Adi Group opens doors

Multi-discipline engineering firmadi Group welcomed young people, schools and general visitors to its Birmingham headquarters as part of the UK’s recent National Manufacturing Day 2025. The event at adi’s Kings Norton site included opportunities for visitors to observe project demonstrations. The programme was designed to highlight how a range of technical skills and teamwork contribute to project delivery across multiple sectors. As a business that completes thousands of projects each year across 35 specialist disciplines, adi Group viewed the day as an extension of its ongoing outreach and education work.

More information www.bit.ly/4nPSlCB

NCMT and BEL build talent pipeline

To mark the UK’s recent National Manufacturing Day, machine tool supplier NCMT and engineering services provider BEL Engineering shone the spotlight on how manufacturers can grow next-generation talent by pairing hands-on training with an Okuma Genos M460V-5AX five-axis machining technology and meeting young people where they already are: on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. Jonathan Smart, managing director of NCMT, says: “We deliver world-class manufacturing technology and work with partners to unlock its full capability; social media adds the spark and ambition apprentices need to excel.”

More information www.ncmt.co.uk

Transforming production capabilities with Hanwha

Machined Component Systems (MCS) is a subcontract machining specialist with a reputation for delivering precision components to sectors including automotive, petrochemical, environmental, transport technologies, marine, healthcare and white goods. Founded by Warren Gray’s father, MCS has been under Warren’s leadership for the past decade. During that time, the company has transformed from a traditional engineering firm into a sophisticated manufacturing hub, a move made possible with investment in the latest manufacturing technologies, including three Hanwha sliding-head turning centres from Dugard.

By 2022, MCS faced a critical decision regarding its sliding-head capability.

“We’d had some very good sliding-head machines from another manufacturer over a number of years,” says Warren. “Those machines were beginning to age, so we went out to three or four sliding-head manufacturers with the same suite of parts. We asked them to tender and provide a complete turnkey proposal for those components, and Dugard won.”

The selection process was not simply about specifications or price comparisons; Warren insisted on a comprehensive evaluation that would reveal real-world capabilities.

“Dugard invited us down to Brighton. I took my lead setter and a senior sliding-head machine setter. The three of us spent the whole day reviewing Dugard as a company and looking at the Hanwha machines in action. On the back of the quotation provided, they won our business.”

The company now has three Hanwha machines, the XD20II-V NHY, XD26II-V NHY and XD38II-R NHY. These six-axis turning centres have a diameter capacity from 20 to 38 mm with an ability to turn parts up to 545 mm long.

Warren’s assessment of the partnership is overwhelmingly positive: “The Hanwha machines are very good machine tools and we’re extremely happy.”

More information www.dugard.com

Brandauer Presses on to The Next Chapter

Birmingham-based precision stamping specialist Brandauer has been purchased by its management team with the vision of creating a world leading precision engineering specialist. Current CEO Rowan Crozier, manufacturing director Stuart Berry and non-executive director David Chapman have joined forces to buy the company, with the trio immediately laying out a 10-year plan that will initially drive annual sales to £12m by 2029.

Financed by HSBC, the deal will ensure the company remains in UK ownership and in a strong position to explore opportunities associated with its tooling, stamping, R&D and newly founded consultancy service. More than 20 new jobs could be added to Brandauer’s existing 64-strong team when the vision is realised.

More information www.brandauer.co.uk

First fully UK-built Boxer Mission Module

MTL Advanced, one of the UK’s largest contract manufacturing businesses, has formally handed over the first fully British-manufactured Mission Module for the Boxer Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV) programme to KNDS UK. Everything was built entirely in the UK, from raw plate material through to final fabrication, and is part of MTL’s base order with KNDS for over 100 modules. The order forms part of more than £40m in contracts awarded by KNDS to MTL Advanced to support the UK’s Boxer MIV programme, which also include over 450 Drive Module armour kits for KNDS’s fabrication line in Stockport.

More information www.mtladv.com