EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

Interest in engineering apprentices booming

In-Comm Training announced a 35% increase in the number of engineering apprentice starts this September. In-Comm recruited 199 individuals across its Aldridge and Telford technical academies, with learners studying subjects that include machining, robotics, welding, electrical, mechatronics and toolmaking. Companies such as Ansaldo Nuclear, Altrad Babcock, HS Marston Aerospace, Magna Cosma Castings, Makita, RBSL and Veolia, are taking the long-term approach to beating the labour and skills shortage by opting to grow their own.In-Comm Training also inducted 25 learners on to its Level 4 HNC programme.
For further information www.in-comm.co.uk

Report calls out ‘cocktail’ of supply chain issues

A complex ‘cocktail’ of supply chain pressures, availability of raw materials and recruitment issues is holding back UK industry says a new report.Crowe’s Summer Manufacturing Outlook, conducted in partnership with the Confederation of British Metalforming, revealed a mixed picture of optimism and the potential for reshoring, countered by long-running supply and labour issues. Some 88% of respondents admitted suffering from the price and availability of raw materials, while over 75% had experienced supply chain issues caused by the war in Ukraine, high inflation and ongoing issues with Brexit.
For further information www.bit.ly/48IzDpR

Manufacturing energy toolkit

The High Value Manufacturing Catapult is helping SMEs slash energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions with its new Manufacturing Energy Toolkit.A pilot by the innovation centre at WMG industrial (part of the HVM Catapult) resulted in SMEs saving on average 21% of their energy costs, achieving as much as 90% energy savings on a single machine. The toolkit is a guided assessment or road-mapping process undertaken by HVM Catapult experts. The aim is to build a full understanding of an SME’s energy usage and energy sources in production, as well as potential efficiency-boosting solutions.
For further information www.bit.ly/48FMWHG

Renishaw expands team

Renishaw has appointed a new non-executive director. Last month, Professor Karen Holford CBE joined the board of directors of the FTSE 250 company, where she will contribute over 43 years of expertise in the engineering sector. Holford, who is chief executive and vice-chancellor at Cranfield University, will also join Renishaw’s audit, nomination and remuneration committees. As well as her extensive engineering, technical management and governance experience, she has previously helped to address a lack of diversity in organisations by challenging perceptions and working with underrepresented groups.
For further information www.renishaw.com

Unison buys wire bending machine builder

Unison Ltd, the UK-based inventor of all-electric tube manipulation, has acquired Dorking-based wire and small tube bending machinery maker, Pneuform, for an undisclosed sum.
The acquisition paves the way for Unison to become a key provider of machinery to the international wire bending and coil forming sectors.

“We’ve known the team at Pneuform for many years and are hugely impressed by their product range, extensive knowledge of wire-forming technologies and high levels of customer care,” says Unison’sjoint managing director Alan Pickering. “In welcoming Pneuform to the Unison family, we look forward to enhancing their machine tool range with our advanced, user-friendly control systems and simulation software.”
For further information https://pneuform.com