EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

Brandauer Investment Aids Future Plans

The boss of a UK metal pressings and tooling specialist has hailed the power of
apprenticeships after reducing the average age of his workforce to just 44. Rowan Crozier,
CEO of Brandauer, has steered the company to invest more than £400,000 into vocational
learning since 2016, helping nurture new toolmakers, engineers, quality specialists and
experts in logistics.
Crozier believes the influx of youth and energy has been fundamental in helping the
business evolve into its position as a major supplier of precision-stamped components and
tooling to customers in more than 26 different countries. Many of the youngsters have
continued to be sponsored to complete degree courses and HNCs.
More information www.brandauer.co.uk

Centre of Attraction

Mills CNC is vowing to wow visitors attending this year’s Manufacturing Solutions – Ireland
Show on 11-12 June. The company, already boasting a strong presence in Ireland, intends to
strengthen its position there further by showcasing one of its latest multi-axis machines on
stand T1/T22. DN Solutions’ new DVF 5000 (second generation) simultaneous five-axis
machining centre, featuring the new Siemens Sinumerik One CNC and its associated digital

twin technology, will be making its debut at the event. Tony Dale, Mills CNC’s group CEO,
says the machine will “make one-hit machining a reality for many manufacturers”.
More information www.millscnc.co.uk

CBM Recognises Metal Stars

Leading stars of the metal industry were recognised earlier this month, with a
Gloucestershire manufacturer of vehicle structures securing the main award. G-TEM, which
works with many major carmakers, was named as the Confederation of British
Metalforming’s ‘Company of the Year’ at its gala dinner in Birmingham.
More than 200 industry leaders also saw Sertec Group claim the ‘HSE Initiative of the Year’
for its ‘all about the people’ campaign that has reduced accidents on site by 43%, while
metal pressing specialist Brandauer took the ‘Energy Efficiency’ title for its factory re-
organisation that has seen it cut carbon footprint, boost productivity by 26% and achieve
savings of £300,000.
More information www.thecbm.co.uk

Hexagon Launches Digital Factory-as-a-Service

Hexagon says it is transforming manufacturing agility following the launch of its digital
factory-as-a-service on 1 April 2025. The new service enables manufacturers to digitise their
factories in a matter of hours using millimetre-accurate 3D laser scanning, rather than the
weeks required by traditional methods.
Rapid access to detailed digital replicas allows plants to test different production scenarios,
integrate new technology and optimise space more efficiently. Already in use by major
automotive and aerospace companies for mapping and modelling brownfield facilities in
preparation for production increases or introducing new lines, the service has been shown
to deliver four times faster planning, a 70% reduction in site visits and a 23% cost saving.
More information www.hexagon.com/mi

Apprentices wanted

Sheffield Forgemasters is looking to recruit 21 apprentices for 2025 as it builds an employment base for one of the world’s most advanced manufacturing facilities. The recruitment is the first of two tranches in 2025, with more places due to be announced in the coming weeks as the company drives forward a £900m investment to build a new 13,000 tonne forging line and a 30,000 m² state-of-the-art machining facility. Successful applicants will join the Ministry of Defence owned company to participate in an award-winning apprenticeship scheme that builds skills for the future.

More information www.bit.ly/4iMPNTE