THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

£2.5bn for prototype fusion plant

The Government has announced a record £2.5bn investment in fusion energy, which includes support for a new prototype fusion energy plant in Nottinghamshire. The prototype plant, known as STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production), will be built at the site of the former West Burton A coal power station near Retford and Gainsborough. The project’s delivery is expected to create over 10,000 jobs.

A groundbreaking and world-first scientific endeavour, STEP works by combining hydrogen gases, deuterium and tritium, which are heated to over 150 million degrees Celsius and confined within a powerful magnetic field. The energy produced can be used to create steam and turn a turbine, ultimately generating electricity.

More information https://step.ukaea.uk/

Flow expands into fabrication solutions

Flow International Corp, a global developer and manufacturer of high-pressure waterjet cutting systems, is expanding its manufacturing solutions with the launch of Flow Fabrication – a new division dedicated to providing complete metal fabrication solutions. Of particular note, the expansion brings laser cutting and press brakes into Flow’s portfolio. The new product line-up will be officially unveiled at the Fabtech exhibition in Chicago this September, where attendees can see live demonstrations and learn how Flow’s expanded technology portfolio can enhance their manufacturing processes.

More information www.flowwaterjet.com

Recognition for MES specialist

Critical Manufacturing, a specialist in advanced Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and a subsidiary of ASMPT, has been recognised as a Representative Vendor in the May 2025 Gartner Market Guide for MES report. Gartner states this recognition is based on “inquiry volumes, market presence and the ability to cover the core MES use cases and features”.

Francisco Almada Lobo, Critical Manufacturing CEO, says: “In recent years we have been recognized three times as a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant™ for MES report and we are now equally proud that this research and advisory firm has listed us as a Representative Vendor in its May 2025 Market Guide for MES.”
More information www.criticalmanufacturing.com

£1bn for Sunderland gigafactory

The Government says working people will benefit from 1000 jobs at a new state-of-the-art gigafactory in Sunderland in a £1bn auto deal that will accelerate the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) and boost growth. The new AESC gigafactory will manufacture batteries to power up to 100,000 EVs each year – a six-fold increase on the country’s current capacity.

In the landmark transaction, the National Wealth Fund and UK Export Finance will provide financial guarantees which unlock £680m in financing from banks including Standard Chartered, HSBC, SMBC Group, Societe Generale and BBVA. This will cover construction and operation of the new plant. The remaining £320m has been secured through private financing in addition to new equity provided by AESC.

More information www.gov.uk

College Invests in CNC Machines

Following its successful tender submission, MACH Machine Tools has fulfilled a contract to supply Gateshead College with four new CNC machine tools equipped with the DynaPath control. This latest machine tool investment is an integral part of a wider strategic modernisation and refurbishment programme, implemented by Gateshead College, to upgrade the machining capacity and capabilities of its engineering workshop.

The machines comprise a MACH MDS 900-4T toolroom mill, a MACH MDS 845-8T three-axis vertical machining centre, a MACH MDL 1600 flat-bed lathe with driven tooling and a recently-launched MACH MDS 202 slant-bed lathe. All four have been installed in a purpose-built, CNC-designated area within the revamped engineering workshop facility.More information www.machmt.co.uk