EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

Emag Group mourns loss of former CEO

Norbert Heßbrüggen,the former CEO and shareholder of machine tool builder Emag passed away last month at the age of 88 in his hometown of Salach. The company owes a lot to him: under Heßbrüggen’sleadership from the end of the 1960s, the small southern German machine manufacturer became a globally active group with numerous subsidiaries. He also had the pioneering idea for a multi-functional vertical turning centre that made Emag a technology leader. In addition, the successful corporate structure that is still in place today was created under Heßbrüggen’s tenure. The entire company is mourning his passing.
For further information www.emag.com

Mestec scores hat-trick of contract wins

A UK technology specialist is building on a record year by winning a trio of high-profile contracts and a prestigious global award. Mestec, which has seen sales grow by over 50% since its acquisition by Eyelit, will use its cloud-based manufacturing execution system (MES) solution to create smarter factories for clients involved in supercar customisation, advanced engineering and golf equipment manufacture.

The Bracknell-based business will work with the global brands to rapidly deploy technology that promises to improve performance across 80+ KPIs in a bid to improve productivity, OEE, quality and compliance.It comes at an exciting time for the firm after it won the Oracle ‘Global Leaders ISV of the Year Award’ at a ceremony that formed part of the recent Oracle CloudWorld in Las Vegas.
For further information www.mestec.net

Around 30,000 expected at Maktek Konya

The second edition of Maktek Konya is taking place in Turkey’s Anatolian region week (11-14 October). Staged at the Tüyap Konya International Fair Centre, Maktek will focus on manufacturing technologies that include sheet metal processing machines (bending, folding, straightening and flattening), tooling, measurements systems and CADCAM software.

Maktek Konya takes place in co-operation with the Machine Tools Industrialists and Business Association (TIAD) and the Turkish Machine Manufacturers Association (MIB). The last edition of the trade fair, in 2019, achieved great success by hosting 29,753 professional visitors from 47 countries, as well as 276 exhibitors from 20 countries. Some 88% of visitors said that they intend to return.
For further information www.maktekkonya.com/en

MicroStrain Sensing Systems joins HBK family

HBK is welcoming MicroStrain Sensing Systems to the family following the successful completion of the acquisition by Spectris Plc. The purchase, valued at $37.6m, has gained approval through a comprehensive regulatory process in the US. With the integration into HBK, MicroStrain will operate under the name ‘MicroStrain by HBK’. Located in Vermont, MicroStrain has expertise in designing and manufacturing high-precision inertial and wireless sensing systems. Its products cater to the industrial and tactical-grade sector within the inertial sensing systems market.
For further information www.microstrain.com

£30m AMIC contract

A construction contractor has been appointed to the Queen’s University Belfast-led Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC), a £100m Belfast Region City Deal project, with almost £80m coming from the UK Government. Henry Brothers has won the £30m contract to construct the 10,500 sq m ‘Factory of the Future’ building at Global Point Business Park in Newtownabbey. By 2050, estimates predict that AMIC will have contributed more than £1bn to the local economy, directly and indirectly created over 1500 permanent jobs, and supported the training of 300 apprentices.
For further information www.bit.ly/3JmSICZ