EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

CMZ UK Tech Centre Site to Span 4 Acres

Spain-headquartered lathe builder CMZ has taken a decisive step in its growth strategy with the recent acquisition of a site spanning over 4 acres (16,000 m²) on which it will build its new UK technology centre. Located in Coventry, the company’s future UK headquarters will open its doors within 1-2 years, marking a milestone in its international expansion.

The tech centre will feature sales offices, a showroom with CMZ lathes and an applications engineering area dedicated to providing direct support to UK customers. CMZ’s existing UK sales and aftersales team will expand and relocate to the Coventry facility, which will be located adjacent to the A45 and within the West Midlands Investment Zone. The development marks a turning point in the 15-year history of CMZ’s UK subsidiary.More information www.cmz.com

Metalworking fluid receives global approvals

Quaker Houghton’s HOCUT 4260 soluble coolant for metal-cutting applications has received additional global approvals from two aerospace and defence industry giants: BAE

Systems and Airbus. The company says the approvals validate the fluid’s performance capabilities in critical aerospace manufacturing applications and strengthen Quaker Houghton’s position in the aerospace market.

BAE Systems has approved HOCUT 4260 – a heavy-duty, boron- and formaldehyde-free metalworking fluid – for use in the grinding and machining of all aluminium alloys, steels and titanium deployed in BAE and F35 (Lockheed Martin) manufactured aircraft. Airbus has granted approval for machining plastics and composites, including unreinforced PA6, PA66, PEEK, PTFE, and non-continuous glass and carbon fibre reinforced materials.

More information www.quakerhoughton.com

Renishaw and British Cycling prepare for Olympics

British Cycling and Renishaw have renewed their long-standing partnership for a third consecutive Olympic and Paralympic cycle. As preparations get underway for Los Angeles 2028, the two organisations will work closely on a new wave of technical developments with a focus on aerodynamics, mechanical optimisation and strength-to-weight engineering for elite track cycling. In preparation, the first year of this partnership will centre around R&D, with Renishaw’s engineers exploring how advanced manufacturing – including metal additive manufacturing – can deliver performance gains.

More information www.renishaw.com

EIA Rebrand Better Reflects Market Needs

The Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) says that the Engineering Industries Association (EIA) is changing its name to Engineering Supply Chain UK (ESCUK). The update better reflects current market needs and the core activities of members. ESCUK represents technology users within advanced manufacturing and, alongside offering a member discount at the MACH show, is looking to create a database for UK supply chain companies.

As part of the MTA cluster, which also includes Additive Manufacturing UK (AMUK) and the MACH exhibition, ESCUK aims to showcase its members’ capacity, capability, products and services within the UK supply chain. Changes in trends over the past five years, specifically around reshoring and sovereign manufacturing, has seen an increase in UK-based demand and the rebranded association will better reflect the offering of its members.

More information www.escuk.org

Space facility lift-off

A new 45,000 ft²space manufacturing facility that is expected to create 2000 jobs has opened in Hardwicke, Gloucester, marking a milestone for the UK’s space industry capabilities. The Advanced Composites Manufacturing Enterprise, led by iCOMAT, a spin-out company from the University of Bristol, received £4.8m of funding from the UK Space Agency’s Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund to establish the facility. The opening event welcomed representatives from the UK Space Agency, European Space Agency and international space sector leaders such as Orbex, Lockheed Martin and Thales Alenia Space.

More information https://icomat.co.uk/