Anticipating the need for an immediate response to the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing medium/long-term growth in the global requirement for medical devices, in March 2020 the GTMA formed a cluster of member companies interested in serving the medical sector. Around 40 companies initially joined the initiative, but this number has now grown to over 90. As a result, the GTMA is continuing to build-up intelligence and connections in the UK medical manufacturing supply chain, identifying commercial opportunities for member companies.

For further information www.gtma.co.uk

GKN Aerospace is leading the ‘Smart Connected Shop Floor’ project as part of the UK’s ‘Manufacturing Made Smarter Challenge’.

UK government and industry are jointly investing to help businesses implement new technology that will boost their productivity. The project will focus on artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), intelligent robotics, augmented reality (AR), smart devices and data analytics. Ultimately, the aim is to exploit the productivity opportunities of the digital space, empowering end users, creating an eco-system of digital technologies and aiding real-time cost-effective manufacturing decisions.

For further information
www.gknaerospace.com

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the inability of customers to travel, Guyson International – an industrial finishing equipment manufacturer – is having to remotely pass-off a number of machines destined for export markets. However, thanks to the co-operation of customers and use of the latest video conferencing software and hardware, the company is able to go through rigorous Factory Acceptance Trial (FAT) procedural checklists and pass-off its machines. In the first half of August alone, Guyson shipped well over £1m worth of export equipment using this strategy.

For further information
www.guyson.co.uk

Some 25 new jobs could be created at a Black Country engineering solutions provider after it finalised the creation of its new regional centre of excellence in West Bromwich. Deritend Group, which celebrated 121 years in business in 2019, is moving a lot of its operations for the Midlands from Wolverhampton into the modern facility in Brandon Way, giving it additional space to create a dedicated fabrication shop. More than £500,000 is being spent on the expansion, which comes as the firm is looking to bounce from COVID-19 with a number of new contract wins in the food, water and waste sectors.

For further information www.deritend.co.uk

Coventry-based light-weighting specialist, Sarginsons, has been chosen to be part of a ground-breaking engineering partnership led by Lotus, which has won UK Government support and funding to develop an all-new, next-generation Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) architecture.

Lotus will collaborate with supply chain partner Sarginsons Industries and leading academics from Brunel University London to harness the full ‘light-weighting’ potential of the vehicle architecture. Sarginsons is set to develop the vehicle chassis using a new alloy.

For further information www.sarginsons.com