Space facility lift-off

A new 45,000 ft²space manufacturing facility that is expected to create 2000 jobs has opened in Hardwicke, Gloucester, marking a milestone for the UK’s space industry capabilities. The Advanced Composites Manufacturing Enterprise, led by iCOMAT, a spin-out company from the University of Bristol, received £4.8m of funding from the UK Space Agency’s Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund to establish the facility. The opening event welcomed representatives from the UK Space Agency, European Space Agency and international space sector leaders such as Orbex, Lockheed Martin and Thales Alenia Space.

More information https://icomat.co.uk/

LUR opens in Trafford

Lucchini Unipart Rail (LUR) has opened its new state-of-the-art 63,000 ft²wheelset repair facility in Trafford Park, Manchester, marking a major milestone in its £7.5m investment to expand its industrial footprint in the UK.Located just a short distance from LUR’s 118,000 ft² facility for wheel and axle machining and wheelset overhaul, the expanded footprint reflects a strategic move to optimise services and meet growing customer demand.As part of the investment, the facility has been refurbished to accommodate new equipment and processes that facilitate monthly wheelset capacity up to 800 units per month.

More information www.lur.co.uk

Airbus sites to undergo decarbonisation

Siemens and Airbus are strengthening their long-standing partnership with a new strategic contract to work towards the decarbonisation of Airbus’ major industrial sites in the UK and US. The initiative is a key milestone in Airbus’ programme to minimise the company’s operational environmental footprint through targeted reductions in CO2 emissions and energy consumption.As part of the framework agreement, Siemens will deploy its scalable and proven decarbonisation solutions, tailored to the selected sites, to support Airbus in reaching the target of 80 kt CO2e abated annually from 2030.

More information www.siemens.com

Weather Forecasts aid Sustainable Manufacturing

In a significant step towards sustainable manufacturing, University of Sheffield AMRC engineers have found a way of using weather forecasts to reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing processes. Tace Morgan, sustainability theme lead at the AMRC, says: “While using renewable energy offers lower carbon intensity, its availability varies, making it an inconsistent source. Our research addresses this by leveraging the predictable link between carbon intensity and weather patterns. It allows us to schedule energy-intensive tasks for greener times, lowering environmental impact without hindering productivity.”

More information www.amrc.co.uk

£100m UK Investment Announced by JCB

Construction equipment manufacturer JCB is marking its 80th birthday with news of a £100minvestment in modern manufacturing facilities at its global headquarters in the UK.The project at the company’s plant in Rocester, Staffordshire, will see the installation of a fully automated powder paint plant costing £60m, as well as full modernisation of the shop floor with new machining centres, friction welders and cylinder boring machines.Company chairman Lord Bamford says: “It makes perfect sense to invest heavily in our British factories and the £100m we’re investing now will put us at the forefront of our industry.”

More information www.jcb.com