UK’s first HBZ AeroCell 160-400 machines installed

With demand in the aerospace sector continuing to rise, Moyola Precision Engineering has taken a bold step forward in its production capabilities – investing in the UK’s first HBZ AeroCell 160-400 five-axis horizontal machining centres from Bavius. The machines mark a major milestone in Moyola’s ongoing commitment to performance, innovation and global competitiveness.

In response to continued growth and increasing demand across the aerospace sector, Moyola launched a strategic R&D initiative to expand capacity and transformed its manufacturing approach for a major international aerospace programme. The project focused on developing a new method of manufacturing, incorporating innovative tooling strategies and a reimagined, highly efficient production workflow.

Central to this initiative was the installation of two HBZ AeroCell 160-400 machines – the latest arriving in February 2025 – configured as a fully integrated twin-pallet manufacturing cell and tailored for high-speed machining of large aluminium aerospace parts.

Lee Averill CADCAM engineering manager at Moyola, says: “The HBZ AeroCell set up has played a pivotal role in redefining our approach to large workpiece machining, consistently exceeding expectations in both speed and precision.”

Today, the AeroCell machines are operating at full production capacity. Thanks to optimised engineering, intelligent pallet handling, and a well-balanced takt time, Moyola

benefits from a highly stable and continuous machining process with minimal downtime an ideal setup for scaling production while maintaining precision and consistency.

This new capability has allowed Moyola to deliver on critical production commitments with greater flexibility and efficiency. The combination of high-speed machining and ultra-precise output means Moyola can continue to meet the demanding requirements of the aerospace sector with confidence.

More information www.engtechgroup.com

Motorsport Inspires RPH’s Hurco Machine Investment

RPH Manufacturing, a tier-one supplier based in Wimborne, has consistently prioritised precision, efficiency, cleanliness and innovation throughout its long history. At the helm is owner and managing director Richard Haim, whose passion for engineering, which began 57 years ago, led him to start his own company in 1981. Upon asking him why he has a preference for vertical machining centres from Hurco, he says: “I like the brand because I know a lot of the Formula 1 Teams are customers of theirs. I have been a lifelong motorsport enthusiast and I thought there could be no better endorsement to purchase a Hurco machine tool.”

Four Hurco VM-series machines, equipped with Max 5 twin-screen controls running proprietary WinMax conversational programming software, today form the backbone of RPH’s workshop. They enable the company to deliver more than 45,000 parts per year to a wide range of industries. Just-in-time and Kanban systems offer customers reliable, often daily supply of parts keep their businesses running and minimise their stockholding.

Haim is always open to innovations and new working methods that can make his business perform more efficiently. A good example is the way in which he has embraced Hurco’s Solid Model Import software. Already a user of Hurco DXF software, he was easily able to realise the additional benefits of applying dimensions directly from a STEP file into a conversational program. 

After 44 years in business, Haim is as committed as ever to running his VM-series machines and has set his sights firmly on reaching RPH’s 50-year trading milestone, which will be in 2031. His unwavering commitment to Hurco underscores the value the machines have brought to his business and his confidence in the supplier’s ability to support his continued success in the future.

More information www.hurco.com

Subcontract Market Continues to Grow

The UK subcontract manufacturing market carried on growing in the third quarter of 2025. It was up 10% on the previous quarter, which had already seen dramatic growth from April onwards. The CMI is produced by sourcing specialist Qimtek and reflects the total purchasing budget for outsourced manufacturing of companies looking to place business in any given month (representing a sample of over 4,000 companies).

The baseline for the index is 100, which represents the average size of the subcontract manufacturing market between 2014 and 2018.The CMI for the third quarter of 2025 was 113, compared with 103 for the second three months of the year.One a month-by-month basis, July was impressively strong – by far the strongest month of the year so far and a third higher than June.

More information www.qimtek.co.uk

CVE Scoops Accolade for Second Year Running

Cambridge Vacuum Engineering (CVE) has been recognised as one of the UK’s Best
Workplaces in Manufacturing, Production & Transportation 2025, as announced by Great
Place To Work UK last month. At the heart of this recognition is the Trust Index employee
survey, which gathers anonymous insights from employees, focusing on key areas such as
work-life balance, job satisfaction, psychological safety and professional development.
The survey also evaluates how consistently organisations deliver a positive experience
across all departments and levels of seniority. Bob Nicolson, managing director at CVE, says:
“We’re proud to be recognised as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces in Manufacturing,
Production & Transportation for the second year running. At CVE, we believe that investing
in our people – their growth, wellbeing, and success – is the foundation of our progress.”
More information https://camvaceng.com/

Casting plant switches to solar power arrays

A major green energy upgrade has been completed at Doncasters’ Droitwich manufacturing site, with 2,400 solar panels now powering the Deritend Precision Castings facility, marking a significant milestone in the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainable manufacturing. Already operational, the solar panels are generating a substantial share of the site’s electricity requirements, helping to reduce carbon emissions and enhance energy resilience. By integrating renewable energy at site level, the business is aligning innovation in engineering with innovation in environmental responsibility.

More information www.doncasters.com