THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

Brandauer Investment Aids Future Plans

The boss of a UK metal pressings and tooling specialist has hailed the power of
apprenticeships after reducing the average age of his workforce to just 44. Rowan Crozier,
CEO of Brandauer, has steered the company to invest more than £400,000 into vocational
learning since 2016, helping nurture new toolmakers, engineers, quality specialists and
experts in logistics.
Crozier believes the influx of youth and energy has been fundamental in helping the
business evolve into its position as a major supplier of precision-stamped components and
tooling to customers in more than 26 different countries. Many of the youngsters have
continued to be sponsored to complete degree courses and HNCs.
More information www.brandauer.co.uk

Centre of Attraction

Mills CNC is vowing to wow visitors attending this year’s Manufacturing Solutions – Ireland
Show on 11-12 June. The company, already boasting a strong presence in Ireland, intends to
strengthen its position there further by showcasing one of its latest multi-axis machines on
stand T1/T22. DN Solutions’ new DVF 5000 (second generation) simultaneous five-axis
machining centre, featuring the new Siemens Sinumerik One CNC and its associated digital

twin technology, will be making its debut at the event. Tony Dale, Mills CNC’s group CEO,
says the machine will “make one-hit machining a reality for many manufacturers”.
More information www.millscnc.co.uk

CBM Recognises Metal Stars

Leading stars of the metal industry were recognised earlier this month, with a
Gloucestershire manufacturer of vehicle structures securing the main award. G-TEM, which
works with many major carmakers, was named as the Confederation of British
Metalforming’s ‘Company of the Year’ at its gala dinner in Birmingham.
More than 200 industry leaders also saw Sertec Group claim the ‘HSE Initiative of the Year’
for its ‘all about the people’ campaign that has reduced accidents on site by 43%, while
metal pressing specialist Brandauer took the ‘Energy Efficiency’ title for its factory re-
organisation that has seen it cut carbon footprint, boost productivity by 26% and achieve
savings of £300,000.
More information www.thecbm.co.uk

ITC Tooling System Partner Rebrands

As a global specialist in precision tooling systems, Big Daishowa is accelerating innovation
and operational efficiency via a strategic reorganisation across its European operations.
With products available in the UK through technical partner Industrial Tooling Corporation
(ITC), the initiative includes a rebranding to Big Daishowa Europe (previously Big Kaiser). The
R&D centre in Ruemlang, Switzerland, will become the global centre of excellence for the
Big Daishowa Group, while boring tool production will transfer to Japan. By 2026, a new
European headquarters and logistics centre will open in Germany.
More information www.itc-ltd.co.uk

West Midlands ‘Leader of the Year’ Named

One of the 3D printing world’s rising stars has claimed two major business awards in
recognition of the way he has grown his company against international rivals. RYSE 3D’s
founder Mitchell Barnes was a double winner at Business Desk’s recent West Midlands
Leadership Awards, beating off competition from some of the region’s brightest stars to win
Company Leader of the Year (up to 50 employees) and overall Leader of the Year.
The 28-year-old impressed judges with his eye for innovation and passion for disrupting the
3D printing world, proving this rapidly emerging discipline can be used to manufacture
production parts in low-to-medium volumes. Barnes was also praised for his innovative
leadership style.
More information www.ryse3d.co.uk