THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

Expansion at Lawton Tubes

Lawton Tubes, a manufacturer and supplier of copper tubing products, is investing £20m
into a new facility just a few metres from its current headquarters in Coventry. Within three
years, the expansion will see the creation of a 11,148 m², two-storey facility that will house
Lawton’s manufacturing, storage and office operations. The vision is to transform the entire
two-hectare site into a state-of-the-art distribution centre and new head office. The project
will be a significant step forward for the family-run business, which has an annual turnover
of £230m and a team of 140 staff across four sites in Coventry, Redditch and Poole.
More information www.lawtontubes.co.uk

Seco moves to sustainable packaging

As part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability, cutting tool manufacturer Seco is
making a significant change to its product packaging. The company is transitioning to
environmentally friendly packaging made from 98-100% recycled materials, a move that will
result in an estimated reduction of 131 T of CO₂ emissions annually. Seco says the new
packaging, made of recycled polypropylene or polyethylene depending on the supplier,
maintains the same high standards of quality and functionality that customers expect while
contributing to a more sustainable future.
More information www.secotools.com

Sheffield Forgemasters meets PM

A delegation from Sheffield Forgemasters joined the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and
Secretary of State for Defence John Healy MP, at 10 Downing Street earlier this month.
Two apprentices, Renee Marsh and Harley Edmonds, were accompanied by people
development specialist Harriett Eccles and CEO Gary Nutter at the event, which set out to
raise the importance of skilled jobs in defence manufacture.
In addition to meeting the Ministers, the Sheffield Forgemasters team spoke to an audience
of college students about the well-paid opportunities that defence manufacturing jobs can
offer. The company’s ongoing apprenticeships programme, coupled with its large-scale
recapitalisation programme, is providing career opportunities for decades to come. 
More information www.sheffieldforgemasters.com

Verisurf agrees to Sandvik acquisition

US-based Verisurf, a specialist in model-based inspection and measurement software, has
signed an agreement to be acquired by Sandvik, a global high-tech engineering group
headquartered in Sweden. Verisurf will operate as a separate business unit within Sandvik
Manufacturing and Machining Solutions, complementing and enhancing Sandvik’s position
in industrial metrology. The acquisition is expected to close in Q2 2025. Verisurf’s founder
and president, Ernie Husted, will continue to lead the company, ensuring a smooth
transition while maintaining its core mission and vision.
More information www.verisurf.com

Gleason celebrates 160 years

This year marks an important milestone as Gleason Corporation celebrates its 160 th
anniversary. Founded in 1865 by William Gleason, the company has transformed from a
small workshop to a global specialist in gear technology, offering solutions that encompass
design software, manufacturing and metrology equipment, tooling, aftermarket services,
and an extensive training programme.
Over the years, Gleason has expanded its reach and capabilities through the strategic
acquisitions of Hurth Maschinen und Werkzeuge in Munich, the Hermann Pfauter Group in
Ludwigsburg, Germany, and adding metrology systems, automation solutions and plastic
gears to its product range. In 2017, Gleason acquired Swiss KISSsoft AG, integrating gear
design and simulation software into its portfolio.
More information www.gleason.com