EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

CEO of the year

One of industry’s leading business figures has put manufacturing on the map by securing a notable regional award. PP Control & Automation’s Tony Hague was named as CEO of the Year at the Business Desk West Midlands Awards, beating off competition from some of the area’s biggest names from wide range of sectors, including marketing, tourism and leisure. Under his leadership and commitment to investment in automation and technology, PP C&A has grown from 27 staff and £2.5m sales to a £36m+ turnover business, working with 20 of the world’s largest machinery builders.

For further information www.ppcanda.com

Call for 15% GDP target for manufacturing

The head of manufacturing body Make UK has called for all political parties to commit to an industrial strategy carrying an explicit target for industry to account for 15% of UK GDP, with the potential to add an extra £150bn to economic output. Addressing the recent Make UK National Manufacturing Conference at the QE2 Centre in Westminster, CEO Stephen Phipson also set out five key priorities for the next government, and called for a fundamental review of defence policy and procurement policies that favour the UK’s defence manufacturing sector.

For further information www.makeuk.org

Mastercam agrees to acquire Cimquest

Sandvik is acquiring US company, Cimquest, which will become part of group company Mastercam, a specialist in CAM software. Cimquest is a Mastercam reseller located in New Jersey. The deal will add talent, technology and diversity to Mastercam’s ecosystem of solutions. Mastercam has no plans to change relationships with any external vendors, customers, or other resellers as a result of this agreement. Rob Hassold, owner of Cimquest, states, “We’re very excited to sign this agreement of acquisition with Mastercam and Sandvik. Joining the Mastercam team will enable us to continue to focus on what we do best: serving our customers.”

For further information www.mastercam.com

£200k robotics and automation training cell

Companies in Telford, Shropshire and Herefordshire are set for a manufacturing boost, with In-Comm Training due to launch a new robotic automation cell. The independent training provider is investing more than £200,000 through the Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF) and the Marches Education Partnership into creating a dedicated seven-axis robotic training capability that will help firms upskill or reskill workers. Hundreds of individuals will have access to robotic programming, maintenance and automation courses that will give them the skills needed to help their employers take advantage of new opportunities.

For further information www.in-comm.co.uk

Global leap in nuclear welding technology

Completion of the first full-sized SMR (small modular reactor) nuclear vessel demonstrator at Sheffield Forgemasters signals a global leap forward in welding technology. The company is pioneering the industrialisation of local electron-beam welding (LEBW), with complete weld-assembly of the vessel marking a pivotal moment in welding development. It takes less than 24 hours to complete four, thick, nuclear-grade welds, typically requiring a year of work to complete.

With a diameter of 3 m and a wall thickness of 200 mm, the construction of the vessel showcases the reliability and capabilities of LEBW, setting a new standard for the weld-joining of thick-walled components, previously unrivalled in a demonstrator model. Sheffield Forgemasters says it is using LEBW for the first time at this scale, with 100% success and no defects.

For further information www.sheffieldforgemasters.com