Heathrow has become the latest signatory to the UK Steel Charter, signalling its continued support for this vital strategic industry and maximising the opportunities for UK steel producers to supply the project.

The announcement follows public sector support from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), and the Scottish and Welsh Governments. John Holland-Kaye, Heathrow’s chief executive says: “Heathrow expansion is an opportunity to deliver an economic boost for all the nations and regions of the UK, and supporting the steel industry is key to achieving that.”
For further information www.makeuk.org/about/uk-steel

Olivia Burton, a first-year apprentice at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), has been honoured with Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training’s Business Administration Apprentice of the Year Award.

Burton, aged 19, is on the MTC’s three-year business administration apprenticeship at the Coventry-based MTC.
“This award shows that hard work doesn’t go unnoticed,” she says. “I love my job and progressing in my career, so it gives me a great sense of achievement. I’d 100% recommend the MTC business admin apprenticeship to anyone looking for a business-related apprenticeship, particularly as the scheme is structured to rotate us around various departments within the MTC. This gives us so much experience and a very good understanding of the business as a whole.”
For further information www.the-mtc.org

More than 150 people attended the official opening of Citizen Machinery UK’s new £3m Turning Centre of Excellence in Brierley Hill, West Midlands last month.

The 680 sq m facility houses a showroom, international conference area, customer training school, applications engineering department and administrative offices. Sales of Citizen machines in Europe have increased year on year and, in 2018, the region sold 1200 units, taking turnover to nearly €600m, the highest ever.
Visitors on the day comprised the firm’s more than 50 UK employees, including those from the headquarters in Bushey, company representatives from Japan and around Europe, dealers and supplier partners from Japan, France, Italy, Portugal, Scandinavia and Israel, and staff from the contractors that realised the difficult building job over disused mine shafts in just 26 weeks.
For further information www.citizenmachinery.co.uk

Kendal-based engineering company Gilbert Gilkes & Gordon has made a seven-figure investment with Yamazaki Mazak to significantly increase productivity and bolster its UK manufacturing base.

Gilkes specialises in the design and manufacture of hydro-electric turbines and cooling pumps for high horse-power diesel engines, with parts sourced worldwide. The company has acquired a Mazak Integrex e-1250V/8 vertical multi-tasking machine, with the intention of increasing capacity at its Kendal facility and ultimately re-shoring the manufacture of vital components back to the UK.
Specifically, Gilkes currently sources fully-machined turbine runners from an Eastern European supplier. The new Mazak machine will enable the company to bring 40% of this machining work back to its facility in Kendal.
Gilkes’ new Integrex e-1250V/8 – one of the largest machines in the Mazak range – is designed for the multi-axis machining of large, complex workpieces. The machine is capable of performing a variety of tasks that would normally be completed by multiple machines, including turning, milling, boring and drilling operations. In addition, Mazak will be supplying a complete tool management system to reduce manual input and set-up times.
“Our current machine tools in Kendal are great workhorses, but we’ve gone about as far as we can with them,” says Rebecca Sandham, head of operations at Gilkes. “With the Mazak, we will be able to significantly increase our productivity levels, which will enable us to continue being highly competitive in our global markets.”
She continues: “The Integrex acquisition forms part of a long-term plan to upgrade our manufacturing capabilities. Ultimately, we want this investment to be seen as proof of our commitment to UK manufacturing operations and our responsibility to provide jobs for the local area.”
For further information www.mazakeu.co.uk

An East Staffordshire school showcased its engineering excellence last week when it won the main prize for ‘Efficient Design’ at the Manufacturing Assembly Network’s (MAN) Design & Make Challenge.

John Taylor High School beat off the challenge of eight other schools from across the UK to take the title for its hand-crafted vehicle, which ran the length of the test track in the fastest time. More than 40 year-11 pupils and A-Level students swapped their daily lessons to take part in the competition, which is funded by nine local SMEs and designed to inspire young people to consider a career in engineering.
For further information www.man-group.co.uk