Ton up for Mills

Mills CNC, the distributor of Doosan machine tools in the UK and Ireland, has announced that machine tool orders in Q2 exceeded 100. Says Kevin Gilbert, Mills CNC’s managing director: “Clearly we are delighted with the results. Over the last six months we have launched a number of new Doosan machines into the market and, over the same period, completed several complex turnkey and process improvement projects with aerospace and energy sector customers. Furthermore, we have increased our headcount and strengthened our sales and service operations, all of which go a long way to explain our strong showing in the first half of 2017.”
For further information
www.millscnc.co.uk

Positivity ahead of Brexit

Manufacturing is the most consistently upbeat sector in the UK on the medium- to long-term economic effects of Brexit according to a new YouGov survey, the Brexit Monitor, commissioned by audit, tax and consulting firm RSM. Although over two-thirds of UK businesses across key sectors (68%) felt prepared for an EU exit, it was manufacturing that came in as the most confident. Some 78% of the 49 manufacturing businesses surveyed said they were prepared (of which 31% said they were ‘very prepared’).
For further information
www.rsmuk.com

Mapal achieves 6% growth

German cutting tool manufacturer Mapal says that consolidated group sales rose by around 6% from €540m in 2015 to €575m in 2016. Together with the increase in sales, the number of employees also increased by 4%, from 4,800 to nearly 5,000 worldwide. Over 3,400 work in Germany. Together with investments in R&D, further Mapal initiatives include implementing several construction projects at international locations. For instance, this year the company is increasing its investment in infrastructure in the USA, China and Mexico. In addition, Mapal has acquired the majority stake in Adico, a South Korean manufacturer of PCD and PcBN.
For further information www.mapal.com

Subcontract market making steady progress

Building on strong figures for the first quarter of 2017, the subcontract manufacturing market edged ahead another 6.7% in the second quarter, with strong demand for machining in June offsetting a dip in May. According to the latest Qimtek Contract Manufacturing Index (CMI) figures, the index for the second quarter stood at 174, compared with 163 for the first quarter, although it was 8% down on the corresponding quarter of 2016 when demand was particularly strong and the index stood at 188. The baseline figure of 100 represents the average value of the subcontracting market during 2014.
For further information www.qimtek.co.uk

India Day at EMO 2017

Are ‘Modinomics’ fuelling an industrial renaissance in India? This question will be addressed during the India Day hosted by the VDW (German Machine Tool Builders’ Association) at EMO 2017 in Hanover, Germany, on 20 September. EMO’s India Day aims in particular to explain clear perspectives for the mechanical engineering, automotive and aerospace sectors.
The day will be supported by the Indian government, with the organisers hosting Shri Sivanand, Joint Secretary of the Department of Heavy Industry in the Ministry of Heavy Industry & Public Enterprises. He will be spotlighting the government’s initiative for boosting the manufacturing sector. EMO will also be welcoming six delegations of high-ranking Indian entrepreneurs, which will be organised and accompanied by various Indian customer associations and staff from the VDMA’s liaison office in Kolkata.
For further information www.emo-hannover.de