EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

ModuleWorks partners with Mitsubishi Electric

ModuleWorks, a supplier of software components for the digital manufacturing industry, says Mitsubishi Electric has joined its Strategic Partner Programme. The Strategic Partner Programme initiated by ModuleWorks represents a commitment to driving the development of intelligent, integrated manufacturing solutions by fostering collaboration and innovation between ModuleWorks and key technology providers. Mitsubishi Electric, which is the latest addition to the growing network of partners,collaboratedpreviously with ModuleWorks on its shop-floor digitalisation strategy.
For further information www.moduleworks.com

Succession planning proves vital at Alloy Wire

A UK manufacturer of round, flat and profile wire is on course to celebrate a record year, less than 12 months on from a MBO designed to protect the ‘unique values’ of the business.
Alloy Wire International, which began trading in the Black Country more than 77 years ago, has seen sales rocket by £3m since completion of the deal in January, taking turnover to £18m with the prospect of breaking £20m in 2024.Demand from customers in more than 63 countries has been behind the initial boost, but the company is now adamant that its commitment to extending employee ownership will drive ongoing success.
For further informationwww.alloywire.com

SPF project

The University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC) and ITP Aero have co-developed a project to minimise energy use and material waste, and enhance productivity throughout the lifecycle of the aerospace superplastic forming (SPF) process. The three-year £750,000 project aims to develop a predictive tool that identifies the lowest temperature possible for successful SPF across ITP’s product range.This new tool will be capable of predicting microstructure evolution, damage initiation and alpha-case formation during SPF.
For further information www.bit.ly/44R55PL

Student success in robotics

The winners of the 2023 WorldSkills UK Industrial Robotics competition, held in conjunction with FANUC UK, were announcedat an awards ceremony in Manchester last month. Representing the best of the UK’s rising robotics talent, Hannah Currie and Peter O’Neill from Northern Regional College in Northern Ireland beat over 50 talented young apprentices and students to take gold at the national finals, which were held over three days at FANUC’s UK headquarters in Coventry. The duo now have the chance to represent Team UK at the WorldSkills International Industrial Robotics competition in 2024.
For further information www.bit.ly/484XXBj

Life on Mars?

A European mission to explore life on Mars has received a major boost after a UK firm was awarded more than £10m to replace Russian components in the Rosalind Franklin Mars Rover.The rover, built by Airbus in Stevenage as part of a European Space Agency programme, was due to launch in 2022 before collaboration with Russia’s space agency was cancelled following the illegal invasion of Ukraine.Now, the UK Space Agency will provide an additional £10.7m to a UK team to replace a Russian-made instrument on the Rosalind Franklin rover, with the aim of launching to Mars in 2028.
For further information www.gov.uk