The Engineer

52 Pages·2021·10.672 MB·English

1 6 5 Y E A R S O F T E C H N O L O G Y A N D I N N O V AT I O N
JUNE 2021
Building the
hydrogen home
How the most abundant element in the universe
could be used to decarbonise domestic heating
20 28 32 TheEngineerUK
theengineeruk
The Engineer UK
aerospace: Bristol aviation pioneer interview: Britishvolt CTO Allan late great engineers: Eugene
vertical aerospace hopes to usher paterson on building britain’s cernan - the last person to leave
in a new era of low carbon flight first battery gigaplant footprints on the moon
MAKING UP
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SCAN ME
ESTABLISHED 1856
165
C O N T E N T S
YEARS OF
TECHNOLOGY
& INNOVATION
VOLUME 302 • ISSUE 7928 • JUNE 2021
12
28
18 42
24
34
20

4 Editor’s Comment 10 news analysis 24 Robotics 36 Panel session report
Decarbonising domestic heating might Why the automotive rebound has been Industrial robot fi nds application in Special report on a panel discussion
prove to the be the trickiest component stymied by a shortage of chips game-changing farming technology about the challenges and benefi ts of
of the UK’s quest for net zero digital twinning
12 Cover story 28 Interview
6 NEWS 40 sci-fi eye
How hydrogen could be used to Britishvolt CTO Allan Paterson on
Williams and Italdesign join forces in decarbonise domestic heating in the UK building the UK’s fi rst battery gigaplant Gareth Powell considers the future of
premium vehicle electrifi cation push powered fl ight on other planets
16 viewpoint 30 energy

7 NEWS 42 late great engineers
New inverter technology promises leap How an obsolete technology from the
UK engineers develop AI model for in electric vehicle performance 1950s is making a power grid comeback The life and times of Eugene Cernan -
predicting COVID patients’ ICU pathway the last man on the moon
18 Talking Point 32 Events Planner

8 news 44 from the archive
What might the UK’s accelerated Key industry events over the next year
Lotus backs all-electric future emissions targets mean for industry? June 1959 - advances in car ferries
34 manufacturing
9 news 20 aerospace 48 Blog
AMRC engineers help UK watch
Semiconductor shortage halts How Bristol’s Vertical Aerospace hopes manufacturer gear up for production STEM and the digital divide
production at JLR plants to revolutionise urban mobility
COVER Image: Calvin McKenzie
Editor & Publisher Jon Excell Commercial director Justyn Gidley Production News 020 8076 0576
[phone] [phone] Larry Oakes Display 020 8076 0582
[email protected] [email protected] [phone] Recruitment 020 8076 0581
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3 June 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk
EDNIOTVOERM’SB ECORM 2M01E9NT
JON EXCELL
5
READ MORE Low carbon batt le
ONLINE
comes home
Digital twins, hydrogen
trains and the
semiconductor shortage
F
or many, the realities of the batt le against the climate crisis remain an abstract,
arms-length issue.
www.theengineer.co.uk
It makes litt le practical diff erence to the average consumer whether the
follow us at
electricity used to keep the lights on is generated by off shore renewables or coal-
THINGS
@TheEngineerUK fi red power plants.
theengineeruk But recent tabloid talk of a “boiler ban” has brought the implications of the UK’s WE’VE
net zero push fi rmly into the nation’s living rooms, and perhaps also caused heating
The Engineer UK
LEARNT
engineers and plumbers a few sleepless nights.
The Engineer UK The outcry was prompted by the International Energy Agency’s recent warning
THIS
that conventional gas boilers should be banned from sale by 2025, a call backed by the
UK business lobby group CBI. The UK government is making green issues a priority ISSUE
ENGINEER JOBS
as Glasgow gears up to host the COP26 climate summit later this year, and is widely
Find your next engineering job
expected to back the proposal in its upcoming heat and buildings strategy.
online at The EngineerJobs
It is of course possible that Boris Johnson’s famed populist tendencies 1 At 170m long,
HS2 tunnel
could prompt a watering down of these ambitions. But that would be a mistake.
boring machine
Decarbonisation of heating - which accounts for as much as 17 per cent of UK carbon
Florence is the largest
emissions - will be absolutely key to delivering on the country’s accelerated net zero tunneling machine to
ambitions. be used on a UK rail
There’s no single silver bullet when it comes to low carbon heating, and meeting project
targets will rely on a range of solutions from improved insulation to heat pumps
and – as previously reported by The Engineer – even geothermal energy drawn from 2 Existing gas
appliances can
abandoned coal mines.
run on a natural gas
But in this issue’s cover story (page 12) we turn our att ention to a gas that many
blend with 20 per
MISSION
believe will play a starring role in this transition: hydrogen. cent hydrogen
STATEMENT In a short space of time, hydrogen has moved from the fringes to the centre
ground of our national energy debate, and in this issue’s report we take a look at some 3 As much as 90
The aim of of the practical engineering challenges and breakthroughs that could see it being per cent of
herbicide used by
The Engineer used to heat our homes and offi ces by the end of the decade.
farmers is wasted
is to champion Despite the progress demonstrated by those featured in our report, there are
clearly many hurdles still to overcome, not least the challenge of rapidly scaling up
and promote 4 The UK’s fi rst
the production of green hydrogen (the subject of an earlier feature which can be read battery
engineering
on our website.) But whether or not the hydrogen transition happens – and you’d gigafactory will
innovation and
be brave to bet against it – the rapid progress being made by engineers working in produce 30GWh of
technology the fi eld is another compelling illustration of the degree to which net zero is driving batteries per yer
development engineering innovation as never before.
5 NASA astronaut
across all of
Gene Cernan
the UK’s key was the last of only 12
engineering Jon Excell people to leave their
footprints on the
sectors.
EDITOR • [email protected] moon
June 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk 4
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JUNE 2021
NEWS
Read more online
Follow us at:
AEROSPACE
@TheEngineerUK
• Autonomous drone makes
theengineeruk
special deliveries to Scilly Isles
The Engineer UK
The Engineer UK AUTOMOTIVE
• UK can get ahead in race for
www.theengineer.CO.UK
Gigafactories
• Europe set for customer trials
of prototype E-Transit
WAE and Italdesign
CIVIL & STRUCTURAL
• All Lane Running motorway
partner for EV solution
radar tech accelerated
ELECTRONICS
Partnership aims to electrify the upper-premium automotive market G-Putty inks tailored for fl exible
strain sensors
• Single transmitter programmes
MELISSA BRADSHAW reports
and powers implants
W
illiams Advanced
MATERIALS
Engineering (WAE)
and Italdesign are • Stabiliser residue inhibits
partnering to bring a high- conductivity in 3D-printed
performance EV solution electronics
to the upper-premium automotive
market. MEDICAL & HEALTHCARE
Bringing ten years of
• Voltaglue device developed to
electrifi cation work, with specialist
seal blood vessels
knowledge of high-performance
lightweight batt eries and
SKILLS & CAREERS
experience as batt ery supplier to
the Formula E, ETCR and Extreme-E • An education blueprint for
racing series’, Oxfordshire- Italdesign will build on the Boasting a lightweight future industrial talent
based WAE is providing the WAE rolling chassis, providing full structure, and various options for
foundation for the partnership with vehicle architecture with additional customisation, the EVX will allow
its new rolling chassis. safety systems, structures and customers to choose rear-wheel
Having built on a previous devices according to customer and four-wheel drive layouts.
iteration of its EVX platform, the requirements.  Combining recycled composite
latest version promises to deliver “When customers are coming to materials with aluminium, the
‘class-leading weight and chassis us, especially in this case with the EVX can be broken down and Jobs online
stiff ness’ which, when combined competency of our colleagues from recycled at end of life, with ease
with Italdesign’s turnkey vehicle WAE, we together can guarantee of disassembly a key design focus,
LOOKING FOR A
development capabilities, aims to specifi c performance — from the WAE confi rmed.
support rapid industrialisation of a driving but also from passive safety “The approach we’ve taken NEW ROLE?
new generation of premium electric measures,” said Jörg Astalosch, is the platform can be fl exible, so
Visit jobs.theengineer.
Sports GTs, crossovers and sedans.  CEO of Italdesign, at a virtual press if required, and an organisation
co.uk to search hundreds
A key diff erentiator of the event. “These are characteristics wanted to utilise existing motor
EVX is its composite compression that we can give to the car transmission systems from of vacancies with leading
moulded structural batt ery, which depending on what the customer is their own line-up, they would be employers from across
will add signifi cant rigidity to the looking for and in which time they able to introduce those onto the industry
platform and provide extra support want to reach their target to be on platform,” said Dyrr Ardash, head of
with crash loads, allowing for the market.” automotive business development
increased fl exibility and design The partnership will enable at WAE. “We can tune things for
freedom. reduced time to market and the brand characteristics of each
Performance fi gures revealed aff ordability at low-to-medium and every customer — from a
include the ability to deliver volumes, the two companies said, performance perspective, there’s a
1000kW of power with 104kWh- with production capabilities of up degree of fl exibility that will suit the
120kWh of energy, with potential to 10,000 units per annum, 500 of majority of customers .”
expansion of the batt ery pack to up which can be manufactured by
to 160kWh for a potential 1000km Italdesign at its facilities in Turin, Read more at
www.theengineer.co.uk
vehicle range between charges. Italy.
June 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk 6
TECHNOLOGY NEWS
Machine learning
NEWS IN BRIEF
lessons predict TANKED UP
Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land
path for ICU (RBSL) has been awarded
£800m to upgrade 148 British
Army Challenger 3 Main Battle
COVID patients
Tanks.The upgraded armoured
vehicle will be equipped with a
Data gathered in trial could be applied to future waves 120mm High Pressure L55A1 main
gun featuring programmable
MELISSA BRADSHAW reports multipurpose ammunition,
increased fi rst-hit capability and
A
team led by Imperial College lead at Imperial’s Department worsen and not respond to proning. fi re support technology. The
London has developed of Surgery & Cancer and senior Derek Hill, professor of Medical programme will create and sustain
an AI model to predict intensivist at Royal Brompton Imaging Science at UCL, said a 450 jobs within the UK supply
the trajectory of Covid-19 Hospital said ECMO has associated ‘particularly striking’ fi nding chain and a further 200 jobs
patients in intensive care risks and is the last resort for many of Imperial’s study was that within RBSL.
units (ICUs). patients, after all other less invasive mortality was higher at the peak
The machine learning approach interventions have failed. of the pandemic, potentially due BORING CHILTERNS
makes predictions about how “Patients appropriately placed to workplace pressure resulting in HS2 Ltd has launched Florence,
conditions might progress, and early onto ECMO show bett er poor implementation of treatment the fi rst of 10 tunnel boring
whether patients respond positively outcomes. However, only four per guidance. machines that will dig 64 miles
to ‘proning’, the process of turning a cent of referred patients received “It is important to realise of tunnels between London and
patient onto their front to improve ECMO, which is due to a number that the authors have not shown the West Midlands. The 170m long
lung oxygenation. When ineff ective, of reasons, but one of which could that their algorithm can be used TBM will dig the fi rst of a pair of
it can delay the start of sequential have been delays in assessment of to improve patient outcomes in 10-mile long tunnels under the
treatments such as extracorporeal responsiveness to interventions subsequent waves of Covid, nor Chiltern hills. A second machine -
membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a like prone position.” that AI can help doctors manage ‘Cecilia’ - launches in June 2021 to
life-support machine that supports Published in Intensive heavy workloads in the peak of excavate the second tunnel at the
the heart and lungs. Care Medicine, the study used a pandemic,” he commented. South Portal site in Hertfordshire.
Researchers said that by using retrospective data from 633 “In practice, changes in the way
AI to analyse patients’ data daily, mechanically ventilated Covid-19 patients present and are treated
guidelines in clinical practice could patients across 20 UK ICUs during since the start of the Covid
be improved and applied to future the fi rst outbreak in 2020. Findings pandemic means any algorithms
waves of the pandemic as well as showed that the AI model identifi ed that learn from the fi rst wave will
treatment of similar diseases. factors that determined which only have limited value in helping
Dr Brijesh Patel, clinical science patients’ conditions were likely to manage later Covid surges.”
FLAT-PACKABLE THERMAL COLLECTOR SET FOR RWANDA
MELISSA BRADSHAW reports ELECTRIC FLIGHT
Bye Aerospace has announced
Dundee-based start-up SolarisKit has its fi rst UK customer, with plans to install suspended absorber coil which results in the development of the eFlyer
developed a thermal collector fl at pack the thermal collector at its Gogarburn HQ the absorber wall temperature rising, up 800, an eight-seat all-electric
kit that promises to provide cheaper in Edinburgh. to 70 degrees in direct sunlight,” Ghani twin turboprop. The Denver-
access to hot water in Rwanda. The ‘S200’ thermal collector said. “Water is circulated through the based aircraft manufacturer said
The company was founded by developed by SolarisKit is one of the collector, via a small pump, to transfer performance estimates for the
mechanical engineer Dr Faisal Ghani in world’s easiest and cheapest to install thermal energy from the absorber wall to airplane include up to 320 knot
2019, aiming to provide an affordable, according to the team, with product the fl uid via forced convection.” cruise speed, 35,000ft ceiling and
sustainable and practical solution for trials set to begin in June and 80 units The solar collector’s prismatic 500NM range with 45-minute IFR
heating water after reading a journal on already shipped to Rwanda. geometry allows passive tracking of the reserves at normal cruise speed
Rwanda’s energy usage. According to Dr Ghani, it operates solar radiation, suppression of heat loss of 280 knots. The aircraft will have
Recently, SolarisKit completed using the same principles of currently from the absorber and the ability to be one fi fth of the operating costs of
the Royal Bank of Scotland’s three- available solar thermal collectors: solar self-assembled on site. thus reducing traditional twin turboprops.
month Climate Entrepreneur Accelerator radiation is attenuated through high manufacturing and transportation costs.
programme. RBS has established a transmission solar glass side panels.  Currently, the team has capacity to Read more at
corporate partnership with SolarisKit as “The radiation strikes an internally produce 20,000 kits per year. www.theengineer.co.uk
7 June 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk
TECHNOLOGY NEWS
Lotus announces all-electric future four new architectures – sports car,
hypercar, premium and e-sports
- announced by the company to
One more ICE is set to launch but future prosperity is with all-electric vehicles
underpin the next generation of
Lotus performance cars. These
JASON FORD reports
architectures will be available to
OEMs via Lotus Engineering.
L
otus has announced its As part of the company’s
intention to be a fully electric transformation the company
vehicle company by the late is introducing a new technical
2020s. roadmap dubbed EAS-IP that is
The announcement expected to guide the work of
from the Hethel-based sports car consultancy.
manufacturer forms part of a wider “The technology roadmap
initiative to transform the business, we have in place is defi ned by
brand, and results by 2028. In a legislation but its’ also about
statement the company said it is customer demands and the
already ‘sparking a new generation challenge is always how quickly
of Lotus cars, which will lead to an can we get new technology onto
increase in vehicle sales worldwide.’ new vehicles,” said Windle.
“We’ve done some things very, “Lotus in the future is going
very well over the years but we audience that will lead to more powertrains. to be looking at intelligent
haven’t been able to turn that into volume and profi t which in turn Codenamed Type 131, the technology so we want the cars
a sustainable business,” said Matt leads to more commercial success.” Emira is set to be unveiled at Lotus to understand the owners, be it
Windle, MD, Lotus Cars during a The company – which Advanced Performance Centre in through AI or machine learning.
global virtual conference. “What we introduced iconic models including Hethel on July 6 before making its The opportunities there are great,
need to do is fi nd a blend of what the Elise, Elan and Evora - will way to the Goodwood Festival of but we’ll be developing them. With
we know we do well. That will lead produce one more ICE vehicle Speed for its public dynamic debut. every new model you’ll see new
to broader appeal amongst a global before switching to electric Emira will be built on one of levels of technology in the cars.”
FUNDING BOOST FOR WASTEWATER RECOVERY BACK ON TRACK
Jason Ford reports
A fl eet of trains withdrawn from
service due to safety concerns are
LAT Water, a Berkshire-based process separates and recovers clean including wastewater from landfi ll sites. being brought back into service.
developer of sustainable wastewater water from contaminated industrial In this scenario, the process helps Cracks on the lifting points
treatment solutions, has raised £4.7m water using waste heat. The system is with the odour associated with these under the carriage of some
in a funding round led by IW Capital. claimed to be highly scalable and can sites as well as reducing the need to Class-800 Hitachi trains led to most
Company CEO Mark Hardiman be installed for treating fl ows from one transport waste off-site for treatment. of GWR’s fl eet and a signifi cant
said the funding will push LAT Water to over 1,000 cubic metres per day of The company’s fi rst installation at number of LNER and TransPennine
forward towards its targets of providing effl uent. the Daxin landfi ll, in Shenyang, China, Express trains to be withdrawn in
innovative, sustainable, low-cost The process is capable of treating has been successfully operating for May, 2021.
solutions for wastewater treatment. wastewater for a range of applications, over two years. It was followed by the The gradual reinstatement of
TThhee  LLAATT tteecchhnnoollooggyy ccoonnssttrruuccttiioonn ooff aa sshhoowwccaassee ffaacciilliittyy aatt services follows the establishment
aa VViirriiddoorr ssiittee iinn EEnnggllaanndd.. of a service recovery plan agreed
The 21-month pilot project at between Hitachi Rail, regulators and
VViirriiddoorr’’ss BBrrooaaddppaatthh LLaannddfifi llll ssiittee iinn train operators.
DDeevvoonn uusseess llooww--ggrraaddee hheeaatt ffrroomm “This episode highlights the
VViirriiddoorr’’ss llaannddfifi llll ggaass eennggiinneess aatt need for high safety standards
aammbbiieenntt pprreessssuurree ttoo ccoonncceennttrraattee across the rail industry and that
lleeaacchhaattee aanndd eexxttrraacctt wwaatteerr.. companies should never be allowed
BBaacckkeedd bbyy aa ££554488,,000000 ggoovveerrnnmmeenntt to compromise those standards, or
’y
a
ba ggrraanntt,, tthhee pprroojjeecctt aaiimmss ttoo aacchhiieevvee to reduce staff or resources, in the
x
iP m eennvviirroonnmmeennttaall bbeenneefifi ttss iinn rreettaaiinniinngg pursuit of cost cutting,” said Mick
orf o the water resource while reducing Lynch, RMT general secretary. JF
zm CO2 emissions by a potential 80
eJ yb per cent reduction in tankering Read more at
ega requirements. www.theengineer.co.uk
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June 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk 8
TTEECCHHNNOOLLOOGGYY NNEEWWSS
Semiconductor shortage halts
of $50bn to fund semiconductor
manufacturing and research
production at JLR plants
provisions in the CHIPS for
America Act, which aims to
encourage domestic semiconductor
Jason Ford reports
manufacturing and investment into
chip research.
A
g lobal shortage of Commenting on developments
semiconductors has led at JLR, Dominic Tribe, director
to a temporary halt in and automotive sector specialist
production at Jaguar Land at management consultancy,
Rover’s Castle Bromwich and Vendigital, said: “JLR is no means
Halewood. the only car manufacturer to be
The shortage has been affected by the global shortage of
attributed to a significant increase semiconductors. Most other major
in demand for semiconductors car manufacturers have already
during the pandemic which has announced production slowdowns.
seen increased sales of consumer “For the major car
technology. The production of for three days in April. orders wherever possible.” manufacturers, the situation
electric vehicles is also said to have “We have adjusted production World Semiconductor Trade is incredibly challenging and
put pressure on demand (News schedules for certain vehicles Statistics show that the global competition for supplies is
Analysis, p.10). which means that our Castle semiconductor market was up 6.8 intense. Normally, if a component
JLR produces the XF, XJ, Bromwich and Halewood per cent in 2020 and is expected to is at risk of short supply, this is
F-TYPE, F-PACE and Jaguar XE manufacturing plants will be show double-digit growth of 10.9 per communicated upwards through
at Castle Bromwich in the West operating a limited period of cent in 2021, which represents sales the supply chain, so the OEM
Midlands. Halewood in Merseyside non-production from Monday of $488bn. can plan ahead to meet capacity
produces the Range Rover Evoque 26th April,” the company said. “We US reaction to the situation demands. However, in this case, car
and Land Rover Discovery Sport. A are working closely with affected has seen President Joe Biden manufacturers are competing with
similar situation occurred at BMW’s suppliers to resolve the issues and propose – under the auspices of an strong demand from OEMs in other
Mini plant in Cowley, which closed minimise the impact on customer Infrastructure Plan - the release industry sectors.”
BATH EXPLORES VIRTUAL REALITY TO HELP OLDER PEOPLE DRILLING FOR
GEOTHERMAL HEAT
Melissa Bradshaw reports
An abandoned coalmine is being
A research team from Bath University is exploring Mendes Sports Centre, FIFA Medical Centre of repurposed as a source of geothermal
the use of Virtual Reality (VR) to improve balance and Excellence in Portugal.  energy that will heat council-owned
prevent falls in older people. They reviewed data from 19 studies to investigate buildings in South Tyneside.
Humans are able to keep balance using vision, the validity, reliability, safety, feasibility and efficacy of Planning permission has been
feedback from muscles and joints (procioceptive) and using head-mounted display systems for assessing and granted for initial testing to take place
from semi-circular canals in the ear (vestibular). training balance in older adults, with results published on the Hebburn minewater scheme,
Traditionally, physical tests, such as on treadmills, in the journal Frontiers in Sports and Active Living. which will draw geothermal energy
are used to assess balance, but these can be inaccurate “Our pipeline included photogrammetry for from abandoned flooded mines in the
and unsafe, researchers said. realistic avatars, motion capture for driving the avatar former Hebburn Colliery to heat buildings
The team at Bath’s CAMERA motion capture and updating the visual scene inside the headset, and including a residential tower block.
research centre wanted to investigate VR as a solution. the game engine for adding extra elements to the VR Two wells will be drilled by Dunelm
Bath University’s Dr Pooya Soltani worked alongside scene,” said Dr Soltani. Geotechnical and Environmental Ltd
Renato Andrade, from Clínica do Dragão, Espregueira- Soltani explained that VR can be used to create to extract water from the mines, and
realistic scenarios such as crossing a street, or like a tests will validate whether the scheme
video game where patients navigate through a maze remains fully viable.
whilst performing cognitive tasks. The researchers Drilling works and construction
also discovered that the complexity of the system of the wells are likely to take until the
could hinder balance, particularly in vestibular autumn to complete at the mine site,
patients. which was abandoned in 1932. JF
Whilst the technology has ‘great potential’, he
added, further work is required before it can be used Read more at
widely in rehabilitation. www.theengineer.co.uk
9 June 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk
NNOeVwEsM aBnEaRl 2y0si1s9
A
nyone in the market for and self-driving vehicles -
a new Peugeot 308 will are increasingly important
be intrigued to find its semiconductor customers. In its
dashboard fitted with an 2019 report titled Semiconductors
analogue speedometer – the Next Wave, Deloitte
instead of a digital display. estimated that semiconductor
This has nothing to do components will cost $600 per car
with adding a little retro chic to by 2022 and that in the next decade
the 308. Instead, it reflects the more semiconductor content will
decisions car manufacturers are be added to automotive electronics
When the
making in the wake of a global and subsystems.
semiconductor shortage that has Rider believes a long-
seen Peugeot prioritise chips for term solution could be for
chips are down
the digital speedometers of models manufacturers to build in-house
such as the Peugeot 3008 SUV. technology and capability to
With the sort of elan you produce such critical components.
would expect from the automotive Simon Beresford-Wylie, CEO
The rebound in automotive manufacturing has been
industry, a spokesperson for at Imagination Technologies, a
Stellantis – formed after the stymied by a global shortage of semiconductors company that develops processor
merger of Peugeot and Fiat solutions for graphics and vision
Chrysler – told Reuters that the WRITTEN BY Jason Ford & AI processing, believes
analogue speedo was ‘a nifty and governments can promote supply
agile way of getting around a real chain diversification by providing
hurdle for car production, until the facilities in Texas during winter are bringing forward the usual incentives for increased local chip
‘chips’ crisis ends’. storms in February. summer shut down periods in the production while fully remaining
The shortage of According to Walters, hope that suppliers will improve committed to global supply chains.
semiconductors has been brought AutoForecast Solutions predicts stocks in that period, others “In other words, increased
about through a combination semiconductor shortages to are moving to a more limited manufacturing at home should be
of factors, not least the global reduce vehicle production by production basis. Flexing the seen as a means of supplementing,
pandemic which ground 202,000 units during 2021, and a production schedules in these not displacing, imports from
production to a halt in 90 per quarter of that lost volume will ways will help mitigate to some abroad,” he said. “This is already
cent of vehicle and component be in Europe. “European industry extent but it will not stop the underway in Europe, with the EU
factories in China, North America association ACEA expects supply interruption.  Chip manufacturers setting a target of producing 20 per
and Europe. constraints to remain until the claim that automotive customers cent of the world’s semiconductors
“In turn, carmakers third quarter of 2021, resulting in did not plan for demand enough in – as opposed to its current 10
heavily reduced purchasing of “considerably lower” production advance and with 3-6 month lead per cent market share – and
semiconductors, just as demand volumes and postponed deliveries times the supply chain is under is finalising plans to launch a
surged for home computing, for the rest of the year,” he added. significant stress.” government-industry alliance to
gaming and healthcare products,” Sarah Riding, a partner at “Chip manufacturers are achieve this. In the US, the Biden
said Matthew Walters, head of law firm Gowling, said covid has investing $billions to help administration has ordered a full
Consultancy Services at car leasing heightened attention to supply increase output capacity, but review of critical supply chains,
experts LeasePlan UK. “When chain vulnerabilities, noting that these shortages will not go including semiconductors, and
semiconductor manufacturers forecasting, the use of technology away any time soon,” added Ian is seeking to boost domestic chip
restarted at reduced production, to improve real time demand, and Nethercot, MCIPS, supply chain manufacturing.”
the limited volume available had casting the net across a number director, Probrand, a Birmingham- He concluded: “The UK
already been prioritised elsewhere, of suppliers to maximise supply based technology services should consider doing the same
leading to supply constraints as options should all be high up the provider. as it sketches out its post-Brexit,
automotive markets picked up agenda. In February 2021 post-pandemic future. It possesses
in the third quarter of the year. “For the immediate situation KPMG published its Global many of the ingredients needed to
Demand for semiconductor-reliant there are no quick fixes to the Semiconductor Industry successfully manufacture chips,
technology is increasing, but lack of planning,” she said. “Some Outlook, stating that car makers from cutting-edge semiconductor
supply is struggling to keep up.” [automotive manufacturers] – introducing connected, electric, companies and a highly-
 Walters added that five developed technology industry
semiconductor manufacturers to well-established strengths
CHIP MANUFACTURERS ARE INVESTING BILLIONS OF
supply the automotive industry in advanced manufacturing.
and two of them – NXP and DOLLARS TO HELP INCREASE OUTPUT CAPACITY, BUT But an overarching vision from
Infineon Technologies – SHORTAGES WILL NOT GO AWAY ANYTIME SOON government is needed if the pieces
suspended production at their are to fall into place.”
June 2021 / www.theengineer.co.uk 10