EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

DC Norris buys Gilwood

Gareth Harris and Chris Ratten of RSM UK Restructuring Advisory LLP were appointed joint administrators of Gilwood (Fabricators) Co Ltd on 1 November 2023 and have secured the sale of the business and its assets to DC Norris & Co in a pre-pack administration deal.
Based in Heywood, Lancashire, Gilwood is a family-run metal fabrication business specialising in pressure vessels and static process plant equipment. The 26-employee company manufactures products for a number of industries including oil and gas, petrochemicals, nuclear, and food and drink. All 26 jobs have been saved as part of the sale.
For further information www.rsmuk.com

95,000 expected at METALEX 2023

The 37th edition of METALEX 2023, the ASEAN region’sleadingmachine tool and metalworking technologies event, will take place inhalls 98-104 at BITEC (Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre) on 22-25 November. The event will see a 10% expansion on the previous show, featuringcirca 2500 brands of machine tools and metalworking technologies from 50 countries.

The organiser RX Tradex (formerly Reed Tradex) says it has tens of thousands of industrialistsfrom more than 40 countries pre-registered to visit the exhibition, which this year takes place under the theme of ‘The Innovators’. In total, the organiser expects around 95,000 visitors to attend and estimates the event will generate no less than THB7bn in trade value. In addition to the exhibition, the event will host 35 informative seminars.
For further information www.metalex.co.th

Re-launch for AME after £6m revamp

Coventry University’s Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME) has re-launched after a £6m investment. The AME’s ‘Faculty on the Factory Floor’ base in the city is now larger thanks to the huge cash boost, with the new nearly 2000 sq m of space boasting state-of-the-art equipment, new teaching and research facilities, six new laboratories, and a robotics and testing area.

AME was born out of a collaboration between Coventry University and Unipart Manufacturing that delivers teaching excellence andadvanced research. The institute has participated in projects with a total value of £110m and worked with 174 collaborators since its original launch. Its estimated value to the manufacturing and engineering economy since then is £500m and around 400 students have graduated to date.
For further information www.coventry.ac.uk/ame

Francis Brown fabricates huge firing chamber

Francis Brown has fabricated the largest single item to emerge from its Teesside workshops over the company’s 120-year history.The 32-ton vertical firing chamber is the first phase of a new environmentally friendly energy plant currently in design for EGGER UK’s chipboard manufacturing plant in Hexham. The new vertical firing chamber will house a modern and efficient 25 MW burner, while thermal oil heat from the current energy plant will be incorporated into a new steam turbine plant heat-transfer system, which is non-hazardous and environmentally friendly.
For further information www.francisbrown.co.uk

Mazak to host December open house

Yamazaki Mazak is hosting a special ‘Building Your Future’ open house for customers who are ready to invest in new machining technology.The event will take place at the Mazak European Technology Centre in Worcester on 5-8 December with a total of 18 machines on show, including all of the company’s UK-designed and manufactured models.

Mazak’s December open house also offers visitors the opportunity to see what goes on behind the scenes at an advanced manufacturing facility, including Mazak machines making Mazak machines. Daily factory tours will take place highlighting in-house manufacturing, assembly test and shipment. Mazak’s number one finance partner, Finance for Industry, will also be on-hand to discuss tailored finance packages, including hire purchase and lease agreements.
For further information www.bit.ly/3QyfYRd