Featuring some of the biggest names in manufacturing and engineering, Smart Manufacturing Week (4-5 June, Birmingham NEC) will deliver over 170 sessions of free, high-impact content across seven dedicated theatres – including solution-focused sessions, summits and masterclasses. With keynote presentations from industry thought leaders and expert-led discussions, every corner of the show floor will offer valuable insights. Plus, the Technology Showcase Arena brings the latest exciting innovations to life, offering a hands-on look at the future of the industry.

More information www.smartmanufacturingweek.com

A global leader in complex aluminium sand castings has secured a King’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation after a breakthrough in developing lightweight structures for electric vehicles. Grainger & Worrall, which employs 525 people at its state-of-the-art facility in Bridgnorth, has developed methods to produce prototype gigacastings rapidly and consistently so they perform like ‘die-castings’ made for high-volume cars and off-highway production. This capability gives customers the opportunity to test vehicle designs quickly before committing to expensive production equipment.

More information www.gwcast.com

A Queen’s Award-winning company that supplies bearings worldwide is set to boost exports to South America after securing £500,000 from NPIF II – Mercia Debt Finance, which is managed by Mercia Debt as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II). Quality Bearings Online, based in Leeds, currently supplies manufacturing and engineering firms in over 120 countries, with exports accounting for more than 90% of turnover. The business, which is led by Denny Maude and Simon Riley, currently employs 27 staff. NPIF II funding will also provide additional working capital to support growth plans.

More information www.mercia.co.uk