EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

FANUC again named in top 100 innovators

Industrial automation specialist FANUC Corporation has been recognised as one of the Top 100 Global Innovators 2026 by Clarivate Plc, for the fifth consecutive year. Clarivate recognises and ranks the world’s top 100 most innovative corporations and institutions based on proprietary patent data. With AI technology rapidly rising to prominence, this year’s listed companies represent 16% of all high-intensity AI-related inventions. As evidenced by its recent partnership with AI leader NVIDIA, FANUC is focusing on AI technology to drive innovation within manufacturing.

More information www.bit.ly/4qWveYr

Sheffield Forgemasters celebrates 250 years

Sheffield Forgemasters is celebrating its 250-year anniversary. The Ministry of Defence-owned business has traced its heritage back to 1776, the year of American independence, when George Naylor helped his cutlery manufacturing partnership to move into steelmaking through the construction of a crucible steel furnace in the city.

CEO Gary Nutter says: “We’re dedicating 2026 to recognising the vast contribution that the company and its forerunners made to establishing Sheffield as the world’s most important steelmaking centre. We’ll celebrate this milestone with our people and the wider community, marking the new legacy we’re creating through our £1.3bn investment programme that will set the business up for generations to come.”

More information www.sheffieldforgemasters.com

Tadweld on track for 15% growth in 2026

Yorkshire-based steelwork manufacturing and coded welding specialist Tadweld is on track for its strongest year to date, targeting a further 15% growth that would see annual revenue exceed £6m for the first time in the company’s history. Following a highly successful 2025, the Tadcaster-headquartered business entered 2026 with strong momentum across its core markets and a clear strategy for expansion. Building on recent investment in systems, people and manufacturing capacity, Tadweld is now accelerating growth through new market opportunities, deeper sector focus and ongoing recruitment.

More information www.tadweld.co.uk

AMRC Names New CEO

Professor Ben Morgan has been appointed as CEO of the University of Sheffield Advanced
Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), following a successful term as interim CEO that
commenced in January 2025. Moving forward, Morgan will continue to build on the AMRC’s

legacy of industrial, economic and regional transformation as it enters its 25th year. Having
begun his career at the AMRC as a project engineer in 2009, he rose to become a senior
robotics engineer and automation projects manager before taking on the senior post of
head of the integrated manufacturing group, leading a team of more than 70 engineers.
More information www.amrc.co.uk

Manufacturing Output Grows By £21bn

According to an analysis of ONS data by FourJaw Manufacturing Analytics, the value of UK
manufacturing output increased by £21bn in 2025, despite a workforce reduction of over
36,000 people and 2500 fewer manufacturers. Factory output increased by 3.4% to nearly
£639bn in 2025, driven by multi-billion-pound output and productivity gains in aerospace
(£6.7bn) and metal and machinery (£2.6bn).
Chris Iveson, CEO at FourJaw Manufacturing Analytics, says: “To deliver £21bn more in
output is a phenomenal achievement given current workforce challenges and points to a
sector successfully embracing continuous improvement and productivity-enhancing
technology. Put simply, the resurgence of UK manufacturing is down to smart, efficient
production and maximising the output of every machine and every employee.”
More information www.fourjaw.com