EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

Ready to boostinvestment?

Britain’s manufacturers could boost their investment by up to £10bn if they were to take advantage of the range of public and private financial options available to them, helping to raise the investment potential of the sector overall by up to a fifth and address the UK’s long-term productivity weakness. This is according to Make UK’s latest report – Finance: Opening Doors to Investment in Manufacturing – published in partnership with NatWest and Lombard. It also finds that 26% would increase their own investment by up to a fifth if access to finance was improved, while12% would increase their investment by up to half. 

For further information www.makeuk.org

Linear-guide cutting facility opens

European users of NSK’s linear guides can now take advantage of the company’s new cutting facility in the Netherlands. Based at NSK’s European Distribution Centre in Tilburg, the €1.6m plant will enhance service levels for customers in key European markets.Upon reaching full capacity, the ISO9001-accredited facility will achieve a production output of more than 1000 pieces per week.Although NSK Europe already has a linear guide cutting facility at its site in Newark, UK, the addition of Tilburg will help to optimise the company’s service level for these products across mainland Europe.

For further information www.nskeurope.com

Manufacturing Awards winners named

Business Awards UK has announced the winners of its 2024 Manufacturing Awards, recognising exceptional achievements and innovative contributions across the manufacturing sector nationwide. Best Manufacturer UK went to Milton Keynes based The Engineering Quest, a specialist in high-precision machined components. The company also won Best Family Business. Among other notable winners was Bristol Fabrications, which won the Fastest Growing Business Award. The company specialises in fabrication projects from design to installation.

For further information www.bit.ly/4aS6OYF

Financial announcement by Doncaster

Doncasters Group is pleased to announce the successful closing and funding of a new $500m senior debt facility that will be used to refinance its existing loan facilities (the ‘transaction).The $500m six-year loan and $50m committed delayed draw term loan will enable the group to repay its existing senior finance facility, repay a proportion of its PIK facility, and continue to make further strategic investments within its superalloy and precision casting businesses to facilitate its growth.

PGIM Fixed Income structured and anchored the financing. The Doncasters Group will maintain its current ABL facility that provides up to $110m of availability, further supporting both organic and inorganic growth opportunities in its core superalloy and precision casting markets.

For further information www.doncasters.com

World’s most advanced laser welder

A leading battery technology manufacturer has completed the successful commissioning of what it describes as the world’s most advanced laser welding machine. The installation and operation of the IPG Photonics EV Flex welder is a significant milestone for the UK facility of Alexander Battery Technologies, which marks its 40th anniversary this year.

CEO Mark Rutherford says: “With the EV Flex laser now active, representing an investment of more than £500,000, our production has transformed. We can now produce our battery packs, crucial for high-end applications like e-mobility and robotic technology, with a level of precision and quality that sets a new industry standard.Our enhanced production capability has become a cornerstone of our robust growth strategy.”

For further information www.alexandertechnologies.com