Rolls-Royce extension building reaches landmark

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has completed a significant phase in the construction of its extension at Goodwood, West Sussex, with the new building now formally declared weathertight. To mark the occasion, chief executive Chris Brownridge and the board of directors hand-signed the final one of 1745 wooden louvres fitted to the side of the 40,000 m² building.

The new facility will provide increased capacity for bespoke and coach-build operations. Initial fit-out with technologies is already underway within the building. Some areas and equipment will be operational this year, with the overall project remaining on schedule for completion in 2029. At £300m+, the extension represents the largest single investment in the home of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars since it opened in 2003.

www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com

Archer selects Bristol for UK Engineering Hub

Archer has selected Bristol as the home of its UK Engineering Hub, which will support some of the company’s most advanced engineering initiatives across its commercial and defence programmes. With a long history of aerospace innovation and a deep well of talent, Bristol offers the ideal location for Archer’s new facility.

Since Archer’s announcement in December regarding plans for its UK hub, the company has received hundreds of applications and begun hiring engineers to help it deliver the next era of advanced aerospace and defence. This workforce will help drive Archer’s local collaboration with Anduril UK and GKN, initially focused on the joint work of the companies in support of uncrewed vehicle programmes in the UK.

More information www.archer.com

ISOQAR gains UKAS accreditation for AI management

UK certification body ISOQAR has achieved UKAS accreditation to deliver ISO/IEC 42001, the international standard for artificial intelligence (AI) management systems, a significant milestone for UK businesses developing or deploying AI technologies. ISOQAR is now one of the first UK certification bodies to be accredited by UKAS for ISO/IEC 42001, currently the world’s first AI management system standard. The standard, first released in 2023, provides organisations with guidance and structured frameworks to manage the risks, governance and opportunities associated with developing and deploying AI-based products and services.More information www.isoqar.com

Rubix to host smart manufacturing event

Cutting tool, work-holding and associated shop-floor products specialist Rubix Cutting & Machining is holding an open house and Smart Manufacturing Event at its Product Proving Centre in Sandiacre, Nottingham on 18-19 March (09:00-16:00 both days). The Rubix division in Sandiacre was created to combine the company’s cutting tool portfolio with technical consultancy provided by expert, time-served engineers.

For performing live demonstrations of the production solutions that Rubix provides, the facility in Sandiacre operates three Hurco machine tools: a pair of vertical machining centres (a five-axis VMX42Ui and a three-axis VMX30Ti) and a TMX8MYSi multi-axis, driven-tool lathe with Y-axis turret and sub-spindle. Metal-cutting demonstrations conducted at the event will include high-speed slotting, roughing and finishing in titanium and aluminium.More information www.bit.ly/4u2K2HB

Excetek wins big at Taiwan machine tool awards

Excetek has been recognised at the 2026 Taiwan Machine Tools Industry Award, with its NP600L Plus energy-saving, smart, linear motor wire EDM named a winner of the 34th Taiwan Excellence Award. The accolade highlights the machine’s advanced engineering and its alignment with global drives towards carbon neutrality and intelligent manufacturing.

Developed to meet growing demands for precision, efficiency and sustainability, the NP600L Plus introduces a series of key innovations. At its core is the proprietary GS high-speed, energy-saving discharge circuit, which increases cutting speeds by 25% to 320 mm²/min (comparable with leading Japanese standards), while reducing power consumption by up to 33% through an integrated energy-recovery function.

Performance is further enhanced by the newly developed W600I controller. Using EtherCAT for motion control, the system delivers four-times faster real-time axis response and six-times greater computing performance than the previous generation, ensuring improved machining accuracy and stability.

To support smart manufacturing strategies, the machine incorporates a remote-monitoring system compatible with OPC UA and UMATI communication protocols. This enables seamless integration with factory management software and allows operators to monitor machine status via a web-based interface.

Additional features include an automated (and patented) scrap-collection system, eliminating manual tapping and improving lights-out efficiency, and XY-axis linear motors equipped with 0.01 µm absolute optical scales. Combined with a structurally optimised, symmetrical design verified through Nastran analysis, the result is zero backlash, minimal thermal deformation and exceptional positioning precision.

The award underscores Excetek’s commitment to continuous innovation and high-performance, energy-efficient EDM technology for the next generation of smart factories.

More information www.excetek.com