UK NEWS

Parklands Capital buys Laser Expertise

Laser Expertise, a laser-cutting fabrication specialist established for 40+ years, has been sold
to Parklands Capital, a private equity fund which invests in established UK SMEs with
ambitious management teams and strong growth prospects. Based in Nottingham and
operating nationally, Laser Expertise has around 2787 m² of workshop space and employs
more than 80 people. The deal was led by Matthew Sibley, associate director of company
sales specialist KBS Corporate.
The staff at Laser Expertise that customers currently deal with for all facets of the business
will remain the same, along with the company name and contact details. With the support
and infrastructure of Parklands Capital, Laser Expertise will be able to continue investing in
the latest technologies.
More information www.kbscorporate.com

Important Appointment at CBM

The Confederation of British Metalforming (CBM) has strengthened its offer to the
organisation’s 200-strong membership base with a high-profile industrial appointment.
Maurice Spooner, who has over 40 years’ experience in manufacturing, has joined as the
CBM’s sheet metal specialist, helping companies involved in pressings and roll-formed
products to navigate an increasingly complex business landscape.
“This year promises to be a very interesting period for our members and the CBM will have
an important role to make sure their voices are heard,” says Spooner. “Sheet metal is our
biggest sector of membership, and it will be my role to support these firms by helping with
issues they face and ensuring they are aware of the full range of services we offer.”
More information www.thecbm.co.uk

University’s challenge accepted by ETG

Over its 150-year history, the School of Engineering at Newcastle University can lay claim to being the birthplace of great ideas that changed the world. It is this propensity to push the boundaries of innovation that has recently seen the university invest in a Mitsubishi wire EDM machine from the Engineering Technology Group (ETG). 

Newcastle University recently invested more than £110m to re-develop its Stephenson building, aptly named after engineering pioneer George Stephenson, the renowned ‘father of the railways’. Part of the investment includes new plant and equipment to support students, academic researchers and industrial partner projects.

The university’s technical team leader for manufacturing, Stuart Baker, says: “By investing in a new EDM machine we could keep as much of our work as possible on-site to increase the student experience. Having the technology on-site also enables us to demonstrate the EDM process in considerable depth.”

He continues: “The Mitsubishi MV1200S scored the highest above other applicants on our tendering process, particularly as our new workshop in the new Stephenson Building is very sustainability-focused. Mitsubishi’s MV1200S has a wealth of energy efficiency measures that tie in with our ambition to be a carbon-neutral facility by 2030. One such innovation that caught our eye and scored highly above other vendors was the Mitsubishi E.KO Ioniser system, which is environmentally efficient compared to standard ion resin systems.”

Mitsubishi says its E.KO ioniser system offers the world’s most innovative and ecologically optimal technology for the production of deionised process water used in wire EDM. The E.KO Ioniser completely replaces the mixed bed resin and is therefore one of the most environmentally friendly solutions in the field of process water treatment. 

More information www.engtechgroup.com

Filtermist recruits BDM

A Telford manufacturer that helps machine shops create cleaner and safer working environments is embarking on a major international expansion drive. Filtermist, which employs over 150 people, has appointed Graeme Bell as its new global business development manager. The filtration expert will be responsible for driving new opportunities in the APAC region, particularly India and China. Bell has already spent time visiting customers in China, Korea and India, before serving a central role in the Filtermist delegation that exhibited at the IMTEX exhibition.

More information www.filtermist.com

ACE completes £350,000 investment drive

Advanced Chemical Etching (ACE), which will celebrate its 25th anniversary later this year, has installed two additional single-chamber Chemcut etching machines and a UCE developer for creating quicker and cleaner imaging. The £350,000 investment means the company can produce 325,000 sheets every year at its Hortonwood facility, a 30% boost in throughput. Importantly, ACE can also tap into greater product line flexibility and increased accuracy. With the new investment, company bosses are already looking to boost market share in electrification, aerospace, medical and filters.

More information www.ace-uk.net