THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

AI toolkit to help manufacturers cut complexity

A new guide from Made Smarter is helping manufacturers cut through AI noise and focus on what actually works on the factory floor. ‘AI Adoption in Manufacturing: A Practical Toolkit from Made Smarter’ has been developed to support SME leaders navigating this significant technological shift. While awareness of AI is high, many manufacturers remain unsure where to start, how to manage risk and how to translate potential into measurable business value. The guide sets out a task-first approach, helping identify where AI can reduce low-value work, improve decision-making and strengthen day-to-day operations.

More information www.bit.ly/3Rj1BEj

New MD named for FANUC UK and Ireland

Factory automation specialist FANUC has named Andy Armstrong as the new managing director of FANUC UK and FANUC Ireland, effective immediately. With a long history in the automation sector and over 40 years of experience in engineering and sales, Armstrong has spent the past two years as vice MD for FANUC UK and FANUC Ireland. The appointment will see him continue positive steps taken by previous MD Tom Bouchier to support FANUC UK’s continued growth and alignment with the company’s broader European goals. Tom will now focus on his role as FANUC’s cluster co-ordinator for northern Europe.

More information www.fanuc.eu

Finalists Named for STEM Innovation Competition

Young innovators across the UK have been named finalists of The Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Competition 2026. Selected from hundreds of entries, the young finalists will now go through a final round of judging and receive feedback from industry experts, before the winners are announced at an awards ceremony at The Big Bang Fair in June, the UK’s largest free celebration of STEM for young people aged 10 to 13. Run by EngineeringUK, the UK’s top annual STEM competition encourages young people to think big, challenge facts, ask questions and invent solutions. 

More information www.thebigbang.org.uk

Metal service centre wins big at CBM Awards

Amajor UK-based metal services centres was named as the shining star of the metal industry ‘Oscars’ recently. William King, which specialises in high-tensile steel, aluminium, light gauge processing, electrical steels and niche metal coatings, beat off competition from more than 50 businesses to win the ‘Company of the Year’ at the Confederation of British Metalforming (CBM) Awards.Held in front of more than 150 people at the ICC in Birmingham, the West Bromwich-based company impressed judges with its commitment to decarbonisation through investment in solar-generated electricity.

More information www.thecbm.co.uk

Trumpf develops new EV welding solution

A new laser welding solution from Trumpf makes the production of power electronics for electric cars more efficient and reliable. The company has developed a highly automated process that enables customers to weld copper electrical conductors directly onto copper busbars. Manufacturers can now replace the screw connections traditionally used with this new technology.

“The key lies in the interplay between laser, sensor technology, AI and data,” says Woo-Sik Chung, responsible for the new laser welding solution at TRUMPF. “Only when all components work in perfect harmony can highly automated and stable processes for series production be realised. The entire process takes well under a second and is therefore designed for high-productivity series production.”

More information www.trumpf.com