Just two years after the launch of its Powerstir ‘dual weld-head’ friction stir welding (FSW) machines, Precision Technologies Group (PTG) reports achieving double-digit sales of these specially developed technologies to electric vehicle OEMs. Designed specifically for use in the volume production of automotive battery tray floor assemblies from extruded aluminium panels, the company’s dual weld-head process aids manufacturers of skateboard chassis structures by ensuring a tight weld-flatness tolerance during battery tray floor construction.

For further information
www.holroyd.com

The University of Nottingham and BAE Systems have formalised a strategic partnership that will see the organisations collaborate on developing new and innovative digital manufacturing technologies. A recognised leader in Industry 4.0 technologies, the university’s capabilities include additive layer manufacturing, lightweight materials, metrology, and digital approaches to design and manufacture. The agreement builds on existing BAE partnerships with Cranfield University, the University of Birmingham, the University of Manchester, the University of Southampton and the University of Strathclyde.

For further information www.baesystems.com

Rotherham-based contract manufacturing specialist MTL Advanced has invested £2m in new capital equipment to meet the demands of a series of new high-profile contract wins for the defence and construction industries. MTL’s new investments centre on various manufacturing cells of the business, including large-format laser cutting, large folding and CNC machining to provide a much-needed capacity increase in line with the company’s growing order book. The centrepiece of the investment is a new 10 kW Trumpf TruLaser 3060 fibre laser, while another new machine is a 4.5 m wide x 640 tonne Ursviken press brake.

For further information www.mtladv.com

As part of the company’s growth plans, TW Ward CNC Machinery (Ward CNC) has enhanced its sales presence across the UK with the appointment of three new sales team members: Wayne Beadle joins as regional sales manager – northeast; Jamie Brighton is technical sales engineer – Midlands; and Paul Wallace joins as regional sales manager – southeast.
Ward CNC’s managing director Simon Whitworth says: “We are delighted to appoint such high calibre individuals with experience from a variety of our core sectors. Our new colleagues will only enhance our proud customer offering by enabling further opportunity to demonstrate our extensive range of CNC machines from some of the world’s leading manufacturers. Our goal is to set high standards of customer service and, with recent developments at Ward CNC, we are making excellent progress.”

For further information
www.wardcnc.com

Dr Sundar Marimuthu, a principal research engineer at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) has been awarded a prestigious UK Research and Innovation Future Leaders Fellowship. Part of the laser processing team at the MTC, Dr Marimuthu has been awarded a grant of £1.5m over four years to develop next-generation laser-based manufacturing processes for processing advanced composites. He will achieve the goal by developing two laser-based technologies into fully-fledged manufacturing solutions, underpinning the large-scale industrialisation of advanced composite solutions.

For further information www.the-mtc.org