Programme & Timings

10:00 am - 11:00 am

John Tyrrell, TTS Systems Ltd

Whether you are measuring load, weight or force you will be using a loadcell. It may be a foil or silicon strain gauge, aluminium, steel or exotic material, sealed or not, to name but a few design features. But do not forget the fundamentals – otherwise, the data will be worthless! Join John Tyrrell of TTS Systems Ltd as he discusses loadcells and the importance of their application within the industry.

11:15 am - 12:15 pm

Jim Flanagan, Centrateq Ltd

An understanding of how a sensor works is critical to its correct selection and use. Jim Flanagan of Centrateq Ltd will give a fundamental overview of how a piezoelectric accelerometer operates and the key factors to ensure the correct use and data accuracy, remembering that a vibration environment is damaging and dynamic.

11:15 am - 12:00 pm

Daniel Watson, Head of Engineering, Sensor City

Daniel Watson provides an introduction to Sensor City. Topics covered in his seminar will include:

- Sensor City’s in-house laboratory facilities and technical expertise
- Case study examples of sensor and IoT lab projects
- Future plans and technology developments
- Collaborative opportunities

11:30 am - 12:15 pm

KiDAQ is an innovative, modular data acquisition system from Kistler Instruments with which you can create your test set-up, perform measurements and achieve accurate test results, quickly and easily. Kistler’s expertise covers the entire measuring chain, from the sensor, to signal conditioning and on to the software. The KiDAQ data acquisition system can be expanded at any time with different measurement modules.

A key advantage of the new KiDAQ data acquisition system is our KiXact technology which automatically calculates the measurement uncertainty. Kistler’s vast application expertise ensures that reliable results are now possible with this technology. KiXact eliminates the need for manual calculation and helps to significantly reduce the uncertainty components in your measurement chain.

12:00 pm - 12:45 pm

Andrew Peaty, Innovation Partner, The Defence and Security Accelerator

The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) finds and funds exploitable innovation to support UK defence and security quickly and effectively, and support UK prosperity.

Andrew Peaty will describe how innovators can work with DASA and what they are looking for in applications for funding. He will also present the current competitions being run by DASA and give an overview of the likely future calls.

12:45 pm - 1:30 pm

Dan Canty, Accreditation & Awards Manager, The Institution of Engineering and Technology

Dan Canty, The Institution of Engineering and Technology (the IET), will be providing an introduction to apprenticeship and technician qualifications. He will give details of where to access information and support about the qualifications. Canty will also be outlining how the IET supports engineering apprentices, providers and employers.

1:45 pm - 3:00 pm

Ben Haest, Quality Electronics Design S.A

Several challenges are hitting the test lab. For one, many test labs have a hard time to attract new people, test technicians and test engineers. Even, when new people can be hired, it takes 1 to 5 years before they can work completely independently and autonomously.

At the same time the test requirements are getting more and more complicated. A good example is the group of the test for the automotive batteries.

One way to handle the challenges is to automate the lab. This happens already at the logistic level. Companies install database solutions to handle the whole process from the first customer contact up to the planning of the test, reporting and invoicing after the test has been finished.

The underlying level is the automation of the test itself: to synchronise the vibration test with climatic test, to control the DUT, to monitor the DUT and to synchronise other measurement systems during the test.

Join Ben Haest of Quality Electronics Design S.A to address the challenges facing the test lab and find out how automation could e the solution – based on the GUS Standard Interface.

1:45 pm - 2:30 pm

Julian Moore, Business Engagement Manager, University of Birmingham’s Centre for Innovation in Advanced Measurement in Manufacturing (CIAMM)

Julian Moore, University of Birmingham’s Centre for Innovation in Advanced Measurement in Manufacturing (CIAMM), will be explaining how quantum theory is driving the development of more accurate, faster and portable technologies.

CIAMM offers pre-funded assistance to help SMEs solve quality-related challenges through advanced inspection and measurement, enabling them to realise their new product aspirations. It delivers support by providing access to specialist expertise, world-class facilities and a wide network of collaborative partners.

2:00 pm - 2:45 pm

Following several successful pilot roll-outs, Devtank is pleased to announce the launch of a new open source modular test product called HILTOP (Hardware In-the-loop Test Operating Platform). The platform contains an integral motherboard/controller adopting a flexible split architecture with 64bit ARM processor and parallel FPGA hardware acceleration if required.

This comprehensive flexible platform allows test, measurement and control solutions to be realised using numerous built in multi-channel interfaces such as USB2.0, LVDS, CAN-FD and RS485. It can be easily expanded to add new interfaces and capability using the Open-VTI backplane and Eurocard expansion format.

Automated testing gives faster and more accurate measurements through optimised hardware and software integration to provide both electrical and functional test coverage of the device under test (DUT).

2:30 pm - 3:15 pm

Ed Pietruszewski, Solutions Specialist, Alcumus Info Exchange

Supply chain management can be one of the most complex business challenges – dealing with multiple suppliers, contracts and approval processes, all of which are potentially vital to your success. This session will take a look at why organisations are looking to move their supply chain management beyond basic compliance to digitised best practice that offers greater efficiency, improved supplier performance and tangible returns on investment.

2:45 pm - 3:30 pm

The shaker is used to input vibration to a product or structure. Data from accelerometers and force sensors can be collected and analysed post-test. Marco Peres will demonstrate how PCB’s latest USB signal conditioner can be used to collect data on a smart phone or tablet for an easy to use, portable test solution.

10:00 am - 11:00 am

John Tyrrell, TTS Systems Ltd

Whether you are measuring load, weight or force you will be using a loadcell. It may be a foil or silicon strain gauge, aluminium, steel or exotic material, sealed or not, to name but a few design features. But do not forget the fundamentals – otherwise, the data will be worthless! Join John Tyrrell of TTS Systems Ltd as he discusses loadcells and the importance of their application within the industry.

11:15 am - 12:15 pm

Jim Flanagan, Centrateq Ltd

An understanding of how a sensor works is critical to its correct selection and use. Jim Flanagan of Centrateq Ltd will give a fundamental overview of how a piezoelectric accelerometer operates and the key factors to ensure the correct use and data accuracy, remembering that a vibration environment is damaging and dynamic.

1:45 pm - 3:00 pm

Ben Haest, Quality Electronics Design S.A

Several challenges are hitting the test lab. For one, many test labs have a hard time to attract new people, test technicians and test engineers. Even, when new people can be hired, it takes 1 to 5 years before they can work completely independently and autonomously.

At the same time the test requirements are getting more and more complicated. A good example is the group of the test for the automotive batteries.

One way to handle the challenges is to automate the lab. This happens already at the logistic level. Companies install database solutions to handle the whole process from the first customer contact up to the planning of the test, reporting and invoicing after the test has been finished.

The underlying level is the automation of the test itself: to synchronise the vibration test with climatic test, to control the DUT, to monitor the DUT and to synchronise other measurement systems during the test.

Join Ben Haest of Quality Electronics Design S.A to address the challenges facing the test lab and find out how automation could e the solution – based on the GUS Standard Interface.

11:30 am - 12:15 pm

KiDAQ is an innovative, modular data acquisition system from Kistler Instruments with which you can create your test set-up, perform measurements and achieve accurate test results, quickly and easily. Kistler’s expertise covers the entire measuring chain, from the sensor, to signal conditioning and on to the software. The KiDAQ data acquisition system can be expanded at any time with different measurement modules.

A key advantage of the new KiDAQ data acquisition system is our KiXact technology which automatically calculates the measurement uncertainty. Kistler’s vast application expertise ensures that reliable results are now possible with this technology. KiXact eliminates the need for manual calculation and helps to significantly reduce the uncertainty components in your measurement chain.

2:00 pm - 2:45 pm

Following several successful pilot roll-outs, Devtank is pleased to announce the launch of a new open source modular test product called HILTOP (Hardware In-the-loop Test Operating Platform). The platform contains an integral motherboard/controller adopting a flexible split architecture with 64bit ARM processor and parallel FPGA hardware acceleration if required.

This comprehensive flexible platform allows test, measurement and control solutions to be realised using numerous built in multi-channel interfaces such as USB2.0, LVDS, CAN-FD and RS485. It can be easily expanded to add new interfaces and capability using the Open-VTI backplane and Eurocard expansion format.

Automated testing gives faster and more accurate measurements through optimised hardware and software integration to provide both electrical and functional test coverage of the device under test (DUT).

2:45 pm - 3:30 pm

The shaker is used to input vibration to a product or structure. Data from accelerometers and force sensors can be collected and analysed post-test. Marco Peres will demonstrate how PCB’s latest USB signal conditioner can be used to collect data on a smart phone or tablet for an easy to use, portable test solution.

11:15 am - 12:00 pm

Daniel Watson, Head of Engineering, Sensor City

Daniel Watson provides an introduction to Sensor City. Topics covered in his seminar will include:

- Sensor City’s in-house laboratory facilities and technical expertise
- Case study examples of sensor and IoT lab projects
- Future plans and technology developments
- Collaborative opportunities

12:00 pm - 12:45 pm

Andrew Peaty, Innovation Partner, The Defence and Security Accelerator

The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) finds and funds exploitable innovation to support UK defence and security quickly and effectively, and support UK prosperity.

Andrew Peaty will describe how innovators can work with DASA and what they are looking for in applications for funding. He will also present the current competitions being run by DASA and give an overview of the likely future calls.

12:45 pm - 1:30 pm

Dan Canty, Accreditation & Awards Manager, The Institution of Engineering and Technology

Dan Canty, The Institution of Engineering and Technology (the IET), will be providing an introduction to apprenticeship and technician qualifications. He will give details of where to access information and support about the qualifications. Canty will also be outlining how the IET supports engineering apprentices, providers and employers.

1:45 pm - 2:30 pm

Julian Moore, Business Engagement Manager, University of Birmingham’s Centre for Innovation in Advanced Measurement in Manufacturing (CIAMM)

Julian Moore, University of Birmingham’s Centre for Innovation in Advanced Measurement in Manufacturing (CIAMM), will be explaining how quantum theory is driving the development of more accurate, faster and portable technologies.

CIAMM offers pre-funded assistance to help SMEs solve quality-related challenges through advanced inspection and measurement, enabling them to realise their new product aspirations. It delivers support by providing access to specialist expertise, world-class facilities and a wide network of collaborative partners.

2:30 pm - 3:15 pm

Ed Pietruszewski, Solutions Specialist, Alcumus Info Exchange

Supply chain management can be one of the most complex business challenges – dealing with multiple suppliers, contracts and approval processes, all of which are potentially vital to your success. This session will take a look at why organisations are looking to move their supply chain management beyond basic compliance to digitised best practice that offers greater efficiency, improved supplier performance and tangible returns on investment.