New ITC sales engineer

Ongoing expansion at Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC) has seen the cutting tool manufacturer add a new technical sales engineer to its expanding team. The appointment of Ben Morgan will bolster the sales support provided to manufacturers in the south of the UK, predominantly in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Hampshire. Morgan entered the industry as an engineering apprentice in 2011, learning his trade as a multi-axis programmer and machinist in the aerospace industry. He progressed to team leader before moving to another prestigious manufacturer and subsequently joining ITC.
For further information www.itc-ltd.co.uk

Knowledge exchange

Northumbria University’s Newcastle Business School has entered into a strategic partnership with the Advanced Manufacturing Forum (AMF). A community of industry experts, the AMF brings together the northeast’s manufacturing and engineering sector to engage with the wider business community. A key remit of the AMF is to exchange ideas and knowledge in order to generate business growth, share opportunities and champion advanced manufacturing. The move will facilitate the dissemination of current thinking directly into industry, while allowing new questions and areas for investigation to emerge.
For further information www.northumbria.ac.uk/nbs

Okamoto delivers pace and precision

Blackpool-based Beechwood Engineering recently upgraded its surface grinding provision with the addition of an Okamoto ACC 64 GX surface grinding machine from UK agent DF Precision Machinery.

Explaining the reasons behind the machine’s installation, engineering director Stewart Churchill says: “By using the latest machine tool technology, our skilled staff are committed to ensuring that every component is manufactured to the highest possible standards. Also, as we expand, in order to remain at the forefront of technology, we continuously update our plant list.

“In addition to serving customers operating in the general engineering sectors we also have clients working in demanding industries such as the aerospace, automotive, medical, Formula One and nuclear,” he continues. “Surface grinding is often the last process our workpieces undergo and many of the components we manufacture have very exacting specifications relating to dimensional accuracy, profile precision and surface finish.”

As part of the company’s quest to upgrade its capabilities on a continuous basis, Beechwood recently looked at the available advanced surface grinders with a view to replace an older machine with a model that would improve surface grinding precision and efficiency standards.

“After narrowing our search down to two machines we chose to purchase the Okamoto ACC 64 GX surface grinding machine,” says Churchill. “In addition to being aware of Okamoto’s reputation for machine quality, we considered that the ACC 64 GX was able to deliver the speed, ease of use, and precision standards we were seeking. Also, it helped that the knowledgeable employees of UK Okamoto distributor, DF Precision Machinery, were extremely helpful from our initial enquiry, through to the machine’s installation and operator training.”
For further information www.dfpmach.com

Promotion at Bowers Group

Jordan Gould has been promoted to the position of central east sales manager at metrology specialist Bowers Group. Gould joined the company in 2020 as mobile metrology centre demonstration manager and enjoyed success delivering detailed product demonstrations across the UK for the full range of metrology products, as well as driving sales and acquiring new business. He has a strong background in metrology and engineering, extensive knowledge of applications engineering, and a wealth of experience providing front line demonstrations.
For further information www.bowersgroup.co.uk

£6.25m technology park investment

The £300m development of a Leicestershire enterprise zone has taken another major step forward after agreement was reached over investment in a new £6.25m gateway infrastructure project. Hundreds of new jobs are expected to be created after the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) agreed to invest in new road and security infrastructure at MIRA Technology Park. Construction of a replacement gateway will begin later this year, subject to planning permission, and will immediately unlock development sites for new buildings scheduled for completion in late 2023.
For further information www.miratechnologypark.com