SC Group’s Innovative Engineering Skills Showcased in Vehicle Technology Magazine

SC Innovation has recently been featured in SAE-A VTE Magazine as part of an article showcasing SC Group’s innovative engineering skills.

Please click the thumbnail below to read the full article

SAE_A article July 2017

The article features a case study of the REDFIN project, carried out by our sister company Supacat.

Our grateful thanks to the Society of Automotive Engineers – Australia for permission to add this article. For more information on the SAE-A, please click here.

 

RNLI signs contract with SC Innovation for seven Shannon Launch & Recovery Vehicles

The programme includes two of the original Powered Carriage variants and five of the new Non-Powered Carriage variants and is valued at over £7.5 million. SC Innovation will build the vehicles to meet the RNLI’s schedule requirements at a rate of one to two per year at its facility at Dunkeswell, Devon.  The first is due for delivery in November 2017 and final vehicle completion in 2021.

SC Innovation has already built eight of the twelve SL&RVs delivered to date. The engineering and design services company jointly designed and developed the vehicle with the RNLI Engineering Project Team and was also responsible for the design of the Non-Powered variant, which is currently undergoing prototype trials.

The original variant’s carriage is powered by a four-track-drive system to deliver the exceptional traction needed to negotiate steep gradients and rough shingle. Joe Wilcox, Head of SC Innovation, said, “The new two-track-drive variant has been designed specifically for the RNLI’s less demanding locations to assist the RNLI in delivering optimised capability for the greatest value at lifeboat stations with more benign conditions.”

SC Group wins Made in the South West Award

The judges were impressed by SC Group’s success in winning a £75m plus contract for its military vehicle business, Supacat, from the Australian Government and more recent wins for Norway and New Zealand. SC Group has also developed new business streams, such as its SC Innovation business, in different market sectors including marine and energy.  The privately owned family business employs over 200 people.

SC Group Operations Director, Lizzie Jones, who accepted the award, said, “We are delighted to receive this award which rewards the whole company’s hard work and success producing world beating products”.

 

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RNLI selects SC Innovation to design new variant of Shannon Lifeboat Launch & Recovery System

The carriage is powered by a Four-Track-Drive system from Bosch Rextroth to deliver the exceptional traction for negotiating steep gradients and rough shingle. The new concept is for a `non-powered carriage` variant and the project is being driven by the opportunity to make considerable savings for lifeboat stations with more benign conditions. Subject to successful trials, the implementation of the new variant will substantially reduce the costs of components, production processes and in-service costs.

SC Innovation will perform the detailed design to modify the carriage to non-powered with the work and drawing package due for completion in January 2017. SC Innovation engineers will support the RNLI who will conduct trials of the new variant as well as Bosch  Rexroth on the software trials. All tractors must be compatible for operation with both powered and non-powered carriages and future builds will be for both variants according to the RNLI’s assessment of the station’s ground conditions.

Under the contract SC Innovation will also upgrade the tractor unit of the first pre-production SL&RS, SC-T01, which it delivered to the RNLI in 2011, to production standard for use in-service as a relief vehicle.

Joe Wilcox, Head of SC Innovation said, “We are proud to be collaborating again with the RNLI on the further development of the SL&RS, which we have been supporting throughout the project since we started designing a pre-prototype 14 years ago. It is an essential piece of equipment that has proved itself in service and has also become a showcase for our engineering capabilities in developing bespoke equipment for hostile environments”.

SC Innovation’s engineering capabilities are in mechanical and electrical engineering, structural analysis, structural optimisation, fluid structural simulation and test and validation, including full system prototype build.  The business has an established production capability carrying out low rate, high quality builds. Together with the in-house project management team these capabilities have combined to deliver projects for energy and marine customers, often in partnership with academic and industrial partners.

SC Innovation is exhibiting at Advanced Engineering UK, 2-3 November at the NEC, Birmingham (Stand K32).

SC Innovation joins Somerset Energy Innovation Centre to expand presence in low carbon and nuclear

SC Innovation has joined the Centre to expand its presence in the region’s growing low carbon and nuclear energy sectors through forming new partnerships.  Earlier this year it gained Fit for Nuclear (F4N) status from the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC), positioning SC Innovation to bid for work on Hinkley Point C and other work in the nuclear sector, including decommissioning.

The Centre also offers opportunities for SC Innovation to develop its renewable energy business.  Its expertise includes developing high specification equipment for the marine environment, such as the lifeboat launch and recovery system for the RNLI’s 16 ton Shannon class; translating concepts into products for wave and tidal energy for Fred Olsen on the BOLT 2 wave energy device and the Whatever Input to Torsion Transfer (WITT) renewable energy device; and conceiving the SMV24 multi-purpose support vessel to support offshore wind farms.

The Centre offers flexible offices and meeting spaces and is owned by Somerset County Council and part funded by the European Regional Development Fund. It is managed by Business West, Somerset Chamber of Commerce and SWMAS, who run the Centre as well as providing advice and practical support.  Tenants benefit from access to a wide range of business support programmes and expertise including the co-located Hinkley Supply Chain Team. SWMAS advises manufacturers in the South West of England and has supported more than 2000 local businesses. SWMAS has supported SC Group businesses Supacat, SC Innovation and Blackhill Engineering through training workshops, manufacturing diagnostics and accessing new markets, including through the F4N programme.

“Being at the SEIC is a strategic move for SC Innovation to grow our energy business and take advantage of the exciting and collaborative opportunities opening up to companies in the South West”, said Joe Wilcox, Head of SC Innovation.  “We also value SWMAS’s role as they     understand what support companies need to develop strategic growth plans and access new markets”.

Nick Golding, Supply Chain Manager at SWMAS said “We are extremely pleased to welcome SC Innovation to the Centre and to have the opportunity to support our tenants to form new collaborations and access new business opportunities. A key part of this support will be through our newly formed Low Carbon Energy Network which is open to all interested companies to help them make new connections with like-minded companies and access business support. We offer a unique opportunity as SWMAS are working in partnership with the Hinkley Supply Chain Team and Nuclear South West”.

SC Innovation is the brand for delivering engineering solutions to the energy, marine and specialist vehicles sectors of SC Group. In September 2015 the company rebranded under a new SC identity to take it forward in its expansion into new markets and provide a clear customer focus for its products.

SC Innovation seeks collaborative opportunities with international suppliers for Hinkley Point C in WNE debut

SC Innovation is Fit for Nuclear (F4N) accredited by The Nuclear Advance Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC) and is also the first South West England based engineering business to open an office in the Somerset Energy Innovation Centre (SEIC).  The centre has been established to create collaborative opportunities for prospective Hinkley Point C contractors to engage with local and regional companies.

“SC Innovation can offer a flexible range of attractive opportunities to potential partners.  We can offer workshop facilities and capabilities including subassembly, testing, verification and validation acceptance testing as well as documentation management.  We can also project manage the local supply chain where they can benefit from our access to over 2000 suppliers in the south west region”, said Joe Wilcox, Head of SC Innovation.  “One of our core competencies is delivering engineering projects in sectors which demand a high level of compliance with strict regulatory and technical standards, as evidenced by our F4N status”, said Joe Wilcox, Head of SC Innovation.

SC Innovation’s engineering capabilities are in mechanical and electrical engineering, structural analysis, structural optimisation, fluid structural simulation and test and validation, including full system prototype build.   The business has an established production capability carrying out low rate, high quality builds.  Together with the in-house project management team these capabilities have combined to deliver projects for energy and marine customers, often in partnership with academic and industrial partners.

SC Innovation main business is in developing customised solutions to operational problems or applying its comprehensive engineering capability to turn a customer’s concept into a fully engineered product, optimised for both value and performance.  It specialises in mobile or static handling and support equipment for operation in hostile environments.

Previous projects include developing the first ATEX 2 compliant Protected Transit Vehicle (PTV) for the Oil & Gas sector to protect workers in hazardous explosive and toxic environments; joint development and build of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute’s Lifeboat Launch & Recovery System for the Shannon Class; a 6×6 Specialist Utility Vehicle (SUV600) for emergency services and utilities, customised from a production standard 4×4 Land Rover Discovery; and designing and building the BOLT 2 `Lifesaver` wave energy converter for Fred Olsen.

SC Innovation is the brand for delivering engineering solutions to the energy, marine and specialist vehicles sectors of SC Group.  In September 2015 the company rebranded under a new SC identity to take it forward in its expansion into new markets and provide a clear customer focus for its products.

James Fisher Marine Services, in partnership with SC Innovation, takes Dart Fisher to Seawork

James Fisher Marine Services (JFMS) and SC Innovation are demonstrating the specialist offshore support vessel, Dart Fisher, for the first time at Seawork International – 14-16 June – to highlight the vessel’s operational capabilities and high carrying capacity.

Dart Fisher, berthed at VB22, will be displaying a Falcon ROV on deck, as well as a full unexploded ordnance (UXO) mitigation capability including the innovative Barracuda explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) system, along with inert mine targets on display. UXO demonstrations are at 11am daily – book now to secure your place onboard!

Dart Fisher is an SMV 24 multi-role vessel designed by SC Innovation and creates a new benchmark in offshore support.  SC Innovation is a design and engineering services firm that specialises in developing and customising equipment for harsh environments including the marine and energy sectors.

JFMS has also been accepted into Seawork’s innovation showcase and award for its Offshore Wind Management System (OWMS)™ which provides full operational insight to enable enhanced decision making for offshore activities delivering powerful results: greater operational efficiency and cost-reduction. Come and find out about OWMS™ at the showcase stand and the innovation award will be announced at Seawork’s Awards & Networking event on Tuesday 14 June.

A number of other James Fisher group companies will also be exhibiting at the event, with Fendercare and Strainstall exhibiting their respective marine products and load monitoring solutions at stand PG46.

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SC Innovation announces `Fit for Nuclear` status at All Energy 2016

SC Innovation, part of the SC Group, has been granted Fit for Nuclear (F4N) status by The Nuclear Advance Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC).   The F4N programme has been developed by the NAMRC and supported by partners including Areva and EDF Energy to assess a company’s standards against those demanded by the nuclear industry.

F4N forms part of a drive to introduce innovation into the UK nuclear industry and expand the local supply chain to support the Hinkley Point C project, particularly in the South West where SC Innovation is based.  In addition to its design, modelling, simulation and analysis capabilities, the company brings world leading expertise in bespoke mobile and static handling and support equipment, designed for the harshest environments where high performance, reliability and safety are paramount.   Its products have been applied across the renewables, oil & gas, marine, mineral exploration and emergency service vehicle sectors.

“Being granted F4N status reinforces SC Innovation’s credentials for nuclear engineering work and is key to positioning the business for working in the civil nuclear sector, particularly given our geographical proximity to the Hinkley Point C programme”,  said Joe Wilcox, Head of SC Innovation.

SC Innovation is exhibiting at All Energy, 4th – 5th May 2016 as part of the Nuclear South West stand (N38).  It is showcasing its design and engineering services, proven on projects including the RNLI Lifeboat Launch & Recovery System developed for the new 18 ton Shannon Class, to the BOLT 2 Wave Energy Device and SMV 24 Multi-purpose support vessel.

The company is also a member of the `National Skills Academy Nuclear Manufacturing` and the `Nuclear Industry Association

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