Over 50% of engineering firms in the UK have taken on an apprentice in the past two years, a new survey by the Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) and Close Brothers Asset Finance has found.

The survey looked across a range of sectors, including food and drink, retail, recruitment and services, discovering that construction was the only other industry employing apprentices at a similar rate to engineering firms.
One of the most interesting points to emerge from the survey was that the biggest barrier to employing an apprentice was not the Apprenticeship Levy, but the lack of suitable candidates, and as well as problems with training providers. Steve Gee, CEO of Close Brothers Asset Finance’s Industrial Equipment Division, says: “Over the past four years Close Brothers Asset Finance, working in partnership with the MTA and the University of Sheffield’s AMRC Training Centre, have funded the training of 60 apprentices. It is very encouraging to see the results of this survey and we’re proud of the part we have played.”
For further information www.mta.org.uk

Following investment in a Renishaw AM 400 additive manufacturing (AM) system, Frazer-Nash has produced a novel fastener for its customer, Kwikbolt, for use during aircraft assembly.

The component can be made quicker and at a lower cost when compared with traditional subtractive machining methods. Frazer-Nash now produces 25,000 AM parts a year and has expanded its range of components.
Paul Mortlock, managing director at Frazer-Nash, says: “The Kwikbolt project is a true AM success story. Using AM means we can easily produce a bespoke component based on each aerospace customer’s requirements. Renishaw’s AM systems have been flawless since we started working together. Over the past five years, we’ve developed a close relationship. We originally chose to partner with Renishaw due to its support services, and we’ve found these to be invaluable.”
For further information www.renishaw.com

After the success of last year’s event, Faro, Optimax, Bruker Alicona, Aberlink, Heidenhain, Manchester Metrology and the NPL are joining together to stage an even larger Northern Metrology Networking Day.

The event will take place on 18 September at the Eithad Stadium in Manchester, and will provide visitors with the opportunity to witness practical demonstrations of the metrology sector’s latest innovations and discuss their specific measurement problems with industry experts. If feasible, attendees are encouraged to bring parts along so they can be scanned and measured on the day. The free event is open from 09:30 to 16:30.
For further information https://measure-anything.faro-europe.com/

Delivering complex components for new automotive ‘light-weighting’ projects is reaping dividends for a Black Country supplier.

Alucast, which is one of the UK’s largest independent aluminium foundries, has secured over £3m of new contracts from carmakers keen to explore ways of reducing weight on future models.
Backed by support from Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, Black Country LEP and the Black Country Growth Deal, Alucast has opened additional facilities adjacent to its Wednesbury headquarters to cope with the expansion, giving the company an additional 7000 sq ft of dedicated machining space. In addition, management recently signed off the £400,000 acquisition of three five-axis CNC machines from the Engineering Technology Group (ETG), which will help Alucast supply final machined parts to customers.
For further information www.alucast.co.uk

Apprentices at Olympus Engineering have gained unprecedented levels of tooling competence to boost their learning and careers at the Stoke-based company after Walter GB offered free training and awareness in tooling and production technologies.

By transferring some of its ‘Engineering Kompetenz’ skills to the eight apprentices, “Walter’s in-depth tooling expertise has given a massive boost to the youngsters’ production engineering knowledge base”, says Olympus Engineering’s quality and technical manager Will Mitchell.
The apprentices and Walter GB spent 30 minutes a week over a three-month period covering subjects such as manufacturing economics, the fundamentals of metal cutting and cutting-tool applications, as well as discussing a production environment case study. Walter has been supplying the 157-employee, £16m turnover business with a range of tooling for some time. Indeed, for the past 12 years, Walter has been the company’s main tooling integrator, an arrangement that has included the provision of onsite tooling vending machines.
For further information www.walter-tools.com