UK closer to net-zero steel

More sustainable, low-carbon steel and electric vehicle batteries are the target of a new two-year technology development programme between WMG at the University of Warwick and Tata Steel. The partners will come together to focus on developing environmentally friendly steel grades, coatings, films and battery structures, enabling the growth of steel application across key industrial sectors. The initial research activity will focus on five core themes: product metallurgy; surface state optimisation; non-metallic coatings; future material applications; and material forming/joining and associated characterisation.
For further information www.tatasteeleurope.com

£80m hydrogen gigafactory set for UK

Johnson Matthey (JM) is building a £80m gigafactory at its existing site in Royston, UK, to scale up the manufacture of hydrogen fuel cell components. Earlier this year, JM announced a refreshed strategy, with an ambition to be the “market leader in performance components for fuel cells and electrolysers”, targeting more than £200m sales in hydrogen technologies by end of 2025. The gigafactory will initially be capable of manufacturing 3 GW of PEM fuel cell components annually for hydrogen vehicles, with support from the UK Government through the Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF).
For further information www.matthey.com

CBE+ opens doors after investment phase

Engineering supply chain solution provider CBE+ has completed the relocation of its five divisions together under one roof at a 100,000 sq ft state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Chesterfield. The company, which employs 80 people, has been operating its services from two separate sites since 2017 when business owners Marie Cooper and Chris Brown acquired the five legacy businesses which make up CBE+ today. Last month, the company opened its doors to customers, suppliers and manufacturing businesses from the Made In network for breakfast, company presentations and a factory tour.
For further information www.cbeplus.com

Steady growth in subcontract sector

The latest Contract Manufacturing Index shows that despite underlying volatility, the UK subcontract manufacturing market grew steadily through the second quarter of 2022, registering 13% growth with a particularly sharp rise (42%) in fabrication services. Sourcing specialist Qimtek produces the CMI, which reflects the total purchasing budget for outsourced manufacturing of over 4000 companies looking to place business in any given month.

The baseline for the index is 100, which represents the average size of the subcontract manufacturing market between 2014 and 2018. In the second quarter of 2022, the CMI was 101, compared with 89 for the first quarter of the year. The strongest sector was industrial machinery, which was also the top sector in Q1 and grew by 10% in Q2.
For further information www.qimtek.co.uk

A turn for the better at Goodman

Mills CNC, the exclusive distributor of Doosan machine tools in the UK and Ireland, has supplied Milton Keynes based motorsport subcontractor Goodman Precision Engineering (GPE) with a new multi-tasking Doosan turning centre. The machine, a compact 6” chuck Lynx 2100LY lathe, is equipped with: roller LM guideways; a 15 kW/6000 rpm spindle; a servo-driven turret (12/24 position); the latest Fanuc control featuring 15” touchscreen iHMI; integrated Y axis (±52.5 mm); and driven tooling (3.7 kW/6000 rpm). GPE’s new Lynx 2100LY is the first Doosan machine at the company.

“Machining components to exacting tolerances and superior surface finishes from solid or castings is our forte,” explains GPE director Stephen Reynolds. “While milling remains the company’s primary focus, we recently made the strategic decision to augment our machining capabilities with turning.”

He adds: “Multi-axis and multi-tasking lathes with, for example, Y axes and driven tools, help us machine complex, high-precision parts in one-hit and make us more efficient. Lynx lathes and turning centres are proven and popular. They are reliable, versatile and represent great value. The fact that they are backed by Mills CNC’s after-sales services and technical support only adds to their appeal.”

Since being installed the new Lynx hasn’t missed a beat. It is operating for 16 hours a day, while its ability to machine parts to completion in one set-up means it is more than paying for itself.

As well as being used to machine parts for motorsport customers, the machine has also produced a range of components for ‘diversified’ customers operating in the aerospace, defence and rail sectors, to name but a few.
For further information www.millscnc.co.uk