Systems integrator ITI acquires AssetMinder

International systems integrator ITI Group has acquired AssetMinder, a provider of IoT condition-based monitoring SaaS solutions for industry. Dominic Murphy, CEO of ITI Group, says:“As factories continue to modernise and use data to manage and improve productivity and efficiency, AssetMinder complements our established expertise in helping clients optimise operations. Supporting our customers with reliability detail means we can deliver predictive maintenance data to optimise efficiency and reduce costly unplanned downtime.”

More information www.itigroup.com

Automation firm names trio of new partners

Automation firm adi Lean Manufacturing & Design has agreed new strategic partnerships with Schneider Electric, Desoutter Tools and Balluff, further strengthening its offer to UK manufacturers.Founded in 2011, adi Lean Manufacturing & Design specialises in designing and building bespoke engineering solutions, ranging from robot cells and assembly lines to manual workstations and trackside equipment.The partnership with Schneider Electric builds on a 10-year relationship and formally recognises the division as a Registered Alliance Partner system integrator within Schneider Electric’s Global Alliance Partner Programme.

More information www.bit.ly/4p6S1Q9

New Era of Physical AI for Industrial Robots

Factory robot and automation system specialist FANUC is formally partnering with NVIDIA to bring physical AI into mainstream manufacturing as part of a move to shape the next generation of smart factories. Under the agreement, FANUC robots will be integrated with NVIDIA’s advanced AI computing stack, including on-robot systems like NVIDIA Jetson and simulation platforms such as NVIDIA Isaac Sim.

For its part, FANUC has released support for the open-source robotics platform ROS 2, which allows programming via Python, lowering the barrier to building AI-driven robotics applications on top of FANUC’s industrial hardware. The partnership will also enable the creation of high-fidelity digital twins, where simulation can be used for training, testing and optimisation before committing to investment.

More information www.fanuc.eu

£210m machine shop set for construction

Sheffield Forgemasters has awarded a major machine shop construction project, valued at £210m, to McLaughlin & Harvey.The machine shop will sit on a 16-acre brownfield site at Weedon Street, adjacent to Sheffield Forgemasters’Brightside Lane facilities, where a 30,000 m² building will house 24 new machines, including some of the world’s largest vertical turning lathes.

McLaughlin & Harvey has already completed enabling works and is underway with piling for the building superstructure, machine foundations, and installation of site-wide drainage and storm-water attenuation tanks. Craig Fisher, programme director (recapitalisation) at Sheffield Forgemasters, says: “The machine shop main works contract will create one of Europe’s most advanced machining facilities for the defence sector.”

More information www.sheffieldforgemasters.com

Tooling supplier expands sales team in Scotland

Cutting tool supplier TaeguTec UK has named Alan Ryden as its new technical sales engineer for Scotland. The appointment represents a significant investment in building stronger customer relationships and accelerating growth across Scotland.Ryden brings over 30 years of engineering experience to TaeguTec, combining hands-on technical expertise with commercial knowledge. A time-served mechanical engineer, he has worked with TaeguTec products for 15 years, having joined ABT Machine Tools & Tooling in 2010. Progressing to managing director, Ryden ranABT until November 2024.

More information www.taegutec.com