A specialist in stamping, plating and the assembly of high-precision parts is celebrating its 50th birthday in style after announcing a new £400,000 investment. Batten & Allen, which employs 120 people at its factory in Cirencester, signed a deal at MACH 2022 earlier this month to purchase a new Bruderer high-speed press that can produce six million components every day.

The company signalled its intentions to use the 28-tonne BSTA 280-75B2 to stamp precision parts for use in electrical applications across the automotive, aerospace and consumer goods sectors. Fitted with a high-precision mechanical feeder, the machine offers a 750 mm bed to accommodate complex press tools. Says Batten & Allen CEO Ian Mackinnon: “Bruderer presses are known throughout industry for their precise control and repeatable accuracy; two of the reasons why this machine will be our 30th from them.”

For further information
www.bruderer.co.uk

Welshpool-based precision engineering firm Dawson Shanahan has seen phenomenal growth in the first two months of the year, with order intake of automotive components, particularly those for the e-mobility sector, up by 37% in comparison to the same period in 2021. The growth has come from a mix of new and long-standing customers that include OEMs and tier one automotive manufacturers.

As part of Dawson Shanahan’s investment plan and to help meet orders, a further two rotary transfer machines have been completely refurbished for CNC control and are arriving in April. These machines will meet increased requirements for electric vehicle parts in response to high consumer demand. Interestingly, sales for 2021 were 27% up on 2020 and 17% on 2019, so the latest figures point to yet more growth for Dawson Shanahan.

For further information
www.dawson-shanahan.co.uk

MACH 2022 (4-8 April, Birmingham NEC) showcases the UK’s largest display of new machinery and manufacturing technologies for four years. Key themes for the five-day show include: the revival of the manufacturing industry post-pandemic; the drive to net zero and exploiting the opportunities offered by decarbonisation; the development of innovative technologies shaping advanced manufacturing; a special focus on additive manufacturing; and a showcase highlighting the skills and expertise contained within the UK manufacturing supply chain.

James Selka, CEO of show organiser the MTA, says: “With the UK economy growing and the CBI predicting that plans for spending on plant and machinery over the coming 12 months have improved considerably, the timing of MACH 2022 could not be better. Technologies have never been more powerful and affordable; the UK has an incredible reputation for its innovative and flexible workforce, while finance assisted by government incentives is incredibly good value and widely available.”

For further information www.machexhibition.com

With UK manufacturing exiting the pandemic at speed and the fuel crisis pushing the UK government to source more fuel from the North Sea, Dugard has appointed Ross Love as area sales manager for Scotland. Love has almost 20 years of experience in the manufacturing sector.

Sales director Colin Thomson says: “Ross has an excellent track record in technical sales in the cutting tool sector, which will put him in good stead for his future with Dugard. Additionally, as a former machinist, CNC programmer and applications engineer for a machine tool company, his fundamental knowledge and understanding will be extremely beneficial to customers of Dugard in Scotland.”

For further information
www.dugard.com

Westley Group, one of Europe’s largest privately-owned foundry and engineering groups, is set to further invest in new CNC machinery following an eight-figure funding package from HSBC UK. The funding will support the group’s UK business plans to add further value to its foundry activities through machining more of the castings it produces for its worldwide customer base.
Notably, the financing will also allow Westley Group to grow further into existing and emerging markets for its complex products; most of which are safety-critical in application. As a result, the company will create a number of new jobs in skilled machining operations across its four manufacturing sites. Westley Group was recognised as one of the UK’s top 200 private companies with fastest-growing international sales in the 2021 Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200.

For further information www.bit.ly/3I8l0h2