The manufacturing of five 100% electric East Coast Trains earlier this month, signalled the start of a new phase of train building at Hitachi Rail’s Newton Aycliffe factory.

Construction of the new intercity trains for the open access operator (East Coast Trains Ltd) incorporates a more extensive manufacturing programme than previous fleets. The increased scope will see the workforce create a new state-of-art fleet from empty aluminium shells.
For further information www.hitachirail.com

Strengthening its management team and completing a £120,000 modernisation of its 13-strong fleet is helping one of the UK’s oldest hot-dip galvanisers emerge from lockdown with ambitious growth plans for the remainder of the year.

Corbetts the Galvanizers, which celebrates 160 years in business in 2020, has set its sights on securing £1m of new orders from clients in the utility, automotive and leisure sectors. Simon Prest and Mark Stephenson join as sales and marketing manager and procurement manager respectively, while Mick Probert has been promoted to take care of operations.
For further information www.wcorbett.co.uk

Babcock, an aerospace and defence company, has been awarded a multimillion pound contract extension to manufacture a further 18 tactical missile tube assemblies (MTAs) for GDEB (General Dynamics Electric Boat).

The MTA is part of the Common Missile Compartment (CMC) project for the UK Dreadnought class and US Columbia class submarine programmes, and will support more than 200 advanced manufacturing jobs at Babcock’s Rosyth and Bristol facilities.
Defence Minister, Jeremy Quin, says: “This is a prime example of the capability of our defence industry to deliver specialised and complex manufacturing in support of an internationally significant programme. The contract extension will support 200 highly skilled jobs in Bristol and Rosyth, building next-generation technology for our vital nuclear deterrent.”
For further information www.babcockinternational.com

A new initiative designed to build UK industrial capability and increase reshoring has got off to a flying start after £625,000 of orders were placed in the first few weeks. UK Manufacturing Unite has been launched in response to the national effort to produce more critical components and essential equipment, and is the first step in the sector’s fightback against the damaging effects of COVID-19.

Created and run by manufacturers for manufacturers, the movement is urging more firms to collaborate, share practice and find practical solutions for developing domestic supply chains. Over 35 companies have already signed up to the online platform that will act as a central place for sourcing supply solutions or getting answers to the issues that businesses are facing.
For further information www.ukmfgunite.co.uk

Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC) has published the latest edition of its annual product catalogue.

Now in its 15th edition, the new publication is crammed with new product developments, including those for milling, drilling, threading and specialist milling lines. This edition of the catalogue incorporates ITC’s updated pricing structure for 2020, as well as having an enhanced aluminium milling section. There is also information on new square and ball-nosed steel and exotic milling lines, as well as the arrival of ITC’s conical barrel end mills.
Commenting upon the latest edition of the catalogue, ITC’s newly appointed director, Georgia Graves, says: “We are always attentive to the demands of the marketplace, and in this latest edition of our product catalogue we’ve expanded our aluminium milling product lines. We have also expanded a number of product series to either offer greater reach for difficult-to-access surfaces, or provide increased stability with more stub-length tools that will enhance even further the performance parameters that our range provides.”
To view and download a copy of the latest ITC Issue 15 product catalogue, visit the web page below. Alternatively, to receive a printed edition of the catalogue, please contact the local ITC representative or call the company’s Tamworth headquarters.
For further information www.itc-ltd.co.uk/products