By complying with these four internationally recognised standards, Invar can demonstrate to its customers, and potential customers, that it adheres to the highest standards in Quality Management Systems, Environmental Management Systems, Information Security Management Systems and Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems.

Alex Moore, Integration Director of Invar Group, says: “This achievement demonstrates our commitment to delivering reliable, safe, secure and environmentally sustainable services to our customers. We are now on a global register of accredited business, increasing the scope and reach of our operating potential. Compliance is a major concern for a growing number of businesses and conforming to these standards gives customers the reassurances they need.” 

Invar Group, headquartered in Cranfield UK, is focused on delivering complete turnkey warehouse automation solutions using advanced technologies such as industrial robotics, AMR goods-to-person solutions, pick-to-light technology, sortation systems, as well as conventional warehouse automation. 

As an independent integrator of warehouse technologies Invar Group is well positioned to offer an unbiased approach to finding the optimum solution. The company has supplied systems to many of the world’s leading brands, such as: SuperDry, Pets at Home and ERIKS, to name but a few. 

In March 2024, Invar was acquired by Wincanton, a leading supply chain partner. Find out more: www.wincanton.co.uk/news-and-media/press-releases/wincanton-acquires-invar-accelerate-robotics-and-automation-transformation

More information on Invar Group at: www.invargroup.com 

More about Wincanton: www.wincanton.co.uk 

About Invar Group

Invar Group, headquartered in Cranfield UK, is focused on delivering complete turnkey warehouse automation solutions using advanced technologies such as industrial robotics, AMR goods-to-person solutions, pick-to-light technology, sortation systems, as well as conventional warehouse automation. Invar is part of Wincanton, a leading British supply chain solutions company. www.invargroup.com.

Manufacturing & Engineering Magazine | The Home of Manufacturing Industry News

The post Invar Group Achieves Four ISO Standards appeared first on MEM Magazine.

Following an electrical apprenticeship, Price has since spent more than 13 years in the air conditioning industry, covering installation, breakdowns and maintenance before extending his knowledge base to include chillers, heat pumps and ventilation.

He joins Fujitsu from wholesaler TF Solutions where he was most recently a heat pump technical manager, having previously spent time in air conditioning technical support.

Price said: “Fujitsu is highly regarded in the industry; the company’s customer-focussed approach really resonates with me. I’m here to help develop and push Fujitsu’s applied offering to the next level by giving internal staff and customers the support they need.’’

Martyn Ives, Commercial Director at Fujitsu General Air Conditioning UK, said: “We have a strong applied line-up with more exciting developments to come, so we are delighted to welcome Glenn to the team. I’m sure his technical knowledge will prove invaluable, both to our customers and his colleagues.’’ 

To discover more about the extensive Fujitsu product range, visit https://www.fujitsu-general.com/uk/ or email sales@fgac.fujitsu-general.com

About Fujitsu General Air Conditioning
Fujitsu General Air Conditioning is a total solution provider to the heating, ventilation and
air conditioning (HVAC) sectors, offering a comprehensive range of split, multi split, VRF and
close control air conditioning, ventilation, domestic and commercial air-to-water heat
pumps and simultaneous operation energy recovery heat pumps. With a vision of ‘designing
for comfort, control and for the future’, Fujitsu General maintains its position as a global
leader through substantial investment for both product innovation and environmental
operations.

Manufacturing & Engineering Magazine | The Home of Manufacturing Industry News

The post Glenn Price Strengthens Fujitsu Applied Team appeared first on MEM Magazine.

Owned and organised by Automate UK, the PPMA Show is recognised as the industry leading event. It brings together the very best suppliers of processing and packaging machinery, robotics and industrial vision systems with the capability to deliver significant benefits to a wide range of businesses. These include cost reductions, increased efficiency, quality improvements, and reduced downtime and turnaround, all of which can deliver a healthy return on the investment in these technologies. 

The show provides a unique opportunity for visitors to experience a complete production line with every aspect of it being represented, from labelling, filling and packaging to processing, robotics, automation and industrial vision systems. 

Visitors will be able to see the latest innovations from an impressive line-up of over 350 exhibitors, comprising over 1,500 brands. These exhibiting companies will be showcasing their latest cutting-edge solutions for the full spectrum of the manufacturing industry, including pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, building materials and suppliers, pet care, and microbrewers and distillers. 

The show floor is expected to be vibrant with live demonstrations and product launches, along with experts on hand to help the visitors find the right solutions for their needs. It is anticipated that the show will deliver impressive results with many business transactions taking place during the three-day show.

Aaron Moore, Asset Maintenance Manager, Nestle, said this about the 2023 PPMA Show: “Fantastic day here at the PPMA Show, lots of suppliers that we work with. Some really innovative solutions, and a lot of relatable things for us, so we are taking lots of lessons home.”

Here are just some of the hundreds of exhibitors taking part in the show: 

Reiser (D110) has been a leading supplier of processing and packaging equipment for the meat, food, pet food, bakery, and cheese industries for over 60 years. From single machines to complete process-to-packaging production lines, their solutions combine specialised equipment, custom engineering, and in-depth expertise to meet customer challenges.

Videojet (E30) is one of the world-leading manufacturers of coding and marking systems. The company’s portfolio includes its full end-to-end suite of primary, secondary and tertiary equipment, including printing date or batch codes onto a food package and labelling full traceability information on a pallet. 

ULMA (B20) provides the most extensive selection of packaging machinery and applications on the market. ULMA’s product range also includes fully automated solutions encompassing crate/case loading, product handling, pick and place, palletizing, end-of-line, and comprehensive turnkey project management.

Ishida (B50) is a world leader in the design, manufacture and installation of end-to-end weighing, packing and safety solutions for the food industry. The company helps manufacturers increase automation and compliance, reduce cost and downtime, increase operational efficiencies and brand protection, and maximise profits.

The comprehensive exhibitor listing is available online to help visitors plan their visit: 

https://www.ppmashow.co.uk/exhibitors-2024#/exhibitors

One of the show highlights is its informative and inspiring expert talks which provide visitors with a wealth of knowledge to take with them to consider how they can apply this to improve their businesses. This year’s keynote speakers are:

Jessica Sansom, Huel: The manifestations of climate change – rising to the challenge and adapting to a new normal

The food industry is responsible for more than a quarter of all global greenhouse gas emissions.  Without significant change in this industry, it will be impossible to limit global warming to under 2 degrees.  

134 countries at COP 28 signed a declaration on sustainable food systems, meaning that they must now include food in their national climate action plans, including a commitment to shift from higher greenhouse gas-emitting practices to more sustainable production and consumption approaches.

Jessica’s presentation explores what needs to happen in the processing equipment and packaging machinery sector in order to meet those targets. 

Stefan Casey, Nestlé: The digital transformation of FMCG industry: How digital technology is bringing both challenges and opportunities in packaging across the whole value chain

Stefan’s talk will focus on affordable personalisation and customisation in packaging design through to production. His presentation will cover points such as the needs for more flexible packaging production solutions, cost effective solutions by optimising end-to-end from design through to manufacturing, and quality control and safety.

Visitors will also have an opportunity to hear from leading industry speakers including Matt Androsiuk – Cobots and Machinery Safety Ltd, Dr Martin Kidman – SICK UK Ltd, Adam Dickins – AD Frameworks Ltd, and Chris Whyborn – Thornton Tomasetti. The seminars provide a wealth of valuable insights covering a wide range of topics, such as industry standards, CE and UKCA marking, automation to reduce carbon footprint, and many more inspiring subjects.

In addition to the seminars UK Automation Forum will be hosting a panel discussion on ‘What would make UK food businesses adopt more robots?’. The panel is hosted and facilitated by Gail Hunt from Automate UK, who will be joined by industry experts including Mike Loughran – Rockwell Automation, Chris Rooum – MTC – Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), Mike Wilson – Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), Prof Phil Webb – Cranfield University, and Oliver Selby – FANUC UK. The discussion will focus on the positive impact that adopting automation can have on the sector as well as sharing advice and learnings that can help to deliver successful outcomes.

In addition to discovering and exploring various innovations and solutions, experiencing live demonstrations, seeing product launches first-hand and learning at seminars, visitors will have plenty of opportunities to make new business connections and network with industry peers.

Automate UK wants to ensure that visitors have a standout show experience; one of the new features at this year’s show is the free PPMA Show app. This will allow visitors to plan their day, have easy access to their entry ticket and discover all aspects of the show, from exhibitors and products through to a complete list of seminars and speakers. 

Scott McKenna, Chief Operating Officer at Automate UK, said: “We’ve been working hard to ensure that the PPMA Show continues to live up to its reputation as the UK’s largest event showcasing innovative technology from the processing and packaging industry. Our aim is to ensure that the show continues to evolve and as such we’ll be introducing new features to enhance the show experience for both visitors and exhibitors.”

For more information, please visit: https://www.ppmashow.co.uk/

Manufacturing & Engineering Magazine | The Home of Manufacturing Industry News

The post The 2024 PPMA Show is Fast Approaching appeared first on MEM Magazine.

The joint venture merges over 100 years of combined experience in aviation and In-Flight Entertainment and Connectivity (IFEC). The aim is to disrupt the market with innovative In-Flight Entertainment and next-generation Electronically Steered Antenna (ESA) connectivity solutions, emphasising low weight, low drag, low power, and low cost.

Jerrod Hartley, CEO of Airframe Designs, said: “The unveiling of the new SATCOM antenna mock-up at the Aircraft Interiors Expo represents a pivotal moment in satellite communications, with LeoSat Solutions being able to demonstrate significant performance advantages compared to existing solutions on the market. This new antenna exemplifies our commitment to innovation and our mission to reshape the IFEC landscape. With its advanced capabilities and strategic design, we are set to offer unparalleled performance and sustainability in satellite communications.”

The showcased antenna introduces a single-beam ESA capable of very low beam switch times and maintains a significant operational advantage with over 60 degrees viewing angles with minimal signal loss. This technology is pivotal in reducing the carbon footprint by lowering the weight and drag of traditional systems, while also minimising the cost of ownership through an affordable Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) package aimed at the retrofit market.

The antenna showcases technical excellence featuring a flat, low-profile geometry that is ideal for modern communication systems, including satellite, aviation, and ground communications in remote areas, as well as for emerging 5G systems.

The ESA panels are designed for robust aviation mobility utilising LEO Ka networks, providing capabilities exceeding 400Mbps. The panel size and number of elements are scalable based on use case, bandwidth requirements, network specifications, link budget, modem type, and power input which supports even portable applications.

This antenna system represents a leap forward in antenna technology with its ultra-low profile design that significantly reduces drag and is optimized for commercial aircraft deployment.

With an estimated weight of approximately 20kg and dimensions tailored to minimise aerodynamic impact, this system not only enhances operational efficiency but also sets new standards in the environmental and economic sustainability of aviation technologies.

Airframe Designs has earned a reputation for delivering optimal engineering solutions for mechanical structures, with a strong emphasis on new design, modifications, repairs, and reverse engineering, as well as providing advanced additive manufacturing services.

With polymer additive manufacturing technology, combined with 3D scanning and 3D modelling, Airframe Designs offers creative solutions to complex engineering problems in the aviation and defence part market, including solutions for airframe tooling. This technology can also be adapted for other industries including space, nuclear, motorsport and rail.

For more information contact Airframe Designs, tel 01253 400320 or visit the Airframe Designs website.

Manufacturing & Engineering Magazine | The Home of Manufacturing Industry News

The post Airframe Designs Collaborates in Satellite Comms Technology appeared first on MEM Magazine.

Customer delight is rooted in front line experiences. So it is satisfying for an SME like Broanmain to see that their sustained efforts and investments in everything from equipment to DE&I initiatives and organisational culture is delivering more than lip service. 

Having achieved a 100 percent score in meeting customer requirements in the last 12 months, a 10 percent improvement on 2022/23, Managing Director Jo Davis reviews how this disproves the July 2024 UK Customer Satisfaction Index (UKCSI), which in comparison fell to its lowest level since the report began.

Tracking and comparing customer service performance across the UK economy, the UKCSI twice-yearly report has become one of the strongest barometers for benchmarking satisfaction. Given than one third of UK customers say in the latest report that they will pay more for excellent service, getting it right clearly is good for business.   

Great expectations

Customer underpins the value of most organisations. Even in today’s automated, process driven society, delivering consistently great service is what keeps the cogs turning and business returning. Although some companies define client service their hallmark of success, living up to client expectations is a whole different ballgame. Mastering satisfaction extends way beyond talking a good talk. 

In plastics processing, manufacturing especially, having a high level of technical competency, like good service, is table stakes, highlights Jo.   Key elements of good customer service in manufacturing include meeting deadlines reliably, communication and collaborations and delivering high-quality products. 

While the year-on-year UKCSI average rating fell to 76.0 out of 100, dropping 1.7 points compared to, Broanmain’s overall satisfaction result for the same time period rose 4 percent to reach 98 percent. Although there showed a slight decline in order processing satisfaction, the appointment of Sam Matthews, Office, Internal Project, Internal Sales Manager has addressed this with this score already showing improvements since Sam joined the company. Most importantly for the Dorking-based mass technical moulder, product quality satisfaction topped 100 percent. 

Quality Assured

Resolutely focused on delivering long-term customer value and providing a more personal touch has long been part of Broanmain’s customer-centric DNA, states Jo. “The results we achieved in the latest customer satisfaction survey exemplify these combined team efforts. Our ability to work together, get stuck in and collaborate on projects is probably the most authentic example of excellence,” reports Jo.

Transparency is another key takeaway from Broanmain’s latest survey. “Communication is a critical part of certainty and filters across all aspects of the manufacturing process. One of the largest lessons we can learn in time-sensitive supply chains like ours is what drives trust. Including why it’s not necessarily mistakes that push customers away, but the speed in which you explain, handle and resolve a situation,” explains Jo. 

Increasing communication satisfaction to 93 percent (a rise of 8 percent), was one of the biggest improvements reported in the 2024 Broanmain survey. Bettered only by the 100 percent score (10 percent rise) for meeting customer requirements. The company’s handling of complaints was unchanged at 100 percent, while delivery satisfaction rose from 90 percent in 2023 to 96 percent in 2024.

Ease of doing business was another important point flagged in the recent Make UK Executive Survey 2024, with accessibility listed as a core reason that customers stay or do business with UK manufacturers. 

Compared to 30 percent a year ago, more than half of UK manufacturers participating in the Make UK survey now regard the UK as being competitive. Indicative of this, Broanmain has reported another 30 percent uplift in reshoring enquiries from OEMs. Many cite the cost and quality control benefits of having direct access to local polymer processors that can manage all aspects of prototyping, tooling development and mass manufacturing through one partner.

Broanmain’s investments, including relocating production to one site, introducing early and late shifts to increase manufacturing capacity, and allocating dedicated enclosed spaces for compression moulding and assembly, demonstrates the company’s commitment move with the times. “Our survey showed that over 96 percent are confident in our diversity and believe we have the competence, skills and capacity to fulfil their future needs. As the ultimate sign of satisfaction, 96 percent would also recommend Broanmain to others.”

Manufacturing & Engineering Magazine | The Home of Manufacturing Industry News

The post Broanmain Plastics – Satisfaction Success appeared first on MEM Magazine.

The Dyne Pen test is a simple method of determining the surface energy of most polymer-based materials in line with ISO 8296 and ASTM D2578-84. It is used to help understand the surface energy and wetting characteristics of polymers, and their suitability for bonding, coating, painting, or printing.  Test results will inform the need for surface preparation, such as cleaning, or plasma, corona, or flame surface treatment.

Dyne Pens are available in a range of values from 30 to 72 “Dynes”. To perform the test, the user selects a pen, and draws a line on their substrate. The test ink will either form a continuous film on the surface or draw back into droplets. If the test ink stays as a film for 3 seconds or more, then the substrate’s minimum surface energy (measured in mJ/m², mN/m, or dyne/cm) is lower than the test ink. The surface energy of the substrate can be determined within a tight tolerance by applying a range of increasing or decreasing values of test inks and observing the wetting. Users can also purchase inks in bottles, which can be spread using a brush, spreader or drawdown bar to perform the test.

There are two types of Dyne Pen, the ISO Type, which is based on ISO 8296:2003 ink specifications, and a Non-Toxic range, an ethanol-based alternative. The ISO Type is available both in pen format and as bottles of ink, which are purple in colour. The non-toxic range is available as ink only and is yellow in colour. Test inks also have application in assessing contamination on metal surfaces.

“For bonding/printing to be a success, the liquid’s surface tension must be less than the substrate’s surface energy, so that wetting occurs” said Ben Swanson, Chief Commercial Officer at Intertronics. “While most metals wet fine, many plastics do not. Metals, however, can become contaminated during handling, and this can impact their ability to be processed.

“There are many ways to improve a plastic’s surface energy, including cleaning, treatment with plasma/corona or by using a primer,” continued Swanson. “Plasma treatment can increase the substrate’s surface energy and clean it simultaneously, making it useful to treat both metals and plastics.”

“Originally designed for use in packaging applications to test the surface energy of polyethylene film before printing, Dyne Pens have been used successfully in many applications,” said Alison Fox, Brand Manager at Dyne Testing. “Before and after surface treatment, the Dyne Pen test can be extremely helpful to understand a substrate’s  surface tension. Customers who want to ensure a successful printing or bonding process can order Dyne Pens from us for next day delivery.”

For environments where a move advanced test is needed, Dyne Testing supplies instrumentation for contact angle measurement and optical tensiometers.

For customers looking to use surface measurement to improve their understanding of wetting and adhesion, Intertronics and Dyne Testing can support with developing a reliable, repeatable, and safe process. For more information on Dyne Pens, visit https://dynepens.co.uk. 

Manufacturing & Engineering Magazine | The Home of Manufacturing Industry News

The post Quick, Easy, Low-Cost Surface Measurement Technology appeared first on MEM Magazine.

Formaplex Technologies was established two decades ago as a specialist tooling partner in the F1 automotive sector. 

Today, it has grown to become a key UK supplier of polymer and composite solutions and one of the few premium polymer injection moulding specialists in the UK supply chain, specialising in lightweight components. 

Customers include McLaren, who are fully supportive of this acquisition and remain committed to working with the business in the future.    

Unipart will integrate the operations into its existing manufacturing capability portfolio, ensuring continuity and maintaining the high operational and safety standards both companies deliver. From today, Formaplex will be rebranded to Unipart Polymer and Composite Solutions.

Darren Leigh, Unipart Chief Executive Officer, said: “Growing our manufacturing capabilities through this acquisition expands our offering and aligns perfectly with Unipart’s growth strategy to offer our existing and new customers a breadth of supply chain solutions and performance improvement technologies. It reinforces our commitment to enhancing and growing the UK supply chain.  

“I am pleased to welcome the Formaplex team to Unipart and excited about the potential this acquisition unlocks for innovation and growth, enabling us to expand our portfolio and strengthen our position in the UK manufacturing sector.”

Jorg Laser, Chief Procurement Officer at McLaren, said: “We strongly value our long-term supply relationship with Formaplex and we welcome the specialist capabilities that Unipart, a long-standing partner of McLaren, now brings to enhancing this relationship. We are excited to see the innovative solutions and continued excellence that this combination will deliver for us.”

Carol Rose Burke, Unipart Manufacturing Group Managing Director, said: “I am delighted we are further investing in our UK manufacturing capabilities through the acquisition of Formaplex. It will further support supply chains involved in delivering powertrain products used for internal combustion engines and electrification, as well as enhancing our offer for a growing number of uses in various other sectors such as construction and rail.”

Manufacturing & Engineering Magazine | The Home of Manufacturing Industry News

The post Unipart Acquisition of Formaplex Technologies appeared first on MEM Magazine.

Manut Services, based in the Yonne, Nièvre and Loiret regions, is specialised in the installation, modernisation, maintenance and repair of lifting equipment. Founded in 2000, the company now has 15 employees and two stores in Orléans and Auxerre selling lifting accessories. It is a member of the Verlinde SAV network. 

One of the company’s customers, Delpharm, a pharmaceutical manufacturing laboratory, had difficulty extracting their pump motors for maintenance. For maintenance purposes, the pump motors need to be dismantled and transported to a workshop. The work area is narrow, and the ceiling of part of the facility is located on a mezzanine restricted by a concrete beam. The manufacturer thought that it would be impossible to install lifting equipment in this area, but wanted to ensure added safety in the way that the dismantled motors were handled. Heavy parts were lifted using a rented crane, then transported using a pallet truck. The conditions were Impractical and unergonomic for the maintenance technicians. 

In order to find a safe solution, even in such a constrained space, Manut Services, which had already installed Verlinde chain hoists and a Verlinde outdoor gantry crane in the laboratory, proposed a customized solution. 

A Verlinde Templier articulated jib crane was installed against a wall. It can handle loads from 50 to 350 kg with ease and takes up very little space in an almost circular area. Two articulated arms, each two meters long, are used to rotate around the concrete beam and lower the dismantled motors down to level 0. These are then transported to the maintenance workshop using a pallet truck. The jib crane is equipped with a Verlinde VHR chain hoist, an attractive and compact model. Once the motors have been serviced in the workshop, they are brought back to the workshop using a pallet truck, and then reassembled using the jib crane. 

For the same application, in a second building, after the structure was validated by a study carried out by an independent design consultancy, Manut Services installed a monorail above the tanks, equipped with a standard Verlinde VHR 2 manual chain hoist for 250 kg loads. The dismantled motors of the pumps fitted to the tanks are thus transported outside the structure via the monorail and then moved by pallet truck to the maintenance workshop. 

Maintenance of the installations is now safe, and the technicians can handle the loads ergonomically. Delpharm expressed their satisfaction with the quality of the Verlinde equipment, and the expert advice it received from Manut Services. 

www.verlinde.com

Manufacturing & Engineering Magazine | The Home of Manufacturing Industry News

The post Materials Handling Solution for a Confined Work Area appeared first on MEM Magazine.

According to predictions, the global warehouse automation market will surpass $37.6 billion by 2030^[1] and represent 30 per cent or more of logistics and fulfilment business’ capital spending in the next five years^[2].

While the move to automation has been profound and continues to revolutionise the way the supply chain operates, Southgate Global has warned against fully automated operations and explains why it is not always a universal solution.

“What is going to become increasingly evident as we learn more about integrating automation, is that it isn’t always appropriate or the best solution,” said Phil O’Driscoll, Head of Innovation and New Product Development at Southgate Global.

He added: “There is no doubt it will be a learning process, but we believe that many tasks remain that require the skill of human operators or that are most cost-effective when done by hand. Knowing when, and when not to automate, is key.”

When weighing up the benefits of automation and whether it is the right fit for an operation, O’Driscoll explains how it’s crucial to recognise that it cannot seamlessly slip straight into any warehouse.

He said: “Warehouses have been historically designed with humans at the forefront and such workflows will not always benefit from automation and AI-powered robots. This can be particularly challenging for older warehouses for example, which would require additional investment which can be extremely costly.

“An entirely automated approach also doesn’t help with highly variable activities, where the cost of automation can be prohibitive or the automated systems overly sophisticated.”

As the sector continues to face unique challenges, particularly with the demand for next-day and same-day deliveries, Southgate predicts a growing trend in fulfilment and logistics equipment specially designed to optimise the human element and blend that with ‘best in class’ automated solutions.

O’Driscoll explained: “Automation isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation, it needs to be working in cohesion with human resources. For the areas where automation isn’t appropriate, innovative equipment is the answer. By optimising manual tasks through innovative equipment, companies can enhance productivity without fully relying on automation.”

This is an area that Southgate works hard to offer solutions to, for example, its Mobile Powered Workstation (MPW) is specifically designed to boost workforce productivity. With its own integrated power system used to power laptops, barcode printers or scanners, the MPW allows operatives to walk and work anywhere in the warehouse.

When used at the loading bay, the MPW can also help operatives reduce processing times for each delivery by dealing with all the stock entry requirements and ERP updates at the point and time of arrival, boosting dock-to-stock cycle times.

With over 600 customers using this solution across the UK and Europe, Southgate’s MPW has already cut major operational logistics and fulfilment operatives’ costs by £4,256 per operative per year, saving customers over £11 million pounds in the last 2.5 years.

As consumers’ appetite for fast, free shipping continues to push the sector to introduce new initiatives, Southgate predicts the areas that still require, or simply benefit from, human labour will be the key areas that see innovative ideas introduced.

O’Driscoll said: “At Southgate, we work closely with our customers to listen to their frustrations and where their operational needs aren’t being met. By reviewing the finer details within the process and identifying where equipment can work with human resources, we offer bespoke solutions that save costs, reduce disruption, meet sustainability goals, and increase efficiency.

“As more companies look to integrate equipment that works in harmony with people, we expect it to shape many upcoming trends.”

For more information on how to maximise the efficiency of the human/automation interface within operations, download Southgate’s latest Briefing Paper and complete its checklist here.

Manufacturing & Engineering Magazine | The Home of Manufacturing Industry News

The post Southgate Global – Optimising Humans in Supply Chain appeared first on MEM Magazine.

Danielle Ward ’s journey to becoming an award-winning STEM educator was an unexpected one but is a testament to the power of following one’s passion and the impact of dedicated teaching. “My first career choice was to be a pediatric nurse,” Ward recalls. “However, the college I attended to play softball did not offer that option. My advisor suggested enrolling in the teacher classes, and once I had my first observation in a classroom, I knew that was where I wanted to be.”

Her passion for STEM was fueled by a love of hands-on activities and a drive to bring new opportunities to her students. “I loved tinkering with things and any lesson involving hands-on work,” Ward explains. “In 2011, I began teaching at Hilldale and set out to bring Robotics to our school. We started VEX V5 in 2015 with three teams and today we have eight teams competing. Our principal, Darren Riddle, asked me to lead the STEM Lab for our Middle School, and later our High School.”

Her impact extends beyond technical skills, fostering a creative and engaging learning environment. “My class is a Computer Science course required for graduation and students take it without knowing what to expect,” Ward notes. “We have printed animals with animation, designed their dream room using blueprints and then 3D printed and painted them. We have designed miniature putt-putt courses and played nine holes in the hallway, laser engraved coasters and keychains, made signs with slogans and created banners for our Special Olympic kids to take to the state event. We’ve also made senior banners, created marble roller coasters from cardboard, designed and flown kites and much more. The students love watching their ideas come to life.”

Ward has successfully integrated Tormach’s xsTECH Tabletop CNC Routers into her curriculum, providing students with practical, hands-on experience. “We currently have four xsTECH routers in our High School lab,” she says. “Every nine weeks, my students rotate through different curricula, including the xsTECH and Dremel 3D45 printers, earning certifications that prepare them for future careers.”

Danielle Ward ’s success at Hilldale High School is bolstered by the strong partnership between Tormach and the NC3, a non-profit organization that supports nearly 2,000 secondary and post-secondary institutions worldwide. Through this partnership, Ward’s students have access to the most current and relevant curriculum, including the xsTECH or 24R CNC Router Certification from NC3. These certifications provide students with a solid foundation in CNC fundamentals, enhancing their job readiness and aligning with industry standards.

Instructors like Ward benefit from professional development opportunities by attending Train-the-Trainer events hosted at NC3-certified Leadership Schools. Led by expert Master Instructors, these events equip educators with the knowledge and skills needed to implement the latest certifications in their classrooms. This hands-on training ensures that instructors can effectively teach and certify students in CNC machining, bridging the gap between education and industry requirements.

The comprehensive NC3 certification curriculum supplements existing school programs with a blend of classroom presentations, labs and exams, culminating in a final comprehensive knowledge-based test. This rigorous approach ensures that students not only learn the theory but also demonstrate their competencies through practical lab activities and assessments, making them highly valued by employers.

Ward notes that the program’s biggest impact on students in Muskogee, a city abundant with manufacturing opportunities, is their success in securing jobs in local manufacturing businesses after graduation. The xsTECH has given students a solid foundation in CNC machining, equipping them with essential job skills for the workforce. Additionally, some students have pursued engineering degrees at local universities and received scholarships for completing the STEM course.

“It was great to sit down with Danielle and hear about her experiences teaching in a STEM lab,” said Domenic Giunta, Education Sales Advisor with Tormach. “Her unique approach and targeted hands-on applications significantly impact her students. We are proud to honor her as our 2024 Instructor of the Year.”

Winning this award holds deep significance for Ward. “It is quite an honor to be selected for this prestigious award. I hope to be a role model for other women as we have more females taking the STEM course now than in previous years. If you had told me 22 years ago this is where I would be today, I would have laughed. This award is proof that you can achieve great things if you challenge yourself and are never afraid to try.”

Ward’s vision for the future of STEM education is one of inclusivity and opportunity. “I envision the barriers for women in STEM to keep decreasing. Females empowering other females is important and I hope I can continue to do that. I see more women teaching in STEM fields, allowing more doors to open. The message I want to share with educators and students is to invest in STEM education. Students, never underestimate what you can do. STEM is fun, exciting, creative and hands-on. If you can imagine it, you can make it happen!”

Danielle Ward ’s story is a testament to the power of education and the difference one dedicated teacher can make. As she continues to inspire and mentor the next generation of STEM leaders, her impact will be felt far beyond the walls of Hilldale High School.

Manufacturing & Engineering Magazine | The Home of Manufacturing Industry News

The post Danielle Ward’s Journey to Transforming STEM Education appeared first on MEM Magazine.