EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

Dan Thombs Named CEO At Automate UK

Automate UK has appointed Dan Thombs as its new CEO, tasked with accelerating the organisation’s reach and impact across the complete industrial ecosystem. He succeeds Peter Williamson, who has taken on the role of policy director further to reaching the end of his term. Thombs brings 30 years of experience in automation and advanced manufacturing to the role. As a neutral, not-for-profit organisation, Automate UK has no vested or commercial interest of its own.

“Our ambition is to make Automate UK the leading force for automation adoption, helping manufacturers unlock productivity, competitiveness and sustainable growth,” he says. “Through stronger collaboration between technology providers, integrators and end users, we can drive innovation that benefits manufacturing in the UK and beyond.”

More information www.automate-uk.com

Spanish Automotive Suppliers Generated €40.9bn In 2025

Spain’s automotive supplier industry generated €40.949bn in turnover in 2025, showing resilience, industrial strength, innovation and technological advancement as it responds to the needs of an sector undergoing profound transformation. Exports reached €24.688bn, accounting for more than 60% of total industry turnover. Autoparts From Spain, the platform that brings together leading Spanish manufacturers and exporters of automotive components, says the results are further evidence of the competitiveness of Spanish companies in an increasingly demanding global environment.

More information www.spainautoparts.com

Gewefa Changes Name To Nydaloxe Precision

Wiltshire-based tooling specialist Gewefa UK has completed a major corporate rebranding, officially changing its name to Nydaloxe Precision. Operating under the slogan ‘Tool Holding Without Limit’, the firm has adopted a new identity that reflects the evolution in its commercial direction since its establishment in 1991. 

While early focus was on delivering a comprehensive range of high-precision spindle-nose tool holders manufactured by German parent company, Gewefa GmbH, the UK firm ceased to be a subsidiary some time ago. It is now an independent entity with a considerably broadened range that caters to a more extensive spectrum of applications. The portfolio includes driven/static turning tool holders, precision collet chucks, heat-shrink systems, spindle tool clamping systems, angle heads, speeders and multi-spindle heads.
More information www.nydaloxeprecision.com

German Machine Tool Orders See 15% Rise in Q1

Following three difficult years, the German machine tool industry can breathe a first sigh of relief: incoming orders increased by 15% in Q1 2026. Nevertheless, the situation remains challenging. Production, exports and employment continue to fall, while the conflict in the Middle East is leading to greater uncertainty and higher costs. “The situation appears to have bottomed out, although we’re nowhere near to reversing the trend,” states Bernhard Geis, head of economics and statistics at the VDW (German Machine Tool Builders’ Association). “The coming months will show whether the recovery is more permanent.”

More information www.vdw.de

£2.5m EU opportunity

A major UK metal stamping company is targeting £2.5m of new EU opportunities after appointing a new European technical specialist. Brandauer, which provides precision components for more than 15 high-value sectors, has brought in multilingual industry expert Jürgen Wollbold to increase its presence on the ground in France, Germany and Spain. Wollbold says: “We’ve identified £5m of new opportunities across the EU and I feel it’s more than reasonable to believe we can convert at least half of these, especially those that involve precision stamping, in-house tooling, laminations and press-fit applications.”

More information www.brandauer.co.uk