A UK manufacturing collective is setting its sights on a £10m sales boost after seven of its nine members reported being back to or above pre-Covid levels. The Manufacturing Assembly Network (MAN), which works together to win new contracts and share best practice, has secured a string of contracts across automotive, electronics, medical and renewables following the easing of lockdown. According to MAN, the development will lead to the creation of around 40 new jobs, with plans in place to invest £2.5m on 3D printing capability, robotics and high-speed presses.

For further information
www.man-group.co.uk

Manufacturers that network their machines and systems are at risk from security vulnerabilities and attacks on their IT infrastructure. This was determined by the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT in the course of scientific investigations for the white paper ‘Cybersecurity in Networked Production’, which has now been published in English. The Aachen-based scientists now want to further develop the cross-industry ‘Production Security Readiness Check’ in an AiF-funded research project together with SMEs.

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Researchers at the National Robotarium, hosted by Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, have secured £586,000 to develop 3D laser beams with changeable shapes. The innovation is set to transform the manufacturing industry, making it easier and cheaper to produce products that require highly precise manufacturing, such as medical equipment and mobile devices. Funding from the EPSRC, part of UK Research and Innovation, will support the R&D of the lasers for industrial applications, accelerating the commercialisation of the technology for the benefit of businesses and the wider UK economy.

For further information https://is.gd/ajavub

Flexible shift patterns, part-time working and long-term permanent contracts are just some of the measures being introduced by a Shropshire manufacturer keen to fill 24 vacant positions. Corbetts the Galvanizers, which has secured a string of new orders, has already taken on 25 new employees, but needs additional general operatives to help it meet increasing demand from the construction, perimeter fencing, street furniture, transport and utilities sectors. Management at the 161-year-old firm are lamenting a major lack of available candidates, fuelled by many migrant workers from the EU returning home.

For further information www.wcorbett.co.uk

Telford-based Protolabs has launched a critical to quality (CTQ) inspection service for its on-demand injection moulding, whilst maintaining its production speed – as little as one day from CAD upload to the shipping of parts. This new service will save design engineers days or even weeks of time for the delivery of quality-assured parts.

A key aspect behind this rapid reporting and delivery is the company’s new software platform, which creates a digital thread as soon as a customer uploads a CAD model into the system. Working within the platform, the client simply submits a print of the model and uses red circles on the design to highlight up to five features where dimensions and tolerances are critical. Protolabs then reviews the model. If there are no issues, the order is issued without delay, whilst, if there is an issue, the client will be notified to decide on the next steps.

For further information www.protolabs.co.uk