Abstracts

Robotic disassembly research at the University of Birmingham

The presentation will focus on our Autonomous Remanufacturing (AutoReman) project funded by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. The aim of this ongoing work is to develop an understanding of disassembly, the first operation in remanufacturing, and to design techniques and systems for robots to perform disassembly tasks autonomously or in collaboration with human operators.  The presentation will outline the different strands of the project and some of the results obtained.

Automatization and Mechanization in Engine Remanufacturing

Automatization and mechanization in engine remanufacturing will be needed in the future to comply new legislation requirements for combustion engines. New combustion engine design reaches less emissions with very precise and narrow tolerance production process and automatized in process quality management. Automatized testing at the end of the line (cold test) replaces the hot test in separate test cell with running engines. These new technologies can also be applied in the final assembly during the engine remanufacturing process.

People Involved

Duc Pham

Duc Pham, University of Birmingham

Duc Pham holds the Chance Chair of Engineering at the University of Birmingham where he started his career as a lecturer in robotics and control engineering following undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand.  Prior to returning to Birmingham in 2011, he was Professor of Computer-Controlled Manufacture and Director of the Manufacturing Engineering Centre at Cardiff University.  His research is in the areas of intelligent systems, robotics and autonomous systems and advanced manufacturing technology.

Mike Hague-Morgen

Mike Hague-Morgan, Autocraft Solutions Group Ltd.

Michael Hague-Morgan is a co-owner of Autocraft Solutions Group Ltd which is a group of UK based manufacturing companies with sites in Grantham, Wellingborough and Birmingham. Autocraft Drivetrain Solutions in Grantham is Europe’s largest independent engine remanufacturer and supports leading automotive brands such as Jaguar Land Rover, Ford, Volvo, Aston Martin and JCB on a global basis by providing them with new and remanufactured engine assemblies and related powertrain engineering services. The sites at Wellingborough (Autocraft Machining Solutions) and Birmingham (Vertex Engineering Solutions) offer complex machined components, tooling and prototypes to a wide range of industries.

A keen “petrol head”, Mike followed his hobby of rebuilding old Land Rovers into a BEng Mechanical Engineering degree at Cardiff University. Having initially started his career at Ford, Mike moved into the automotive tier 1 supply base working in the casting, forging and machining sector where he had roles in operations, engineering and sales at sites across the UK.

Mike was appointed Commercial Director of Autocraft in 2008, with a brief to turn the loss-making company around. This led to the MBO of the company from the US parent and Mike becoming a 45% shareholder. Since then Autocraft has grown from £8m to £30m turnover. In doing so, the company workforce has grown from 98 to over 200 people.

He is a keen supporter of developing engineering talent and champions the use of new technology in manufacturing businesses. Autocraft has been early adopters of Industry 4.0 technology which has radically improved the quality of products produced and the efficiency of processes to make them. This is despite Autocraft being an SME and having low volume and traditional “hand built” engine assembly processes. He is Regional Vice Chair of Make UK for the East Midlands, a Non-Exec Manufacturing Board Member of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, Board Member of the SMMT and Chair of their Automotive Components Section. Mike also regularly supports Innovate UK, APC and KTN Workshops to promote Engineering, Manufacturing, Remanufacturing and the Circular Economy in the UK.

Clemens Ortgies

Clemens Ortgies, FIRM

Clemes Ortgies is the current president of FIRM (The European Federation of Engine Remanufacturers) and also a Sales & Service Manager at Yunchai Engines.
He formerly was a Managing Director at BU Bücker & Essling and has over 30 years of experience in internal combustion engine businesses.

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