Sheffield Forgemasters Opens Training Facility

Sheffield Forgemasters has formally opened a 6700 sq ft training and development facility
to upskill its apprentices for the next generation of nuclear-grade engineering. The facility
was formally opened by company chair, Admiral Sir Tim Fraser, who unveiled no less than
18 new machine tools on site, including a state-of-the-art five-axis mill-turn machine.
Sheffield Forgemasters has partnered with the University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre
to deliver a four-year engineering training contract, which will see the placement of a
permanent engineering skills coach at the facility. Jay Shaw, head of machine shops at
Sheffield Forgemasters, says: “We’re now able to prepare trainees for the next generation
of machines and digital operating systems at our new 30,000 sq m machining hall.”
More information www.sheffieldforgemasters.com

PTG Holroyd Expands Rotor Plant

PTG Holroyd Precision Rotors, the specialist helical component, screw and rotor
manufacturing division of Precision Technologies Group (PTG), has increased the capacity of
the company’s positive-displacement blower screw production line at its facility in
Spartanburg, South Carolina. Initially opened in 2018, the Spartanburg site was the result of
significant investment by PTG.
This latest expansion at Spartanburg comes in response to a 30% increase in blower screw
sales year on year. Running alongside the conventional helical rotor and component
manufacturing line, the company’s blower line is equipped to precision-mill components as
small as 125 mm in diameter and 300 mm in length, right up to 300 mm in diameter and
1000 mm in length.
More information www.holroyd.com

November Open House for World Machinery

CNC machine tool supplier World Machinery is set to host a November open house event at
its headquarters and showroom in Bridgnorth, Shropshire. Taking place on Friday 26 and
Saturday 27 November, the company will be showcasing a number of key innovations,
including: Bodor T230A tube lasers; all-electric press brakes; Bodor i7 flat-bed fibre laser
cutters; deburring machines; and handheld fibre laser welding equipment. World Machinery
will have its technical team – alongside Bodor technicians – on hand to field any questions.
The company’s finance manager will also be present to help with figures, if required.
More information www.worldmc.co.uk

Stewart Lane Named New MTA President

The Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA), the UK’s leading trade body for the
manufacturing technology sector, has appointed Stewart Lane, Renishaw’s head of EMEA
business development, as its new president. A proven leader for the manufacturing sector,
Lane brings a wealth of technical expertise, commercial insight and industry experience to
the role. 
With a degree in manufacturing systems engineering and 25 years of experience at
Renishaw, Lane has held a wide range of roles at the global FTSE250 engineering business.
He also spent several years working within quality and management functions for a number
of French and Swedish industrial businesses and speaks both languages fluently.
More information www.mta.org.uk

Razor sharp export approach leads to £4m order

A Birmingham, UK-based manufacturer has sealed a £4m export order that will see it play a crucial role in developing the male grooming products of the future.Brandauer, which employs 64 people at its factories in Newtown and Aldridge, will stamp ultra-thin stainless-steel components for use in disposable razors produced by Lord International in Egypt.The deal has initially created two toolmaker positions.

Rowan Crozier, CEO of Brandauer, says: “In 2020, we pivoted into producing precision parts for healthcare companies and one of our biggest growth markets was making a critical ‘frame’ that went into razors for a customer in the Middle East.From early successes here, we decided to tap into support from the Department for Business and Trade to spread the word about our capabilities, which directly led to the opportunity in Egypt.”

He adds: “The two contracts combined will generate close to £1m of revenue every year, whether that’s tooling for blade blanks or for the fames we stamp and supply for final assembly into razors.”

Diversification has been a critical part of the Brandauer ‘DNA’ for more than 163 years and during that time the company has evolved from manufacturing pen nibs to consumer electronic products, core automotive products and now to today’s eclectic mix of micron-tolerance components for electrification, construction and healthcare.

The move into the male grooming arena has seen it invest nearly £800,000 into the creation of three dedicated production cells and the development of complex four-module progression tooling for Lord International.

New presses, ancillary equipment and a fully automated turnkey line have all been installed and this means the firm now designs the tooling needed to manufacture the frames and a cell capable of producing up to 500 razor frames every minute.

More information www.brandauer.co.uk