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.

It is a busy week for SC Group with Supacat exhibiting at Eurosatory in Paris, and Proteum and SC Innovation both exhibiting at Seawork in Southampton.  There is still time to visit our stands, to meet our teams and find out what is new.

A few pictures here, please click to enlarge:

 

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.

 

 

Marine products specialist, Proteum, has announced it has signed a UK & Ireland distributorship with the US engine manufacturer, Cummins, for its QSB engine range.

The new deal means Proteum can offer the combined sterndrive propulsion package pairing Cummins QSB with Konrad Marine’s 660 and 680 sterndrives, building on Proteum’s longstanding distributorship for Konrad Marine.  The package offers the power, speed, and efficiency required for military patrol vessels and for commercial workboats.

Jeremy Paul, General Manager of Proteum, said, “This makes Proteum a one-stop-shop for the Cummins-Konrad package, which offers significant benefits to UK based customers.  Cummins is a further `blue-chip` addition to our growing portfolio of engine and drive products and comes just a month after securing The Moteurs Baudoin distributorship”.

Proteum, which operates from sites in Poole and Hamble, has offers complete powertrain solutions, providing sales, commissioning, technical support, spares and servicing as well as service maintenance agreements and training.

Proteum collaborates with Cheetah Marine on first OXE Diesel demo boat for Seawork

Proteum, the UK & Ireland distributor for OXE Diesel, will have the first OXE Diesel demo boat available for trials at this year’s Seawork, a twin powered Cheetah Marine 10m catamaran.  OXE, which is the first commercially available high horsepower diesel outboard engine, was launched at last year’s Seawork onto the UK market.  The first unit entered service early this year with Marine Harvest Scotland following a successful 5 month trial at a Hebrides salmon farm.  From August the first production units will be available for customer delivery from Proteum.

The 200HP OXE is the first diesel outboard to offer the range and performance required by the military and commercial marine sector to operate in extreme environments.  As a diesel OXE offers low fuel consumption, low maintenance and longer service life, in addition to the logistic benefits of diesel being able to be safely stored above ground.  This is a particular advantage in remote areas where petrol is expensive and difficult to access.  Potential applications are seen as coastal fishing, aquaculture, ferry operations, survey work, emergency services, EEZ protection and other security related operations.

Supacat’s all-new LRV400 Mk2 light reconnaissance vehicle, designed as a high performance off-road vehicle for rapid intervention operations in harsh environments by special forces, border patrol or strike forces, is being launched onto the EMEA market at Eurosatory, 13-17 June 2016 in Paris.

LRV400 Mk2 will be displayed on the Supacat stand alongside its larger HMT 400 stablemate `Jackal`,  the vehicle chosen by the world’s elite special forces, most recently by Norway, and currently in production for Australia’s Redfin 1B programme.

LRV400 Mk2 is a highly versatile tactical capability for special forces; it can be transported inside a CH-47 Chinook fully equipped and loaded, making it immediately deployable.  Also it has the unique feature of being convertible from 4×4 to 6×6 to provide a flexible alternative configuration that increases payload, capacity and range to meet different operational requirements.

“LRV400 Mk2 is the first reconnaissance vehicle to give the user the ability to deploy from a Chinook in full operational readiness.  Coming from the Supacat stable, LRV400 offers a scaled down version of `Jackal` with its acclaimed all terrain tactical performance in all environments”, said Phil Applegarth, Head of Supacat, part of the SC Group.

Supacat designed the LRV400 Mk2 to fill the gap in the market for an agile off-road vehicle sized between its HMT Series (GVW 7600kg) and quad bikes.  It carries a crew of 3 or 4 supported by an operational payload of 1700kg with a GVW of 4200kg.  It can achieve speeds of up to 100mph/160km and operate up to 800km from the point of insertion, offering special forces a true long range capability.

Having launched and proved the concept in 2012, Supacat evolved the design to develop the LRV400 Mk 2.  The significant design change is a move to a well-known, mass produced base automotive platform, adapted by Supacat for specialist military applications.  The automotive platform delivers proven performance, reliability and cost efficiencies to the LRV 400 Mk2.  In addition, the vehicle is ITAR free and can be supported via the existing globally available spares network enhanced by Supacat’s established military vehicle through life support service.

The LRV400 Mk2 has been developed with a common user interface to its HMT `big brother` to maximise inter-operability and minimise training.  A variety of lightweight armour solutions, weapons and communications systems can be fitted to meet each customer’s requirements offering a multi-role capability.

It has front and rear independent double wishbone air suspension offering variable ride height and lock out – bump stops for stable firing and high power to weight ratio.  Powered by a V6 3.0 turbo diesel providing 256 bhp and 600Nm Torque, it has an 8 speed automatic transmission and high and low permanent 4WD with centre diff lock. Cross-axle diff locks are also available as an option.

Proteum, which operates from sites in Poole and Hamble, offers complete powertrain solutions, providing sales, commissioning, technical support, spares and servicing as well as service maintenance agreements and training.

Jeremy Paul, General Manager of Proteum, said, “The Moteurs Baudouin distributorship is a blue chip addition to our growing portfolio of marine propulsion products in the commercial marine sector where we provide a one-stop-shop in both the inboard and outboard propulsion markets”.

Moteurs Baudouin Products include 6 cylinder, V8 and V12 engines which are available at intermittent, continuous and unrestricted ratings. The current range offers power settings from 185hp (136kW) to 1650hp (1214kW) that comply with the latest environmental standards. The company is now part of the Weichai Power Company and continues to develop new products that offer exceptional reliability and low through life costs.

To find out more see https://proteum.co.uk/partners/moteurs-baudouin/

 

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

Encouraging its engineers to attain Chartered Engineer status through the IMechE is playing an important role in SC Group’s successful diversification strategy into new sectors was the message to the President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), Prof Richard Folkson, in a visit to the Devon based design and engineering firm yesterday.   Today nearly half the Group’s UK based 30 strong engineering team have Chartered status or are undergoing sponsored registration with the IMechE.  Five years ago there were two.

“Being registered as a Chartered Engineer with the IMechE is an internationally recognised accreditation which is respected across multiple industry sectors.  It provides our new and existing customers with assurance of our high level of professional competency and compliance”, said Steve Austen, FIMechEng, Engineering Director of SC Group and the IMechE Wessex region’s `Engineer of the Year`.

Prof Richard Folkson, President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, said:

“I am delighted to have the opportunity to meet with the hugely talented engineers at SC Group and to witness some of the cutting-edge innovations the company is developing.

SC Group is a UK manufacturing success story. The equipment and vehicles they are developing are integral to the work of the army, as well as lifeboat rescue teams, and show just how important it is for the UK to have a vibrant and skilled engineering workforce”.

Last year the company rebranded under a new SC Group identity comprising four distinct businesses: Supacat continues as the brand for its core military vehicle business; SC Innovation offers engineering equipment design for diversified sectors such as marine, oil & gas, nuclear and renewables; Proteum for the marine products and services; and Blackhill Engineering brings large fabrication and associated machining.

The President visited the Design Office to meet with the engineering team and then toured the workshops where he inspected Supacat’s new Lightweight Reconnaissance Vehicle (LRV400) and SC Innovation’s Lifeboat Launch & Recovery System developed with the RNLI.   The visit concluded at the Test Track where Richard Folkson, a former Chief Engineer for Ford UK, and the IMechE delegation got the chance to test drive the acclaimed `Jackal` and other high mobility vehicles, for which the company is renowned.

Richard Folkson was accompanied on the visit by Ian Parsons, IMechE Western Region Chairman; John Earp, IMechE Devon & Somerset Area Chairman Alan King, IMechE Business Development Manager and Jill Dwyer, IMechE Business Development Executive.

Click here to visit the IMechE website:

https://www.imeche.org/news/news-article/chartered-engineer-registrations-supports-sc-group-expansion-into-new-markets-hears-imeche-president-in-visit-to-devon-engineering-group

 

Ellen Rodger has joined SC Innovation to lead business development and strategic growth in the Energy sector for the Devon based Design and Engineering firm. Her role is to build strong relationships with new and existing customers for the company’s innovative engineering and design solutions for the renewables, nuclear and oil & gas sectors.

Ellen joins from Exeter based renewable energy company, Sungift Solar, where she spent eight years as a Senior Manager and Director. During this time she oversaw the growth of the company to a £10million+ turnover business. In 2013 she won the South West IOD Young Director of the Year award and in 2015 the South West Inspirational Woman of the Year Venus award.  In her spare time she is a volunteer Watch Leader for the Tall Ships Youth Trust.

“We are delighted to welcome someone of Ellen’s calibre to SC Innovation where her Energy sector experience and impressive track record in growing new business will be invaluable in driving forward our expansion into new markets”, said Joe Wilcox, Head of SC Innovation.

Over the last decade the company has become a world leader in developing bespoke handling and support equipment to operate in harsh environments and has recently been granted Fit for Nuclear status by the NAMRC. Projects include developing the Shannon Class Lifeboat Launch System with the RNLI, the SMV24 Multi-purpose vessel, a vehicle for protecting crew operating in hazardous Oil & Gas fields and building the BOLT 2 Wave Energy Converter for Fred Olsen.