Chiron Group appoints new CEO

The board of directors at machine tool manufacturer Chiron Group has appointed Roman Gaida as its new CEO, effective 1 July 2026. The move sends a clear signal regarding the company’s international expansion, a stronger focus on customer needs and a consistent commitment to profitable growth.

“With Roman, the Chiron Group is gaining a CEO who combines strategic clarity, international leadership experience and deep technical expertise,” explains chairman Dr Armin Schmiedeberg. “His career path – from his roots in CNC machining through senior leadership roles to the global management of international organisations – makes him a valuable and forward-looking addition to our leadership team.”More information www.chiron-group.com

Stratasys selected for war AM programme

Stratasys’ parts-on-demand business, Stratasys Direct, has been selected to take part in the US Department of War’s (DoW) Joint Additive Manufacturing Acceptability (JAMA) IV Pilot Parts Programme, a multimillion- dollar initiative to accelerate qualification and deployment of 3D-printed parts across military platforms and systems.

“In 2025 Stratasys saw double-digit annual revenue growth from aerospace and defence, demonstrating that AM is a becoming a key capability for defence sustainment and supply chain resilience,” says Foster Ferguson, vice president – industrial business unit, Stratasys. “Stratasys Direct already ships over 100,000 parts annually to the defence industry, and programmes like JAMA will accelerate qualification of parts so organisations can deploy them faster across operational platforms.” 

More information www.stratasys.com/en/stratasysdirect

In-Comm MD to run London Marathon for charity

A manufacturing training leader and novice runner is preparing to take on the iconic London Marathon, taking place on 26 April, to raise vital funds for the Good Shepherd in Wolverhampton. Gareth Jones is MD at In-Comm Training, which provides apprenticeships and upskilling opportunities to engineering and manufacturing firms. Located across two technical academies in Aldridge and Telford, the firm recently completed a 12-month partnership with the Good Shepherd as its Charity of the Year, providing over £25,000 worth of contributions through corporate volunteering, in-kind support and fundraising.More information www.bit.ly/424g7lw

Finecast welcomes UK industry stakeholders

Finecast, a West Sussex-based precision casting and machining specialist, opened its doors to a diverse delegation last month to address one of the most pressing challenges facing UK manufacturing today: the future of the domestic casting industry. Delegates comprised members of the Worshipful Company of Founders, a historic livery company dedicated to supporting and promoting the modern metals and casting industries. Also attending the event were industry leaders, academics, engineers and apprentices. 

The day began with an informal roundtable discussion, followed by a behind-the-scenes tour of Finecast’s advanced foundry and machine shop. Finecast has recently invested £2m in its machine shop capabilities and is in the process of achieving NADCAP accreditation.

The company also employs advanced inspection technologies such as GOM optical 3D metrology systems for precise geometric measurement.

More information www.finecast.co.uk

EMG-Control: Digital force and displacement control solutions

France-headquartered EMG Presses has introduced a new solution designed to meet growing demand for enhanced monitoring and full traceability in industrial production processes. The system forms part of the EMG-Control ecosystem, combining force and displacement sensors with an intuitive display interface to deliver 100% part control in real time.

Officially distributed in the UK by Berger Tools, the equipment enables continuous and accurate quality control across a range of press technologies, including rack and pinion, toggle and pneumatic bench machines. Suitable for manual, semi-automated and fully automated workstations, the solution supports reliable anomaly detection and consistent product compliance, even in demanding industrial environments.

Designed as a plug-and-play system, EMG-Control offers multi-program management, sequence programming and statistical analysis, making it a valuable addition to modern SPC strategies. Manufacturers can measure, monitor and record key variables such as force, stroke and time, either individually or in combination, with data displayed in a variety of formats including graphs, curves and numerical readouts. Real-time history tracking and a configurable sequence editor provide operators with complete visibility and control over the measurement process.

Ease of use is central to the system’s design. Operators receive immediate visual and audible feedback indicating whether components meet specified parameters, allowing non-compliant parts to be quickly identified and removed. The integration of TEDS-enabled sensors ensures automatic recognition and self-calibration, eliminating the need for manual setup and reducing the risk of configuration errors.

As manufacturers continue to embrace digitalisation, EMG’s latest innovation provides a flexible and scalable pathway to smarter, data-driven production environments.

More information www.emg-presses.co.uk