Universal Robots is hosting a free-of-charge machine tending masterclass at the University of Sheffield’s AMRC on 26 April. The company’s experts will be joined by complementary technology suppliers such as SICK, OnRobot, Schunk, Robotiq, EasyRobotics, Measurement Solutions, Haas and Mazak. Visitors will find out about optimal automation tools and how to increase capacity and run a night shift using the latest collaborative robot (cobot) technologies. The keynote speaker will be Mark Gray, Country Manager UK & Ireland at Universal Robots. Register at the link below.

For further information
www.bit.ly/3NYMASb

Saietta Group Plc, a specialist in advanced e-mobility powertrains, has accelerated its growth plans by taking on a manufacturing facility in Sunderland, the former base of ZF Automotive UK Ltd. The company will grow its production of electric motors at the 86,000 sq ft Sunderland plant to a capacity of 100,000 units per annum. Saietta has purchased a total of four motor production lines and an electronic circuit board production line, and a considerable amount of this equipment can be repurposed to meet the needs of Saietta’s customers going forward. The company will offer roles to former ZF personnel.

For further information
www.saiettagroup.com

Work is underway on the new home for Nuclear AMRC Midlands, a transformative £15m nuclear research facility at Infinity Park Derby. The 4300 sq m research centre will advance manufacturing capabilities for sustainable energy using a range of pioneering technologies. With energy prices at record levels, Nuclear AMRC Midlands will help guide manufacturers through the energy transition and facilitate growth in a carbon-neutral economy. The Nuclear AMRC Midlands facility is scheduled for completion by early 2023, and will work with companies of all sizes to help them win contracts in carbon-neutral supply chains.

For further information www.namrc.co.uk

The University of Strathclyde and Babcock International Group have been awarded a prestigious national research accolade to develop a ground-breaking technology application. Babcock is the industry lead for the project, which will focus on real-time ultrasonic weld inspection and underpin a wider industrial academic partnership announced last year to deliver innovation through world-class projects. The University of Strathclyde will work with Babcock on sensor-driven, automated welding using ultrasonic imaging to improve the integrity of joints.

For further information
www.strath.ac.uk

A global supplier of ultrasonic measurement products to the medical and academic sectors has brought a new product to market thanks to 3D printing and materials experts at the Coventry-based Manufacturing Technology Centre. Precision Acoustics came to the MTC for help when it was looking to launch a new anechoic test tank liner for measuring ultrasonic signals at frequencies below 1 MHz. The surface structure of the tank liners is critical, so an SME team from MTC Manufacturing Support Services worked with Precision Acoustics to come up with an appropriate material to use for the 3D printing of the moulded former.

For further information www.the-mtc.org