INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 26 March 1936, Page 6

INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH

BIG ADVANCE IN BRITAIN GRANTS TO ASSOCIATIONS A big advance in industrial research in Great Britain is reported by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. The department has been able to recommend 13 research associations for grants which will assure them of a 30 per cent, increase in their, resources.

With one exception, each of these associations now has an income of at least £IO,OOO. That of the Iron ’and Steel Association is estimated at £31,000, compared with£l6,ooo two years ago. Among the increases, the Electrical and Allied Industries Association’s income has arisen from £44,000 to £64,000, and the Cotton Industry's from £58,000 to £75,000. _ A telling example is given in the department’s report of how research helps industry. How, it may be asked, do nuts and screws brought from different firms fit without trouble 1 The answer is that the manufacturer turns out his stock to an accuracy of, perhaps, up to two thousandths of an inch. The accuracy of his machines depends on the accuracy of the leading screw of his lathe. This is checked against the master leading screw of the' firm which makes the lathe, and this in turn is correctly adjusted to the National Physical Laboratory standard. The master leading screw at the laboratory is kept accurate to three parts in one million. In shipping research at the National Physical Laboratory, 60 designs were submitted during the years 1934-35. Improvements ranging from 2£ per cent, up to 15 per cent, were effected in 54 cases as a result of modification's.

The improvement is stated in terms of the power required for propulsion at the service speed of the ship.' It is here that the influence of waves on the propulsion and pitching of ships is studied. and also the design to give the best ship’s measurements to secure good weather qualities. The whole of the fibre processing section of the Linen Research Association has been transferred to Sandringham, it is announced. Here flax is grown. In 1934, 190 acres were put under flax, and in 1935, 260' acres.