Tuesday 2 December 08 - 16:50
 

Automotive & Motorsport

  • Modern Press Worker Celebrates 60 Years

    Specialists in transfer and progression presswork, HT Brigham, based in Birmingham, celebrates 60 years in business this year.   

  • Polymer Cluster Helps Put the Automotive Jewel In For Crown

    The UK’s leading change agent for local plastics and rubber industry development, the Polymer Cluster, has helped Bilston-based Crown Plastic Mouldings achieve the tough automotive global quality standard ISO/TS16949:2002.  

  • Auto Suppliers Set To Be 'Intelligent' About Their 'Energy'

    A pioneering new £1.1m project is promising to help West Midlands’ automotive companies tackle the burning issue of energy usage.  

  • Automotive Suppliers Collaborate for Success

    AutoLink 2007, on Thursday 3rd May 2007, Technology Innovation Centre, Birmingham, is a unique industry event whereby the entire UK automotive supply chain is invited to engage in collaborative discussion through pre-arranged one-toone meetings, on how to work together to find solutions that are innovative, cost-effective and sustainable. 

Comments & Analysis

  • International emerging markets: China

    If a company doesn’t have a profile in China within the next two-to-three years, it quite possibly won’t be competitive in Europe in the next five, says Dr John L Collins, business development manager, The Manufacturing Technologies Association.  

  • Breathe life into your growth plans this Spring-time

    The old adage ‘If you fail to plan, you plan to fail!’ is true at all levels of a business.  

  • Continuous Improvement Mindset Finds a Better Way

    The best companies in the world all started from organised chaos. The tools and approaches they use are just as applicable to SME’s as they are to household multi-national companies. At noon on 9 May 2007 at North West Manufacturing 2007, John Grieves of Continuous Improvement Services (CIS) will describe how the magic ingredient to all successful initiatives, large and small, is about keeping an eye on the basic stuff because this is the platform of stability for the sexy stuff!  

Cutting & Profiling

  • £400k Laser Machine Brings Cutting In-house

    WRES Ltd has invested in excess of £400k on a Bystronic Byspeed 3015 with a 4.4kW resonator, one of the fastest laser profiling machines available in today’s market, capable of cutting 600 holes per minute.   

  • New System Will Help Company Improve KPIs

    BSB Engineering Ltd has selected Progress Plus Business Control software from Berkeley Myles Solutions to help improve its key performance indicators.   

  • UK's Largest Water Jet Profiler Opens Doors to New Markets

    Leading subcontract supplier of profiled parts, Sheffield based Charles Day (Steels) Ltd, has installed the largest waterjet cutting machine operational in the UK.   

Honing & Deep Hole Drilling

  • Bore Production Expertise on Show at Offshore Europe

    For two decades, Perfect Bore Manufacturing (PBM) has acquired the skills and experience to solve most bore problems generated from their customer base.   

  • Tube Salvage Work Hones Out Tight Spots

    Apperley Honing, the largest independent specialist contract honing company in the UK, is currently honing-out tight spots in a large batch of high value tubes for the oil industry. The 50mm diameter tubes were drawn undersize and failed drift testing at various points along their full 8m lengths.  

  • Large Tube Borer is Now Operational

    Keetons’ latest plant development project is a great success.   

Industry News

  • Workshops to boost Midlands manufacturing efficiency

    West Midlands manufacturers can now better position themselves to beat off global competition through a series of manufacturing best practice workshops and seminars taking place at three new venues throughout the region. 

  • Women key to 2010 skills crisis, said UGS vice president Henry Seddon

    Seddon states that support for female engineers could put Europe’s R&D goals back on track.  

  • ‘Hole-in-one’ for Gold award-winning UK eco-inventor in International Competition

    Ross-on-Wye-based inventor Peter Martin has been awarded a Gold Medal at the International Exhibition of Inventions held in Geneva last weekend for a small hole in a strip of plastic.  

  • Basic Facts 2007 out now

    The Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) has published the 2007 edition of its pocket-sized essential facts booklet, Basic Facts.  

  • Looking to break into the defence industry?

    Reed Exhibitions has confirmed plans to debut a new seminar programme at Nepcon 2007, taking place over May 15th – 17th at the Birmingham NEC.  

  • Manufacturing industry unsure of the detail of new smokefree regulations

    One in five (22%) manufacturing businesses do not realise that their smoking room will have to be closed by 1st July 2007 and nearly half (45%) do not realise that work vehicles will also be covered.  

  • Smarter Work Practices Get Equality Backing

    The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has signed the Work Wise UK  concordat supporting the adoption of new smarter working across the UK. This will bringing about a workstyle revolution through smarter working practices. 

  • Skoda Steel renamed Pilsen Steel

    Skoda Steel, a part of OMZ (Uralmash-Izhora Group) (RTS: OMZZ; LSE: OMZD; OTC: UHMVY), has been renamed Pilsen Steel as part of the company's strategy.  

  • Metal working companies prepare to take part in EMO Hannover 2007

    The UK manufacturing sector is preparing to take part in EMO Hannover 2007, the world’s leading showcase for metal working technologies from 17 -22 September. 

  • ‘Enginuity’ training hub to improve engineering skills in the South West

    With help from the Learning & Skills Council, more than 20 manufacturing companies from the Plymouth area are now working closely together and in conjunction with local schools, colleges, universities and business support organisations, as part of a new initiative to improve local training provision in the area, while also improving the image of manufacturing to attract more youngsters into the profession.  

  • Engineering sector invited to enter Edge Awards 2007

    Edge, the independent educational foundation, is encouraging entries from the engineering sector, for the Edge Awards 2007, to win part of a training-investment 300,000 prize fund. 

  • 87% of IT Managers Believe SAM ISO Is Unsustainable In Their Organisations Under Current Compliance Culture.

    Board level ignorance and a tick box approach to compliance, threaten to sideline other best practice benefits of ISO 19770-1 including Risk Mitigation and Cost Control. 

  • First UKRC quality mark awarded

    Newly-launched quality mark as ‘Employer of choice for women in SET’ recognises UK company's 'female friendly' working environment  

  • Stock and logistics operation helps manufacturer

    UK spray nozzle manufacturer, BETE Ltd, is among the first to have benefited from the launch of Technical Fulfilment Limited (TFL), a company that operates as an extension of its customer’s business. 

  • Are we talking the same language?

    Major players in the engineering world were at a book launch at Plymouth’s College of St Mark & St John (Marjon) on 10 May.   

  • New immigration rules will cut red tape for employers

    The new points-based immigration system, due to be phased in from 2008, will reduce red tape for employers taking on immigrant workers, says law firm DWF.  

  • Mechanical engineering investment trend improving

    According to a new Engineering and Machinery Alliance (EAMA) survey of over 100 SME manufacturers, investment in UK mechanical engineering is now on the rise.  

  • Australia latest launch in S4S global growth

    S4S Ltd (Sourcing for Success), the Lancashire based international component, product and services sourcing company has launched a new company in Australia to further enhance the company’s ability to provide a global solution to international product, component and material sourcing problems.  

  • Ladbrook Engineering Sponsors College Prize for Excellence in Engineering

    North Walsham engineering company Ladbrook have agreed to sponsor a prize for excellence in engineering at the City College Norwich.  

  • New degree course fills experience gap for engineers

    Newly graduated scientists and engineers can now leave university with industry standard research experience that allows them to get off to a flying start thanks to a pioneering new technical research degree from Sheffield Hallam University.   

  • Composites advance at Bristol

    A new centre that is expected to break new ground in the development and application of advanced composites and intelligent structures was opened at the University of Bristol Monday, April 16 by Malcolm Wicks MP, Minister for Science and Innovation.  

  • UK Space Technology Pushes Boundaries

    FAC, the Farnborough Aerospace Consortium, in partnership with the East of England Development Agency, recently held their first space conference at Cranfield University, to highlight the opportunities to business within the industry.  

  • Technology Knowledge Pools Streamlined

    The DTI Global Watch Service closed on 31 March 2007. This pioneering service proved successful in helping UK companies find and benefit from overseas technologies.  

  • New Working Practices to be Trialled in a Week

    Organisations and employees across the UK, both public and private, are being invited to take part in the second annual Work Wise Week (May 16 to 22) to continue helping create a ‘smarter’ working Britain. This includes allowing staff to work from home on Friday May 18, National Work from Home Day.  

  • New ‘Relevant and Attractive’ Engineering Diploma Offered

    This month, the Secretary of State for Education and Skills approved the application by EAL, the leading awarding body for engineering and technology vocational qualifications, to offer a new Engineering Diploma. Engineering is among the first five subject areas in which specialised diplomas for 14 -19 year olds will start to be taught from September 2008.  

  • MTA launches 2007 Technical Seminar Programme

    In conjunction with two other engineering trade associations, PPMA and PICON, the MTA is organising a series of six training courses for its members.  

North West Manufacturing

  • North West Manufacturing

    Now in its 9th year, North West Manufacturing, held on 9th – 10th May 2007 at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton is firmly established as the premier exhibition in the North West and the largest annual event dedicated to engineering and manufacturing in the region.  

Subcon

  • Subcon

    From 1st to 3rd May at the NEC, Birmingham, Subcon 2007, the international show for buyers of subcontracting, will offer visitors the whole spectrum of contract manufacturing.   

Turning & Milling

  • Prestigious Precision Engineers Acquired by Group

    “To be Engineering Company worthy of High Regard” is the mission statement of Oxford Engineering and is now the mission statement for the KAS Technologies Group following its recent acquisition of Oxford Engineering and its low cost subsidiary in Estonia. 
     

  • Start-Up Invests £1m in Machines in First Year

    Q-Mass, a subcontract precision machinist for the oil and gas industry has made an unusually high level of investment in CNC machine tool technology for a company that started up, just one year ago, with a £110,000 grant from Regional Selective Assistance to start a new business in Stirling, creating 10 jobs.  

  • New Leads Converted into Orders after Show

    Chingford turned parts manufacturer INRO is reporting success with orders converted, and other enquiries looking positive, following Southern Manufacturing at Thorpe Park in February, the South's biggest engineering and electronics event.  

  • High Volume UK Turned Part Specialist Steps Up to the Mark

    The largest multi-spindle shop in Europe has entered the subcontract machining arena. Buyers of high volumes of turned parts will benefit from high volume production techniques that are being continually developed to improve quality, and reduce costs, for the Kingfisher product range of exotic grease fittings.  

  • Deburring May Account for 30% of Machining Costs

    Deburring costs industry millions of dollars each year, and controlling burrs may account for as much as 30% of machining costs, according to ‘Publications of CODEF’ (Consortium on Deburring and Edge Finishing, in the US), which is a collection of 61 technical papers that focus on understanding how burrs form.  

  • Five-Axis Investment Adds Extra Capacity

    Precision Engineering  Components, Basildon, specialises in manufacturing CNC precision milled and turned components and is just about to take delivery of its second DMG 70 evolution 5-axis machining centre.  

  • Subcontractor's Strong Position to be Showcased at Subcon

    Arterial UK moved to a new 10,000 sq ft facility in Sturminster Marshall near Poole, last July, and added a Miyano BNJ42 SY turning centre, a Deco 20A 8-axis sliding head lathe and a Hass EC500 4- Axis horizontal machining centre to its existing CNC turning and machining centres.
     

  • UK Subcontractor Wins Automotive Work Back From The Far East

    Set up in January 2003, Coventry-based Turned Parts Warehouse has enjoyed considerable business success with its three CNC slidingheadstock lathes, two of them from Star Micronics GB.   

  • Hedge Methods Manage Price Risk of Material Cost Fluctuations

    If you ask any company what the biggest problem has been over the past 12 months it’s a good bet that many of them will say material prices.  

Stevens Rowsell is a specialist precision sheet metal engineering company in East Sussex