National Engineering Laboratory
Encyclopedia
The National Engineering Laboratory (NEL) was originally one of several large government-funded public research laboratories in the UK, staffed by scientists and engineers of the Scientific Civil Service
. Other such laboratories include the National Physical Laboratory
(NPL), the Laboratory of the Government Chemist (LGC), the Building Research Establishment
(BRE) and the Transport Research Establishment
(TRL).
NEL was established in 1948 at Thornton Hall under the name Mechanical Engineering Research Laboratory, (MERL), in the village of the same name near East Kilbride
, Glasgow
, Scotland
. The location was partly dictated by politics, since it was realised that Scotland did not have a UK public research establishment (in contrast to its defence establishments). There was also debate on whether the new laboratory would be an outpost of the prestigious NPL (which now has its main base in Teddington, just west of London), or have a separate identity. Eventually the latter course was taken with the new laboratory focussing on mechanical engineering
research, complementing the work of the then CEGB
laboratories in electrical engineering
when the name was changed to NEL.
As NEL expanded, it moved to a large, purpose-built site in East Kilbride itself. Under the control of the Director, it was then part of the DTI
. The 'lab' was organised into a number of subject-based Divisions, including Creep Division, an important part of the UK effort to catalogue wear characteristics of materials, a Control Systems Division, Manufacturing Services Division, Fluid Power Division and Design Analysis Division. The last of these was in the forefront in the use of the emerging technology of Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Indeed, the growing need for quality-assurance in FEA led to the foundation of the National Agency for Finite Element Methods and Standards, now operating simply as NAFEMS
.
Each building at NEL was named after a prominent engineer who's field was related to the focus of that Division, so there was Maudsley Building, named after Henry Maudslay
, famous for his invention of the slide-rest lathe amongst many other achievements, Bramah building so called after Joseph Bramah
owing to his contribution to hydraulic engineering, Rankine building named after William John Macquorn Rankine
which specialised in thermodynamics
, Whitworth building named after Joseph Whitworth
immortalised after his work to unify standards for screw threads, one of the key stepping stones that paved the way for mass production.
For a history of Thornton hall see http://members.lycos.co.uk/peelnews/Th_History.htm
The policy of the Thatcher
Government was originally for the full privatisation of all of the government laboratories. In practice, re-organisation has in some cases stopped short of a straight sale of these internationally important facilities, but NEL became part of the German-owned TÜV SÜD
group in 1995. Along with the other national laboratories, some of which are still owned or controlled by the UK government, NEL now has a mixed portfolio of work from both government and private sectors. NEL holds the national standard for flow measurement, one of the most important roles it undertakes as part of the overall UK government science strategy. This is now in the remit of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
, working in part through the new National Measurement Office, which is itself an Executive Agency created in April 2009.
) and CAD/CAM.
British Civil Service
Her Majesty's Home Civil Service, also known as the Home Civil Service, is the permanent bureaucracy of Crown employees that supports Her Majesty's Government - the government of the United Kingdom, composed of a Cabinet of ministers chosen by the prime minister, as well as the devolved...
. Other such laboratories include the National Physical Laboratory
National Physical Laboratory, UK
The National Physical Laboratory is the national measurement standards laboratory for the United Kingdom, based at Bushy Park in Teddington, London, England. It is the largest applied physics organisation in the UK.-Description:...
(NPL), the Laboratory of the Government Chemist (LGC), the Building Research Establishment
Building Research Establishment
The Building Research Establishment is a former UK government establishment that carries out research, consultancy and testing for the construction and built environment sectors in the United Kingdom...
(BRE) and the Transport Research Establishment
Transport Research Laboratory
TRL is a British transport consultancy and research organisation based at Wokingham Berkshire with approximately 500 staff. TRL is owned by the Transport Research Foundation , which is overseen by 80 sector members from the transport industry. TRL also own small UK regional offices situated in...
(TRL).
NEL was established in 1948 at Thornton Hall under the name Mechanical Engineering Research Laboratory, (MERL), in the village of the same name near East Kilbride
East Kilbride
East Kilbride is a large suburban town in the South Lanarkshire council area, in the West Central Lowlands of Scotland. Designated as Scotland's first new town in 1947, it forms part of the Greater Glasgow conurbation...
, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The location was partly dictated by politics, since it was realised that Scotland did not have a UK public research establishment (in contrast to its defence establishments). There was also debate on whether the new laboratory would be an outpost of the prestigious NPL (which now has its main base in Teddington, just west of London), or have a separate identity. Eventually the latter course was taken with the new laboratory focussing on mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
research, complementing the work of the then CEGB
CEGB
The Central Electricity Generating Board was the cornerstone of the British electricity industry for almost 40 years; from 1957, to privatisation in the 1990s....
laboratories in electrical engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
when the name was changed to NEL.
As NEL expanded, it moved to a large, purpose-built site in East Kilbride itself. Under the control of the Director, it was then part of the DTI
DTI
DTI may refer to:*Debt-to-income ratio*Deep trench isolation*Defense Technology Institute, the Thai defense technology public organisation*Department of Trade and Industry, a government department in several countries*Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad...
. The 'lab' was organised into a number of subject-based Divisions, including Creep Division, an important part of the UK effort to catalogue wear characteristics of materials, a Control Systems Division, Manufacturing Services Division, Fluid Power Division and Design Analysis Division. The last of these was in the forefront in the use of the emerging technology of Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Indeed, the growing need for quality-assurance in FEA led to the foundation of the National Agency for Finite Element Methods and Standards, now operating simply as NAFEMS
NAFEMS
NAFEMS is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that sets and maintains standards in computer-aided engineering analysis and, specifically, finite element analysis .-History:...
.
Each building at NEL was named after a prominent engineer who's field was related to the focus of that Division, so there was Maudsley Building, named after Henry Maudslay
Henry Maudslay
Henry Maudslay was a British machine tool innovator, tool and die maker, and inventor. He is considered a founding father of machine tool technology.-Early life:...
, famous for his invention of the slide-rest lathe amongst many other achievements, Bramah building so called after Joseph Bramah
Joseph Bramah
Joseph Bramah , born Stainborough Lane Farm, Wentworth, Yorkshire, England, was an inventor and locksmith. He is best known for having invented the hydraulic press...
owing to his contribution to hydraulic engineering, Rankine building named after William John Macquorn Rankine
William John Macquorn Rankine
William John Macquorn Rankine was a Scottish civil engineer, physicist and mathematician. He was a founding contributor, with Rudolf Clausius and William Thomson , to the science of thermodynamics....
which specialised in thermodynamics
Thermodynamics
Thermodynamics is a physical science that studies the effects on material bodies, and on radiation in regions of space, of transfer of heat and of work done on or by the bodies or radiation...
, Whitworth building named after Joseph Whitworth
Joseph Whitworth
Sir Joseph Whitworth, 1st Baronet was an English engineer, entrepreneur, inventor and philanthropist. In 1841, he devised the British Standard Whitworth system, which created an accepted standard for screw threads...
immortalised after his work to unify standards for screw threads, one of the key stepping stones that paved the way for mass production.
For a history of Thornton hall see http://members.lycos.co.uk/peelnews/Th_History.htm
The policy of the Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
Government was originally for the full privatisation of all of the government laboratories. In practice, re-organisation has in some cases stopped short of a straight sale of these internationally important facilities, but NEL became part of the German-owned TÜV SÜD
TÜV SÜD
TÜV SÜD is an international service corporation focusing on consulting, testing, certification and training. At over 600 locations, primarily in Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, TÜV SÜD Group employs approximately 16,000 staff. In 2010, sales revenues totalled EUR 1.55 billion, roughly 30 per...
group in 1995. Along with the other national laboratories, some of which are still owned or controlled by the UK government, NEL now has a mixed portfolio of work from both government and private sectors. NEL holds the national standard for flow measurement, one of the most important roles it undertakes as part of the overall UK government science strategy. This is now in the remit of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills was a UK government department created on 28 June 2007 to take over some of the functions of the Department of Education and Skills and of the Department of Trade and Industry. In June 2009 it was merged into the newly formed Department for...
, working in part through the new National Measurement Office, which is itself an Executive Agency created in April 2009.
Apprenticeships
NEL operated an indentured apprentice training scheme and offered a wide range of skills for young engineers before being privatised ranging between light machining, heavy machining, fitting, electro-discharge-machining, jig and horizontal boring and in later years CNC machining, programming and introductions to FMS (flexible manufacturing systemFlexible manufacturing system
A flexible manufacturing system is a manufacturing system in which there is some amount of flexibility that allows the system to react in the case of changes, whether predicted or unpredicted...
) and CAD/CAM.