EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

£270m Navy radar contract

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has awarded BAE Systems a 10-year contract worth £270m to support the Royal Navy’s three main radar systems: Artisan, Sampson and Long Range Radar (LRR).Every major Royal Navy ship from Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers to Type 45 destroyers feature at least one of these systems, which BAE Systems designs and manufactures.The support contract and joint investment secures around 400 highly-skilled British jobs and underpins BAE Systems’ radar business in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth in Hampshire, Great Baddow in Essex and Hillend near Edinburgh.
For further information www.baesystems.com

Britten-Norman re-shoring aircraft production

UK aircraft manufacturer Britten-Norman is planning to increase production rates and repatriate aircraft production to its historic home in Bembridge, Isle of Wight. The move is a major change for the British SME, which has been manufacturing its aircraft in Eastern Europe since the late 1960s.Britten-Norman will invest in new jigs and tooling to create two additional production lines, andintroduce new sustainable energy initiatives.

In the coming months, the company will embark on a recruitment campaign, further boosting job creation in the UK’s Solent Local Enterprise Partnership area. The focus will include aircraft fitters and technicians, production engineering and supply chain roles. In addition, the expansion will create new traineeship and apprenticeship opportunities on the Isle of Wight and in south Hampshire.
For further information www.britten-norman.com

Trotec opens laser showroom in Edinburgh

Following its move from Stirling earlier this year, laser technology specialist Trotec has opened a 153 sq m demonstration unit in Newbridge, Edinburgh. The new facility provides a larger space to accommodate a wider range of the company’s laser cutters, engravers, marking systems and materials. Demonstrations at the showroom offer an opportunity for business owners and equipment specifiers to receive tailored advice and inspiration. The first laser demonstration days will take place this week (26-28 June), with regular availability for appointments thereafter.
For further information www.troteclaser.com

NI businesses to benefit from £1m funding

A £1m investment from Innovate UK will enable Northern Ireland’s Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC) to start supporting local businesses in the next few months.AMIC’s flagship building, which was granted planning permission in May, will be a 10,500 sq m ‘Factory of the Future’, set to open in 2026 at Global Point Newtownabbey.

The development is part of plans for a £100m investment in AMIC, a Belfast Region City Deal project delivered by Queen’s University in partnership with industry, Ulster University and Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council. The objective is to reinvigorate local industrial potentialand address the future technology and skills challenges faced by the region’s manufacturing sector.
For further information www.bit.ly/3JmSICZ

UK’s newest robotic hub opens in Yorkshire

Universal Robots, the world’s largest collaborative robot (cobot) company, has opened its first UK hub in Sheffield. Taking advantage of the region’s rich industrial heritage, the new hub will help UK manufacturers unlock the benefits of collaborative robotics and automation. Leveraging Yorkshire’s strong manufacturing links, the new robotics hub will house offices and a showroom where visitors can see demonstrations of the latest technology and applications for cobots. This latest hub follows record annual revenues for Universal Robots of $326m, up 5% on 2021.
For further information www.universal-robots.com