Open house success at Zoller UK

Around 80 representatives from across 40 companies headed to Zoller UK’s Advanced Innovation Centre in Derbyshire over two days to discover solutions designed to offer cost and efficiency savings.

During the open house, company experts provided live demonstrations on a number of its lines, while visitors were given access to products from partners such as Open Mind, Kyocera Unimerco and CG Tech, covering computer-aided design and manufacturing solutions, as well as cutting-tool servicing, maintenance and verification.
For further information www.zoller-uk.com

JLR quality award for Optimas Solutions

Optimas Solutions has been presented with the Jaguar Land Rover Quality (JLRQ) award.

The award was presented to the distributor of fasteners and C-class products in recognition of the consistently high quality of service and products delivered to JLR. Having started out providing parts to a single production line, Optimas now supplies over 1 billion fasteners to thousands of ‘points of fit’ across JLR’s manufacturing locations in Birmingham and Coventry, as well as exporting to JLR China. Despite the volume, Optimas maintains a quality standard of <1 part per million. For further information www.optimas.com

KTP fuels growth at Craftsman Tools

University of Huddersfield experts are helping Otley-based Craftsman Tools introduce advanced technology and manufacturing systems that will enable the company to break into new global markets and quadruple its turnover.

Now, Craftsman Tools aims to diversify from subcontract machining and increase its focus on designing and manufacturing its own products, particularly toolholders.
The company’s goal is to boost turnover in this sector from £1.2m to £4m within five years. Increased productivity, flexibility and efficiencies need to be achieved, which will demand a systems engineering approach and automated manufacture. Key issues raised by the new strategy are to be addressed by a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) – financially backed by Government body Innovate UK – formed between Craftsman and the University of Huddersfield.
For further information www.hud.ac.uk

Qatar agrees contract for Typhoon

BAE Systems and the Government of the State of Qatar have entered into a contract, valued at approximately £5bn, for the supply of Typhoon aircraft to the Qatar Emiri Air Force along with a bespoke support and training package. The contract is subject to financing conditions and receipt by the company of the first payment, both of which are expected to be fulfilled no later than mid-2018.

The contract provides for 24 Typhoon aircraft with delivery expected to commence in late 2022. BAE Systems is the prime contractor for both the provision of the aircraft and the agreed arrangements for the in-service support and initial training. Charles Woodburn, BAE Systems chief executive, says: “We are delighted to begin a new chapter in the development of a long-term relationship with the State of Qatar and the Qatar Armed Forces, and we look forward to working alongside our customer as they continue to develop their military capability.”
For further information www.baesystems.com

Mubadala puts R&D front and centre

Mubadala has announced plans for its aerospace, renewables and ICT platform to invest a further AED82.5m in R&D over the next five years. The funding will be used to accelerate several technology development projects that focus on differentiating concepts from Industry 4.0, including 3D printing, digital manufacturing and advanced materials.

The programme will build on the success of an existing R&D initiative launched in September 2015, and will support the growth strategies of Strata Manufacturing (Strata) and Turbine Services & Solutions (TS&S), two of Mubadala’s aerospace/industrial businesses.
For further information www.mubadala.com