UK NEWS

BGB welcomes third generation to team

Family-owned engineering firm BGB has welcomed Alex Holt, son of CEO David Holt, to its
team, marking the third generation of the Holt family to step into the business. Founded in
1976 by David’s father, David Holt Snr and his two partners, Grantham-headquartered BGB
quickly became a stand-out provider in fully engineered solutions for smart rotary
applications. Alex Holt, a business and finance graduate from De Montfort University in
Leicester, will spend the next 18-24 months rotating through key areas of the business as a
management trainee.
More information www.bgbinnovation.com

Progressive Apprentice Academy boost

Edging closer to its 50 th  anniversary, Newbury-based Progressive Technology Group
opened its Apprentice Academy in 2015. For this bedrock for developing the talent of
tomorrow, Tooling Intelligence has donated a SmartDrawer vending solution. The
Apprentice Academy at Progressive Technology enlisted 18 apprentices as part of its 2024
cohort.
With technical partner Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC), Tooling Intelligence installed its
first SmartDrawer vending solution at the subcontract outfit in 2014. The most recent
SmartDrawer arrival means there are now four such systems on site. Understanding the
inventory management process is essential for apprentices, which is why Tooling
Intelligence has made its generous contribution.
More information www.toolingintelligence.co.uk

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