On 12 October Ceratizit will open its new 3600 sq ft technical centre on Sheffield’s AMP. A total of eight machines will be operational, including an XYZ UMC-5X five-axis machining centre, a Mazak Integrex I250H multi-tasking machine and a Star SR-20JIIB sliding-head lathe. All machines will be available for demonstrations of Ceratizit’s tooling and work-holding systems. Also, the applications team will be able to take customer components from drawing to finished part, with the entire process optimised for maximum productivity.

For further information www.ceratizit.com

Protolabs is looking to boost supply chain capacity in the UK and help customers manage costs with the launch of a new flexible lead-time option for CNC machining services. The service will give clients in the aerospace, automotive, electronics, medical and prototyping markets the opportunity to choose a manufacturing solution for the shipping of parts from 6 to 12 days when placing an order on its e-commerce platform. Protolabs’ latest introduction is in addition to its standard delivery of just 3 days, and as little as 1 day for expedited projects.

David Ewing, product manager for Protolabs’ CNC machining service, says: “We are known in the market for the rapid delivery of prototypes and finished parts. However, not every order requires an ultra-fast response, so our new CNC flexible lead-time option allows customers using our e-commerce platform to upload their CAD files and see how changing the delivery date alters the price.”

For further information
www.protolabs.co.uk

GRI Renewable Industries, a Spanish manufacturer of wind towers and industrial wind components for OEMs and developers in the wind energy market, will supply 100 offshore towers a year (equivalent to 100,000 tons of steel) from a new factory at the Able Marine Energy Park (AMEP) in Lincolnshire. The Spanish wind tower manufacturer signed a memorandum of understanding with Able UK to build up the factory for manufacturing and supplying wind towers at AMEP. In total, the investment will reach around €100m and create over 300 direct jobs.

For further information
www.gri.com.es

Matsuura Machinery Ltd, based in Coalville, is significantly expanding the company’s operational capacity following the purchase of the site adjacent to its existing facility.

The additional premises, covering 1 acre, which possesses 11,500 sq ft of space, consists of a large showroom, substantial office space, stores and a loading dock. Matsuura will fully refurbish the site over the next two years. The company says this expansion and investment is a demonstrative sign of its confidence in UK manufacturing, reflecting the current pressure at Matsuura Machinery Ltd for more operational capacity.

For further information www.matsuura.co.uk

Decommissioning solutions specialist, Decom Engineering, is expanding its operations with a new base near Aberdeen, which will improve access to key oil and gas clients. The £200,000 investment will establish a test centre and office facility on the doorstep of Europe’s oil capital. Established in 2011, the Northern Ireland-based company offers technologies which provide greener, faster and safer solutions for decommissioning in the energy sector. For instance, the company’s PCR equipment can strip and clean decommissioned or surplus pipelines of multiple coatings ready for repurposing on other projects.

For further information
www.decomengineering.co.uk