Welcome to the Midland Region
Our aim is to promote and raise awareness of Mechanical Engineering in the Midlands, and to provide local contact with members.
We strive to ensure that the interests of all members are met through a wide range of lectures, visits and events organised across the Region, from Shropshire to Warwickshire, and Worcestershire to Staffordshire.
There are 5 Area committees and 4 Young Member committees that organise these activities.
They are always keen to hear from members who wish to join them, and you can see the details of committees and their activities on the appropriate 'Near You' web pages.
Rod Dawes
Chairman
11 March 2010 | 19:00 - 21:00
The operation of passenger services on the Stourbridge Town branch using Parry People Movers railcars – first as an experimental operation in 2005-06, then in 2009 as a full service – represents a kind of revolution on the railways. Some said it that lightweight rail could never be permitted to operate on any Network Rail routes, that the technology was ‘a solution looking for a problem’, while even the Hatfield crash succeeded in holding up trials. But with passenger-carrying service achieved, it is time to review the past and look forward to the future for Parry People Movers: an energy-efficient solution to very real local transport challenges.
12 March 2010 | 19:15 - 21:00
The AGV is a project which is 100% Alstom. This train of the future was conceived, designed, developed and financed completely within the company. For five years, 160 Alstom engineers and researchers have worked on the project, using all of Alstom Transport’s ‘Centres of excellence’ and was involved in achieving a world record breaking speed of 574.8 km/h (that’s 350mph!).
16 March 2010 | 18:00 - 20:00
A talk by Brian Acford - To many people in the UK, when British Railways retired its last steam locomotive in 1968 that was the end of the chapter for the steam locomtive and maybe their interest has only been re-awakened by the recent inauguration of A1 class 'Tornado'.
However, around the world, state railways continued to build new steam locomotives into the 1980's and operate them until 2005.
This was also accompanied by attempts to develop / rebuild the genus to improve technical and operational efficiency.
Bryan Acford CEng MIMechE is an IT specialist working for Alstom in Rugby.
Over the past 30 years his spare time has been spent travelling around the world observing and photographing the final chapters of Steam Railways in many countries.
His illustrated talk will range across the final chapter of steam locomotives in terms of their construction, operation and development, including the final main-line steam operated railway which was opened in China in 1995
17 March 2010 | 19:00 - 21:00
Who’s looking after your career? If it is anyone other than you have you assessed the risk? In today’s business climate few companies are prepared to invest in the career development of their people unless they see a clear advantage from doing so. Even if your employer is prepared to invest in your career it still makes sense to be proactive and ensure it is going in the direction you wish it to go rather than leave it to others to make those decisions. If there are no processes for supporting your career development then you owe it to yourself and your family (assuming you have one) to take responsibility for your career.
This seminar is designed to help you in the process of managing your career. Eric Hogg has a wealth of experience in career management and transition and will pass on practical tips for managing your own career based on his experience and that of the people he has supported over a period of years. By following a simple twelve step approach, Eric will show you how to prepare for risk, take control of your career and develop a strategy to maximise your chances of success in these difficult times.
17 March 2010 | 19:00 - 21:00
RESCHEDULED FROM 18TH FEBRUARY This lecture, by former Renault Engines Chief Engineer Jon Hilton, looks at the demands of Formula One for rapid product introduction and how the methodologies required can be applied to other areas of engineering.
19 March 2010 | 19:00 - 21:00
Have you ever had a hankering for a hybrid? Not fancy paying those expensive dealership prices? This could be the lecture for you!
The Wolverhampton Young Members Panel are proud to present Trevor Bartlett. An amateur experimenter, who has performed investigations into the potential for using excess, car-generated, ampage to supplement vehicle fuel with HHO gas. On Friday the 19th March 2010 he will be giving a lecture about the story so far, his triumphs and his failures, and most importantly, he will be bringing his latest invention, the BART4, to demonstrate the theory in action!
So if you’re interested in this new and exciting technology, or are just interested in saving a few pence on petrol, come along on the 19th around 19:00.
We look forwards to seeing you there.
26 March 2010 | 12:30 - 16:00
The Wolverhampton IMechE Young Members panel have arranged and organised a technical visit to Goodrich Actuation Systems (GAS) for the students of Wolverhampton University. GAS is a global supplier of aircraft flight control systems providing fully engineered solutions for both primary and secondary flight control systems. These include, but are by no means limited to, Slat/Flap actuation and engine nacelle actuation i.e. thrust reversers. GAS is generously providing a series of presentations about the engineering process, a site tour, an engineering workshop in lean tools and finally an informal Q&A session. This event has been arranged for the purpose of giving undergraduate engineers a chance to gain an insight to the world of professional engineering.
30 March 2010 | 18:00 - 20:00
A talk by Steve Gasser, Business Development Manager, IMechE
30 March 2010 | 18:15 - 19:15
Our area AGM will be held immediately prior to the evening's presentation. Do please try to attend as it is an opportunity to air your views on how we are running things, make suggestions for programme events and elect your committe. Your input is important and most welcome. Refreshments will be available.
30 March 2010 | 19:15 - 21:00
An insight into current projects being undertaken at the RAF museum, Cosford, covering the challanges of preserving ageing iconic aircraft.
16 April 2010 | 18:30 - 23:45
We are pleased to announce that the Midlands Engineering Dinner, an annual event jointly hosted by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Institute of Engineering and Technology, will take place on the evening of Friday 16th April at the ICC Birmingham.
This event is one of the most prestigious events in the engineering calendar and a fantastic opportunity to enjoy great food, polish your networking skills and most of all enjoy a superb evening in the company of like-minded engineers.
The 2010 event is sponsored by E.ON and the key note address will be delivered by Dr Paul Golby, Chief Executive of E.ON UK.
Guests will also be able to enjoy an after dinner speech by James Cracknell and Ben Fogle.
20 April 2010 | 19:15 - 21:15
27 April 2010 | 18:00 - 20:00
Talk by Steve Gasser, Business Development Manager, IMechE
29 April 2010 | 19:00 - 21:00
This talk covers the events leading to the founding of the Institution, centred around locations on the railway line at the Lickey Incline in Bromsgrove, and includes significant new information that has come to light since the publication of the first edition of “Flint & Steel”
04 May 2010 | 19:15 - 21:00
This presentation will give an overview of the complex tasks involved in keeping some of the most sophisticated military hardware operational
05 May 2010 | 19:00 - 21:00
Tidal currents are one of the great untapped resources the UK can exploit in attempting to meet the Governments targets for renewable energy. Tidal Energy alone could provide up to 16% of the nationals total energy requirement. Recent news coverage of this new technology makes it an exciting and rapidly expanding Industry. Mike Todman is the Co-founder of Tidal Stream, a company pioneering new tidal energy devices. He will be giving a talk that discusses the challenges that must be overcome in trying to develop this new technology and the various approaches being taken. So if you're interested in the future of power generation in the UK this talk could be the one for you.
11 May 2010 | 18:30 - 20:30
13 May 2010 | 19:00 - 21:00
In 2006, the Vampire Jet Car, driven by its owner Colin Fallows, set the current official British Land Speed Record with an average speed of 300.3 mph. Colin also took the car to an average one way speed of 310mph just a few weeks before it was spectacularly crashed by "that man off the TV!".
Mark Newby, the full time driver of the Vampire car prior to its demise, holds the unofficial British Land Speed Record of 338.74mph in another jet car - Split Second.
Both Colin and Mark will talk on the inside story behind the designing, building, maintaining and driving the Vampire, the Split Second and other jet cars during a career involving over 3,000 accident free runs between them.
In addition to their jet car background, the pair built and drove the UK's first electric car to exceed 200mph.
This should prove to be a very enjoyable and entertaining evening.
18 May 2010 | 19:00 - 21:00
Business improvement techniques originated in manufacturing but now apply to the whole business. The key to implementing successful change is to consider your organisation as a complex system and to apply the improvements in all areas.
Chris will highlight a companywide philosophy of continuous improvement by involving employees at all levels and empowering them.
It is about listening to employee ideas and considering these from a customer viewpoint. The aim is to identify value added processes and eliminate waste and the root cause of waste.
The key is to pick the right tools and techniques suitable for each individual situation and not just to use the ‘flavour of the day’ system. This is where common sense is required.
25 May 2010 | 18:00 - 20:00
A talk by Steve Gasser, Business Development Manager, IMechE. This event is an update of the popular "Get Chartered" presentation, now encompassing all three grades of Professional Engineer, CEng MIMechE, IEng MIMechE and EngTech MIMechE
26 May 2010 | 09:30 - 16:15
Existing e-MPDS mentors are recommended to attend one of these regional seminars to develop their awareness reinforce their understanding of the role and update their mentoring skills.
Companies who would like to become accredited will receive all the practical guidance necessary for achieving accreditation.
The seminars are a great networking event for mentors, HR and training staff alike, providing an excellent opportunity for the exchange of ideas and to develop best practice. The syndicate work will help you put these ideas into action in the workplace.
05 June 2010 - 28 August 2010 | 13:54 - 12:54
To promote the interaction of the Young Members Panels (YMP's) of the West Midlands. The Wolverhampton YMP are proudly hosting the first annual sports varsity between the Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Stafforshire YMP's. This is proving to be day full of fearce competition that will see only one panel crowned as victorious from the event. The day shall comprise of two individual and two team sports with the overall winners being the team that total the most points during the day. So you'd better get in some training because the heat is on!
22 June 2010 | 19:15 - 21:30
An opportunity to visit the Assault Glider Trust at RAF Shawbury to see progress on the restoration of both Airspeed Horsa and WACO WW2 gliders.
