Wednesday, 11th December 2013, 7.30pm - NSK Offices, Northern Road NG24 2JF - “Railway Signalling - design and maintenance” – Alex Gibson

As well as being the Society’s Hon Secretary and a Civil Engineer by day, Alex is the volunteer Signal and Telegraph Superintendent of the Midland Railway – Butterley, a heritage railway in Derbyshire.  The talk will review the origins of railway signalling systems in the 19^th century, developments through the 20^th century and today, and the challenges of maintaining 100+ year old technology (and buildings) in the 2010’s.

Wednesday, 27th November 2013, 7.30pm - 27th Annual Joint Institutions Prestige Lecture ‘UK Energy: the shale gas opportunity?’ - Dr Tim Fox CEng CEnv FIMechE FRSA Head of Energy and Environment at the IMechE - The Albert Hall Conference Centre, North Circus Street, Nottingham, NG1 5AA

Dr Fox will discuss the potential role of shale gas in UK energy supply in the context of an increasing global demand for energy and the decarbonisation of the nation’s electricity generation infrastructure. In particular he will focus on the contribution that a regional shale gas industry could make to a rebalancing of the nation’s skewed economy, as well as the emerging need to reinforce the Government’s commitment to the development and deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology for use with gas fired power plant.

 

This event is by ticket only, details on the accompanying poster or from EMESP at www.emesp.org.uk .

Wednesday, 6th November 2013, 2.00pm - Visit – Explore Manufacturing, Explore Industrial Park (off A619), Steetley, Worksop. S80 3FD

This will be an afternoon visit to Laing O’Rourkes’s state-of-the-art precast concrete manufacturing facility, where an impressive range of building and civil engineering components are produced in a highly automated production process. Special finishes and coloured concretes are widely used to produce aesthetically attractive surfaces, and cladding panels incorporating insulation are used to minimise construction activities on site. The emphasis is at Explore is on productivity, build quality, pre-assembly and modular solutions.

There are plenty of places on this visit but they will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Names, together with shoe and jacket size (S, M, L or XL), to the Secretary by 10^th October please.

Wednesday, 9th October 2013, 7.00pm - Visit – Freshgro, Inkersall Grange Farm, Bilsthorpe NG22 8TN

Fresh Growers Ltd is a farmers co-operative that pioneered bringing back Chantenay carrots to the UK and is now the world’s leading supplier, supplying over 90% of the UK Chantenay market.

Freshgro has a farming base of over 20 000 acres, grow and market both conventional and organic vegetables, that also produces piccolo parsnips, asparagus and other root crops.

 

Our visit will be to Freshgro’s 2 acres of factory space which serves all the country’s retailers.

Wednesday, 4th September 2013, 7.00pm onwards - Visit – Marshall’s Coaches and Vintage Vehicle Collection - Marshall’s Coaches, Main Street, Sutton-on-Trent, NG23 6PF

Immediate Past President, John Marshall, will host a visit to his operational coach depot and vintage vehicle collection at Sutton-on-Trent.

John has arranged for many of his collection of 40+ vehicles dating from 1922 to today to be running on the evening.

Wednesday, 10th July 2013, 6.30pm - Bifrangi UK Ltd, Spa Road, Lincoln LN2 5TB

Presentation and tour of the factory, viewing the 16,000T screw press in use and the £50m investment in a 32,000T screw press currently mid way through the groundworks phase.

 

Names please to the Secretary not later than 24^th June.

Wednesday, 12th June 2013, 7.00pm - NMB-Minebea UK Ltd, 2 Sadler Road (off Doddington Road), Lincoln LN6 3RA

The Lincoln factory is market leader in landing gear bearings, aerospace bearings of swaged and split construction, helicopter, tram coupling and  special vehicle suspension bearings.  We will be given an introduction to the technologies and a factory tour. 

Names please to Graham Sinclair on grahamsinclair1938@gmail.com or 01636 702526.

Wednesday, 22nd May, 7.30pm, NSK Offices - Society AGM and “The A453 Widening Project” – Ben Ridgeon, Laing O’Rourke

Following the Society AGM, Ben Ridgeon, Section Engineer with Laing O’Rourke, will give a presentation on the bridge structures on this high profile infastructure project, giving an overview and explaining how off site manufacture will be utilised.

Monday, 20th May, 7.00pm - Dosco Overseas Engineering Ltd, Ollerton Road, Tuxford NG22 0PQ

Presentation and tour of the factory, viewing an LH1300 roadheader and Bendy Walker, before they are disassembled and containerised for shipping. Names please to the Secretary.
 

Tuesday, 14th May, 7.00pm - The Laxton Open Field System, Lilac Farm, Laxton NG22 0NX

Meet at 7.00 at Lilac Farm, on the right hand side heading out of Laxton towards Ollerton.  Weather permitting we will be given a tour of the fields, then return to the Visitor Centre for a presentation on the history and current arrangements of this uniquely retained medieval farming system.  Sensible footwear required, and dress for the weather!  Names please to the Secretary.

Wednesday, 6th February, 7.30pm, Newark Library, NG24 1UW - Joint Meeting with Newark Archaeological and Local History Society - "The Restoration of St Pancras" - Mr N Lowey

This talk is for anyone with an interest in history, world-class architecture, clever engineering, or a great story; it describes how the fantastic mid-Victorian Gothic railway cathedral came to be built, and how the long-neglected building has undergone a breathtaking transformation.

It is of note that the St Pancras train shed was constructed by local company Butterley Engineering, and the architect for the 1865 Midland Grand Hotel was Sir George Gilbert Scott, shortly after his rebuilding of Kelham Hall (1859-62).