For the latest news, follow us on Twitter: @CI_DesignMag, Facebook or LinkedIn TMD TECHNOLOGIES WINS CERN PROTOTYPE CLIC STRUCTURE CONTRACT


West London based TMD Technologies, a manufacturer of hi-tech microwave and RF products, has won a contract to produce the latest CERN prototype CLIC accelerating structure. The Compact Linear Collider (CLIC) Collaboration


involves the development of a next generation electron-positron collider that could serve as a ‘factory’ for mass-producing Higgs Bosons. The key elements of the CLIC design are the accelerating structures, which need to produce an electric-field gradient of up to 100 million volts per meter to accelerate the electrons and positrons (antielectrons) to high energies within the shortest distance possible – in this case about 7km for a collision energy of 380 GeV. Each accelerating structure is made from high-precision copper disks stacked and high-temperature bonded to form a monolithic block to which additional components (couplers, cooling channels and flanges) are subsequently brazed. One particularly tricky aspect of the complex procedure is to maintain the


INTELLICONNECT MOVES TO LARGER PREMISES


Following sales growth of 30% in 2020, Intelliconnect (Europe), the UK based manufacturer of RF, waterproof and cryogenic connectors and cable assemblies, has moved to a larger facility at the Corby Innovation Hub. Despite supply chain, delivery and


logistics challenges during 2020, the company has introduced a number of key new products including high density connector blocks and high specification cable products, and capitalised on a number of significant opportunities in cryogenic, defence, medical and marine applications worldwide. Growth markets include wireless communications, the IoT and Industry 4.0, quantum computing and research. www.intelliconnect.co.uk


furnaces. The final product was then dispatched to CERN to be characterised and tested in the CLIC high-gradient test stand. High-gradient structures like these have


potential applications in compact particle-beam therapy systems for cancer treatment as well as compact free-electron laser light sources. Professor Philip Burrows, CLIC Collaboration


alignment of the disk-stack to much better than 100 microns (approximately the width of a human hair) across its 26cm length during the assembly and brazing processes. In close collaboration with CERN, the


structure was carefully assembled at TMD’s advanced manufacturing facility, and bonded and brazed in one of its high-temperature


leader and director of the John Adams Institute, said: “It is wonderful to have a UK SME like TMD taking a lead in developing advanced technology for particle accelerator systems. The technologies that TMD is helping to perfect for CLIC have potential applications for many other accelerator- based solutions to societal challenges, not least in beam therapy systems for cancer treatment. TMD has also recently completed a manufacturing study for the CLIC team – assessing how a substantial volume of structures could be assembled and delivered to enable the build of CLIC.” www.tmd.co.uk


COMPONENT SUPPLIER SEES 60% RISE IN DEMAND


High precision components supplier, Accu, has increased sales by 60% during the COVID-19 pandemic, and is expected to turnover between £6-7m this financial year. An initial slump in March – due to the first COVID-19 lockdown – was quickly counteracted by a need from furloughed engineers and manufacturers to innovate new products quickly. Able to design and manufacture prototypes within a very small


timeframe, the company has supplied engineering components to F1, Mars Rover and ventilator manufacturers in the last few months. Co-founder, Martin Ackroyd, said: “At the start of lockdown, business


to consumer sales showed significant growth. We quickly discovered that furloughed engineers were investing their own time and money in early prototypes – and they took advantage of our high precision components, available in small quantities. “Then, as the manufacturing sector realised that they had a huge part to


play in the fight against COVID-19, engineers were taken off furlough and were required to innovate solutions for the medical frontline – such as ventilators. Our customers were incredibly agile, and I’m proud that we were able to support them with fast prototyping of components.” To deal with such a huge increase in demand, Accu has implemented a


double shift pattern at its warehouse and is looking into a second location to enable an even quicker response to clients’ needs.


W


elcome to the first issue of 2021, and I would like to


start off by saying a huge thank you – not only to you, our readers, but also all our advertisers. There’s no doubt that 2020 was incredibly tough in all areas of our lives,


but designers are still developing products, and OEMs are still manufacturing – and we are here to showcase the latest products, technologies and solutions to help with these processes. While it’s been a very challenging time for some industries,


such as automotive, others have flourished – most notably, and understandably, the medical sector – and many companies have turned their hand to developing solutions for this area. So, in the year that Design Solutions celebrates its 50th Anniversary, it will be wonderful to see other industry areas ramping up production and development once more. You will be able to find all the products, components, software


and solutions you need in the pages of Design Solutions and on our comprehensive website www.connectingindustry.com/designsolutions. You can also follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.


Rachael Morling - Editor 4 DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 | DESIGN SOLUTIONS SENSORS MEET


MEDICAL INDUSTRY DEMANDS


Pyreos has announced steep revenue growth in medically approved breath analysis applications for critical care settings, as well as in sensors for breath analysis for handheld battery powered consumer health products. The company is a major supplier


of sensors for capnography. This high-speed breath analysis technique based on NDIR CO2


measurement has


numerous applications including for Covid-19 treatments and has become mandatory in many hospitals worldwide. Pyreos sensor revenues in this application increased 5x in 2020 vs 2019 and its sensors are now in at least 10 end user systems worldwide. https://pyreos.com


www.accu.co.uk/en


Blackburn Starling, an automation solutions provider and manufacturer of bespoke Low Voltage control systems, has become a Siemens Sivacon S8 Power Partner. The midlands firm becomes one of


two UK companies to currently hold this prestigious title. Operating under license, Blackburn Starling will build Siemens’ Sivacon S8 system – the Low Voltage intelligent switchboard that has been at the forefront of industrial infrastructure for the last 15 years – at its purpose-built factory on Queens Drive. https://new.siemens.com


NSK has signed an agreement to acquire Bruel & Kjær Vibro, a leading specialist in condition monitoring systems (CMS), from Spectris Plc. “With B&K Vibro becoming part


of our company, we will be able to enhance our CMS business platform and aim for further growth in the rapidly growing CMS market,” said Toshihiro Uchiyama, president and CEO of NSK. www.nskeurope.com


Neilson Hydraulics & Engineering and its sister company VHS Hydraulic Components, producers of power packs, hydraulic systems and suppliers of hydraulic components, have been appointed the official UK distributor for IMO. IMO specialises in antifriction bearing technology and provides a wide range of Slew Drives and Slewing Rings. Rob Turner, managing director,


said: “We have been working closely with IMO for nearly 10 years now on different projects and this news of the appointment in both companies comes with great excitement.” www.neilson-hydraulics.co.uk www.hydraulic-components.net


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