EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

SpeedFlex secures £650k finance deal

Independent SME lender Time Finance has provided a specialist £650,000 asset-based lending facility to Midlands-based engineering company, SpeedFlex, helping to support its future growth plans. The multi-product solution consisted of a £250,000 confidential invoice finance facility and a £400,000 asset finance facility, allowing the business to invest in its operations and prioritise expansion.


Based in Stourport-on-Severn, SpeedFlex Engineering specialises in the production of components for the aerospace, automotive and gas turbine industries, all of which are integral to the UK’s economy. Having achieved a growth in turnover from £500,000 to £1.6m, the business required a funding boost to help fulfil its ongoing growth strategy.

More information www.timefinance.com

R&D facility for Renishaw and IDEKO

Metrology company Renishaw and the research centre IDEKO have inaugurated a new Renishaw Solutions Centre in Elgoibar (Gipuzkoa), Spain. The new R&D facility aims to develop innovative solutions for the advanced manufacturing sector. Located on the premises of the Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA) member centre, the laboratory forms part of the collaboration agreement signed last year.

A long-term partnership agreement between the two organisations marks the beginning of a partnership that also involves Danobatgroup, a major industrial group in the field of machine tools. The Solutions Centre drives innovation for this group, while Renishaw has been a long-term technology supplier across several of its product lines.

More information www.renishaw.com

Mikron Group reports modest growth

The Mikron Group – which specialises in automation solutions, machining systems and cutting tools – is reporting preliminary and unaudited net sales of CHF374.1m for 2024, an increase of 1% compared with the previous year. The group’s automation business contributed CHF 233.3m, an increase of 0.9%, with strong growth in Europe offset by a decline in America. Mikron Group’s machining solutions business increased net sales by 1.2% to CHF 140.8m, which the company says is a good result given the difficult market conditions, particularly in Europe.

More information www.mikron.com

ACE Completes £350,000 Investment Drive

Advanced Chemical Etching (ACE), which will celebrate its 25 th anniversary later this year,
has installed two additional single-chamber Chemcut etching machines and a UCE developer
for creating quicker and cleaner imaging. The £350,000 investment means the company can
produce 325,000 sheets every year at its Hortonwood facility, a 30% boost in throughput.
Importantly, ACE can also tap into greater product line flexibility and increased accuracy.
With the new investment, company bosses are already looking to boost market share in
electrification, aerospace, medical and filters.
More information www.ace-uk.net

Southern Manufacturing Breaks Records

Southern Manufacturing & Electronics 2025, the UK’s annual trade fair serving
manufacturing in the mechanical and electronic engineering sectors, concluded its most
successful show to date last month. Celebrating its 27 th anniversary this year, the
international event saw a surge in visitor attendance and exhibitor participation, solidifying
its position as a vital business hub for industry professionals.
The number of attendees reached 10,204, a 14% increase compared with 2024. The biggest
cohort was from the aerospace manufacturing sector. More than 72% of visitors had
purchasing influence, underlining the event’s importance as a platform for business growth.
Notably, the number of exhibitors also grew, by 12%, with 535 companies showcasing their
latest products and innovations.
More information www.southern-manufacturing-electronics.com