Please click the link below to read an interesting article on planned diversification within SC Group, published today in Insider Media.
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SC Group Supports Local Community
For many years at Christmas time, an illuminated star shone from the top of St Mary’s church in the centre of Hemyock, which is the neighbouring village to Dunkeswell. Unfortunately for the last four years the star was not used as it had fallen into disrepair. Following fundraising and a successful application for National Lottery funding, a new star was commissioned.
Nick Jones, Director and Founder of SC Group and a resident of Hemyock was approached and kindly accepted the challenge of working from the scaled-down model provided to achieve a design which would be structurally safe and strong enough to stand the worst of the Devon weather. One of SC Group’s Mechanical Design Engineers, Tim Stokes soon had the finished design completed and Development Workshop Technician Luke Ridler offered up his own time to fabricate the whole assembly in aluminium, including a very intricate central node which was the key to the whole construction. Consideration was taken that the star had to be hauled up the church tower in pieces and then assembled in situ for safety reasons. The church tower is 30 m tall and the star adds another 8 m to that.
All components were delivered to deadline for the morning of the 4th Dec, one day before the switch on. The construction was so well designed, constructed and finished that with the assistance of willing muscles heaving on a few ropes, the star was securely in place and assembled by midday. The grand switch-on took place on the night of the 5th December. A ‘Lights Parade’ with lanterns, samba bands and local musicians led a procession of over 1000 people to the church where an illuminated flower ascended to the star, using a block and pulley device. This in turn switched on the six-point 3-dimensional construction, to a great cheer from the crowd.
Nick Jones said: “We’re delighted to help our local community in this way. The star looks simply fantastic at night and is another demonstration of SC Groups capabilities when it comes to solving unique engineering problems in very short timescales. We wish everyone in the local community a very Happy Christmas”!
SUV 600 at Fire Sector Summit
The SUV 600 was promoted at the Fire Sector Summit, which was hosted by the Fire Prevention Authority and held on the 3rd and 4th November at the Fire Services Training College, Moreton-in-Marsh.
Approximately 250 delegates attended, drawn from the Fire Sector Federation, Chief Fire Officers Association, County Fire Authorities, Fire & Rescue Chiefs and related industries.
The SC Innovation stand was situated in the break-out room where delegates gathered to network, so the vehicle was seen and admired by all present.
TV presenter Nick Ross chaired the meeting and, referring to the SUV 600, stated ‘I want one!’
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SC Innovation brand launches at Advanced Engineering delivering high spec equipment for challenging environments
The new SC Innovation brand is being launched at Advanced Engineering to offer cross sector customers high specification equipment for challenging environments and value-added Engineering Services. At the show SC Innovation is highlighting its proven capability on projects ranging from the RNLI Lifeboat Launch & Recovery System to Bloodhound’s high performance all-terrain support vehicles.
SC Innovation is the new brand for delivering engineering solutions to non-defence customers of SC Group, formerly known as Supacat. In September the company rebranded under a new SC identity take the company forward in its expansion into new markets and provide a clear customer focus for its products. The Supacat name remains in place for the company’s defence business.
The company had outgrown its brand by successfully applying its rugged engineering expertise in high mobility vehicles, notably `Jackal` operated by British Forces in Afghanistan, to solving high specification engineering challenges in adjacent sectors. The `springboard` has been the Lifeboat Launch & Recovery System, developed with the RNLI to transport the 18 tonne Shannon Class over the British Isles’ most demanding beaches.
Engineering Services form part of SC Innovation’s offering to customers and the RNLI project demonstrates the company’s comprehensive engineering capabilities; from innovative design to systems integration, modelling, trials and prototype development through to full production.
Also being showcased at Advanced Engineering are the BOLT 2 wave energy converter, which was engineered and built for Fred Olsen and the 6×6 High Mobility Transport support vehicles for The Bloodhound Project. The SMV 24 multi-purpose vessel highlights the company’s fresh thinking and is a new type of flexible support craft conceived to service the marine industry, including offshore wind farms. The first SMV 24 secured James Fisher Marine Services as the launch customer and has since undertaken a wide range of high value maintenance and operational roles.
“Over the last decade the company has become one of the world’s leading companies in developing bespoke handling and support equipment, both mobile and static, to operate in the harshest of environments, from marine to renewables, mineral exploration, oil & gas and emergency service vehicles, where high performance, reliability and safety are paramount”, said Joe Wilcox, Head of SC Innovation.
SC Group Engineering Director, Steve Austen, awarded `Engineer of the Year`
SC Group’s Engineering Director and Chief Engineer, Steve Austen, has been awarded Engineer of the Year in the Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ Wessex Region Engineering Excellence Awards held on 9 October 2015.
Steve was nominated for his work in his former role as Head of Engineering Support at the RNLI in Poole, where he led the team to develop the new Shannon Class Lifeboat and Launch & Recovery System. The latter was jointly developed with Supacat, who recently launched a new SC Group brand family in which SC Innovation is the brand delivering the RNLI project and solutions for non-defence customers.
On his award Steve said, “I’ve been fortunate to lead fantastic teams at the RNLI and now within SC Group to deliver this project. The team behind the Launch & Recovery System will be at next month’s Advanced Engineering show where we are launching the new SC Innovation brand offering engineering equipment design for challenging sectors such as marine, oil & gas, nuclear and renewables. I am honoured to receive this award from the Institution and will continue to support the important role it plays in promoting the relevance of engineering in our daily lives and encouraging young people to select it as a career”.
Congratulating Steve on his award, SC Group Chief Executive, Nick Ames said, “We are very proud of Steve and delighted that his superb project leadership and engineering achievements have been recognised by his peers from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers”.
As part of the Institution’s commitment to improving the world through engineering, the awards celebrated engineering talent from across the region, showcasing the ground-breaking work undertaken by individuals and organisations across multiple industrial sectors.
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SC Rebrand takes Supacat into new era
The high mobility vehicle and engineering firm, Supacat, has rebranded under a new SC identity to take the company forward in its successful expansion into new markets and provide a clear customer focus for the company’s products and capabilities.
The newly formed SC Group comprises four defined businesses. Solidly established in defence, the Supacat name remains in place for the company’s core defence business; SC Innovation is the new brand for all engineering solutions for non-defence customers; Proteum the new brand for the marine products and services company (formerly MDS Marine); and the Blackhill Engineering brand is retained for the large fabrications and associated machining business.
Having successfully outgrown its brand, and whilst retaining its heritage, the new group identity has been created as a platform to allow the company to grow and develop its joint capabilities and bring innovative solutions to its customers across multiple sectors. Over the last decade it has become one of the world’s leading companies in developing equipment for operation in harsh environments in sectors from defence to marine, renewables, mineral exploration, oil & gas and nuclear power sectors, where high performance, reliability and safety are paramount.
The company was founded in 1980 to develop high mobility vehicles for defence and civil customers. In 2011 it established Supacat Pty Ltd in Australia and during 2014 made a series of acquisitions in the commercial marine sector leading to the creation of Proteum based in Hamble, UK. At the end of last year Exeter based heavy fabrication specialist, Blackhill Engineering , was acquired. SC Group, the Supacat defence business and SC Innovation operate from headquarter facilities at Dunkeswell, Devon, UK.
“The SC brand brings together our people, products and services to create an innovative engineering group structure to achieve our 2020 vision of a diversified industrial group offering a one stop shop of engineering processes. I look forward to leading the SC Group into the future and, working with our customers to exceed their expectations. We have a passionate and committed team with the skills, expertise, focus and passion to provide the highest value to our customers with bespoke quality products and services”, said Nick Ames, Chief Executive, SC Group.
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The renamed SC Group comprises:
- Supacat is the refreshed brand retaining the company heritage for the core defence business. Supacat develops and supports high mobility military vehicles such as the HMT Series (e.g. Jackal and Coyote), LRV400 and SPV400 and provides specialist engineering services for defence customers.
- SC Innovation provides engineering solutions to support all non-defence business. SC Innovation incorporates specialist vehicle work with the RNLI and the emergency services together with products and services for challenging sectors such as oil & gas, marine, renewable energy and nuclear. These include the SMV 24 multi-purpose vessel and a wave energy device.
- Proteum is a newly consolidated marine brand within SC Group, formed following the recent acquisition of MDS Marine and Bukh Diesel UK. Proteum represents and distributes a portfolio of marine products and services across UK and Ireland including Bukh, Marine Diesel Sweden, OXE Diesel and Konrad propulsion systems. Proteum also offers global support solutions.
- Blackhill Engineering Services, established over 50 years ago and another recent acquisition of the Group, retains its existing brand. Blackhill Engineering serves current and new customers with an expanded portfolio of machine engineering, large fabrication and complex machine assembly services.
-ends-
For information:
Jamie Clarke
SC Group Ltd
[email protected]
+44 (0)7921 973916
Celia Turner
CTPR
[email protected]
+44(0)7703 344425
SC Innovation Multi-purpose Vessel 24 unveiled to defence and security market
Supacat is unveiling the Supacat Multi-purpose Vessel 24 (SMV24) to the defence and security market at DSEi. Launched to the wider marine and renewable energy sectors in July, the SMV24 is a new concept in support vessel design, which also has the potential to perform a range of defence and security related roles. Its flexibility, high speed and high payload have already attracted interest from potential operators in the sector.
The SMV24 is a fine entry catamaran that can achieve speeds up to 30 knots and has a range up to 790nm. In the present configuration, the 24 metre vessel can carry up to 12 additional passengers and up to 30 tonnes of cargo simultaneously. However, the flexibility of the design allows for adaptation to meet alternative and emerging roles.
The first SMV24 is under construction and will be completed later this year. It was developed by Supacat to support the new generation of far offshore wind farms which require it to operate up to 150 nm from a safe haven.
“Since launching the SMV24 into the marine and renewable energy markets it has generated interest from military users for a number of different roles, hence our decision to exhibit it at DSEi. Supacat has a strong brand in defence, which differentiates our offering in this segment of the market”, said Jamie Clarke, Head of Marketing & Communications.
Supacat has built a global reputation as the developer of high mobility vehicles, such its HMT series – the vehicle of choice for elite special forces and best known as `Jackal` and `Coyote` in service with British Armed Forces. Over the last decade the company has successfully applied the company’s innovation and engineering skills to develop products in the adjacent marine and renewables sectors for customers, including the RNLI and Fred Olsen.
The SMV24’s multi-role performance is based on a revolutionary deck system boasting a through-deck and an integrated rail system running the length of the vessel. This allows a range of equipment for different roles to be installed, such as ISO containers, a deck crane or diving rig. The deck can carry up to 50ft of ISO containers in a variety of 20ft and 10ft sizes.
For the SMV24 project Supacat selected a team with strong pedigrees in the marine sector. Naval architects Incat Crowther translated Supacat’s SMV 24 concept into a detailed design and established boat builder, Mustang Marine (Wales) Ltd, is building the first vessel. DNV advised on classification. The SMV24 will meet DNV 1A1 HSLC R1 Windfarm Service Vessel Class 1 and be UK MCA SCV Code (MGN280) Category 1.
The ISO compatibility of the through deck allows the SMV24 to perform multiple roles including infrastructure support, diving, survey, fuel transport, workshop, refrigeration, general cargo, passenger transport, Remotely Operated Vehicle support by using ISO compatible modular custom loads. The rapid loading of these alternative ISO modules extend the functionality of the SMV 24 further. Interestingly, the inspiration for this functionality came from defence where Supacat has witnessed such modularity in use for military logistic operations.
The SMV24 is a catamaran based design constructed from marine grade aluminium with double bottom to ensure maximum survivability. Two MAN D2862 LE463 engines each coupled to a Servogear Controllable Pitch Propeller give greater control of thrust throughout the rev range and maximise fuel economy. Significant redundancy has been built into the electrical system to fulfil specific customer requirements and the two generators fitted are capable of powering all the vessel systems individually.
At DSEi a 1:25 scale model of the SMV24 can be viewed on Supacat’s stand.
SC Innovation congratulates CRC-ACS on CRC STAR Award
In association with Supacat, the Cooperative Research Centre for Advanced Composite Structures (CRC-ACS) was awarded the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) Star Award for 2013, which recognise excellence in collaboration between CRCs and Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
Supacat, the innovation house and high mobility vehicle specialists, and Pacific ESI, were the two SMEs engaged with CRC-ACS (and its subsidiary ACS Australia) who received certificates in recognition of the companies’ interaction and involvement with the research and government communities. The certificate was presented by Ms Chris Butler, Head of Division, AusIndustry, on behalf of Senator the Hon. Don Farrell, Minister for Science & Research, at the CRC Association Conference’s Excellence in Innovation Awards dinner.
Michael Halloran, Managing Director, Supacat Pty Ltd said, “The involvement with CRCs is an important element of our R&D program and through CRC-ACS we have been able to leverage that research into relationships with significant international companies.”
Thanh Nguyen, who leads Supacat’s participation in CRC-ACS, received the certificate on behalf of the company at the awards dinner. Mr Nguyen said, “Not only has our involvement with CRC-ACS continued to develop our high end skills in CAE dynamic analysis of composites, it has resulted in new engagements in the Oil and Gas and Aerospace industries.”
CRC-ACS is one of only two CRCs to have received a 2013 CRC Star Award. The award was presented to CRC-ACS for its key roles in engaging with SMEs and researchers in driving and delivering innovation.
Supacat Pty Ltd
Supacat is an innovative engineering company specialising in vehicles and complementary machinery. It is a product developer with a broad customer base, providing products and services in the defence, renewables, marine, oil and gas, and mining sectors. It also provides engineering services directly to a range of customers within Australia, Asia and Europe. Its core capabilities include Computer Aided Engineering, mechanical and composite design and prototype development. It also uses its strong project and engineering management capabilities to work with a global network of partners to offer solutions in a wide scope of areas.
CRC-ACS
CRC-ACS embeds Australian Composites Industry SMEs into global supply chains through collaboration in the aerospace, defence, and oil and gas industries. It has a unique model for fostering Australian innovation and building opportunities for SME organisations, and through its subsidiary ACS Australia collaborates with Australian organisations to build international business. Working with CRC-ACS and ACS Australia, Australian SMEs have won design and advanced structure contracts in emerging aerospace markets. Projects have also developed solutions, goods and services for projects as diverse as oil, gas and petrochemical industry fire protection and helicopter safety.
Engineering Education Scheme project
Since October 2011 four year 12 Blundell’s pupils have been working on a for real Engineering problem whilst carrying out their Engineering Education Scheme project. Under this scheme a school team of four is partnered with an Engineering Company. The company sets the pupils a design brief which they must then work on.
The pupils from Blundell’s were Gary Abdoll (Team Leader), Will Muirhead (Report Editor) Tom Golden (in charge of design) and Alex Holme (in charge of the presentation). They met Simon Turner and Nick Baker, Engineers from Supacat at the scheme launch at Plymouth University in October. Supacat are a local company who design impressive world class high mobility vehicles and had been commissioned by the RNLI to design a vehicle to launch their lifeboats, a Launch & Recovery System. The boys were given the brief to design an engine bay handling system for this vehicle. The engine bay plus attachments (weighing approx 2.5 tonnes) would be safely removed and stored exposing the engine for maintenance.
Work on this project took place at school with several meetings with Simon Turner (from Supacat) and Peter Shrubsall (our EES Mentor). There were also visits to Supacat to see the vehicle itself and get an idea of the scale of the task in hand. A residential at Plymouth University in December helped as this gave the team 3 days to concentrate on this project away from their other school work.
A written report of all the designs and research was produced by the team and sent away over the Easter holidays for assessment. On Wednesday the 2nd May the Celebration and Assessment Day took place at Plymouth University. The team gave a 15 minute presentation to a panel of 7 engineers from various industries and were also questioned about their design at their display stand. They achieved their EES certificates for their project and the scheme will help them when applying for University next year as it is widely respected and shows that the pupils were willing to put in that extra effort above and beyond their AS exams. They have learned a huge amount about working in industry but also improved their team work, report writing, planning, timekeeping and presentation skills. I would like to thank all at the EDT for organising this brilliant scheme in the South West and Peter Shrubsall our EES Mentor. Last but not least thank you to Supacat for setting the team’s challenge and particularly Simon Turner for giving freely of his time, expertise and patience.
Jenni Olive
(Teacher Co-ordinator, Blundell’s EES Team)
HRH The Duke of Kent visits Supacat and opens the Ames Building
Today HRH The Duke of Kent visited Supacat, the innovative design house and world leading specialist in high mobility vehicles, at its Dunkeswell, Devon based facility.
During the visit HRH unveiled a plaque and formally opened the new `Ames Building`, which provides a modern, productive office environment for staff. The building is named after Supacat’s Managing Director, Nick Ames, who since joining in 2002, has overseen the company’s expansion and transformation into a Prime Contractor to the UK Ministry of Defence. The Ames Building joins the Clayton and the Jones Buildings, which honour the company’s joint founders, David Clayton and Nick Jones.
The visit was hosted by Nick Jones, and Director and General Manager, Mick Halloran, who gave a presentation to HRH on the company’s current focus.
“We briefed HRH on how we are now supporting a 600 strong military vehicle fleet and on the outstanding reliability and capability `Jackal` and `Coyote` have delivered in theatre in Afghanistan. HRH also heard about our continuing development of the new Supacat Protected Vehicle SPV400 and how we are actively marketing it internationally. We also talked about our diversification into new markets outside defence”, said Mick Halloran.
Supacat has applied its `hostile environment’ engineering skills to win its first contract with a major company in the Oil and Gas sector and its first renewable energy project. The company is developing a wave hub device and proposed a solution for improving safety for maintenance technicians accessing offshore wind turbines.
In a tour of the facility HRH, who is President of the RNLI, had the opportunity to inspect the first pre-production Lifeboat Launch & Recovery System (L&RS). The L&RS has been custom designed by Supacat in association with the RNLI to transport the new class of all-weather lifeboat, currently in development, over some of the UK’s most demanding beaches.
To conclude the visit HRH took a test drive in an HMT400, dubbed `Jackal`, the Supacat designed high mobility patrol vehicle, whose supreme off road performance and speed have been acclaimed by British troops operating in the harsh terrain of Afghanistan. The HMT 400 is also used by numerous Special Forces worldwide.
“The visit by HRH The Duke of Kent has been an honour for Supacat, where everyone has worked hard over recent years to deliver vital equipment to support our Armed Forces. I trust we also demonstrated how innovative and agile companies like Supacat can re-apply their skills to solve diverse engineering challenges, and at a time when it is important to reduce our reliance on defence,” said Nick Jones.