NEWS | EUREKA!
Babcock showcases military innovations
BABCOCK INTERNATIONAL, THE
will demonstrate how it is tackling
aerospace and defence company,
industry challenges to drive a futureready
presented at Surface Warships 2021
naval capability and address
(19-21 January). Traditionally held in
the themes of modernisation
London, the conference was virtual
and acquisition, innovation, and
this year as it continues to support
operations across the spectrum of
essential knowledge sharing and
surface combatants.
industry-wide networking.
Babcock’s collaborative approach,
At the 2020 conference, Babcock
integrating people, processes
discussed it’s Type 31 design and
and technology is a di erentiator
build programme along with the
in delivering mobile, remote and
company’s in-service support
connected technology. The team
innovation and capabilities. 12
will present prime examples of how
months on, Ian Cowper, Engineering
traditional engineering partners with
and Support Director will share how
technology and innovation to drive
innovation bene ts end-to-end
system improvements and cost
digitally enabled support solutions
bene ts.
across customer platforms.
Ian Cowper, said: “The digital
Surface Warships 2021 will focus
thread is critical. Knowing that our
on three critical elements: Future
customer journey is changing allows
Operations, Future Technologies and
us the agility to go on that journey
Future Force Structures. Babcock
with them in novel ways. Our holistic
lifecycle view of an asset from design
to disposal ensures we can exploit
technology to address maritime
complexity and give customers
interactive insight.
“Babcock’s investment in
technology, digital processes and
our people skills means we can
support customers with more
informed and advanced decision
making, and provide a better
understanding of materials state
risk.”
Strengthening Babcock’s
commitment to innovation and
technology, Neil Young, Technology
Director, is presenting at Team
Defence Information’s virtual
Defence Sustainability Conference
2021 this week to share how Babcock
is delivering a sustainable future in
defence.
RNOEWBO T DWEAFTIEERS
REQUESTS BY CUSTOMERS
for a robolink t for wet
conditions has prompted
plastics expert igus to design
one that can withstand rain,
showers, and moisture.
The company, which
has its UK headquarters in
Northampton, has developed
its very rst water-resistant
robolink – a low-cost
automation solution made of
polymer and stainless steel.
Adam Sanjurgo, LCA
Product Manager at igus
explained: “Damp and wet
environments can quickly
degrade the mechanics of
a robot, so customers have
understandably been asking us
for an a ordable solution. “Our
customers no longer need to
invest in expensive additional
coverings, because the absence
of lubrication in the joints
simply means that no grease
can be washed out or escape
into the environment.”
The new splash-resistant
igus IP44 robolink can carry up
to three kilograms, has a range
of 790 millimetres and its ve
axes can make seven picks a
minute. Thanks to the use of
motors, whose encoders have
a protection class of IP65, the
robot is perfectly designed for
outdoor use. It can also be used
in everything from the food and
beverage industry and chemical
and pharmaceutical sector to
tank and container cleaning
operations.
BIG ENERGY SAVINGS WITH NEW POLYMER
PROJECT REPORTS MORE than
Styrenics based materials
27% energy savings with newly
have incredible, bene cial
developed styrenics based polymer,
properties.”
with energy savings increasing to
Yvonne van Veen, Market
two thirds when taking material
Innovation Strategy Director at
production into account.
INEOS Styrolution, adds: “With
INEOS Styrolutior has
the additive manufacturing
announced the rst results of the
industry growing at very high
PolySLS project, which is focused
on developing a new energy saving
styrenics based material for
additive manufacturing.
and shorter heating and cooling
The project has been able to
phases. This also improved the time
show that signi cant overall energy
needed to complete printing jobs,
savings of up to 67% have been
with processing times 7.5% shorter
achieved when taking the entire life
than with PA12.
cycle of a new styrenics polymer
Bianca Wilhelmus, Global
compound into account compared
Application Development Manager
to using traditional Polyamide 12
at INEOS Styrolution and Project
(PA12). A direct energy saving of
Lead for PolySLS: “Styrenics
25% was achieved from the 3D
based materials continue to amaze
printing equipment when using the
me. Even 90 years after the rst
new styrenics polymer, resulting
production of polystyrene, there
from lower process temperatures
are still new things to explore.
rates, we are excited we have
developed a material that not only
contributes to energy saving and
sustainable production but also
is an easy material to handle in the
printing process.”
The PolySLS project was
funded by the German Ministry
for Economic A airs and Energy
(BMWi). The purpose of the PolySLS
project was to develop and test
a new styrene based polymer
compound for Selective Laser
Sintering (SLS). A particular focus
of the project was on researching
energy and material requirements .
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