in the world contributing 11% of the UK GVA (i.e added value). The forthcoming FT live summit on Manufacturing follows the recent FT forum on Innovation and looks at the strategic value of the sector.