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Focuses on environmentalists' assessment of British government's plans to reduce emissions to meet climate change needs in Great Britain. Criticisms by Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth; Failure to break economy's dependence on fossil fuels; Benefits of the dash for gas.

Reports on the prospects of British car maker Rover Group Ltd. after its acquisition by the Phoenix Consortium led by former Rover chief executive John Towers from its former owner Bayerische Motoren Werke AG. Naming of the firm MG Rover; Assets acquired; Plan to build eight models at the Longbridge plant; Plan to have three platforms by 2004; Replacement of the Rover 25 and 45.

Focuses on the impact of the climate change levy on the manufacturing industry in Great Britain. Sectors of the industry affected by the levy; Effects of the levy on engineering firms; Effectiveness of energy taxes in reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. INSETS: Levy rates.;Long-Term benefits of the levy..

Informs on the plans of the Great Britain Department of Trade and Industry to allow `honest' bankrupts to get back into business after just six months, rather than the present three years. Bid to boost the entrepreneurial culture; Details of plans in the consultation paper, `Bankruptcy: A Fresh Start'.

Examines arguments over a proposal from the British automobile industry to make the government provide catalytic converters to owners of old automobiles as part of Great Britain's national air quality strategy. Current regulations on the use of converters; Financial incentives proposed for users of converters; Government investigation into the feasibility of the proposal. INSETS: Cats for bangers: How they works.;The Germans get there first..

Describes the strategies used by Yorkshire, England-based businessman David Bolton in introducing his spider trap invention to the market. Building of the prototype in 1992; Development work at Sheffield Hallam University's consultancy department; Media attention on the product; Dealing with problem of ensuring proprietary rights on invention while seeking manufacturing support. INSET: View to a non-kill..

Features some engineering-related products included by the Design Council to the list of the Millennium Products showcasing the innovation and creativity of British companies. Includes Master Mover range of tugs; Renold Smartlink; Truecraft Bead Breaker; Light emitting polymer; Rigel optical visors.

Explains options available to car owners with the impending ban on leaded fuel in Great Britain. Concerns of classic and historic vehicle owners; Use of 95 octane unleaded petrol in conjunction with a self-administered additive; Use of lead replacement fuel; Removal of existing valve seats and replacement with hardened versions. INSETS: Classic advice on which additive to use.;Valve seat recession: The protection job done by lead..

Discusses the improvement of construction quality and productivity by applying practices that have been successfully used in manufacturing. Problems with construction; Research by British government-funded Construction as a Manufacturing Process (CMP); Importance of pre-assembly in construction; Study of industrialized housing techniques in the Netherlands by the Department of Trade and Industry. INSET: The research grants on offer..

Discloses that Great Britain is way behind Japan, the United States, and its European competitors in the field of flexible automation and robotics. Rate of increase of Britain's robot density; Number of robots installed in the country in 1998; Need for British manufacturing to invest in flexible plant; Automotive industry's use of robots.

Focuses on the British Department of Trade and Industry's decision to double its funding for the Teaching Company Scheme (TCS). Success of the TCS; Requirements for companies wanting to set up a TCS; Platform for growth. INSETS: Setting up a scheme.;Stimulation of innovation.;The three players in a TCS..

Focuses on the Institution of Highways and Transportation's plans to revise the planning process in a bid to attract passengers to use the public transport service. Assessment of the accessibility of a development by public transport; Physical layout of development; Footpaths from buildings to bus stops and stations.

Deals with the challenges faced by manufacturing industries in Great Britain in trying to maintain their competitiveness Impact of environmental taxes, energy costs and wage costs; Overcapacity in the metals sector; Effect of the business climate on firms' ability to compete; Role of innovation in offsetting unwanted costs.

Reports that economy versions of rapid prototyping (RP) devices for use by small businesses have been introduced in Great Britain. Price range of RP machines; Development of the JP5 RP machine for the low-end market; Difference of JP5 from the more expensive models.

Reports on Ford Motor Co.'s operations in Great Britain. End of car production at Dagenham; Plans to invest in British facilities over the next five years; Long-term objective.

Reports on analysts' concerns that the plans of the Phoenix consortium, which took control of Great Britain car producer Rover, are not viable in the long term. Production plans of Phoenix differing from that of Alchemy, the other party interested in buying Rover; Possible benefit of a partnership for Rover.

Recounts how 34-year-old chartered engineer Andrew Barber and 33-year-old self-employed mechanic Robin Hall created their own sports car in Great Britain. Acceptance of orders for the car in May 2000; Comparative handling qualities with Porsche, BMW and Aston Martin cars; Mass producers' problems arising from inefficiencies of scale.

Focuses on developments related to Great Britain-based truck manufacturer Leyland Trucks' personnel management as of April 5, 2000. Company's revision of its personnel management culture; Company's efforts to encourage employees to contribute ideas on how to improve the company's business operations.

Focuses on the relationship between monetary policies and industrial competitiveness in Great Britain. Firms' criticisms of Bank of England; Calls for Great Britain to join the euro; Strength of the pound; Reduced margins for exporters; Knowledge-driven competition.

Takes a look at how Great Britain-based Furmanite International Ltd. successfully managed the business of restructuring. Attempt by the leak sealing technology firm to respond to the changing marketplace; Privatization of the Central Electricity Generating Board; 1997 economic crisis in Asia.

Highlights nuclear inspector John Bartlett's presentation at a lecture organized by the IMechE Process Industries division, on the role of engineers in disaster prevention in Great Britain. Comments about teh 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act; Incident cited by Bartlett in making his point about the need for professional engineers to impart safety lessons to undergraduates.

Reports on Sheffield Hallam University's offering of a forensic engineering course. Factors contributing to the increased popularity of forensic engineering; Difference between forensics and materials engineering.

Looks at changes that are transforming the heat treatment industry in Great Britain. Consolidation activity; Market's demand for sophisticated and expensive vacuum furnace technology rather than conventional heat-treatment methods; Extended customer services; Level of competition faced by small firms.

Features Kate Bellingham, television presenter and president of Young Engineers, who for many people, especially children, is the public face of engineering. Presenter on Great Britain TV program `Tomorrow's World'; Work with schoolchildren on engineering projects and communication skills.

Examines the reasons for Great Britain's lag behind its rivals in the innovation race. Sixth ranking in the world for successfully exploiting new ideas; Importance of innovation to companies; External constraints; Research and development.

Focuses on companies' complaints regarding the failure of manufacturing engineering courses to promote productivity in Great Britain. Description of the job of a manufacturing engineer. INSET: Variations on a manufacturing syllabus..

Reports on the tractor subassembly manufacturing agreement between Case UK and Walters Hexagon in Great Britain. Walters' production of Case subassemblies while renting on Case's factory; Sourcing of production materials; Walters' achievement of the automobile industry's QS9000 certification; Importance of management of materials.