Category: Features & Interviews

A leading supplier to the European car market has invested in its first ever Bruderer to help it increase output for current and future models. Xandor Automotive Canning Brett, which manufactures exterior, interior and under bonnet components, installed a refurbished BTSA 40 high-speed press and BBV 202-120 feeder three months ago and is already achieving […]

The phrase ‘new normal’ is very popular at the moment. In the oil and gas (O&G) sector, we have had to adapt to many a new normal over the years. ‘Lower for longer’ was meant to be the new normal with prices in the $60-70/bbl range, before they went much lower than that. Now we […]

Bespoke production is becoming increasingly achievable for low and high-volume manufacturing. Bespoke products offer adaptability and full customisation as well as security in the fact that individual requirements will be met, especially if the manufacturer has the required specialisms in-house. Here, Stewart Goulding, managing director at mechatronic drive system supplier EMS Ltd explains the things […]

Coronavirus (Covid-19) has thrown industry into unchartered territory with many machine shops running reduced capacity, idling some machines or completely closing the doors to the business. But what about your machine tools? You wouldn’t leave your car idle for weeks, as you know it isn’t good for the vehicle. So why would you leave an […]

A new and unique RTITB Accreditation solution launches to improve safety by assessing and accrediting an organisation’s entire MHE operation, not just its Basic operator training.  The solution, exclusively for organisations delivering materials handling operator training in-house, is the first of its kind in the transport and logistics industry. “Our newly updated RTITB Accreditation solution […]

~ How a novel buy-back model could transform the steel circular economy ~ Although the industry calls it scrap, steel is a valuable resource as a secondary raw material. Whether it’s the steel contained in products at the end of their useful life, or the material left over from the manufacturing process, there’s more industry […]

The coronavirus crisis has exposed critical weaknesses in UK and global supply chains, and not just when it comes to ventilators and personal protective equipment (PPE). According to a survey of around 600 small and medium-sized manufacturers in England, a huge 82% say they’re experiencing disruption to their supply chains. According to the Manufacturing Growth […]

Addressing the manufacturing skills gap – does the industry need an image overhaul? In January 2019, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) revealed that the manufacturing industry was facing the biggest skills shortage in 30 years. Alarmingly, a huge 81% of UK manufacturers admitted that in late 2018, they struggled to find people with the […]

Covid-19 will accelerate the business world’s move to Augmented Reality (AR) and other IoT solutions, as companies across the UK look to adapt to a ‘new working normal’. Jim Heppelmann, CEO of industrial innovation technology specialist PTC, believes the way frontline workers have seamlessly adapted to the benefits of AR to continue to perform their […]

In 1969, Victor Scheinman invented the Stanford arm, the first all-electric, six-axis articulated robot — the predecessor of the robot arms that we use today. Here Jonathan Wilkins, director at automation equipment supplierEU Automation, discusses how robots have diversified in weird and wonderful ways since 1969. With over 384,000 industrial robots installed globally in 2018, […]