EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

Parklands Capital buys Laser Expertise

Laser Expertise, a laser-cutting fabrication specialist established for 40+ years, has been sold
to Parklands Capital, a private equity fund which invests in established UK SMEs with
ambitious management teams and strong growth prospects. Based in Nottingham and
operating nationally, Laser Expertise has around 2787 m² of workshop space and employs
more than 80 people. The deal was led by Matthew Sibley, associate director of company
sales specialist KBS Corporate.
The staff at Laser Expertise that customers currently deal with for all facets of the business
will remain the same, along with the company name and contact details. With the support
and infrastructure of Parklands Capital, Laser Expertise will be able to continue investing in
the latest technologies.
More information www.kbscorporate.com

Important Appointment at CBM

The Confederation of British Metalforming (CBM) has strengthened its offer to the
organisation’s 200-strong membership base with a high-profile industrial appointment.
Maurice Spooner, who has over 40 years’ experience in manufacturing, has joined as the
CBM’s sheet metal specialist, helping companies involved in pressings and roll-formed
products to navigate an increasingly complex business landscape.
“This year promises to be a very interesting period for our members and the CBM will have
an important role to make sure their voices are heard,” says Spooner. “Sheet metal is our
biggest sector of membership, and it will be my role to support these firms by helping with
issues they face and ensuring they are aware of the full range of services we offer.”
More information www.thecbm.co.uk

Filtermist recruits BDM

A Telford manufacturer that helps machine shops create cleaner and safer working environments is embarking on a major international expansion drive. Filtermist, which employs over 150 people, has appointed Graeme Bell as its new global business development manager. The filtration expert will be responsible for driving new opportunities in the APAC region, particularly India and China. Bell has already spent time visiting customers in China, Korea and India, before serving a central role in the Filtermist delegation that exhibited at the IMTEX exhibition.

More information www.filtermist.com

Sustainability from Seco

The ambition of cutting tool manufacturer Seco is to make manufacturing fast, easy and sustainable and, in 2025, the company is launching impactful initiatives to help customers reduce their environmental footprint and foster responsible business practices. For instance, the company is expanding its Life Cycle Assessment models for some turning and milling products. The models will provide customers with CO2 emissions data, use-phase estimates and insights into the benefits of circular services. Also, Seco’s Cutting Data Engine will enable users to calculate CO2 emissions based on estimated power consumption.

More information www.secotools.com

ACE completes £350,000 investment drive

Advanced Chemical Etching (ACE), which will celebrate its 25th 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