EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

AM cell at Rolls-Royce

Luke Pollard MP, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, has opened a new additive manufacturing (AM) development cell at Rolls-Royce’s Defence Assembly and Operations facility in Bristol. Housed in a custom-built 350 m² space, the humidity, temperature and air pressure are carefully optimised to ensure consistent quality. The AM machinery manufactures aerospace components layer by layer using metal superalloy powders; constructing complex metal components by melting layers of powder using laser beams. As well as weight savings, the parts developed in the cell will enable quicker delivery.

More information www.bit.ly/42rFEFv

NMITE secures landmark degree accreditation

The Hereford-based New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) has secured accreditation from the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) for its BEng and MEng Integrated Engineering degrees. IET accreditation is one of the most rigorous external validations available to engineering degrees in the UK, confirming that NMITE’s programmes meet the highest standards of quality, technical excellence and professional relevance. NMITE’s accredited status is now formally recognised on both the IET and Engineering Council UK databases.

More information www.nmite.ac.uk

GrindingHub 2026 isfully booked 

Rising energy and material costs, volatile markets, geopolitical uncertainties, and ongoing pressure to innovate and improve efficiency are currently shaping the operating environment for grinding technology. This makes GrindingHub in Stuttgart this week all the more noteworthy: on 5-8 May, some 460 exhibitors from 28 countries will showcase their latest advances.

The trade show has established itself as a key platform for professional exchange and the presentation of practical solutions related to the grinding process. With three fully booked halls, the number of exhibitors has reached a level comparable to that of 2024, sending a clear signal in an economically challenging environment.

More information www.grindinghub.de/en

Finalists Named for STEM Innovation Competition

Young innovators across the UK have been named finalists of The Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Competition 2026. Selected from hundreds of entries, the young finalists will now go through a final round of judging and receive feedback from industry experts, before the winners are announced at an awards ceremony at The Big Bang Fair in June, the UK’s largest free celebration of STEM for young people aged 10 to 13. Run by EngineeringUK, the UK’s top annual STEM competition encourages young people to think big, challenge facts, ask questions and invent solutions. 

More information www.thebigbang.org.uk

Metal service centre wins big at CBM Awards

Amajor UK-based metal services centres was named as the shining star of the metal industry ‘Oscars’ recently. William King, which specialises in high-tensile steel, aluminium, light gauge processing, electrical steels and niche metal coatings, beat off competition from more than 50 businesses to win the ‘Company of the Year’ at the Confederation of British Metalforming (CBM) Awards.Held in front of more than 150 people at the ICC in Birmingham, the West Bromwich-based company impressed judges with its commitment to decarbonisation through investment in solar-generated electricity.

More information www.thecbm.co.uk