SME boost

Karen Finegold, executive director of the Engineering Industries Association (EIA) has been invited to join the board of the Genesis Initiative, which was formed to improve the quality of the debate on SMEs and create economic reform, driven by SMEs and supported by Parliamentarians.

The role of Genesis is to act as an umbrella organisation, working on the behalf of UK SMEs to optimise potential growth in the SME sector by fostering a “can do” culture. Genesis aims to participate fully in achieving economic and structural reforms that will enable businesses to flourish.
For further information www.genesis-initiative.org

Euro projects

Lina Huertas, head of technology strategy for digital manufacturing at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry, has been chosen to be on a jury of experts for the European Innovation Council (EIC) pilot.

Huertas is one of 87 experts drawn from 26 countries who will assess companies pitching innovation projects to the EIC SME Instrument, which supports innovators, entrepreneurs, small companies and scientists with funding opportunities and acceleration services. The EIC SME Instrument will fund around 4000 small companies that pass the rigorous process, through to 2020.
For further information www.the-mtc.org

Plating service for 3D-printed parts

Proto Labs has extended its in-house 3D-printing capabilities with the inclusion of specialist plating services for plastic parts built using stereolithography or SLS.

Components are plated with materials that include copper, nickel and chromium. Daniel Cohn, general manager of Proto Labs, Germany, says: “We have become increasingly aware of the significant enhancements plating makes to the capabilities of the resultant part, hence our move to offer these services in-house. Now, with plating technology and operational expertise, we support product testing and project progression even further.”
For further information www.protolabs.co.uk

SABB selected for Sharing in Growth

Engineering specialist Senior Aerospace Bird Bellows (SABB) plans to deliver future growth after being selected for Sharing in Growth (SiG), the government-backed supply chain competitiveness programme.

The Cheshire-based company, having produced steady growth in recent times, will work with SiG to achieve significant expansion over the next five years by investing in skills, productivity and business development. As part of the programme, SABB went through a robust 12-week business diagnostic to establish suitability. The company’s key customers include Airbus, Embraer, Bell Helicopters, GKN and Rolls Royce.
For further information www.sig-uk.org/apply

Composites technology centre inaugurated

A key milestone was marked recently at a Yorkshire manufacturing centre, which from 2019 will start producing carbon-fibre tubs for McLaren Automotive, the British creator of luxury sports cars and supercars. The £50m McLaren Composites Technology Centre (MCTC) is nearing completion at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham and is the result of an ongoing partnership between McLaren Autotmotive and the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).

After a launch at the AMRC’s Factory 2050, McLaren Automotive chief executive Mike Flewitt was on-hand to illuminate the famous marque’s sign in the new manufacturing centre. The recently unveiled McLaren Senna road car then performed a series of expertly choreographed ‘doughnuts’ to leave a trail of fresh Pirelli tyre rubber on the new centre’s floor to ‘christen’ it – McLaren style.
For further information www.cars.mclaren.com