EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

Mazak names sales manager for Scotland

David Martin has joined ScotMaz – the sole distributor of Yamazaki Mazak machine tools in Scotland – as sales manager to support the manufacturer’s growing presence in Scotland. Martin, who has 25 years of experience in the metalworking industry, began his career as a toolmaker before moving into technical sales roles with ABT Machine Tools, Arno UK and Kyocera Unimerco Tooling. He will promote Mazak’s machine tool portfolio to customers in the oil and gas and general subcontracting industries, while also targeting opportunities in the aerospace, food and beverage, and renewable energy markets.

For further information www.mazakeu.co.uk

Discover new Knowledge Hubs at MACH

The Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) will launch its new Knowledge Hubs initiative at MACH 2024 (NEC, Birmingham, 15-19 April). This exciting new programme showcases new technology which is readily available to UK manufacturers, helping them to understand the potential that adopting such technology can bring to their operation through effective implementation.

The Knowledge Hubs initiative will have dedicated stands across the event, each focusing on a particular type of technology, including automation and robotics, sustainable solutions, additive manufacturing, tooling, and data and artificial intelligence. In recognition of the importance of these hubs, each will be managed by one of the specialist centres from the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, such as the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) and the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).

For further information www.machexhibition.com

Schuler site turns 50

In 1973, Siegfried Heilmann and Fritz Haller founded Gemminger Maschinenbau GmbH(GMG), thus laying the foundation for today’s Schuler plant in Gemmingen. Initially, the focus of the business was on the manufacture and sale of special machines, feeding and linking systems, and the automation of machine tools. Today, Gemmingen is the competence centre for press line automation, hydraulic systems and equipment within the Schuler Group, to which the site has belonged since 1989.The factory is home to approximately 330 employees.

For further information www.schulergroup.com

Prototal buys CA Models

Prototal Industries has acquired CA Models, an additive manufacturing specialist based in Stirling. The acquisition adds metal additive manufacturing to the group’s offering and further enhances its capabilities in delivering innovative manufacturing solutions.The acquisition was completed on 1 February and Prototal Industries and CA Models are now working to secure a smooth and effective integration of the new team. Collectively, CA Models and Prototal UK will have an expanded market presence, enabling the group to reach a wider audience and serve customers more effectively and efficiently across the UK.

For further information www.prototalindustries.com

Global innovation hub for the Midlands

Birmingham has become the latest city to join a global network of design and digital consultancies set up to solve real world challenges through effective problemsolving.

Design Factory Birmingham will have its base at Aston University, one of just two hubs in the UK outside of London.The university will be sharing its expertise in artificial intelligence, additive manufacturing, data science, and web, app and graphic design to boost the local economy.Currently there are 39 innovation hubs in 25 countries across five continents based in universities and research organisations.

For further information www.bit.ly/3wgzYR