EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

RAF manufactures its first 3D-printed part

The Royal Air Force has fitted its first in-house manufactured 3D-printed component to an operational Typhoon fighter jet, marking a revolutionary step towards faster aircraft repairs and reduced downtime. This notable milestone was achieved at RAF Coningsby, where engineers successfully installed a temporary replacement part for the pylon assembly that connects weapons systems to the aircraft’s wing. The repair was manufactured at the Hilda B. Hewitt Centre for Innovation, which the RAF says is equipped with world-leading 3D printing and scanning equipment. 

More information www.raf.mod.uk

Metals Supply Chain Joins Together

UK Metals Expo, a leading UK exhibition that brings the entire metals supply chain together with the worlds of engineering, manufacturing and construction, will open its doors next week (10-11 September) at the NEC in Birmingham. Over 7500 visitors are expected at the show, seeking everything from primary metal manufacturing and metal processing to metalworking, fabrication, CNC machinery, surface finishing and recycling.

More than 320 exhibitors will showcase products and solutions across the entire supply chain, while 100+ speakers will share their knowledge, innovations, insights and best practices across 30+ seminar sessions. Show visitors can: learn about new technology, machinery, tools, training and services; source a wide range of materials from leading metal stockholders and distributors; and connect with market experts – all under one roof.

More information www.ukmetalsexpo.com

Sales force expansion

Machine tool supplier Ward Hi-Tech is further expanding its sales force by welcoming Jon Mannion to cover the East Midlands region as sales manager. Offering many years of experience within the UK machine tool industry, Mannion says: “I’m delighted to join Ward Hi-Tech, a long established and well-respected UK machine tool supplier with a wide-ranging product portfolio and a great support team.” Ward Hi-Tech is the sole UK distributor for global machine tool brands that include Hwacheon, HNK and Kiheung from South Korea, as well as Dah Lih Machinery, SFM and Vision Wide from Taiwan. 

More information www.wardhitech.co.uk

£13m nuclear programme

The University of Manchester has been awarded a major grant to lead a new programme that will transform the lifecycle of graphite in nuclear energy. The five-year ENLIGHT programme (Enabling a Lifecycle Approach to Graphite for Advanced Modular Reactors) will develop critical technologies to support the deployment of next-generation nuclear energy technology and address two of the UK’s most pressing nuclear challenges: securing a sustainable, sovereign supply of nuclear graphite; and finding solutions to manage the country’s growing volume of irradiated graphite waste.

More information www.manchester.ac.uk

New Vocational Celebration Day launched

The UK skills sector is to hold an annual Vocational Celebration Day, a new initiative designed to shine a spotlight on the vital contributions of vocational training and skilled trades to the nation’s prosperity. The day, set to be observed every year on the first Thursday of August, honours those whose passion, expertise and dedication in vocational fields form the backbone of the UK’s economy and society. Devised and driven by former Sector Skills Council Enginuity and awarding organisation EAL, the first Vocational Celebration Day will take place on Thursday 6 August 2026.

More information https://enginuity.org/