MSC engineers support Warwick Moto

MSC Industrial Supply Co UK (MSC) is a 2024 engineering partner for Warwick Moto, a student-led electric racing bike team at the University of Warwick. Founded in 2019, Warwick Moto sees a team of students from the School of Engineering collaborate with industry partners to design and build an electric superbike capable of competing at the highest level.

The new bike, which is being fully built by the students in a single academic year, is due for its unveiling in July 2024 ahead of planned races in the Netherlands and the UK. Engineers from MSC are providing first-hand tooling and engineering support to the team, with a particular focus on the casing for the bike’s battery.

For further information www.mscdirect.co.uk

ETG to run Mastercam masterclass in May

The Engineering Technology Group (ETG) will be hosting a Mastercam 2024 workshop event on 30 May. As part of its ‘Decade of Innovation’ workshop series and its commitment to customer service and support, ETG will provide a comprehensive one-day event for manufacturers adopting, or interested in adopting, Mastercam CAM software. ETG software experts Brendan O’Callaghan, Ciaran Fletchmore and Stephen Noke will introduce the one-day event, with a guest speaker from Mastercam. It will take place at ETG Ireland’s headquarters in Newbridge, County Kildare, commencing at 09:30.

For further information www.bit.ly/3PZ8U0A

Dugard becomes UK sales agent for Kenyou

Dugard is now the UK sales partner for the Kenyou series of machine tools, which includes vertical turning, boring and turn-mill models. The Kenyou range will complement Dugard’s existing Kitamura, SMEC, Hanwha and Mylas principals. Stepping beyond the realms of its existing portfolio, the Kenyou range of vertical turn-mill centres includes the VT and VTM series that have table diameters from 1.25 to 3 m with the ability to accommodate workpieces up to 20,000 kg.

This colossal capacity provides end users with a working area of -200 to 1400 mm in the X axis, a Z axis up to 1400 mm and a W axis of 1 m with 10m/min rapid traverse rates. Offered with a FANUC or Siemens control and BT50 tooling interface, the work table has a two-speed gearbox driven by a 30 kW motor for heavy-duty turning operations. Likewise, a range of milling spindles is available from 11 to 22 kW.

For further information www.dugard.com

NEW REPORT REVEALS TRUE IMPACT OF MANUFACTURING IS NEARLY A QUARTER OF UK GDP

Manufacturing is having a far greater impact on the UK economy than first thought according to a major new report. ‘The True Impact of UK Manufacturing’, which was unveiled at the MACH 2024 exhibition in Birmingham last week, shows industry is worth £518bn and supports 7.3m UK jobs directly and across the supply chains/communities in which it operates. This represents nearly a quarter of total GDP (23%) and far bigger than the direct contribution of 8.2% that economists usually quote.

Carried out by Oxford Economics and the Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA – organiser of the biennial MACH exhibition), the in-depth report also shows that ‘making things’ accounts for 34.5% of all UK goods and services exports, while the median wage is £31,300, some 11% higher than the national median wage.

The findings are even more impressive considering that the sector has had to navigate a myriad of challenges outside its control in recent years, including changing relations with the European Union, the Covid-19 pandemic, unprecedented increases in energy costs, and global supply chain fragility and international conflicts.

The MTA’s CEO James Selka is now urging the sector to build on this report by exploring ways in which it can address the skills shortage and develop successful programmes, such as the High Value Manufacturing Catapult Centres, to increase wealth creation by commercialising more of the great ideas and innovations born in the UK.

“This is a fantastic insight into the true impact of manufacturing in the UK and reinforces what many of us already know: that industry is a far greater contributor to GDP and jobs than listed in national accounts,” he says. “Our report has been designed to take a ‘deeper dive’ and looks at the direct, indirect and induced impacts of manufacturing, which is a far more comprehensive overview of what we make, the complex nature of our supply chains and the economic benefit gained from the spending of wages by those employed in our sector.”

He continues: “The results illustrate that manufacturing accounts for £518bn of GDP and supports 7.3m jobs, most of which enjoy higher than average wages. We’re also a part of the economy that invests heavily in new technologies, with nearly half (47%) of total R&D investment made by manufacturers. You only had to visit MACH last week to see this first-hand, with more than 500 companies showcasing the latest in automation and robotics, additive manufacturing, software, advanced CNC machining, and measurement and inspection solutions.”


The MTA is now calling on a well-integrated commitment from the whole nation to help industry realise its potential, ranging from business leaders and academics to policymakers so crucial in developing a cross-party industrial strategy.

The recent Advanced Manufacturing Plan – accompanied by support worth £4.5bn – has been welcomed as a step in the right direction and an important vehicle in helping to cultivate the new technologies and industries, such as electrification, lightweighting, less carbon-intensive materials and renewable energy.

Introducing new measures that increase exports should also be a priority and there is an unprecedented opportunity to deliver critical sovereign capabilities from public health to defending the realm.

The True Impact of UK Manufacturing report was officially launched at MACH 2024 by MTA president Tony Bowkett. Set over five days at the NEC in Birmingham (15-19 April), this biennial event is the biggest in the UK’s industrial calendar and attracts over 30,000 people from the manufacturing community and more than 500 exhibiting companies.

Figures are still being calculated, but the MTA estimates that over £200m of business was completed during the week as some of the country’s most innovative firms unveiled new technologies and machines designed to boost productivity and global competitiveness.

MACH 2024, which had a huge focus on sustainable manufacturing and carbon reduction through its six Knowledge Hubs, was also big attraction for young people looking for a career in industry, with 3500 students (aged between 12 and 18) estimated to be in attendance.

Headline sponsors Lloyds Bank welcomed the findings of the latest report. David Atkinson, UK head of manufacturing SME and mid-corporates, says: “As this report highlights, manufacturing is an integral part of the UK economy, through GDP contribution, job creation, and as a source of high wages. When you consider the sector’s extended reach through its supply chains and beyond, you can really start to see the scale of its contribution.”

He adds: “Manufacturers have demonstrated agility and resilience in the past few years of uncertainty, and we are responding by continuing to invest in partnerships in the sector that ensure it has the skills, tools and support needed to compete on a global scale.”

Stephen Phipson, CEO of Make UK, concludes: “Manufacturing has always been a strategically important sector for UK economy and, none more so than now given the immense societal, political and economic challenges that we face. Just as the first industrial revolution provided a step change, the accelerating pace of technological change of the fourth industrial revolution gives us a generational opportunity to do the same. This valuable report highlights to those in power now and in the future, how manufacturing is greater than the sum of its parts.”

Download the full report at www.bit.ly/4cTtoBD

Sutherland introduces personalised AI bots

In a landmark shift toward futuristic manufacturing capabilities, Sutherland Presses has announced an ambitious initiative to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) across all its operations. This cutting-edge programme will see the introduction of dedicated 24/7 AI bots assigned to each department and staff member, creating a network of intelligent agents that enhance productivity, improve decision-making and innovate processes.

The transformative approach of Sutherland Presses places AI at the core of its operational matrix. The seamless integration of AI assistants is poised to revolutionise the company’s production line, supply chain management, customer service, R&D, human resources and administrative duties.

Customer service departments will see AI bots handle enquiries, process orders and provide aftersales support around the clock. Through natural language (NL) processing, these bots can communicate effectively, ensuring that customers receive prompt and accurate assistance while freeing up staff to tackle more complex service needs.

AI bots supporting the R&D teams will comb through vast data sets to identify trends and patterns that humans might overlook. By accelerating the design and testing phases, these AI partners substantially reduce time-to-market for new products, effectively keeping Sutherland Presses ahead in the competitive market.

As each department works closely with its designated AI bot, staff members will undergo specialised training to adapt to this collaboration. Far from replacing human workers, these AI agents are designed to augment and empower the workforce, decreasing mundane chores and elevating the human component to strategic problem-solving and creative innovation.

Sutherland Presses says its adoption of individual AI bots represents a significant leap into the future of manufacturing and beyond. AI integration supports the company’s commitment to pioneering advancements, ensuring that every facet of the business operates with heightened intelligence, agility and foresight.

For further information www.sutherlandpresses.com