Combining academic excellence with industrial relevance

Ken Young, head of the Wannrick Manufacturing Group's Automation section, gave members of the BRA attending the 1998 AGM an account of the group's activities. This article reports on that account, outlining the unique approach of the Wannrick Manufacturing Group to training in engineering and process business management and the R&D activities of the Automation Group. Detailed reference is made to the SALVO (Strategic Advanced Light-Weight Vehicle Operations) programme, in which the group is heavily involved. This project assumes the concept of an aluminium spaceframe with composite material panels to achieve a lightweight construction vehicle, which, it is argued, meets the market demands for a cleaner environment and customer satisfaction. A key element of the programme is an agile manufacturing approach in which robotics plays a critical role. Developments being undertaken in the group's workshops on agile tooling, adhesive injection, MIG welding and self-pierce riveting are described.