Fighter Jet HQ Opens

A flagship headquarters that will support the delivery of a supersonic stealth fighter jet has opened in Reading, where hundreds of skilled personnel will be based. The move is a significant milestone for the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) – a joint initiative between the UK, Japan and Italy to develop a next-generation fighter jet. The facility will host the GCAP International Government Organisation (GIGO) and a joint venture company, called Edgewing that brings together three industry partners: BAE Systems (UK), Leonardo (Italy) and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement.

More information www.gov.uk

Robotics contest heats up as finalists named

FANUC UK has revealed the six teams of young people who have made it to the final of the WorldSkills UK Industrial Robotics competition, taking place in Wales this November. Following two days of intense qualifiers at Smart Factory Expo in June 2025, teams from Northern Regional College in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, and Bridgend College in Wales, will now battle it out to be crowned the best young robotics programmers in the UK, and win the chance to represent Squad UK at the WorldSkills international finals in Shanghai, China next year.

More information www.fanuc.eu

René Güntner named new CFO at Mapal

René Güntner is the new chief financial officer (CFO) of the Mapal Group. In his role, Güntner assumes responsibility for the areas of financial accounting, controlling, purchasing and facility management. He says: “I see myself as financial officer as well as sparring partner for all areas of the company. Open dialogue and cross-divisional collaboration are key success factors.” In his previous role, Güntner was executive vice president of finance at Mapal Group. He succeeds Matthias Cöster, who has left the company by mutual agreement.

More information www.mapal.com

Advanced Manufacturing Centre Opens

The UK’s first-ever Gene Haas Centre for Advanced Manufacturing has officially opened at West Nottinghamshire College, marking a major leap forward for the region’s engineering and manufacturing sector. It comes after the college was awarded a £500,000 grant from the US-based Gene Haas Foundation through its pioneering partnership with the global engineering powerhouse.

The landmark investment has funded a comprehensive remodelling of the college’s engineering centre in Sutton-in-Ashfield. This redesign has seen the arrival of a new suite of advanced machinery and tools – purchased through other funding sources – including a CNC machining centre with ABB robot, CNC lathes, milling machines, CNC mini mills and a CNC lathe with FANUC robot.

More information www.wnc.ac.uk

Thales and Hexagon Formalise Partnership

Thales and Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division have signed a strategic five-year framework agreement, formalising Hexagon’s role as a key technology partner to support Thales’ operational performance and quality assurance across the Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. 

The agreement appoints Hexagon as Thales’ strategic supplier of metrology equipment, software, services and maintenance for all of the company’s divisions within the EMEA region. The agreement was signed in person during the Paris Air Show 2025 by Didier Perrigault, global expenses procurement director at Thales, and Stephen Chadwick, president EMEA at Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division.

More information www.hexagon.com