Making gains in sustainable manufacturing
New digital technologies developed by DETI to help UK manufacturers achieve better sustainability, are detailed in the partnership’s Digital Now report.
Presenting nine key results, the report introduces industry firsts including the DETI digital eco-meter which allows engineers to visualise the carbon footprint during manufacture of a composite product, such as a carbon fibre aircraft wing or car component. Using the eco-meter engineers can see - for the first time - the environmental impact of the parts they are making, giving them the chance to improve processes and cut emissions during manufacture.
The report has also revealed the successful trial of a real-time digital system that monitors component build quality. Aimed at high-performance composites manufacture using ovens for curing, the system allows vital interventions to be made when it is impossible to visually monitor the build quality. In aerospace, marine and automotive sectors that use this type of manufacturing technique heavily, this tool could improve sustainability and time-to-market substantially.
Augmented reality developments are covered, reporting on a novel software system developed by DETI engineers that helps improve fault detection within a manufactured product, thus cutting waste and improving efficiency. Engineers have also tested a range of ‘off-the-shelf’ augmented reality and virtual reality tools to trial virtual 3D design applications creating best practice guidelines for businesses who want to explore the realms of immersive technology.
Another inclusion in the report is the UK’s first Quantum Key Distribution network engineered in partnership with BT and Toshiba. Offering a super-fast, secure communications network has allowed engineers and researchers to share live information, design data and manufacture part of a product remotely, delivering on the global challenge to forge a digital supply chain, bringing fully automated smart factories closer.
The report contains key learnings from the West of England based DETI Skills Inspire & Transform programmes, working to ensure the future workforce is digital-ready, diverse and inclusive. It also details plans for secondary school digital engineering resources focusing on sustainability which will be deployed in 2021.
Marc Funnell, Director of Digital Engineering & DETI, National Composites Centre, says, ‘We listened to what industry needed and we are delivering a practical, focused innovation programme that is making great advances in the use of digital tools for manufacturers in our region. Our digital test beds and engineering capabilities are open access and targeted at providing physical demonstrations to demystify digital transformation for industry of all sizes.’
With another year remaining, DETI will be switching its focus to proving and enhancing many of these new digital tools using the private 5G test bed built in partnership with the 5G-ENCODE programme, hosted at the National Composites Centre.
Part of the West of England Combined Authority’s commitment to accelerating innovation, DETI is delivered by the National Composites Centre, the Centre for Modelling & Simulation, Digital Catapult, the University of the West of England, the University of Bristol and the University of Bath and funded by the Combined Authority with co-investment from the High Value Manufacturing Catapult and industry.
