UK NEWS

Next Phase For LSIC

The NCC, part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult and the University of Bristol, has confirmed that the Large Structures Innovation Centre (LSIC) will be located on the Isle of Wight. The LSIC will be an open-access national facility to support the development, demonstration and industrialisation of large, high-performance structures across multiple sectors, with an initial focus on wind energy. It will equip industry with end-to-end innovation capabilities, supporting progress from concept through to end-of-life. NCC has announced Vestas as the LSIC’s launch partner.

More information www.nccuk.com

Manufacturing sector lags in AI adoption

Although interest in AI across UK businesses is at an all-time high in many commercial sectors, adoption remains slow-moving for traditional industries, including manufacturing. Research shows the most cited obstacle is identifying practical use cases (39%), followed by cost concerns (21%) and a lack of internal AI skills and expertise (16%). The Coders Guild – a provider of digital skills training, apprenticeships and software development bootcamps – has therefore worked with Skills England and the Department for Education to author the UK’s first Level 4 AI and Automation Apprenticeship Standard.

More information www.bit.ly/46l3nJJ

FourJaw signs 50 new manufacturers

FourJaw, a provider of production monitoring technology, signed almost 50 new customers in 2025 as manufacturers worldwide sought greater visibility into their factory operations. Despite a challenging economic environment, demand for production data remained strong as manufacturers sought insight to increase output, reduce waste and make better decisions. FourJaw’s new customers include SMEs and major multinationals in sectors such as motorsport, aerospace and defence.

The company’s plug-and-play technology gives manufacturers a real-time view of machine performance, utilisation and energy consumption across the shop floor. Customers typically achieve a 30% increase in capacity and a 10% rise in productivity within six months of installing FourJaw.

More information www.fourjaw.com

Scholarship to support women in engineering

Broadcaster, journalist and author Steph McGovern returned to her Teesside roots recently to launch a major scholarship programme aimed at increasing the number of women entering engineering. The new Steph McGovern Women in Engineering Scholarship will provide support for every first‑year, full‑time female engineering student at Teesside University, thanks to £44,000 of funding from Enginuity, the engineering skills charity. At a special event held in the university’s Digital Life building, the inaugural scholars learnt they would receive support from Steph herself during their studies. 

More information www.enginuity.org

Advanced inventory management on show at Southern

Inventory management specialist Tooling Intelligence demonstrated four control solutions at the Southern Manufacturing 2026 exhibition last week. The company’s stand featured live demonstrations of technologies designed to eliminate inventory waste, reduce downtime and deliver measurable cost savings for manufacturers.

With manufacturers facing mounting pressure to improve operational efficiency while controlling costs, Tooling Intelligence’s offering addresses the growing challenge of inventory control. The company’s comprehensive range of solutions – from weight-based vending to electronic access control – provides manufacturers with real-time visibility, automated replenishment and detailed usage tracking that transforms inventory from a cost centre into a competitive advantage.

Visitors to the stand could see the SmartBin weight-based inventory management solution in action. The system delivers absolute control over fasteners, cutting tools, spare parts and critical components through precision weight-sensing technology. Available in four fixed configurations accommodating between 30 and 64 distinct SKUs, SmartBin eliminates manual counting while providing real-time visibility of stock levels.

The system’s rapid transaction speeds and secure RFID badge access ensure authorised users can quickly access what they need, while automated order generation prevents stock-outs and reduces emergency purchasing. For manufacturers struggling with inventory shrinkage or inaccurate stock records, SmartBin’s continuous monitoring delivers immediate accountability and cost reductions.

Alongside the SmartBin was the SmartDrawer vending solution, which offers high-capacity storage from a compact footprint. SmartDrawer provides an entirely custom configuration of drawers and several locations to meet exact requirements. It dispenses everything from cutting tools and abrasives to calibrated instruments and PPE with individual item control. LED-guided product location and touchscreen operation deliver rapid transactions, while the system’s modular design allows manufacturers to scale capacity as requirements grow. The rapid refill feature enables fast restocking without repackaging, reducing administrative burden and maximising machine uptime.

More information www.toolingintelligence.co.uk