UK NEWS

Apprentices on track at UK Metals Expo

A UK manufacturer of flat rolled aluminium coils showcased the talents of its budding engineers at last month’s UK Metals Expo in Birmingham. Oliver Greenhalgh and Sam Foster, first year apprentices at Bridgnorth Aluminium (BAL), impressed visitors to the sector’s biggest exhibition with the way they designed and manufactured a steam train out of scrap metal.

The two trainee mechanical engineers spent 20 hours of their own time developing the aluminium model, which was displayed at both the BAL stand and the Café De Arts area next to the Olympic Torch used in London 2012. The steam train is a tribute to the Severn Valley Railway which runs from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth. Bridgnorth Aluminium took on another three apprentices on in September, taking its total to 13.

More information www.bridgnorthaluminium.co.uk

Productive Machines partners MachineWorks

Productive Machines, a software company enabling the machining industry to reach the
best part faster and first time, and MachineWorks, a company specialising in CNC simulation
and verification, are commencing a strategic partnership aimed at transforming CAM
software with the SenseNC suite of products. According to Productive Machines, the
collaboration introduces efficiency in machining processes while opening new revenue
streams for CAM software companies. SenseNC products allow optimisation of machining
processes by automatically adjusting spindle speed and feed rates across tool paths.
More information www.productivemachines.co.uk

JLR invests £500m

JLR is investing £500m investment to transform its historic Halewood facility and support
the parallel production of electric vehicles (EVs) alongside existing combustion and hybrid
models. Originally built in 1963 to produce the Ford Anglia, Halewood is being transformed
for the electric era. The historic plant has been fitted with technology that includes new EV

build lines, 750 autonomous robots, ADAS calibration rigs, laser alignment technology for
perfect part fitment and the latest cloud-based digital plant management systems to create
the ‘factory of the future’.
More information www.jaguarlandrover.com

Award for industry-academia research

The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and Boeing
have won the 2024 Bhattacharyya Award, an honour backed by the UK Government that
celebrates the most impactful collaborations between academia and industry. More than 23
years after their initial partnership, the AMRC and Boeing have trained over 2000
apprentices, created 2500 jobs and delivered £350m of inward investment. In 2018, the
AMRC site in Rotherham also welcomed Boeing as a neighbour – the aerospace giant’s first
European manufacturing facility.
More information www.amrc.co.uk

NMIS names new CTO

The National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) has named Coreen McCubbin as its chief technology officer (CTO). McCubbinhas previously held senior leadership roles at Spirit AeroSystems and BAE systems, and was most recently consulting globally at Leading Edge Strategy Consulting. She holds a degree in engineering and has a proven track record in UK manufacturing, project management and translating industry needs into impactful R&D projects. Known for her strategic mindset and communication skills, McCubbinis passionate about transforming manufacturing and fostering sustainable innovation.

More information www.nmis.scot