27 March 2019
Two UK businesses have been selected to take part in an “industry first” £230k national digital-pilot project to demonstrate the potential of IoT within manufacturing, run by Digital Catapult.
The project, called The Connected Factory Demonstrator, will see Dyer Engineering Group and Special Metals Wiggin explore how IoT and LPWAN can improve productivity, streamline processes, improve yield and increase quality control.
Jeremy Silver, chief executive officer of Digital Catapult, which champions the early adoption of technology, said: “The impact of advanced digital technologies cannot be underestimated, and we’re looking forward to working with Dyer Engineering and Special Metals Wiggin to demonstrate the full potential of future networks technologies in a working manufacturing environment.”
County Durham-based Dyer Engineering Group is a fabrication and machining business manufacturing metal components and structures. Richard Larder, operations manager, Dyer Engineering, said: “Adopting industrial digital technology is of paramount importance to safeguard UK manufacturing for generations to come.
We have benefited from the technological pioneers before us and now feel it is our time to pick up the mantle and take on the challenges and risks of significant change, and we are truly up for it.” Dyer previously attended the Digital Catapult North East Tees Valley (NETV) Digital Manufacturing Programme, an initiative designed to help manufacturers of all sizes understand the impact of advanced digital technologies and how to use them to future-proof their businesses.
Special Metals Wiggin, based in Hereford, makes a range of nickel alloys used in aerospace, energy, marine, automotive and nuclear industries. Jonathan Silk, quality and technical director, Special Metals Wiggin, added: “We anticipate that by introducing state-of-the-art wireless technology we will make significant advancements in process control and asset tracking. This will enhance our position in a highly competitive worldwide market for the supply of nickel alloys. We look forward to the opportunity of working with Digital Catapult and the solution providers.”
