NEWSDESK
Microsoft accolade
for the MTC
The visualisation team at the
Coventry-based Manufacturing
Technology Centre (MTC)
has been made a partner
of Microsoft's Mixed Reality
Programme – one of a select
group of organisations in
Europe to gain the sought-after
recognition.
The accolade recognises the
MTC's advanced work in the
fi elds of augmented, mixed
and virtual reality, in particular
its ability to deliver high-value
generating applications in an
enterprise environment. It will
mean that the MTC will be able
to help companies remotely
using Microsoft visualisation
programmes.
The accolade comes
following a stringent
examination by Microsoft of
the MTC's capabilities and
breadth of mixed reality
applications, concentrating
on client and end-user
experiences. The recognition
means the MTC will have
the opportunity to work with
Microsoft on joint projects with
companies who can benefi t
from the technology. They will
also work with Microsoft to
develop apps for advanced
manufacturing and teach
other companies how to use
Microsoft's mixed reality
programmes.
Time is money for production robot
Injection-moulded high-precision components producer
SynthoTec of Malvern has installed a new Kawasaki RS20N
loading robot. This has allowed it to boost production, cut
costs and achieve a signiH cant reduction in waste materials.
Whitehaven coal mine project
receives planning permission
Cumbria County Council has formally granted
planning approval to West Cumbria Mining to
develop its metallurgical coal project, which
will be known as Woodhouse Colliery – a
new underground mine, to the southwest of
Whitehaven in West Cumbria.
Since 2014, the company carried out
environmental and ecological surveys, alongside
a programme of coal exploration, onshore and
off shore, to prove the presence of high-quality
coal for use in the steel industry.
West Cumbria Mining holds a series of
licences which together cover an area of
approximately 200km2 off the coast near
Whitehaven. The brownfi eld project sits within
the West Cumbrian Coalfi eld, in an area where
mining has spanned many centuries, and is
located adjacent to the former Haig Colliery.
Once construction of the mine is completed
and Woodhouse Colliery moves into the
operational phase, the company plans to extract
and process around 2.5 million tonnes of coal
per year to supply into UK and European steelmaking
coal plants, which currently import
around 45 million tonnes per annum from USA,
Canada, Russia and Australia.
WCM anticipates that pre-construction work
on site will start before the end of 2019, with coal
production commencing around 24 months from
the start of construction.
Mark Kirkbride, CEO of West Cumbria Mining,
says: “Woodhouse Colliery will bring signifi cant
local benefi ts to Whitehaven, Copeland and
Cumbria in terms of jobs and investment.
We now look forward to moving towards
construction and harnessing the extensive
mining history and knowledge in West Cumbria
to operate a state-of-the-art mine, including
the highest levels of health and safety and
technology to ultimately realise our vision of
becoming a leading European producer of highquality
metallurgical coal for steelmaking”.
The planning application was submitted in 2017.
People Mover Project takes o at LAX
Fluor Corporation's LAX Integrated Express
Solutions joint venture team has broken
ground on the Los Angeles International
Airport’s (LAX) Automated People Mover
Project for Los Angeles World Airports
(LAWA).
Fluor and its partners are set to design,
build, fi nance, operate and maintain the $4.9
billion project over the next 30 years. The
project is scheduled to be completed in 2023.
“This project is a signature piece of
infrastructure that will be ready to welcome
the 2028 Summer Olympics, will improve
mobility and empower progress for
generations to come," says Terence Easton,
president of Fluor’s infrastructure business.
8 www.operationsengineer.org.uk May 2019
/www.operationsengineer.org.uk