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industry news
Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult (CSA Catapult) has announced that it is a core technology partner in ONATA, the ATI Programme funded project developing an on-aircraft electric green taxi system with regenerative braking and energy recovery. Electric wheel taxiing allows aircraft to
csa catapult joins project to develop on-aircraft green taxi system By delivering the critical energy conversion,
move on the ground using electric motors rather than main engines, reducing fuel burn, emissions, noise and brake wear during taxi operations. Project SONATA represents a major step toward more sustainable, ultra- efficient aircraft operations. Working alongside consortium partners
Airbus, Evolito, DePe Gear, DSD, Magnomatics, the University of Southampton and Denchi, the company will be delivering the advanced power electronics and semiconductor integration that underpin the system’s performance and efficiency.
control and packaging technologies at the heart of Project SONATA, CSA Catapult is helping pave the way for a future where electric ground operations become standard, reducing emissions, improving efficiency and strengthening the UK’s position as a global leader in next generation aerospace electrification. Industry minister Chris McDonald
said: “This is government and business collaboration in action to keep the UK at the forefront of innovation in our world-class aerospace sector, and I look forward to seeing how Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult’s project can cut emissions and transform airport taxiing for the long term.” Caroline O’Brien, chief executive of CSA
Catapult, added: “We are enormously proud to be a key enabler of project SONATA through our development of custom silicon carbide
rs ireland to open new distribution centre
RS Ireland has announced a multi-million-euro investment in a new distribution centre in Ballymount, Dublin, which will more than double its warehouse capacity. The expansion is expected to create a number of new jobs in a variety of functions over the coming three years. Gary Bradley, RS Ireland country manager, said: “Our new distribution centre in the Apex Hub
in Ballymount will more than double our building capacity to approximately 4,174 square metres, which in turn will enable us to increase our inventory including more locally held stock from a wider range of brands.” The company’s current distribution centre in Rialto offers a range of more than 800,000 products
from over 2,500 supplier partners across various categories. These include semiconductors and passive components, automation and control, connectors and relays, electrical and signal cables, test and measurement, and tools and consumables. The new building will also significantly enhance the company’s environmental, social and
governance (ESG) performance.
www.rs-online.com/
ppma show to address the skills gap
robotics, and manufacturing, and the PPMA Show is the perfect platform for those looking to work within the sector, and businesses looking to address those workforce challenges to find out more about the work we do. “This year’s show will be the first we’ve hosted
since the launch of our Apprenticeship Cluster programme. This initiative, teamed with our expert seminar sessions, will provide employers and young people looking to enter the workforce with huge opportunities,” he explained. Automate UK’s groundbreaking Apprenticeship
The PPMA Show 2026 will be addressing the skills gap during the event which takes place from 22-24 September at the NEC, Birmingham. Here, advice and support on how to bridge the skills gap within organisations will be available courtesy of Automate UK’s own initiatives. Scott McKenna, chief operating officer at
Automate UK said: “Of all the challenges facing the manufacturing industry at present, a diminished workforce and shortage of skills is perhaps the most pressing. “Automate UK has an established reputation
for encouraging and supporting young people seeking careers in engineering, automation,
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Cluster programme, a fully funded initiative designed to address critical skills shortages in the manufacturing and engineering sectors, was launched in January 2025. McKenna added: “We hope that this year, in
addition to providing a platform for the latest state-of-the-art technologies, we can play a vital role in bringing new talent into the sector, providing them with a route into the industry that combines hands-on experience with structured, high-quality training, and in turn offering businesses opportunities to thrive in an ever increasingly competitive marketplace.”
www.ppmashow.co.uk www.designsolutionsmag.co.uk
Rubix has expanded its capability within the UK, made possible through the integration of ERIKS UK and Ireland, acquired late last year, to create the largest and most comprehensive MRO and engineering solutions provider in the UK. Spanning essential categories – from
mechanical power transmission through to industrial automation – the business now offers an extensive product and service portfolio alongside deep engineering, repair and reliability expertise, bolstered by a national network of around 3,000 colleagues. “Manufacturers are looking for much
more than product supply – they’re looking for strategic support to address critical operational challenges,” said Vince McGurk, CEO of Rubix UKII. “Our expanded range of products and services, backed by deep specialist knowledge and technical expertise, means we can support customers across every stage of their operations, from uptime and productivity to sustainability, safety, working capital management and smarter, more efficient buying. The combined business, which forms part
of the wider Rubix Group, operates across the UK and Europe and generates €850m in revenues, with significant growth ambitions. For manufacturing customers, that scale brings security and certainty, with more than £75m of factory fresh stock and hands-on technical expertise and insight built over more than 200 years.
https://rubix.com/
power modules for aerospace applications. This project combines our advanced R&D expertise, and our unique position in the semiconductor supply chain as the organisation that unlocks the wider ecosystem. “We combine Active Metal Brazed substrates
(AMB) for high thermal conductivity, additive manufacturing for lightweight, compact structural components, and AI-driven design optimisation to achieve maximum power density and minimum thermal loss. “CSA Catapult is designing, optimising,
manufacturing and testing a bespoke SiC power module for integration into its multilevel, multiphase aerospace inverter topology, targeting an ambitious 15 kW/kg power density that positions the technology at the forefront of emerging aerospace expectations.”
https://csa.catapult.org.uk/ rubix unveils expanded capability
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