‘The premier league of engineering apprentice training’, ‘enabling enhanced productivity in
manufacturing’ and ‘an apprenticeship scheme worth every penny’ is what employers and
apprentices said about the University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre as it celebrated a
decade of delivering apprenticeships and skills. The AMRC Training Centre brought together
apprentices, alumni, hard-working colleagues, key stakeholders and valued businesses to an
event highlighting the milestone. To date, the AMRC Training Centre has recruited more
than 2200 apprentices and worked with circa 400 different businesses.
More information www.amrctraining.co.uk

Following an investment of up to €230m, Siemens Mobility is opening a UKtrain manufacturing facility as part of the company’s new Goole Rail Village on a site which spans 67 acres, the size of 35 football pitches. London Underground’s new Piccadilly Line trains will be assembled at the factory before they start entering passenger service from 2025. Overall, Siemens Mobility’s investment in the region will create up to 700 new jobs and an additional 1700 supply chain opportunities by 2030. The company is also investing up to €50m in a new facility (also in Goole) to assemble and overhaul train bogies. More information www.bit.ly/3Yo3fWF

Cutting and profiling technology specialist Kerf Developments hosted a successful open house at its Rochdale headquarters last month to celebrate the opening of its new technical and demonstration centre. The fully refurbished facility is where engineers can investigate the company’s complete range of profile cutting solutions, including fibrelaser, oxy-fuel, plasma and waterjet technologies. Expert advice and the ability to offer a full suite of technologies enables Kerf to determine the ‘best-fit’ solution based on customer requirements. Four new machines are permanently in-situ at the refurbished facility.

More information www.kerfdevelopments.com

At the recent AMB 2024 exhibition in Stuttgart, Matthew Farnsworth, commercial director at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) announced that machining centre manufacturer Heller had become its latest Tier 1 member.The German-owned machine tool company has numerous factories, including one in Redditch.

As part of the agreement, a Heller F 6000 five-axis horizontal mill-turn centre will take its placeat the AMRC’s facility in Rotherham in June 2025. The machine will further the development of aerospace-related applications, especially those involving the machining of titanium structural and aero engine components.
More information https://uk.heller.biz

FANUC UK’s head of sales Oliver Selby is the new chair ofthe British Automation and Robotics Association (BARA). Taking over from current chair George Thompson, Selby will enjoy supportin his new role fromvice-chair Rosie Davies, the managing director of Reeco Automation. With more than 20 years’ experience, Selby is a long-standing and vocal supporter of the UK automation sector, and of manufacturing more widely. In his role as chair, he plans to advance the association’s activities, supporting BARA’s aim to increase automation uptake while placing members’ needs firmly front and centre.

More information www.fanuc.eu