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Reports on the reaction of Great Britain companies regarding the delay of the implementation of waste electrical and electronics equipment (WEEE) legislation in the country. Purpose of the implementation of WEEE legislation; Terms and conditions of the legislation; Benefits and advantages acquired by electronic industries from the legislation.

Reports on the increasing use and popularity of Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHP), low-energy systems used to provide heating to a building in Great Britain. Capacity to provide cooling for the interior of a building; Role of rising energy prices in the adoption of GSHPs; Trend and pattern of orders and sales of GSHPs. INSETS: HOW DO THEY DO THAT?;WHAT'S HAPPENED TO BOB HARRIS?.

This article reports that European manufacturers have been slow to realise the benefits of using radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. Manufacturers also look set to benefit from the high-tech labelling system, through having total control over all the products in their supply chain. This should help to reduce waste, delays at any stage of production, while enabling implementation of efficient practices, such as lean manufacturing, and full integration within overall enterprise resource planning software. More sophisticated, active tags have larger memories and work over longer ranges, although they require a power source to handle the extra information on the chip. They can also store additional information sent by the transceiver but their need for energy storage increases the cost. Cambridge-based RFID researcher IDTechEx has been following the industry for six years and has amassed more than 1,500 case studies of the technology on trial. The market is being driven by big users, primarily in the U.S.

The article cites a study on bugs and superbugs like Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) responsible for spreading infection. One of the regular features of the tabloid press in recent months has been headlines about so-called superbugs such as MRSA. A worldwide team of experts assembled to discuss this issue at a recent conference, called Hospital Infection Control, at the IMechE in London, England. The focus of the conference was ensuring effective ventilation to reduce the risk of airborne infection.

The article presents information on the role of coal in power generation. One thing anyone interested in power generation agrees on is that diversity of supply is vital. Ensuring that coal keeps on playing a major role is less universally accepted. Although much improved over the years, the emissions from existing coal-fired power stations just can not be reduced far enough to warrant the use of the plants for much longer. What is needed is a different approach, says Kenneth Fergusson, president of the Combustion Engineering Association. INSETS: Political obstacles to overcome;Progressive plans for plants.

This article focuses on new and planned equipment that are helping the police with their enquiries. Fans of the U.S. television crime drama "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," will be familiar with the application of high technology in the cause of catching criminals. Every episode contains a plethora of electronic gadgets and gizmos that., in the skilled hands of the glamorous investigators, swiftly bring the guilty party to justice. DNA identification, computer simulations and microscopic analysis of evidence regularly feature, the implication being that these tools offer quick and easy solutions to the whodunits. INSET: A measure of guilt: working towards a national biometrics centre.

The article reports that installing new fan systems on the generators is helping Europe's largest coal-fired power station--Drax Power Ltd.--to clean up its act. By introducing boosted over-fire air (Bofa) systems, fuel is burned more efficiently, leaving fewer pollutants to escape to the atmosphere. To introduce Bofa, Drax had to install two 900kW fans at ground level and ducting around the boiler feeding air into two incoming ports towards the top of the boiler furnace. Installation was completed late last year, followed by testing of the drives, boiler controls and monitoring equipment.

This article reports that as pressure to reduce pollution increases, the onus is being put on the driver to switch to low pollution, energy-efficient motoring. While much technical work is going on to reduce emissions, car buyers have to take up these options in great numbers. This was the message from speakers at a conference hosted by the government-sponsored Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership. More than 250 delegates took part, drawn mainly from the partnership's 140-plus members in government, the motor and fuels industries and passenger and environmental groups. The aim of making car buyers more aware of environmental implications was embodied in the launch, at the conference, of the clean vehicle labeling scheme. INSET: AUTOMOTIVE SPECIAL REPORT.

This article discusses issues related to Combined Heat and Power (CHP) schemes. Government statistics show that from 2001 to 2003, the number of CHP schemes has fallen and, with no large-scale industrial plants in the offing, the future looks uneven. The government counters that its policies contain 21 different market interventions favouring CHP and that it continues to work closely with industry, including the CHPA, to find new, cost-effective ways of getting more capacity online. A government strategy was set up to increase its usage, a funding scheme was introduced to help community schemes get started. INSET: Lobbying confused by hierarchy of needs.

The article presents information related to closure of various physical-sciences departments at universities during the past couple of months. The author states that earlier this month the front page of one tabloid newspaper expressed outrage that cookery classes outrank physics. He pointed out that figures from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service indicate that, although it is reasonably accurate, there are grounds for optimism. Although the numbers starring engineering courses have been slowly falling since 1996, the rate of decline appears to have more than halved in 2002 and kept below that rate the year after. Also, the number of establishments hosting engineering-related courses has steadily grown from 1996 to 2003. INSET: Goodbye Oxbridge: Small institutions are the new big players.

The article reports on the latest measures being taken to boost the level of Great Britain engineering firms' involvement in research at Centre for Nuclear Research (CERN). Work at CERN just outside Geneva in Switzerland, deals simultaneously with both of these heady extremes, using some truly huge, record-breaking sized instruments to detect and track the most minute particles known to science. The sheer scale of the large hadron collider particle accelerator project has gained CERN much attention recently, with the laboratory's 50th anniversary being marked by simultaneous visits. INSET: Two firms with Cern deals.

The article focuses on the embracing of biomass in the energy sector in order to cut its carbon dioxide emissions. To say that the biomass renewable energy sector is a rapidly growing industry is a terrible, if excusable pun. Over the coming weeks, various power stations will be taking in more organic materials, including purpose-grown energy crops like willow to co-fire with coal and a range of plans for more co-firing and other, bigger biomass projects indicate a strong trend in favor of environmentally friendly fuel. The contract announced earlier this month by Npower for the supply of fast-growing willow to he co-fired at its Didcot power station represents what the industry hopes will be the shape of things to come. With the first fuel due to arrive at the Oxfordshire site in 2009, having tied up the supply so far in advance provides some guarantees on supply for the utility firms and some much-needed security for the farmers growing what will become fuel. INSET: Rapeseed gets in on the act.

This article presents the author's views on the successful development of alternative sources of energy. In a study by the Royal Academy of Engineering, it was estimated that the amount of back-up required could be 65% of a windfarm's output. This would make electricity from onshore wind sources cost more than from gas-fired power stations, said the study. The issue of large-scale electricity storage has been something of a Holy Grail for energy firms. The Regenesys research programme appeared to be on the brink of achieving that goal in 2000, but was axed in 2003. The recent resuscitation of the programme could see the previously unattainable become a reality.

Snowdonia National Park in North Wales is undeniably beautiful. But this feeling is easier to ignore when the view is taken in from the top of the Trawsfynydd nuclear power station's reactor buildings. Here, 55 meter up, it is hard to miss the power of the ingenuity of humankind, in creating buildings of such a scale to generate awesome amounts of electricity. This conflict between nature and industry is on the way to being at least partially resolved, however, with the countryside being largely returned to how it was and the buildings that will remain being a fraction of the size of the current ones.

Reports on tougher environmental regulations, that could end landfill gas power generation, which is UK's biggest renewable energy source. Generation of half of the energy by the government renewables, by landfill gas plants; Prevention of the release of methane and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, by generating electricity from landfill gas being an aim of the governments greenhouse gas reduction plans; Growth of the landfill gas industry by funding from the government's Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation; Increase in the cost of waste disposal, widely seen as an inevitable response to tougher environmental legislation and reduced use of landfill. INSET: Is it even renewable?.

Reports on the efforts taken to rejuvenate Britain's railway network. Announcement of Network Rail's takeover of railway network; Highlights of its residential conversion courses to boost the number of engineers and technicians; Efforts of Center for Rail Skills (CfRS) as a co-coordinator for industry training; Lack of confidence within suppliers to recruit staff due to unpredictable future workload.

Discusses the growth in the manufacture of Photo Voltaic (PV) cells along with the growing trend of solar cladding in building architecture. Integration of PV cells into structure rather than on the roof; Dual use of Sharp's PV cells in providing shade and power; Hope for rise in demand for PV cells. INSET: Wall and roof panels export power to grid.

Informs about the upcoming technologies that may offer solutions to the continuing growth in the amount of domestic waste going into landfill. Increase in creation of waste in all the sectors; Rise in the domestic waste and possible solutions; Details of materials reclamation facilities (MRFs); Use of incineration and recycling; Development of new treatments for organic waste stream; Future use of technologies like pyrolysis, gasification, anaerobic digestion and mechanical biological treatment(MBT) to deal with waste; Environmental and financial benefits of various techniques. INSET: Composite effort.

Presents how the staff at Fibrecore Inc. reviewed the manufacturing processes to improve the efficiency of fiber optic cable production. Dominance in the specialized optical fiber market; Fine tuning of the layout of the work area to improve efficiency; Information on how optical fibers are produced. INSET: A glass act--how optical fibres are produced.

Features Toyota Motor Corp.'s Prius hybrid saloon car. Internal combustion engine; Acceleration; Design specification.

Reports that engineers working on the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority's site in Harwell, Oxfordshire, England find it a hard time removing waste from the site. Purpose of setting up the site in the 1940s; Long-term aim set by scientists for the site; Comments of head of the Active Waste Retrieval Programme Roy Manning on the issue.

Focuses on the system developed by Frenchman Jean-Luk Dabi that could reduce the amount of oil leaking from sunken tankers at sea. Dabi's claims regarding the oil captured by the system; Design of the system; Advantages of the system. INSET: Dredging cars out of the Channel.

Discusses the introduction of domestic combined heat and power (CHP) units to the general public by winter 2004. Description of the progress made after the government's white paper on Great Britain's energy strategy for the next 50 years; Expectations of rapid growth in production and sales of micro-CHP units across Europe; Identification of the key issues for success being the electrical interface, how the excess electricity generated goes into the grid and making installation and operation as simple as possible for the consumers.

Informs that capturing of leaking methane gas from abandoned coalmines was a promising prospect during the 1990s. Difficulties faced by coal-mine methane (CMM) industry in fully utilizing its potential; Factors that make establishment of coal-mine methane capturing companies desirable; Details of the three major players in the CMM industry; Possibility of coal-mine methane company Alkane Energy to wind up its business in Britain; Components of coal-mine methane. INSET: Capturing the gas.

Explores challenges faced by engineers in designing and manufacturing mini-submarines in Great Britain. Marlin Submarines' construction of AP6 Alicia minisubmarine; Features of AP6 Alicia minisubmarine; Life-support systems.

Explores trends in electricity generation in Great Britain. Windfarm capacity; Distributed or embedded power generation; Government's drive to provide electricity from renewable energy sources. INSET: New trade regulations.

Features the Process Industries Centre for Manufacturing Excellence involved in improving the process engineering industry in Great Britain. History of the initiative; Use of the industry forum approach; Progress made in producing savings for the process industries; Exploration of the potential of the workforce. INSET: Master-classes 'pay back in spades'.

Reports on the release of the government's energy white paper in Great Britain. Strategies for energy production and use; Goals of the government concerning energy sources; Reaction of environmental campaigners toward the government's strategies. INSET: Blair backs bid for sustainability.

Focuses on the prospects of biodiesel as an alternative transport fuel in Great Britain. Description of how biodiesel is produced; Reduction of carbon dioxide emissions; Production of biodiesel from used cooking oil; Business opportunity for oilseed crop farmers. INSETS: Environment department sees benefits;Prospectors target East Anglia.

Discusses the engineering developments in prosthetics and biomedical devices. Introduction of the SA node in pacemakers that generate electric impulse through the heart; Ability of artificial cochleas to replicate sound wave conversion using 300 transducers; Role of the dialysis machine as an external artificial kidney; Development of computer controlled replacement legs handling weight and energy return. INSETS: Organs--a potential growth area?;Customized designs.

Focuses on the heating problems in the London Underground (LU) network. Role of LU engineer Ernie Boddington in solving the problems of the overheated network; Overview of the amount of heat produced within the network; Use of computer models to analyze the effects of various heat reduction methods; Focus on reducing station and tunnel temperatures and introducing air conditioning systems. INSET: Suggestions flow in from the South Bank.

Evaluates the state of mathematics teaching in Great Britain. Implications of mathematics deficiencies for engineering; Level of mathematical literacy in the country; Proposals to raise the standards of mathematics teaching. INSET: Search for right formula to switch pupils on to mathemativs.

Focuses on British Nuclear Fuels Ltd.'s plan to expand internationally by becoming involved in nuclear power plant decommissioning projects in Europe and the U.S. Company's experience in developing nuclear sites in Great Britain; Financial performance of the company in 2002; Plans for the company's intellectual property rights.

Reports on key issues relevant to emissions trading schemes in Great Britain. Production of greenhouse gases by companies; Use of renewable-energy technologies; Implications for environmental laws and policies.

Examines issues surrounding the uncertainty over company pensions arrangements in Great Britain. Factors contributing to the crisis in pensions; Manufacturing union, Amicus' call for a change in the law to elevate the status of pensions to the same level of pay within employment contracts; Effects of pensions arrangements on engineers. INSET: Now's the perfect time to review your firm's pension position.

Looks at the growth of specialist schools in Great Britain. Curriculum of specialist schools; Goal of specialist schools to increase young people's interest on engineering; History of the Specialist Schools Programme.

Reports the effects of Enron bankruptcy on the business confidence in Great Britain. Evaluation of the role of non-executive directors; Examination of the financial audit; Standardization of the accounting practice.

Highlights a roller coaster called Air ride at Alton Towers, designed to offer exhilaration rather than sheer terror in Blackpool, England. Speed of the roller coaster; Control systems and mechanics of the ride; Creation of an illusion of fear; Designer of Air ride; Reliance of breaking system on a constant supply of compressed air.

Discusses the government proposals on toughening up and clarifying the law on involuntary manslaughter in industries in Great Britain. Establishment of offenses of reckless killing and killing by gross carelessness; Debate on establishing an offense of corporate killing; Need to restore public confidence that companies responsible for loss of life can properly be held accountable in law.

Offers advice on patenting inventions and design ideas. Protection of ideas through patents; Examples of patent infringement cases; Factors contributing to infringement of patents.

Reports the development of wire-products for SKF, a Swedish automotive company. Use of electro-mechanical means in the fulfillment of the functions; Production of automobile making components recyclable and reduce of fuel usage; Removal of hydraulic systems. INSET: Raising the standard for forklift trucks - without any....

Focuses on the unprecedented growth in the offshore wind industry in Great Britain. Struggle of the government to meet the target of producing electricity from renewable sources; Operation of windfarms in the waters; Use of a rock socketed monopile foundation for wind turbines. INSET: Arup claims gravity platforms will reduce costs and speed . . ..

Focuses on the use of incinerators to burn household waste in Great Britain. Energy-from-waste schemes; Effect of incineration on climate change; Alternative use of aerobic digester.

Focuses on the environmental awareness of the public and business community in Great Britain. Presentation of energy and material inputs/outputs information; Assessment of business ethics; Incorporation of corporate social responsibility. INSET: Two sustaining publications.

Focuses on the effects of the demand for renewable energy products on solar photovoltaic cell manufacturer Intersolar Group in Great Britain. Government estimates of company worth; Global turnover of the solar market; Products of the company. INSET: Solar energy - shedding light on the manufacturing process.

Reports on the focus of the meeting of the Engineering Alliance Workshop in London, England. Effects of the publication of a green paper on education; Proposals on the ways to raise the standards of engineering education; Elitism of engineers on requiring the brightest students. INSET: How did we get here? A Lesson from history.

Reports on the continuing professional developments for engineers by the Engineering Employers' Federation (EEF) in Great Britain. Support of EEF on online training LearnDirect and mechatronics; Recommendation of the Open University courses for sources of training with flexible training; Subjects incorporated in the engineering courses. INSETS: European funding for IT training;High achievers brush up their business strategy skills.

Focuses on the use of fuel cell energy innovation to supply power homes and council facilities in Surrey town of Woking in Great Britain. Characteristics of the fuel; Advancement of the fuel in Woking community; Application of the fuel. INSET: Pioneering mix of solar, wind and CHP schemes cut consumption....

Examines the technological options enabling coal-fired power stations to clean up their act in Great Britain. Assessment of the increasing number of energy suppliers investing in renewable technologies; Influence of greenhouse gas on climate change; Aim to transform polluters into clean energy sources with no emissions. INSETS: MPs call for cash for demonstration plant;Danish plan to capture carbon.

Examines the process of developing mixed oxide fuel plant by British Nuclear Fuels in Great Britain. Complexities on the process of establishing the plants; Production of mixed uranium and plutonium oxide fuel by the Sellafield Mox Plant; Protests from environmental campaigners against the plants. INSET: Searching for customers.