Science and Technology News

Month: September 2024

  • Trio of northern businesses collaborate to make sustainable ‘zero waste’ fashion a reality

    Trio of northern businesses collaborate to make sustainable ‘zero waste’ fashion a reality

    The UK’s leading textile recycling specialist, iinouiio, part of the Camira Group, has partnered with award-winning apparel brand, Superlove Merino, and knitwear designer and manufacturer, OUBAS, to create a recycled merino wool yarn made from cutting waste that would otherwise be destined for landfill.

    The premium-quality recycled merino wool yarn, ReMerino is produced using offcuts generated from the garment manufacturing process at Superlove Merino’s solar-powered factory in the Lake District. Using iinouiio’s state-of-the-art textile recycling technology, based at Camira Yarns in Birkby, West Yorkshire, the first development of recycled ReMerino yarn was developed in summer 2024, and will be used to create a limited run of luxury women’s knitwear in collaboration with Kate Stalker of OUBAS, an award-winning knitwear designer and manufacturer based in Ulverston, Cumbria.

    Founder of iinouiio, Dr. John Parkinson, commented: “Some people call discarded or unwanted textiles ‘waste’, but to us it’s just a raw material – too often limited only by imagination and skill. We’re incredibly proud to have been able to support two fantastic like-minded northern businesses, who share a passion for textiles and sustainability, to transform their cutting room floor waste into beautiful luxury merino wool knitwear.”

    The exclusive collection of women’s knitwear, be available to buy via superlovemerino.com from 27th September 2024.

    Director of Superlove Merino, Becky Sayer added: “We are thrilled to see this transformation of our cutting room waste into such beautifully crafted pieces. We are known for our timeless, wearable designs, so we wanted this recycled knitwear to align with that too. We hope, on seeing what even small indie brands can do with innovative collaborations like this, others will be inspired to tackle the serious waste issues associated with the textiles industry.”

    Founded in 2019 by Dr John Parkinson and his wife, Linda, whose family heritage lies in the ‘shoddy and mungo’ textile recycling mills that thrived in West Yorkshire throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, iinouiio is the UK’s leading wool recycler with unique knowledge in mechanical recycling methods. In 2022 IINOUIIO became part of the Camira Textiles group and now offers a service to fashion brands and textile manufacturers to help them convert what would ordinarily be deemed ‘unusable materials’ or waste, into beautiful new yarns and fabrics for re-use.
    To find out more about iinouiio visit the website.

  • Global fabric manufacturer introduces textile industry’s first AI reverse image search tool in the UK

    Global fabric manufacturer introduces textile industry’s first AI reverse image search tool in the UK

    Leading International designer and manufacturer of commercial textiles, Camira, has launched the sector’s first AI-powered image search tool in the UK to streamline the specification process for architects and design professionals.

    In partnership with material search platform, Stylib, Camira has integrated the new technology into its existing website which launched earlier this year. Powered by artificial intelligence, the dynamic search tool allows users to upload images of furniture, fabric, room settings or pantone colour references, to find relevant Camira fabrics for their projects.

    Commenting on the AI search tool, head of digital at Camira, Sam Birkhead said: “We’re incredibly excited to be able to offer our customers this new and intuitive tool which enables architects and designers to quickly find precise products that meet their specifications, reducing the time spent on research and increasing the accuracy of their selections.

    “There are very few B2B companies in the world that operate image search – a technology that until today has been reserved for giants like Ikea, Wayfair and fashion retailers. These advancements lead to faster and more confident specification processes, allowing for more efficient project timelines and improved overall design quality. Ultimately, AI’s integration is transforming the architectural landscape, paving the way for smarter, more sustainable, and innovative built environments.””

    Noam Naveh, CEO at Stylib added: “It’s great to see industry leaders like Camira adopting advanced solutions that support the specifying community’s work. Beyond the immediate benefits of faster and more confident specification processes, AI in the architectural products industry has broader implications for sustainability, innovation, and collaboration. AI’s ability to analyze vast datasets allows for the identification of eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient solutions, promoting sustainable design practices. Additionally, AI fosters innovation by providing architects with insights into emerging trends and new technologies, enabling them to push creative boundaries.”

  • AI delivers ‘new era of global innovation’, research finds

    AI delivers ‘new era of global innovation’, research finds

    The sixth annual International Innovation Barometer has published revealing that the advent of AI has already prompted a seismic shift in how innovation is being carried out around the world.

    The report by innovation consultancy Ayming finds that more than four-in-five (84 percent) businesses believe AI is having a positive impact on innovation – both in terms of output and process.

    Whilst the debate is typically framed around the future – but as yet unrealised – transformative potential of AI, this research indicates that tangible value is already being extracted by businesses when it comes to innovation.
    In fact, a significant 41 percent of businesses have already restructured their R&D teams to accommodate wider use of AI in the innovation process, which rises to more than half (52 percent) among large companies.

    The hyperfocus on AI has been translated into business’ shifting priorities, where the implementation of AI ranks as the second highest innovation priority with 29 percent of respondents selecting it as a priority, second only to the broader adoption of technology, which 32 percent of businesses see as their first concern.

    Technology and innovation have always been indivisibly coupled but the overlap between the two is now so great that the terms have become broadly interchangeable – largely catalysed by AI models that have provided businesses of all sizes with access to a new form of technology.

    This widening intersection is reflected in the allocation of innovation budgets. A notable 47 percent of businesses are allocating between 6 and 20 percent of their innovation budget to R&D in AI, while nearly a quarter (22 percent) are devoting more than 20 percent.

    Njy Rios, Director of R&D Incentives at Ayming UK comments, “The development of AI has been driven – and dominated – by mega-cap tech giants like Microsoft and Google but the launch of accessible models like ChatGPT have partly served to democractise access to AI.

    “The barrier to entry has been lowered and now businesses of all sizes can integrate AI into their operations without developing their own systems from scratch – which they likely neither have the financial nor human resources to contemplate.

    “Instead, as AI models are commoditised, we can expect to see competitive advantage shift from those that own AI technology towards those applying it most effectively.”

    AI is not only being used to automate processes, which frees up critical time for researchers to focus on higher-value strategic activity, but increasingly more businesses are using the technology to generate ideas and to conduct broader analysis.

    In fact, 53 percent of businesses are using AI to analyse data to support innovation, 43 percent are using it to predict new trends and 39 percent to generate new ideas, compared to just 26 percent using it for automation.

    The research suggests that businesses are starting to recognise AI as a catalyst for collaboration and creativity, rather than simply as an automation tool.

    Rios continues, “The future of AI will be shaped by hybrid models where human creativity and original thinking is optimised by AI’s analytical power, the latter enhancing rather than replacing the former. In fact, the way that generative AI has been built makes it incapable, at least for now, of producing original thoughts, which means it won’t ever be able to ‘innovate’ without human creative input.

    “It’s clear from this year’s research that AI has already changed the game and what we expect to see next is the timescale of the innovation lifecycle – from ideation to output – begin to radically reduce. What we should be left with is a process where innovation can be done faster, and investment can go further.”

    In June 2024, Ayming surveyed 1,227 R&D and innovation directors, Chief Financial Officers, Chief Executive Officers and Chief Technology Officers. Respondents were sourced from the following 17 countries: Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Hungary, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, United Kingdom, United States. Respondents were split evenly between seven sectors: automotive, construction, finance, manufacturing, finance, pharma and technology, and reflect an equal representation of large and small businesses.

    Further data and insights can be found in the full report: The International Innovation Barometer 2025.

  • Global semiconductor industry plans to invest $400 billion in 300 mm fab equipment over next three years

    Global semiconductor industry plans to invest $400 billion in 300 mm fab equipment over next three years

    semiconductor photoGlobal spending on 300 mm fab equipment is expected to reach a record $400 billion from 2025 to 2027, SEMI highlighted in its quarterly 300 mm Fab Outlook Report to 2027 report.

    The robust spending is being driven by the regionalization of semiconductor fabs and the increasing demand for artificial intelligence (AI) chips used in data centers and edge devices.

    Worldwide, 300 mm fab equipment spending is projected to grow by 4 percent to $99.3 billion in 2024, and further increase by 24 percent to $123.2 billion in 2025, surpassing the $100 billion level for the first time.  (more…)

  • DB Schenker collaborates with Microsoft Cloud Logistics

    DB Schenker collaborates with Microsoft Cloud Logistics

    DB Schenker is collaborating with Microsoft Cloud Logistics for the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and Sustainable Marine Fuel (SMF), highlighting their collective ambition to comprehensively reduce the environmental footprint of their transportation practices.

    This pivotal effort also includes building best-in-class logistics warehouses and implementing alternative energy trucks.

    It signifies an important step towards reducing the carbon emissions associated with their logistics operations (Scope 3) compared to transportation associated with conventional fossil-based fuels and thus supports their overarching environmental sustainability goals.  (more…)

  • Siemens updates Simcenter Testlab software

    Siemens updates Simcenter Testlab software

    Siemens Digital Industries Software has introduced the latest updates to its Simcenter Testlab offering to help advanced manufacturers on their journey to zero prototypes and develop products faster, smarter and earlier.

    The journey to zero prototypes really means zero full product prototypes, with physical testing still playing a critical role in testing the components that make up the full system.

    Tests of these components are then used to correlate and update the corresponding simulation models to ensure they accurately predict the real world.  (more…)

  • Beam uses ‘world’s first’ AI-driven autonomous underwater vehicle to install wind turbine

    Beam uses ‘world’s first’ AI-driven autonomous underwater vehicle to install wind turbine

    Beam, a provider of high-technology offshore wind services, has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by deploying “the world’s first” autonomous underwater vehicle driven by artificial intelligence (AI).

    The technology has already been successfully used to inspect jacket structures on Seagreen wind farm, a joint venture partnership between SSE Renewables, TotalEnergies and PTTEP, in a commercial environment. Seagreen is Scotland’s largest offshore site.

    This cutting-edge technology promises to revolutionise the field of marine technology and underwater robotics. By leveraging advanced AI, this technology can perform complex underwater tasks with no human intervention, significantly boosting the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of underwater inspections and surveys. (more…)

  • Saudi scientists invent ‘fast, easy method to detect olive oil fraud’

    Saudi scientists invent ‘fast, easy method to detect olive oil fraud’

    There’s hope for consumers worried about olive oil fraud, as researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have “invented a fast, easy method to detect adulteration in any bottle”.

    Intentional mislabeling or dilution of olive oil with other products robs consumers of the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant health benefits they believe they are paying for. The integrity of the olive oil industry has been brought into question this year, with the European Union reporting a record high of fraud cases, and consumers doubting the quality of their purchase.

    The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have joined forces to create a method that can identify and quantify the adulterants in olive oil. (more…)

  • ABB launches new white paper describing impact of gearless mill drive technology on CO2 emissions

    ABB launches new white paper describing impact of gearless mill drive technology on CO2 emissions

    ABB has released an in-depth white paper detailing the vital role that gearless grinding technologies can play in driving productivity in mining while simultaneously reducing their carbon footprint.

    One of the key findings in the report, based upon extensive testing of ABB’s current installed base of Gearless Mill Drives (GMDs), is the high level of efficiency they provide. GMDs can be up to 3.6 percent more energy efficient than Ring-Geared Mill Drives (RMDs), reducing energy consumption and operational costs of the mine.

    This level of efficiency across ABB’s GMD installed base equates to 195 kt of CO2 – the equivalent of 89,000 cars taken off the road. Even a conservative 2 percent of increased efficiency equates to 106 kt of CO2 saved, or 49,000 cars taken off the road. (more…)

  • Aqua Comms continues to invest in Trans-Atlantic network with new fibre pair

    Aqua Comms continues to invest in Trans-Atlantic network with new fibre pair

    Aqua Comms, a provider of global subsea connectivity services, says it has accelerated its investment in its platform by lighting a new fibre pair on Aqua Comms’ AEC-1 system. Owned and operated by Aqua Comms, AEC-1 is Ireland’s first dedicated subsea fibre-optic network interconnecting New York, Dublin and London.

    The new fibre pair has been brought into service to address the growing bandwidth demands of Aqua Comms customers as requirements to rapidly, seamlessly and reliably move vast quantities of data continue to increase.

    It has also provided an opportunity for Aqua Comms to reinforce its credentials as a responsible operator with a focus on increasing supply whilst minimising power requirements to push for leading edge, innovative and sustainable Trans-Atlantic capacity solutions. (more…)