A survey about how coronavirus has affected the perceptions of cleanliness and hygiene in manufacturing workplaces has been conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of Kimberly-Clark Professional, showing that 86% would avoid a facility if they did not think it was COVID-secure. Moreover, only 31% think hygiene practices in factories are currently adequate.

Kimberly-Clark Professional has introduced its 360˚ Hygiene & Protection programme to help businesses get back on their feet and restore confidence. A free no-obligation ‘Virtual Hygiene Walk’, which can be booked using the link below, reviews a facility and provides expert guidance on cleaning and hygiene protocols, recommending the right product solutions to tackle key hygiene hotspots.

For further information https://is.gd/malewo

The UK’s oldest hot-dip galvaniser is bouncing back from COVID-19 disruption after it processed a record amount of steel from one plant in a single month. Corbetts the Galvanizers used downtime in the summer to improve productivity and modernise processes, and this paid off with nearly £1m of orders completed in October.

Celebrating 160 years in business in 2020, the Telford-based company processed 34% more volume than the same time last year for customers involved in the street furniture, transport and construction sectors. “This is a phenomenal achievement by our workforce and highlights growing optimism in our sector,” says Sophie Williams, the company’s finance director and general manager.

For further information
www.wcorbett.co.uk

AJ Engineering is expanding its premises in a £2.5m investment over the next three years that will allow the firm to more than double its production capabilities and employ more staff. The company has expanded its Forres-based manufacturing sites by adding 4.7 acres through the acquisition of neighbouring land owned previously by Moray Council. Existing buildings at the former sawmill site at Waterford will be refurbished and a new automated fabrication facility installed.

Owned by Alan James, the company currently employs approximately 80 staff over the existing Greshop Industrial sites at Forres, including seven apprentices. However, the expansion plans means that the next three years will see the creation of up to 36 jobs. Phase one is to refurbish the existing buildings at Waterford and purchase and commission a cut and drill line. Phase two will be the installation of an automatic shotblaster, while the third phase will see the arrival of a plate processor.

For further information www.ajengineering.co.uk

As part of an ongoing strategy of investing in manufacturing assets for maximum long-term benefit, so far in 2020 Dawson Shanahan has spent over £500,000 on new machinery.

Along with a further Miyano ABX turning centre and Schmid T200 orbital forge, which is for making plasma-nozzle components to reduce both material waste and cycle times, the company has also replaced an older machine with a more modern Studer CNC cylindrical grinder. Furthermore, a rotary transfer machine is being completely refurbished for CNC control, while cobots (collaborative robots) also form part of the investment.

For further information
https://dawson-shanahan.co.uk

To give “a much needed confidence boost to the marketplace”, Ward Hi Tech has extended its incentivised purchasing scheme to October 2021. The move means that customers can secure a new machine tool today and have it distributed within a fortnight to any premises in the UK or Republic of Ireland, but not start paying for it until October.

Ward Hi-Tech is anticipating an impending uptick in business, stating: “With three vaccines about to be rolled out in the next few weeks, a ray of light is now clearly visible at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel.” Alongside the long-term payment holiday and attractive cash-flow scenario, together with a significant saving in interest costs and potential reduction in year-end tax bill, the company describes the benefits of the scheme as “endless”.

For further information www.wardhitech.co.uk