Science and Technology News

Category: News

  • Hedley Studios collaborates with renowned artist Alex Alpert to create two exclusive Bugatti Baby II models

    Hedley Studios collaborates with renowned artist Alex Alpert to create two exclusive Bugatti Baby II models

    Hedley Studios formerly The Little Car Company, designers and creators of scaled automotive icons, has partnered with renowned artist, Alex Alpert, to create two limited-edition and totally unique examples of the Bugatti Baby II.

    Each piece will be an exclusive commission that blends Alpert’s artistic individuality with Hedley Studios reputation and experience in creating pieces of collectible automotive art.

    The commission will feature a black and a white model, hand-painted by Alpert, with a corresponding piece of artwork to be sold alongside the respective model. (more…)

  • Morgan partners with Woodcote & Copse to open new Morgan Silverstone dealership

    Morgan partners with Woodcote & Copse to open new Morgan Silverstone dealership

    Morgan Motor Company is partnering with leading sports and supercar specialist, Woodcote & Copse, to open a new dealership in Northamptonshire, UK. Situated at Silverstone Circuit, the iconic home of British motorsport, Morgan Silverstone offers sales and aftersales services for new and pre-owned Morgan sports cars.

    Woodcote & Copse has extensive experience with sporting British brands including Lotus – which it has represented since 2008 – and Caterham. In addition, its team brings a wealth of knowledge from careers in the premium automotive sector.

    This experience and knowledge, combined with a well-located and accessible dealership, is designed to further strengthen Morgan’s retail offering to UK customers. (more…)

  • Reinventing the wheel launch of world first EKRUZER hubless drivetrain

    Reinventing the wheel launch of world first EKRUZER hubless drivetrain

    EKRUZER, maker of the world’s first gaming-enabled e-scooter, has launched a groundbreaking advancement in eScooter design a world first hubless drivetrain package.

    This revolutionary development marks a significant milestone in the evolution of the wheel, offering enhanced aesthetics, performance and rider experience, compared to traditional spoked versions.

    The engineering team – TAV Systems – has reimagined the wheel by removing the central hub and spokes, creating a sleek and futuristic design that enhances both the functionality and the visual appeal of its gaming. (more…)

  • Subaru celebrates 250,000th vehicle in the UK and launches charitable initiatives

    Subaru celebrates 250,000th vehicle in the UK and launches charitable initiatives

    To celebrate this significant landmark, Subaru UK Ltd is kick-starting a new charitable initiative, supporting charities that align with Subaru’s vision and values.

    The brand is currently selecting its first charitable cause, which will benefit from the use of this 250,000 vehicle – a Subaru Crosstrek. The new initiative is set to support causes over the coming years.

    Over nearly 50 years, Subaru has built a reputation in the UK for delivering safe, fun, and tough vehicles – attributes which continue to underpin the brand to this day. (more…)

  • Renewable energy company Urbanchain begins entry into US market

    Renewable energy company Urbanchain begins entry into US market

    Renewable energy company Urbanchain have revealed plans to roll out their proven model in the United States. 

    Graeme Cooper, who has enjoyed a storied career in the disruptive industries of telecoms and energy, will spearhead the UK headquartered company’s expansion into America. 

    Backed by investors including leading European investment group Eurazeo, UrbanChain’s tech creates local clean energy markets to connect buyers and sellers. (more…)

  • Yanmar unveils its vision for future product platform

    Yanmar unveils its vision for future product platform

    Yanmar has introduced its Yanmar Product Vision, or YPV, outlining the future of its next-generation design.

    Rooted in the philosophy of “intrinsic design”, which focuses on the core functional value and purpose of products, YPV presents Yanmar’s design goals for the future.

    The company plans to combine the design elements developed through YPV with its established design expertise to create a platform that will be implemented across its product range, including agricultural machinery, construction equipment, boats, and services.

    Yanmar HD has been working to cultivate its brand image through designs that resonate with stakeholders, including customers, employees, and the general public, under the concept of inclusive branding. (more…)

  • Electrogenic unveils its full technology suite at SEMA for powering EV conversions

    Electrogenic unveils its full technology suite at SEMA for powering EV conversions

    Electrogenic, the internationally renowned EV technology company, has chosen SEMA to showcase its full suite of sector-leading EV products.

    These include the Oxford, UK based company’s sophisticated drop in EV conversion kits, proprietary integration technology and vehicle Control Unit (VCU) as well as its specialist electronics for both body control and driver interface.

    The British firm’s entire range of proven, proprietary EV powertrain tech will now be available to B2B customers for the very first time. (more…)

  • Unlocking cryogenic material behaviour with novel cryostat

    Unlocking cryogenic material behaviour with novel cryostat

    The National Composites Centre NCC has further demonstrated the use of its novel cryostat to screen a wide selection of materials at cryogenic temperatures. The low cost method highlights the best candidates for detailed material testing using conventional methods. 

    Multiple cryostats have been developed and released including; microcrack fracture toughness and shear fixtures, with others, such as impact, under development.

    Understanding properties of materials at cryogenic temperatures is time consuming and costly, with limited existing UK capability. Driving transformational change in the field of cryogenics, the capability introduced by NCC will reduce the time, cost and complexity of cryogenic testing.  (more…)

  • RealWear acquires smartglasses innovator Almer, backed by TeamViewer

    RealWear acquires smartglasses innovator Almer, backed by TeamViewer

    In a move set to reshape the industrial augmented reality (AR) market, RealWear, a developer of wearable computing for industrial applications, has acquired Almer Technologies, a Swiss pioneer in ultra-compact, user-friendly AR headsets.

    This acquisition, strategically and financially backed by TeamViewer, the leading provider of enterprise AR software, marks a significant leap forward in the mission to empower frontline workers worldwide with cutting-edge AR technology.

    As the industrial sector increasingly turns to digital solutions to enhance productivity and safety, the demand for intuitive, wearable AR devices has surged. This acquisition unites RealWear’s market leadership with Almer’s innovative approach to meet this demand.

    Dr. Chris Parkinson, CEO of RealWear, says: “I’m extremely excited to welcome Almer and its founders, Timon Binder and Sebastian Beetschen to RealWear. Their successes in Europe are paralleled with a vision to drive AR adoption world wide.

    “This impact can now be brought to the global market as part of the RealWear ecosystem. Almer’s innovative subscription-based hardware renting model will enhance our existing portfolio to offer more flexible and scalable solutions for our partners and customers.

    “And we have secured TeamViewer’s renewed commitment and backing, strengthening our longstanding collaboration with the leading software company in the enterprise AR industry.”

    The acquisition brings together a powerful combination of strengths.

    RealWear’s established market presence and rugged, voice-operated solutions are now complemented by Almer’s innovative, subscription-based AR headsets, known for their compact design and user-friendliness.

    With a relentless focus on execution and customer-centric solutions, Almer quickly gained recognition as a disruptive force in enterprise AR and set a new industry standard.

    Sebastian Beetschen, CEO of Almer Technologies, adds: “Almer’s innovative approach for frontline workers has enabled us to deliver industrial AR solutions that are the most intuitive and most effortless to use.

    “We’re excited to bring in our expertise and speed of execution to RealWear and push the boundaries of frontline worker solutions.”

    TeamViewer has been a key partner and a strategic minority investor to both RealWear and Almer prior to the acquisition and will maintain this role moving forward.

    Global giants such as Coca-Cola HBC, Ford, Samsung SDS and many more have experienced significant efficiency gains and cost reductions by leveraging the combined power of TeamViewer’s software, RealWear’s and Almer’s wearable technology.

    Oliver Steil, CEO of TeamViewer, who has joined RealWear’s Board of Directors, says: “RealWear and Almer together unite the brightest minds in wearable computing to shape the future of the industry.

    “Investing in RealWear and supporting their growth is a strategic move for us and a stride into the future of industrial digital transformation.

    “Our shared vision is to continue to integrate software and hardware innovatively, delivering world-class industrial productivity solutions for maximum customer value.”

    As part of the acquisition, Almer’s co-founders will join RealWear’s executive team, creating a unified leadership focused on accelerating global AR adoption.

    Ultimately, this acquisition is set to make advanced technology more accessible and user-friendly for frontline workers across the globe.

    With this strategic acquisition and the continued backing of TeamViewer, RealWear is poised to lead the charge in the industrial wearables market. By blending software and hardware, the company aims to deliver world class productivity solutions for maximum customer value.

  • Unlocking cryogenic material behaviour with novel cryostat

    Unlocking cryogenic material behaviour with novel cryostat

    The national composites centre NCC has further demonstrated the use of its novel cryostat to screen a wide selection of materials at cryogenic temperatures. The low cost method highlights the best candidates for detailed material testing using conventional methods. 

    Multiple cryostats have been developed and released including microcrack fracture toughness and shear fixtures, with others, such as impact, under development.  

    Understanding properties of materials at cryogenic temperatures is time consuming and costly, with limited existing UK capability. Driving transformational change in the field of cryogenics, the capability introduced by NCC will reduce the time, cost and complexity of cryogenic testing. 

    The 3D printed cryostat that has been developed provides the capability to rapidly screen cryogenic material properties, whilst providing insight into failure mechanisms. A video of the material test in action can be viewed here which shows the forming of microcracks in a thermoset sample under tension at approximately -160°C. The cryostat shown is an early iteration that has since been developed. 

    Allowing material specimens to be viewed live during the test process to identify ‘microcracking’ is achieved via optical access, a key feature of the device. The test has a cycle time of approximately under an hour to cool and test, allowing a high throughput of test specimens. This is achieved by using cryogenically cooled nitrogen gas, utilising a design with a low thermal mass and volume. Utilising a tensile testing machine, no modifications to existing test machines are required.  

    Leading the cryostat development project, Matt Kay, Principal Engineer at the National Composites Centre said The cryostat concept allows the rate of cryogenic materials testing to significantly increase, helping engineers and researchers to learn quickly and cost effectively, reducing the burden in developing new products for the emerging liquid hydrogen industry. 

    To enhance collaboration and UK industry advancement, companies interested in collaborating or accessing the cryostat technology can contact: hydrogen@nccuk.com to express interest.