A new state-of-the-art engineering test facility, built at the headquarters of Bentley Motors in Crewe, is nearing completion following an official ‘topping out’ ceremony.

When it opens in 2021, the facility will cover more than 4600 sq m over two storeys. Included will be a climate-controlled chassis dynamometer, operating across temperatures from -10°C to +40°C. There will also be a dedicated laboratory to run RDE (real driving emissions) using the latest portable emissions measurement systems. Bentley’s Technical Conformity department will be based in the test centre, with over 100 people working in the building.

For further information www.bentleymotors.com

Hurco Europe has decided to help keep the wheels of industry turning by staging an open house on 20-22 October at its UK headquarters in High Wycombe.

The open house will mark the official launch of a new range of Hurco driven-tool CNC lathes, represented by the TM8Mi with 12 axially-driven VDI 30 DIN1809 tool locations, and a new servo-drive that is said to offer high-performance milling.

Attendance at the open house is strictly by appointment and a maximum of six people per company may attend. Visitors from no more than three companies will be allowed in the showroom at a time, where a one-way system will be in force. Barriers will be in place at a 2 m distant from the machines being demonstrated. There will be hand-sanitising stations available for use and every visitor will be given a Hurco-branded face mask and an individually packed lunch.

For further information rozanskab@hurco.com

Following a recent £2.5m investment in its new CNC machining shop and securing orders worth £1m from the electrification sector, Wednesbury-based aluminium foundry Alucast has joined a new cluster.

Although it is early days, the management team at the Black Country manufacturer is expecting volumes destined for electric powertrain/vehicles to account for 25% of its turnover going forward, and this is one of the reasons why it has decided to join the newly created MAN Electrification Cluster, which features Balluff, Brandauer, C-MAC SMT and PP Control & Automation.

For further information www.alucast.co.uk

A specialist in cable-cleat manufacture, Ellis Patents, has invested £0.5m in a 25% expansion of its North Yorkshire headquarters, the main element of which is a new 10,000 sq ft warehouse.

While the new facility will be used primarily for assembly and storage, its construction has released 7000 sq ft of space in existing parts of Ellis’ premises. This space will be used to expand the company’s manufacturing facilities – a development that is seen as vital for future growth and improved business efficiency.

For further information www.ellispatents.co.uk

CGTech has appointed its first apprentice as part of the UK technical support team.

Will Culliford started his role as apprentice technical support engineer at the beginning of this month after initially completing a six-week work-experience placement last year. During his work experience, based at the CGTech office in Berkeley, Gloucestershire, Culliford completed all training courses and helped test the next Vericut release. As part of his apprenticeship he will be attending Gloucestershire Engineering Training College (GET) on a full-time basis for the first academic year.

For further information www.cgtech.co.uk