The use of composites represent a technology shift away from metals that increasingly characterises manufacturing, particularly in the aerospace sector.  Developing expertise here is a priority. The opening of £8.2m National Composites Certification and Evaluation Facility (NCCEF) at the University of Manchester is a crucial step in this direction.

Technology company, Renishaw have announced record final quarter sales and a return to growth for the year to 30th June 2010. In the second half of the year, revenue increased strongly by 57% over the comparable period in 2009 and by 46% over revenues in the first half of the year. Total revenues for the year were £181.6m (2009 £171.2m), which includes a currency benefit of £8.1m.

Under a global OEM agreement announced last month, all Nikon portable metrology devices can be driven from Verisurf's common software platform. Nikon will sell, market, train and support Verisurf software when bundled with Nikon Metrology devices.

Boeing's 787 Dreamliner made its international debut landing at the Farnborough Airport on July 18th in support of the Farnborough International Airshow being held in the UK.

TÜV Product Service, an expert on product testing and certification, is launching the UK’s first product testing remote monitoring service.

NPL has launched a new Technology Innovation Fund which provides an opportunity to work with NPL for a fraction of the normal cost.

Deloitte, the business advisory firm, has released a study of the global aerospace and defence (A&D) industry’s financial performance in 2009, finding that despite the recession the sector remains resilient.

Learn about how Rolls-Royce Aerospace  have become the  leading global exponent of Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)  and IT Systems for competitive advantage at the QMT sponsored  Open Technology Forum on 29 September.

On June 8th, FARO, leading provider of portable measurement and imaging systems, and Airbus, one of the world's leading aircraft manufacturers, announced  that they had signed a five-year agreement for FARO to be a key supplier of laser trackers and measurement accessories for the new Airbus A350 project assembly line.

Icona Solutions, the developer of perceived quality simulation and visualization software solution, aesthetica, together with its business partner in Italy, EDIST Engineering, have  announced that FIAT Group Automobiles is to implement aesthetica as part of the car firm’s plans to improve the perceived quality of its vehicles.