EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

Antifriction acquires Scots Bearings

Antifriction Components – a UK distributor of bearings and power transmission products – has acquired independent Scottish distributor, Scots Bearings Ltd, in a seven-figure deal. The combined business will be the largest specialist distributor of critical moving parts in Scotland, with seven sites across the country. Scots Bearings’ founder David Jackson will continue in his role as managing director. Founded in 1986, Scots Bearings employs 60 staff at its headquarters in Aberdeen and other sites in Glasgow, Dundee, Inverness and Irvine.

Antifriction Components, based in Bristol, now has 19 sites across the UK.

More information www.antifriction.co.uk

64% fail metalworking fluid checks

A freedom of information request submitted by TotalEnergies Marketing UK Ltd to the UK Government’s independent workplace safety regulator has revealed widespread non-compliance relating to the use of metalworking fluids. A total of 285 unannounced inspections were carried out by the HSE on manufacturing businesses that use metalworking fluids or coolants in their machining processes, over a period of eight months. The inspections identified significant safety breaches relating to these fluids at 181 sites between September 2023 and April 2024, equivalent to around 64% of all inspections.More information www.bit.ly/4fKcpC6

King’s Award for AM specialist RYSE 3D

Additive manufacturing specialist RYSE 3D has celebrated its best-ever year in style by securing a King’s Award for Innovation. The company has seen sales increase by 58% over the past 12 months, while its ability to deliver 3D-printed production parts quickly has seen RYSE 3D race towards a near £5m turnover. The Shipston-on-Stour-based business has also created 10 new jobs, added new export markets and launched LANDR 500, a large-format FDM printer designed and built in the UK. Tim Cox, Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire, was welcomed to its factory as part of the King’s Award celebrations.

More information www.ryse3d.com

Tadweld Celebrates Record Year

Tadcaster-based engineering and fabrication business Tadweld rounded off 2024 by
celebrating a record year. The company not only saw year-on-year sales climb by 50% in
comparison with 2023, it also created 12 new positions and has plans to create 30 more
over the coming three years.
Further Tadweld achievements in 2024 included winning the ‘Digital Technology in
Engineering’ accolade at the Made in Yorkshire Awards. The business also racked up a new
record of 2400 training hours with six new apprentices, invested in new space and facilities
to the tune of £1m+, and continued embracing innovation through the implementation of
laser welding equipment.
More information www.tadweld.co.uk

One-Hit Machining Takes Spotlight

More than 90 visitors from the UK and overseas (representing 45 manufacturers) attended
last month’s Hurco open house in High Wycombe. Managing director David Waghorn said
that after tough trading conditions in 2024, the company experienced a strong upturn in
business towards the end of the year.
The event proved to be an excellent springboard into 2025, particularly as Hurco Europe’s
order backlog is in excess of £8m, more than double the figure of 12 months ago. The event
focused on one-hit machining using Hurco five-axis machining centres. The company offers
four styles of five-axis machining centre: cantilever, trunnion-type, B-axis spindle and
bridge-type machines with a two-axis spindle head.
More information www.hurco.co.uk