EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

Date set for next NORTEC exhibition

After intensive evaluations, enquiries and discussions involving a large number of exhibitors, the date of the next NORTEC trade fair has been set. NORTEC will be held at the Hamburg Trade Fair Centre on 3-5 February 2026. The new date was carefully selected in order to take account of the requirements of exhibitors and trade visitors. In addition, the duration of NORTEC has been reduced from four to three days with the clear objective of increasing trade fair efficiency. The previous edition of the biennial show, NORTEC 2024, made a positive restart under the new management of Messe Stuttgart and the VDW.

More information www.nortec-hamburg.com

Mazak sponsors penguin sculpture

A unique ‘steampunk’ penguin sculpture, sponsored by Yamazaki Mazak, is part of the Great Waddle of Worcester supporting the Wild in Art event to raise funds for St Richard’s Hospice. Named ‘Dr Waddlecog,’ the creation by artist Kevin Baumber is one of 40 penguin artworks displayed throughout Worcester from 22 July to 15 September. Yamazaki Mazak regularly supports charities and the Wild in Art initiative. The company identified Dr Waddlecog as the perfect sculpture to sponsor thanks to its eye-catching exterior and level of advanced engineering expertise required for its design and fabrication.

More information https://waddleofworcester.co.uk 

Unipart acquires Formaplex Technologies

Unipart, a supply chain solutions and performance improvement technologies partner, has acquired Formaplex Technologies, a lightweight components manufacturer serving customers in the automotive, aerospace, motorsport and healthcare sectors.

Formaplex Technologies was established two decades ago, initially as a specialist tooling partner in the Formula 1 sector. Major customers include McLaren, which is fully supportive of the acquisition and remains committed to working with the business. Unipart will integrate the operations into its existing manufacturing portfolio, ensuring continuity and maintaining the high operational and safety standards that both companies deliver. Formaplex has already been rebranded as Unipart Polymer and Composite Solutions.

More information www.unipart.com

Strong first year energises Greenfields

A fledgling energy management consultancy that supports industry has enjoyed a promising first 12 months. Greenfields Energy Group, which was set-up by Liam Conway and Rich Clark, has gained 72 clients in its first year, with the majority coming from the manufacturing sector.

The duo now manage more than 361,172,009 kWh of contracts and this number is growing due to exciting new partnerships with the Surface Engineering Association and the Confederation of British Metalforming (CBM). The West Midlands-based firm subsequently pressed the button on a major recruitment drive, securing two prominent hires in Neil Freeman and Lindsay Williams as account director and head of energy bureau, respectively.

More information www.greenfieldsenergygroup.co.uk

AGS strikes up Danobat partnership

Coventry, UK-based Advanced Grinding Solutions (AGS) in entering a new partnership with Danobat, the Spanish manufacturer of internal, external and combined multi-tasking grinding machines. Chris Boraston, managing director at AGS, says that Danobat approached AGS at this year’s MACH 2024 show in Birmingham about the possibility of working together in the UK. That conversation led to a further meeting at the recent BIEMH exhibition in Bilbao, where AGS agreed a collaboration to promote Danobat’s range of grinding machines in the UK marketplace.

More information www.advancedgrindingsolutions.co.uk