Latest Insights from the EngX Community

  • Brownfield Automation: How Do You Automate a Factory That Was Never Designed to Be Automated?

    Manufacturers are being encouraged to embrace connected, intelligent and increasingly autonomous production. Yet much of the world’s manufacturing capacity was installed long before those concepts existed. The challenge is therefore not simply how to build the factory of the future, but how to create it from the factory that already exists. The factory of the future may already have been built Walk through almost any long-established manufacturing facility and the reason quickly becomes apparent. A recently installed robotic cell may sit alongside a twenty-year-old CNC machining centre. Further down the line may be equipment controlled by an older PLC, a standalone inspection machine and processes that still depend heavily on manual intervention. These assets were installed at different…

  • Celebrating Excellence: Dr Walter Green Receives the Prestigious James N Kirby Award

    Engineering is often described as a profession built on innovation, problem-solving and a commitment to creating a better future. It is also a profession shaped by the people who dedicate their careers to advancing knowledge, supporting others and sharing expertise. For these reasons, it is particularly fitting to celebrate the achievements of Dr Walter Green FIET , who was recently presented with the prestigious James N Kirby Award, one of the highest honours awarded by the IET in the Australasian region. The award was presented on 2 July 2026 during a special technical event in Perth, Western Australia, hosted by the IET Western Australia Local Network Committee. The James N Kirby Award recognises individuals who have achieved outstanding eminence, distinction and public recognition within…

  • Risks to humans from advanced humanoid robots and AGI within an AI integrated battle group

    Am I a fantasist or am I looking into the future and seeing a possible threat to humanity? I recently enjoyed a night in front of the television, watching Arnold Schwarzenegger's ‘The Terminator’ and my thoughts started to wonder about life in the future and could the rise in technology actually be a threat to humanity. Then came my viewing on the internet of the recent robotic Olympics in China where humanoid robots competed in athletic events, and the constant technical media coverage of the ever-increasing evolution of AGI. The result was that I am becoming increasingly concerned for our species. Advanced autonomous humanoid robots and AI systems with Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) used within an AI-integrated military battle group possess physical capabilities and search, recognise…

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Latest IET EngX News

  • From Industrial Waste to World Cup Audiences: August on EngX

    August brought another diverse mix of ideas, experiences and thought‑provoking discussions to the EngX community. Last month’s highlights ranged from rethinking industrial waste and exploring the future of broadcasting to examining how engineers can turn insight into action on complex projects. Alongside these blogs, members continued to share expertise across the forums, tackling topics from renewable energy and EV infrastructure to AI and the future of engineering practice. Together, they showcase the breadth of knowledge and curiosity that makes EngX such a valuable place to learn, connect and collaborate. Blogs worth a read Industrial Waste Passports: can better data unlock a circular future? What if we treated waste as the start of a new value chain rather than the end of an old…

  • Curiosity, AI and the Future of Engineering - July's Highlights on EngX

    July on EngX was packed with thought‑provoking ideas, career reflections and practical engineering conversations. From exploring the decision‑making challenges behind artificial intelligence to rethinking how we design workplaces and infrastructure, the community shared a wide range of perspectives on how engineering continues to evolve. Alongside these future‑focused topics, personal career stories and lively forum discussions reminded us that some of the most valuable insights come from sharing experiences with one another. Here's a look at some of the content that stood out this month. Blogs worth a read Dead on Arrival: Why fresh produce needs a digital brain, not just a GPS This fascinating blog explored how digital twins, IoT sensors and predictive AI could help tackle one of…

  • June Highlights on EngX: Digital twins, decarbonisation and community conversations

    June on EngX brought together a fascinating mix of future-focused thinking, practical engineering challenges and inspiring community stories. From exploring how digital twins are transforming decision-making across industries to tackling the realities of decarbonising energy-intensive sectors, members continued to share insight, experience and expertise. Alongside these technical discussions, stories celebrating engineering talent, STEM education and inclusion helped showcase the people driving our profession forward. Here’s a look at some of the content that stood out this month. Blogs worth a read Digital twins in motion: why a multi-disciplinary debate matters now Digital twins have rapidly evolved from an emerging concept into a practical engineering tool, and this blog explored…

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Latest Partner News

  • Josie Harries discusses how Domino is working to increase support for women in the workplace

    Encouraging women to choose careers in STEM subjects has been top of the agenda for many years – but what fresh ideas can you introduce within the workplace to attract and support female employees? At Domino, we are committed to improving the gender ratio in leadership roles within a business to 40% by 2030. This target, endorsed from Board level down, now stands at 25%, from a starting figure of 18%. Support networks Recently we re-launched our Women@Domino global network to promote inclusion within the business and facilitate the sharing of ideas and experiences, as well as networking, mentoring, events and training. Gender was also one of three key areas in our new Inclusion & Diversity strategy. The network is not limited to female employees; male colleagues are encouraged to participate…

  • Road to Engineering event introduces children to the world of engineering

    BAE System's Submarines Academy for Skills and Knowledge (SASK), Barrow-in-Furness successfully hosted the 6th Road to Engineering event which took place over three action-packed days. Over 200 children from the Furness area participated in the event which aims to inspire future careers in Engineering. This year's theme was 'Adapt and Change' following the British Science week theme. Supporting the event were the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, Barrow District of Associate Engineers and the Royal Institute of Naval Architects who contributed valuable insight, merchandise and STEM packs for schools. Stephen Rowe, Project Director of Engineering Transformation said, "It was a privilege to attend the Road to Engineering event and…

  • H&MV Engineering appointed as principal designer and contractor for the Thorpe Marsh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)

    H&MV Engineering has been appointed as principal designer and contractor for the delivery of the 400 kV grid connection and electrical infrastructure for the Thorpe Marsh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) – the largest of its kind in the UK and among the largest in Europe. This landmark project, led by Fidra Energy and backed by major investment from EIG and the UK Government’s National Wealth Fund (NWF), has now reached financial close with construction commencing immediately. Located on the site of the former Thorpe Marsh coal-fired power station in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, the 1,400MW / 3,100MWh facility will be capable of exporting over 2 million MWh annually, supplying clean energy to approximately 785,000 homes. Once operational in mid-2027, it will be three times larger than…

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Latest articles from E+T Magazine

  • Samsung invests $100m in nuclear reactors to power Google’s AI data centres

    Samsung C&T is investing up to $100m in US nuclear start-up Kairos Power to develop small modular reactors (SMR) destined to power Google's AI data centres. In 2024, Google signed a deal with Kairos to develop a fleet of SMRs capable of generating 500MW of nuclear power by 2035. These reactors will inject clean electricity directly into the local grids that supply Google’s energy-hungry data infrastructure. The start-up is developing a type of SMR called a fluoride salt-cooled, high-temperature reactor (KP-FHR). Unlike traditional nuclear plants that rely on high-pressure water as a coolant, the KP-FHR combines “meltdown-proof” TRISO fuel with a low-pressure molten fluoride salt coolant, which supposedly limits the risk of high-pressure blowouts. The modular, compact design also supports…

  • Cutting aircraft contrails could delay aviation warming by 10 years, study finds

    Reducing the formation of aircraft contrails in the sky could delay aviation-related climate heating by up to a decade, a report by Transport and Environment (T&E) has said. Condensation trails, or contrails, form when water vapour from an aircraft’s exhaust mixes with very cold air in the upper atmosphere. Under the right atmospheric conditions, the water vapour freezes into tiny ice crystals, creating a visible cloud-like trail. When these trails persist, they develop into clouds that trap heat radiating from the Earth, and so contribute to overall climate warming. Trying to ensure that aircraft can avoid the areas where contrails are more likely to form could help make air travel more sustainable. Aviation’s contribution to global warming could reach 0.08°C in 2050 rather than in 2040…

  • Enhanced wave farm design could harness 95% of ocean energy

    The strategic arrangement of wave-energy buoys within a wave farm could vastly improve their ability to harness energy from ocean swell, according to a new study. Ocean waves contain an enormous amount of energy. Floating buoys, some as big as a small house, have the potential to harness the motion of the waves to generate vast amounts of electricity. However, deep sea deployment of these arrays is challenging, with their performance affected by the variable nature of ocean waves. Researchers from the Universities of Augsburg, Adelaide, and Melbourne believe they have designed a solution to increase their efficiency. Using computer simulations, they fine-tuned the interaction between buoys to maximise the energy yield of a wave farm. The concept behind wave energy devices is relatively…

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