EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

Steelwork Rises for Enormous Forging Line

Sheffield Forgemasters has begun steelwork assembly on the UK’s largest open die forging line. The company is building a new 13,000-tonne forging line at Brightside Lane, with steelwork for the building projecting to 45 m high, more than 10 m taller than surrounding structures. With steelwork for its new 30,000 m²machine shop on nearby Weedon Street at an advanced stage, the construction is transforming the traditional manufacturing heartland of the city, dwarfing the adjacent Meadowhall shopping centre and Ikea superstore. The company expects to see framework for both buildings completed by the end of 2026.

More information www.sheffieldforgemasters.com

Brother expands tech centre near Frankfurt

Whitehouse Machine Tools, the exclusive sales agent in the UK and Ireland for machine tools from Brother, is reporting a major expansion of its principal’s technology centre in Bad Homburg, near Frankfurt. The facility has been relocated to a new 1700 m² premises on Steinmühlstrasse, about 2.5 times the size of the original site, which is large enough to accommodate nearly the entire range of Brother’s Speedio machining centres.

The strategically located facility represents a significant expansion of Brother’s European presence, providing an accessible hub for technical excellence and dealer collaboration, 25 minutes from Frankfurt Airport. The centre is designed to enhance sales, technical knowledge transfer and training, while showcasing a comprehensive lineup of the manufacturer’s latest 30-taper machines. 

More information www.wmtcnc.com

Starrag UK appoints new sales manager

Starrag UK has appointed Ian Morton as its new sales manager, with responsibility for the company’s full machine tool portfolio across the UK and Ireland in all sectors outside aerospace. He succeeds Paul Zajac, who has retired after 50 years in the industry.Reporting into the Starrag UK leadership team and working alongside aerospace lead Simon Dutton, Morton’s remit covers the Starraggroup’s full premium brand lineup, spanning the compact Bumotec brand through SIP, Starrag and Heckert to the larger Dörries and Droop+Rein ranges.

More information www.starrag.com

Q1 Subcontract Market Up 8% on Q4 2025

The UK contract manufacturing market was fundamentally solid in the first quarter of 2026, showing healthy growth compared with the previous quarter, according to the latest Contract Manufacturing Index (CMI) figures. The CMI stood at 75 for the quarter, up 8% on Q4 2025. It showed solid month-on-month growth from January onwards, but by the end March supplier quoting activitystarted seeing the effects of global events. On a process basis, machining represented 45% of the market, unchanged from the previous quarter, whilefabrication rose from 42% to 47% at the expense of other processes like moulding.

More information www.qimtek.co.uk

Mills CNC takes 41 machine orders at MACH

Mills CNC is describing its attendance at last month’s MACH 2026 exhibition in Birmingham
as nothing short of incredible and exceptional. With 41 orders for new machines and some
200 serious enquiries taken during the week-long show, the company reports that the event
has proved the best and most successful MACH Mills has attended in its 52-year history. In
total, the company’s stand hosted over 3000 visitors.

Reflects Tony Dale, Mills CNC’s CEO: “What a fantastic show. From day one, our stand was
busy, creating a real buzz among visitors. I would like to thank everyone who visited our
MACH stand, it was much appreciated. We’re now actively engaged in following up the
hundreds of enquiries and leads taken at the exhibition, and I’m confident this activity will
result in even more sales in the weeks and months ahead.”
More information www.millscnc.co.uk