NASTC opens

Stratasys has launched its North American Stratasys Tooling Center (NASTC), a new collaboration with Automation Intelligence LLC located at the latter’s manufacturing site in Flint, Michigan. The dedicated tooling hub is designed to help manufacturers validate and scale practical applications for additive manufacturing in production environments. The NASTC operates both the Stratasys F3300 and F900 3D printers, assisting in the optimisation of applications focused on critical tooling solutions such as jigs, fixtures, end-of-arm tooling and North American Automotive Metric Standards (NAAMS) blocks.

More information www.stratasys.com

Inclusivity campaign

A campaign celebrating inclusivity and diversity in industry has been launched by a specialist UK training provider. ‘I’m In-Comm, I’m Included’ is the message being championed by apprentices, learners and staff at In-Comm Training as it looks to break down some of the barriers faced by women, ethnic minorities and hard-to-engage groups considering an apprenticeship and career in engineering and manufacturing. In-Comm Training has already enlisted the support of its 20 ‘IC ambassadors’ and its 75-strong workforce to spread the message, while several employers and partners have also pledged their support.

More information www.in-comm.co.uk

Sheffield Forgemasters details £1.3bn plans

MoD-owned Sheffield Forgemasters has seen its re-capitalisation plan increased from £900m to £1.3bn in a move that will increase capacity for defence manufacture. Under the Government’s recently announced increase in defence spend, the infrastructure at Sheffield Forgemasters has been challenged to provide greater resilience, faster production and reduced lead times. Sheffield Forgemasters’ new forge and machine shop – which will feature 15 of the world’s most advanced, large vertical turning lathes – are set to be operational by the end of the decade, increasing the company’s efficiency and accuracy.

More information www.sheffieldforgemasters.com

HVM Catapult and NPL enter partnership

The High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult and National Physical Laboratory (NPL) have agreed a new partnership that will deepen collaboration in areas of national priority. The two organisations have signed an MoU that will establish combined programmes for greater impact on UK industry. It will include joint projects, sharing of infrastructure and exchange of staff. HVM Catapult and NPL are set to explore joint R&D activities in areas including high-precision timing for manufacturing, engineering transformation, exploitation of AI, sustainable materials, exploitation of quantum and engineering biology.

More information https://hvm.catapult.org.uk/

New Artillery Factory in Sheffield

A 94,000 sq ft artillery facility was officially opened by Secretary of State for Defence John Healey earlier this month. The site, which will become operational by the end of the year, will house a state-of-the-art factory specialising in artillery expertise that will make Sheffield the home of UK howitzer production. The facility will also create 200 new high skilled jobs and support more than 60 businesses across the UK supply chain.

“This new factory is a big boost for South Yorkshire and a significant step forward in strengthening our British defence industrial base,” said Healey. “This is a vote of confidence in our world-leading defence sector and skilled British jobs.” The facility will later evolve to develop and produce a range of different combat systems.

More information www.baesystems.com