Always wanting to be even-handed, we have been searching the electronics industry for someone who has presented an argument for Brexit. Last week, we published the pro-EU arguments from the president of the IET, but I have yet to find someone within the industry presenting the case for a vote for Brexit in June. Surely, there are good arguments both ...
Legislation & Skills
Brexit threatens engineering sector, says head of the IET
Exiting the EU would be a risk to the UK’s engineering sector, warns Naomi Climer, president of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). The UK’s main organisation representing 100,000 engineers believes that the interests of UK engineering would be best served by remaining in the EU. “Given the considerable challenges already facing UK engineering and technology, it is difficult ...
The “Hateful Five” of PCB manufacturing
Design done, PCB laid-out and components are sourced, but the biggest challenge is yet to come getting it manufactured. David Marrakchi describes the pitfalls to avoid You just completed your last design review, got that needed approval signature, and the finish line has never been closer, or so you think. Even after your components are sourced and your board is ...
UK robotics to get summer showcase
UK tech industry will highlight the importance of robotics this summer with a nationwide programme of events for the first ever UK Robotics Week (25 June – 1 July 2016). Events will include open labs, schools and academic competitions and hackathons, and the build-up to UK Robotics Week will begin at the Imperial Festival 2016 on Saturday May 7th and ...
Making sure there is no modern slavery in the supply chain
The electronics industry in this country has a strong record of investing in their employees and maintaining their human rights, but it is as well we are reminded of the importance of modern slavery legislation, writes Adam Fletcher of ecsn. If the company you work for just ended its financial year and will be able to report UK sales revenues in ...
Linux developers offered free compliance and copyright training
The Linux Foundation, the organisation working on open source software initiatives, is offering developers an open source compliance course which is available for free. It is designed to provide software developers with knowledge about legal and licensing issues for building and using open source software. According to the Linux Foundation, complying with open source licences doesn’t have to be difficult, ...
BBC Micro:bit can inspire a generation, says ARM CEO Segars
“The ability to code is now as important as grammar and mathematics skills and it can unlock important new career options," says ARM's CEO.
UK will lead in zero emission cars, says supplier Rexel
The UK government has confirmed its commitment to zero emission cars by saying that all passenger vehicles sales must be for zero emission vehicles by 2050. This was the ambitious target agreed at the International Climate Conference in Paris before Christmas. The UK has also signed up to the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Alliance, for promoting the wider international uptake of ultra-low emission vehicles. Members include ...
Government seeks advice on UK’s digital strategy
Government is looking for advice on the UK’s digital strategy and it has called on public and industry to share their ideas on how the UK’s digital revolution can take shape. The government claims the Tech City UK initiative, launched five years ago, has has changed thde digital economy “beyond recognition”. This has proliferated with more than 70 per cent ...
Europe extends reach of REACH regs
In connection with the REACH Regulation (EC 1907/2006), the European Court of Justice (ECJ) passed a judgement on 10 September concerning articles that, according to the REACH Regulation, contain so-called ‘substances of very high concern’ (SVHCs). To date, a threshold value of 0.1% weight by weight (w/w) as laid down in Article 7, Paragraph 2 and Article 33 of the ...