EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

Re-launch for AME after £6m revamp

Coventry University’s Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME) has re-launched after a £6m investment. The AME’s ‘Faculty on the Factory Floor’ base in the city is now larger thanks to the huge cash boost, with the new nearly 2000 sq m of space boasting state-of-the-art equipment, new teaching and research facilities, six new laboratories, and a robotics and testing area.

AME was born out of a collaboration between Coventry University and Unipart Manufacturing that delivers teaching excellence andadvanced research. The institute has participated in projects with a total value of £110m and worked with 174 collaborators since its original launch. Its estimated value to the manufacturing and engineering economy since then is £500m and around 400 students have graduated to date.
For further information www.coventry.ac.uk/ame

Francis Brown fabricates huge firing chamber

Francis Brown has fabricated the largest single item to emerge from its Teesside workshops over the company’s 120-year history.The 32-ton vertical firing chamber is the first phase of a new environmentally friendly energy plant currently in design for EGGER UK’s chipboard manufacturing plant in Hexham. The new vertical firing chamber will house a modern and efficient 25 MW burner, while thermal oil heat from the current energy plant will be incorporated into a new steam turbine plant heat-transfer system, which is non-hazardous and environmentally friendly.
For further information www.francisbrown.co.uk

Mazak to host December open house

Yamazaki Mazak is hosting a special ‘Building Your Future’ open house for customers who are ready to invest in new machining technology.The event will take place at the Mazak European Technology Centre in Worcester on 5-8 December with a total of 18 machines on show, including all of the company’s UK-designed and manufactured models.

Mazak’s December open house also offers visitors the opportunity to see what goes on behind the scenes at an advanced manufacturing facility, including Mazak machines making Mazak machines. Daily factory tours will take place highlighting in-house manufacturing, assembly test and shipment. Mazak’s number one finance partner, Finance for Industry, will also be on-hand to discuss tailored finance packages, including hire purchase and lease agreements.
For further information www.bit.ly/3QyfYRd

Decarbonising British Steel

British Steel is unveiling ambitious plans for the biggest transformation in its history: a £1.25bn proposal to become a clean, green and sustainable business by adopting electric arc furnace steelmaking.Following detailed analysis of its current operations, available technology and challenging market conditions, the company is proposing to accelerate its decarbonisation programme.The proposals, which are subject to appropriate Governmentsupport, could see British Steel install two electric arc furnaces;the first at its headquarters in Scunthorpe, and the second at its manufacturing site in Teesside.
For further information www.britishsteel.co.uk

Rolls-Royce Submarines welcomes ministers

Rolls-Royce Submarines recently hosted Richard Marles, Australia’s Deputy Prime Ministerand Minister for Defence, and Grant Shapps, UK Secretary of State for Defence, at its site in Raynesway, Derby.The visit included a tour of the nuclear-licenced site and a chance to meet some of the team dedicated to providing the reactors that will power both UK and Australian future attack submarines under the AUKUS agreement.The Ministers watched the fabrication of the first nuclear propulsion plant components for the UK’s SSN-AUKUS programme, one of the first stages in building the submarines.
For further information www.bit.ly/3CCG2UG