GENERAL NEWS
Safran acquires 3DMF
Safran Nacelles has completed the acquisition of 3D Metal Forming ( 3DMF ,) a company specialising in high-energy hydroforming ( HEHF ) of metal parts . This manufacturing process reinforces Safran Nacelles ’ capacity to develop and produce parts for nacelles and engines , including nozzles and air inlet lips . HEHF is also an enabling technology for manufacturing Monolithic Integrated Structures from thick plate .
Based in the Netherlands , 3DMF manufactures prototype and series parts mainly for the aerospace industry . The manufacturing process developed by the company enables it to produce a finished product which can be large and of various thicknesses . 3D Metal Forming is a now a wholly owned subsidiary of Safran Nacelles .
Safran is an international group operating in the aviation ( propulsion , equipment and interiors ), defence and space markets . Safran Nacelles designs , integrates and provides support and after-sales service for aircraft nacelles . n www . safran-group . com
Resource scarcity highlights circularity
A new report from ABB Motion , entitled “ Circularity : No Time to Waste ,” reveals that 91 per cent of industrial businesses are feeling the effects of resource scarcity , prompting two-thirds to increase their investment in circularity initiatives within the next three years . The new report shows that resource scarcity is leading to increased costs , supply-chain disruption and slowdowns in production .
“ Raw materials ( 37 per cent ) are seen as the scarcest resource , followed by energy ( 34 per cent ), labour ( 32 per cent ) and electronic components ( 26 per cent ). This resource scarcity has led to increased costs for 37 percent of businesses , as well as supply-chain disruption for 27 per cent and slowdowns in production capacity for 25 per cent . Despite energy being rated as the scarcest resource , two-fifths reported it as their biggest source of waste . This highlights an urgent need for greater energy efficiency across industry , something the International Energy Agency ( IEA ) says will be a critical lever in meeting Net Zero targets ,” highlighted the report .
The global survey , conducted by Sapio Research in October 2023 , gathered responses from 3,304 industrial decisionmakers across 12 countries including the United States ; China ; India ; UK ; Sweden ; Germany and France . Respondents represented a range of industries such as energy ; metals ; chemicals ; oil and gas ; marine ; mining and utilities .
While there is optimism about investing in circularity , the survey also identified obstacles to immediate progress . For example , no single definition of “ circularity ” was accepted by the majority of respondents . Also , only eight per cent see circularity as a company-wide responsibility , but this group experienced the highest level of improvements across key circularity metrics
( such as energy consumption , use of recycled materials and carbon emissions ). “ The survey also reveals that many important circular practices have still only been adopted by a minority of businesses , including partnering with waste management companies ( 41 per cent ), incorporating energy-efficient technologies ( 37 per cent ) and promoting circular principles in the supply chain ( 32 per cent ). Encouragingly , 67 per cent are using recycled materials in their products to some extent ,” said ABB Motion .
“ Investing in circularity has already led to measurable benefits , with the most common being waste reduction ( 46 per cent ) and energy efficiency improvements ( 45 percent ). Although some businesses express concern about the upfront investment required , many anticipate long-term improvements in process efficiency and cost control ,” continued the report .
Image : Shutterstock . com .
“ Most respondents ( 78 per cent ) agree that the circular economy encourages innovation and drives competitiveness . They also support increased regulation and reporting requirements ( 74 per cent ) and want more government support for adopting circular business practices ( 77 per cent ),” it added .
Tarak Mehta , President of ABB Motion , commented : “ The pressing need to transition to a circular economy has never been clearer . Our current way of life is depleting resources at an unsustainable rate , contributing to emissions and climate change . Embracing circularity is not READ only essential for safeguarding our environment but also for enhancing REPORT business resilience .” n
ISMR April 2024 | ismr . net | 9