Rolls-Royce extension building reaches landmark

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has completed a significant phase in the construction of its extension at Goodwood, West Sussex, with the new building now formally declared weathertight. To mark the occasion, chief executive Chris Brownridge and the board of directors hand-signed the final one of 1745 wooden louvres fitted to the side of the 40,000 m² building.

The new facility will provide increased capacity for bespoke and coach-build operations. Initial fit-out with technologies is already underway within the building. Some areas and equipment will be operational this year, with the overall project remaining on schedule for completion in 2029. At £300m+, the extension represents the largest single investment in the home of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars since it opened in 2003.

www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com

Archer selects Bristol for UK Engineering Hub

Archer has selected Bristol as the home of its UK Engineering Hub, which will support some of the company’s most advanced engineering initiatives across its commercial and defence programmes. With a long history of aerospace innovation and a deep well of talent, Bristol offers the ideal location for Archer’s new facility.

Since Archer’s announcement in December regarding plans for its UK hub, the company has received hundreds of applications and begun hiring engineers to help it deliver the next era of advanced aerospace and defence. This workforce will help drive Archer’s local collaboration with Anduril UK and GKN, initially focused on the joint work of the companies in support of uncrewed vehicle programmes in the UK.

More information www.archer.com

AMRC Names New CEO

Professor Ben Morgan has been appointed as CEO of the University of Sheffield Advanced
Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), following a successful term as interim CEO that
commenced in January 2025. Moving forward, Morgan will continue to build on the AMRC’s

legacy of industrial, economic and regional transformation as it enters its 25th year. Having
begun his career at the AMRC as a project engineer in 2009, he rose to become a senior
robotics engineer and automation projects manager before taking on the senior post of
head of the integrated manufacturing group, leading a team of more than 70 engineers.
More information www.amrc.co.uk

Manufacturing Output Grows By £21bn

According to an analysis of ONS data by FourJaw Manufacturing Analytics, the value of UK
manufacturing output increased by £21bn in 2025, despite a workforce reduction of over
36,000 people and 2500 fewer manufacturers. Factory output increased by 3.4% to nearly
£639bn in 2025, driven by multi-billion-pound output and productivity gains in aerospace
(£6.7bn) and metal and machinery (£2.6bn).
Chris Iveson, CEO at FourJaw Manufacturing Analytics, says: “To deliver £21bn more in
output is a phenomenal achievement given current workforce challenges and points to a
sector successfully embracing continuous improvement and productivity-enhancing
technology. Put simply, the resurgence of UK manufacturing is down to smart, efficient
production and maximising the output of every machine and every employee.”
More information www.fourjaw.com

CNC bed mills released by MACH Machine Tools

The new MACH MDM 700-AR and MACH MDM 1000-AR CNC bed mills provide customers with high cutting performance, life-long precision, built-in flexibility and unrivalled reliability at a cost that, according to Dave Andrew, managing director of Vigilance Group (of which MACH Machine Tools is part), “will make your jaw drop and the guys in accounts smile”.

Both machines feature BT 40 spindles (5,000 rpm), roller-type linear guideways and large worktables (up to 1525 x 350 mm for the larger MDM 1000-AR model). The machines deliver positional and repeatable accuracies of 0.006 and 0.003 mm, respectively.

MDM 700-AR/MDM 1000-AR machines are supplied with the established DynaPath CNC integrated with MACH Machine Tools’ free, 24/7, Wi-Fi enabled ‘Remote Assist’ facility.Remote Assist provides customers with expert applications and service support, including free software updates, for the life of the machine.

“With Remote Assist, the 20 minute maximum response time to customer queries means that machine downtime is kept to an absolute minimum, which is proving a massive draw for customers,” says Andrew.

The DynaPath control includes: conversational and ISO/G code programming capabilities, making it easy to program machines on the shop floor;64 Gb on-board storage and 10,000 block look-ahead capability that ensure fast processing speed complemented by improved accuracy and smoother surface finish; functions such as datum setting using alignment, sub-program calling, the use of macro-programming, the ability to facilitate program simulation using tool path or 3D rendered graphics, and programmable spindle control; a DXF and onboard DXF editor; and a multitude of communication methods, including Wi-Fi connectivity.

As with all MACH machines, MDM-AR models are supplied, as standard, with technology features that include: 15.6” touchscreens, manual pulse generators, air power drawbars and coolant equipment.

More information www.machinetoolsalesonline.com