FourJaw signs 50 new manufacturers

FourJaw, a provider of production monitoring technology, signed almost 50 new customers in 2025 as manufacturers worldwide sought greater visibility into their factory operations. Despite a challenging economic environment, demand for production data remained strong as manufacturers sought insight to increase output, reduce waste and make better decisions. FourJaw’s new customers include SMEs and major multinationals in sectors such as motorsport, aerospace and defence.

The company’s plug-and-play technology gives manufacturers a real-time view of machine performance, utilisation and energy consumption across the shop floor. Customers typically achieve a 30% increase in capacity and a 10% rise in productivity within six months of installing FourJaw.

More information www.fourjaw.com

Scholarship to support women in engineering

Broadcaster, journalist and author Steph McGovern returned to her Teesside roots recently to launch a major scholarship programme aimed at increasing the number of women entering engineering. The new Steph McGovern Women in Engineering Scholarship will provide support for every first‑year, full‑time female engineering student at Teesside University, thanks to £44,000 of funding from Enginuity, the engineering skills charity. At a special event held in the university’s Digital Life building, the inaugural scholars learnt they would receive support from Steph herself during their studies. 

More information www.enginuity.org

DN Solutions Completes Heller Acquisition

DN Solutions, the world’s third largest and Korea’s leading machine tool manufacturer, has completed its acquisition of Heller, a high-end German machine tool OEM. The transaction has been approved by regulators in various jurisdictions, including Germany, the US and the UK. The strategic integration will enable a more comprehensive service network, offering tailored solutions across key manufacturing regions such as Europe and North America.

The acquisition is set to boost DN Solutions’ consolidated sales to approximately $2.4bn. Together, DN Solutions and Heller produce over 13,400 machines annually, enhancing economies of scale and purchasing power. Strategic investments in the Heller site at Nürtingen and other international facilities, will further strengthen offerings and customer support.

More information www.heller.biz, www.dn-solutions.com

Advanced inventory management on show at Southern

Inventory management specialist Tooling Intelligence demonstrated four control solutions at the Southern Manufacturing 2026 exhibition last week. The company’s stand featured live demonstrations of technologies designed to eliminate inventory waste, reduce downtime and deliver measurable cost savings for manufacturers.

With manufacturers facing mounting pressure to improve operational efficiency while controlling costs, Tooling Intelligence’s offering addresses the growing challenge of inventory control. The company’s comprehensive range of solutions – from weight-based vending to electronic access control – provides manufacturers with real-time visibility, automated replenishment and detailed usage tracking that transforms inventory from a cost centre into a competitive advantage.

Visitors to the stand could see the SmartBin weight-based inventory management solution in action. The system delivers absolute control over fasteners, cutting tools, spare parts and critical components through precision weight-sensing technology. Available in four fixed configurations accommodating between 30 and 64 distinct SKUs, SmartBin eliminates manual counting while providing real-time visibility of stock levels.

The system’s rapid transaction speeds and secure RFID badge access ensure authorised users can quickly access what they need, while automated order generation prevents stock-outs and reduces emergency purchasing. For manufacturers struggling with inventory shrinkage or inaccurate stock records, SmartBin’s continuous monitoring delivers immediate accountability and cost reductions.

Alongside the SmartBin was the SmartDrawer vending solution, which offers high-capacity storage from a compact footprint. SmartDrawer provides an entirely custom configuration of drawers and several locations to meet exact requirements. It dispenses everything from cutting tools and abrasives to calibrated instruments and PPE with individual item control. LED-guided product location and touchscreen operation deliver rapid transactions, while the system’s modular design allows manufacturers to scale capacity as requirements grow. The rapid refill feature enables fast restocking without repackaging, reducing administrative burden and maximising machine uptime.

More information www.toolingintelligence.co.uk

Drion·tec D-Spade D5142 exchangeable-tip drill unveiled

With the new Drion·tec D-Spade D5142 exchangeable-tip drill, Walter is launching the world’s first drill of its kind with a double-sided indexable insert. The special feature is the flank face of the first cutting edge. This serves as a support surface for the second cutting edge that doubles the service life of the exchangeable tip and reduces the costs per metre of drilling.

Designed for cost efficiency, the drill comes in diameters from 12 to 32 mm and cutting lengths from 3xD to 8xD. Four lands and the self-centring point geometry ensure high precision and smooth surface quality of the hole. Furthermore, exact centring, straightness and diameter tolerance are guaranteed.

Ground and polished chip clearance spaces optimise chip evacuation and increase process reliability. Six coolant outlets ensure precision cooling on the cross-cutting edge, main cutting edge and circumference on both teeth. The combination of fine-grain substrate and the gold-coloured HiPIMS coating of the DS42 indexable insert enables high levels of wear resistance and easy wear detection.

The symmetrical design of the double-use exchangeable tips not only doubles tool life but also reduces the amount of carbide used per cutting edge by 45% compared with conventional drills on the market, reports Walter. The company is therefore positioning the Drion·tec D-Spade D5142 as the new standard for both cost-conscious and sustainable hole-making. The drill is particularly suitable for mass manufacturers machining steel and cast-iron materials, such as in the automotive, energy or rail industries.

More information www.walter-tools.com