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industry news manufacturers need to ‘digitalise to survive, recover and grow’


A survey of some 200 SME manufacturers in the North West carried out by Made Smarter has highlighted how the last two years affected them, their approach to digitalisation, and their priorities going forward. The survey revealed that while many (35%)


makers, particularly smaller businesses, are focussed on survival after a turbulent few years, achieving growth by improving productivity and adopting digital technologies are key drivers for SMEs. Two-in-five manufacturers (38%) revealed they had plans to invest in or adopt new technology in the next two or three years. Meanwhile, one in three respondents said their latest business strategy included integrating digital technology or a roadmap towards automation. The survey also showed that manufacturing


leaders are exploring a range of technologies to revolutionise the way they make and distribute their products. Almost half (44%) expressed an interest in data and systems integration technologies, while


two-thirds were considering industrial machinery, robotics and automation. The survey also found that almost a third (29%)


cited productivity, efficiency and output as key drivers for manufacturers in 2022 and beyond, despite the current business climate. Increasing revenue (18%) was the secondary motivator to invest in new digital tools, followed by attracting and winning new customers (17%). However, while the majority (80%) of


manufacturing leaders expressed a clear understanding of what they need to do and the benefits of investing, once they are aware of the benefits, barriers to adoption remain. Two in five (42%) manufacturers said that the lack of capital and funding to invest was holding them back from investing, as well as the lack of time (10%). The survey also revealed a fragmented awareness of the business advice and support available, meaning SMEs are


partnership to expand saf production


Boeing and Alder Fuels have announced a partnership to expand production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) around the world. Using Boeing airplanes, the companies will test and qualify Alder-derived SAF, advance policies to expedite the transition to renewable energy in aviation, and grow the amount of SAF for the global aerospace market. Alder Fuels’ proprietary technology enables the efficient conversion of abundant, sustainable forest


residues and regenerative biomass into a low-negative carbon ‘greencrude’ for jet fuel conversion. The product is suitable for conversion into drop-in SAF, meaning it can be produced by existing refineries with their current equipment and infrastructure. Alder expects completion of its first plant in 2024. “As we work toward the civil aviation industry’s commitment to net zero carbon emissions by


2050, we know that 700 to 1,000 times more SAF is needed in order to meet this goal,” said Sheila Remes, Boeing’s vice president of Environmental Sustainability. “We also know that according to the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. forestry and agricultural residues alone could provide enough biomass energy to generate enough SAF jet fuel to displace 75% of U.S. aviation fuel consumption. Partnerships like those with Alder enable us all to advocate for and scale SAF supply.”


www.alderfuels.com co-creation service for medical it/ot systems


congatec and System Industrie Electronic have launched a co-creation services for the design of IT/ OT systems dedicated to the medical and healthcare sector. The system engineering value of the collaboration extends across the entire supply chain, from Computer-on-Modules to series production of certified system platforms. The joint offering targets medical device


manufacturers and infrastructure solution providers requiring patient, data and cybersecurity to digitise medical care. The first proofs of concept are two new medical edge computing systems, called secunet medical connect Carna and Athene, which are developed and manufactured in collaboration with OEM customer secunet. According to the company, the two secunet systems are perfect examples for the most demanding system design challenges


medical device OEMs are facing today: Edge computing platforms


for the digitisation of the healthcare sector must be 100% compliant with the data and cybersecurity specifications of ITSEC or Common Criteria and/or ready for B3S KRITIS and ISO/IEC 80001 certification. For point-of-care (POC) operation, their medical computing platforms must also be EN 60601-1/EN 60601-2 compliant and MDR/FDA certifiable. This requires 100% reliable and traceable components, comprehensive documentation, and trusted sources across the supply chain and for the lifecycle of the medical devices. As application- ready platforms that meet these state-of-the-art patient, data, and cybersecurity requirements, secunet medical connect Carna and Athene address virtually all needs for the digitisation of POC medical devices and secure patient data processing in hospital networks – such as backend systems for medical image processing in CT, MRT, x-ray and ultrasound appliances. The co-creation team also targets any other


medical panel or box PC needs OEMs may have. www.congatec.com/en


6 desiGn soLutions July/august 2022


Nemco, one of the UK’s leading printed circuit board manufacturers, has joined the Manufacturing Assembly Network (MAN), as it pledges to record a £30m turnover by 2026. Attracting Nemco to the group is seen as


a huge coup, with the printed circuit board assembly experts boasting a diverse client base touching many different sectors, including aerospace, defence, industrial and medical. “We’re thrilled to be a part of MAN, for the


simple reason that the group boasts like-minded businesses who are progressive, ambitious and looking to grow,” explained David Duric, sales & marketing director at Nemco. www.nemco.co.uk


Allegro MicroSystems, a global leader in sensing and power solutions for motion control and energy-efficient systems, has entered into a new distribution partnership with Mouser Electronics. Allegro products are now available for sale on the Mouser website, with new ones to be added as they become available. The partnership extends Allegro’s global


distribution footprint, and gives customers new options for purchasing product samples, evaluation boards, and production inventory. www.allegromicro.com


missing out on funding and support. Made Smarter can help SME manufacturers


navigate through complex technology advice and decisions. Initial registration only takes five minutes and is followed up with a digital transformation workshop to identify core challenges, provide a bespoke digital manufacturing roadmap, and pinpoint other ways that Made Smarter can support a maker’s digitalisation. Donna Edwards, programme director for


the Made Smarter adoption programme in the North West, said: “Digitalisation is the key to UK manufacturing’s post-covid survival, recovery, and growth. And with new challenges at our door, such as rising energy prices, supply chain disruption and labour shortages, now is the time for business leaders to reach out and take advantage of the support on offer.”


www.madesmarter.uk NEWS IN BRIEF


WEG is to double the size of its manufacturing site in Portugal, hire 100 new employees and create Europe’s most complete testing laboratory for medium voltage (MV) and high voltage (HV) motion drives (electric motors and drives). The company is constructing an additional


22,680sqm factory at the Santo Tirso site to support the manufacture of MV/HV motors and drives, LV electrical panels and the provision of the corresponding servicing activities on shop floor as well as on site. The project will see the transfer of the Maia factory to the new plant in Santo Tirso, centralising all operations to a single site. www.weg.net


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