Barrow funding

A major investment in Barrow-in-Furness can only be good news for supply chain companies and the wider economy. That is the view of award-winning engineering business Forth, which has one of its three Cumbrian bases in the town. The Government’s announcement of a £20m investment in the Barrow Transformation Fund is expected to create more than 8000 career opportunities at BAE Systems, its supply chain and the region’s economy. Forth believes the fund will help it attract engineering talent to the area as well as creating significant opportunities to support new defence projects at BAE Systems.

For further information www.forth.uk.com

Simwon adopts AP & T press-hardening technology

Together with its agent Daekyung International, AP&T has spent many years building up a
relationship with Simwon and MS Autotech in South Korea. In a visit to China a few years
ago, Simwon’s managing director got the opportunity to see how AP&T’s press-hardening
production lines perform in action. It was the start of a rewarding collaboration between

the two parties. In spring 2022, the first line from AP&T was installed at Simwon’s facility in
Austin, Texas. The line’s output is thus far exceeding the company’s very high expectations.
Simwon is part of MS Autotech, a globally operating sub-supplier to many of the world’s
major car manufacturers. Simwon America in Austin, Texas produces press-hardened
components for the American market.
“The new line primarily manufactures door rings for one of our larger American customers,”
says Jeon Incheol, senior manager of the overseas sales team at Simwon. “To meet their
needs, the technology has to run faultlessly, and we need to be able to produce at top
speed. The output is 15-20% higher than our other press-hardening lines.”
The success of the Simwon investment is also of great importance to AP&T.  
“We’re naturally pleased to fulfil Simwon’s high requirements on product quality, cycle
times and machine availability,” says Peter Robisch, sales manager at AP&T. “For us, this is a
strategically important deal that has strengthened our position in press hardening on the
North American market.”
The line includes a hydraulic press with a press force of 1200 tons, automation equipment
and a control system. Thanks to the uniform control system, it is possible to synchronise the
line’s hydraulic presses and linear robots.
For further information www.aptgroup.com

Bridging the commercial ‘valley of death’

Manufacturing, business and academia have come together to bridge the UK’s £bn+ commercial ‘valley of death’. PP Plus, which is led by PP Control & Automation, is delivering access to expertise that will help companies develop and scale green technologies. More than 20 organisations are involved, including Brandauer, the Centre for Advanced Low Carbon Propulsion Systems, Cleveland Scott York, Product Approvals, Protolabs, Silverstone Technology Cluster and WMG. Together, they can take innovators from development and prototyping to protecting their IP, contract manufacturing and driving sales through PR.For further information www.pp-plus.org

T.50 supercar production moves location

Premium British vehicle manufacturer Gordon Murray Automotive (GMA) is moving its T.50 supercar production to the company’s newly-built £50m headquarters at Highams Park, Surrey. Previously produced at Dunsfold Park, the decision will see T.50 manufacturing benefit from a wealth of efficiencies, enabling the business to streamline carbon-fibre monocoque production for T.33 prototypes and future models at Dunsfold Park. Next, the production team will transfer to building the T.33 coupe, before that supercar’s open-top sibling – the T.33 Spider – enters the Highams Park vehicle production centre.

For further information www.gordonmurrayautomotive.com.

Materialise and Renishaw in partnership

Renishaw and Materialise, a global specialist in 3D printing software and services, are entering into a partnership that will increase efficiency and productivity for manufacturers using Renishaw’s additive manufacturing (AM) systems. Through the partnership, Renishaw system users will benefit from Materialise’s next-generation build processor software tailored to the RenAM 500 series of metal AM systems.

Customers will also have access to Magics, Materialise’s data and build preparation software. This will enable users of Renishaw’s AM systems to build a seamless workflow (from design to 3D printed part), control and customise their 3D printing process, reduce production time, and increase the efficiency of their AM operations.

For further information www.renishaw.com