EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

NMITE’s Future of Work conference

NMITE (New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering) is inviting local professionals, business owners, industry leaders and Hereford’s A-level and HE students to its Future of Work conference on 16 May. This free conference and educational event will discuss how evolving trends are shaping work environments. The conference encompasses four sessions: exploring how technologies are shaping the future of work; understanding the role of human skills in a tech-driven world; discussing the significance of EDI and workplace innovation for future readiness; and preparing an approach to future skills.

For further information www.bit.ly/3J8s7cf

Sodick to buy 9.5% of Prima Additive

At the end of March, an investment agreement was signed between Sodick Co Ltd, a Japanese machine tool builder specialising in EDM machines, and the shareholders of Prima Additive. The latter is an Italian company that is part of Prima Industrie Group, controlled by Alpha Private Equity and Peninsula Capital funds. Prima Additive is active in the production of industrial systems for metal additive manufacturing and other advanced laser technologies.

Sodick will acquire a minority share of 9.5% through a reserved capital increase. The agreement will also allow the development of a business alliance between the two companies functional to the growth of the product portfolio. This alliance will relate to laser technologies for material processing, focused on industrial technologies for metal additive manufacturing.

For further information www.primaadditive.com

Next-generation five-axis machining seminar

On 25 April, the Engineering Technology Group (ETG) will host a targeted Axile seminar for manufacturers that want to explore larger capacity five-axis machining with flexibility, precision and productivity. At the centre of the event will be the Axile G8i machining centre, a machine that delivers a balance of dynamic kinematics and cutting performance. As part of the seminar, ETG will have a live cutting demonstration on the Axile G8i with the five-axis machine demonstrating both its dynamic movements and pinpoint precision by machining an impeller.

For further information www.engtechgroup.com

Investment at Britten-Norman

Britten-Norman has secured new investment from a group of investors led by 4D Capital Partners LLP, a private equity firm that focuses on operational improvement and business transformation. The new investors are making funds available to Britten-Norman to fund working capital and drive successful long-term growth. Britten-Norman is the manufacturer of the Islander, which the company says is the world’s most iconic commercial light twin aircraft. In 2024, the business will be celebrating 70 years since it was first established at Bembridge Airport on the Isle of Wight, UK.

For further information www.britten-norman.com

Worker shortage led automation decisions

New data from global automation market platform HowToRobot reveals the most common business reasons for automating last year. Some 80% of all projects measured aimed to free employees from manual tasks and move them to more value-adding activities, HowToRobot finds. The data confirms that businesses are seeing automation and robots as a supplement to – and not a replacement for – human labour. The second biggest motivation for automating in 2023 was to increase productivity, with 70.9% of projects having this goal, while 36.2% of projects sought to improve product quality and uniformity.

For further information www.howtorobot.com