The Michelin Group has signed a four-year agreement that makes Rockwell Automation its preferred partner for supplying industrial automation and controls to all of its world-leading tyre manufacturer's factories worldwide.

The agreement includes the supply of Rockwell Automation products and services to Michelin Group factories around the world; the undertaking of projects by Rockwell Automation on behalf of Michelin, such as complete turnkey projects; the manufacturing of electrical enclosures; and the extension of Rockwell Automation training services, support and repair to Michelin installations around the world.

The government has launched its public consultation on Part P of the Building Regulations for England, which covers electrical safety in dwellings.

“We welcome the indication that the government is inclined to amend Part P, rather than remove it”, explained Phil Buckle, director general of the Electrical Safety Council (ESC). “However, we still have concerns regarding the extent and impact of proposed changes and we urge people to take part in this consultation”.

ABB has been awarded a major contract by energy company E.ON to supply the HV installation for a biomass-fired renewable energy plant under construction at Blackburn Meadows, near Sheffield.

The £120m renewable energy plant will be set near the site of the old Tinsley Towers, adjacent to Meadowhall, and when operational (in mid-2014) will generate up to 30 MW, enough to power 40,000 homes, by converting recycled waste wood into electricity.

Nexeon has been given two major accolades at this year’s Rushlight Awards, including the overall Clean Energy Award. This award recognises the progress made by Nexeon in developing silicon-based anodes for next generation lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries.

Nexeon also won the Powered Transport Award – given for the most significant advancement leading to commercial development of cleaner transport and a significantly improved embedded environmental footprint.

Stephen Tetlow, chief executive of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, has issued a response to the government's announcement it would be downgrading more than 3,000 vocational qualifications:

"It is welcome that engineering diplomas will still count towards GCSE league tables, but worrying that they will be downgraded to count for just one GCSE instead of five.

"An engineering diploma takes about 20 hours study time a week so this downgrade will deter schools from offering this subject.

"It is vital that we encourage more young engineering talent in this country but this decision does the reverse. Government must either urgently reassess this decision or say what it is going to do to instead put engineering back on the map in schools."

The government is to invest up to £2m to stimulate and support technological innovation by the UK’s small and micro businesses.

The Technology Strategy Board www.innovateuk.org aims to stimulate innovation across a range of core technology areas to help ensure that small and micro businesses in the UK are well-equipped to respond to society’s current and future challenges.  Up to £2m will be invested in feasibility studies through grants of up to £25,000.

The funding competition will focus on feasibility studies in four technology areas:
Advanced materials and nanoscale technologies
Biosciences
Electronics, photonics and electrical systems
Information and communications technology
The competition, which is open only to small and micro sized companies, opens on 12 March 2012 and applications must be submitted by 11 April 2012.

For further information about the competition please visit: TechInsp competition

Companies looking for partners for their proposed project are encouraged to go to www.innovateuk.org/connect to find collaborators and networks.