Sir Ranulph Fiennes has been announced as a keynote speaker at Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division’s HxGN Local Smart Manufacturing UK conference.

This two-day event, taking place on 1-2 October at The Belfry Hotel and Resort near Birmingham, invites industry leaders and innovators to discuss manufacturing trends including the challenges and opportunities of digital transformation and the smart factory. In his speech, Fiennes will share inspirational stories from his international expeditions as he reveals how he and his teams disrupted the status quo in pursuit of adventure. Hexagon’s keynote ‘Smart is Hiding in Plain Sight’ will pick up on these themes.
For further information https://is.gd/elufuw

Sharing in Growth (SiG) has selected rapidly growing Lincolnshire-based engineering firm SL Engineering to join its award-winning aerospace productivity programme.

SL Engineering, based near Grantham, produces rigid tube assemblies, complex fuel manifolds, core engine pipes and flexi-metallic rigid pipes. The company has experienced 87% growth in the past three years, particularly from aerospace, where its customers include Rolls-Royce, Eaton Aerospace, Safran Aerosystems, Kawasaki, and GKN. To continue this rapid growth and help increase its turnover from almost £6m to over £12m by 2023, the company applied for SiG’s support.
For further information www.sig-uk.org

In-Comm Training, a West Midlands training provider, has appointed a new director as it looks to capitalise on recent investment and a record year of performance.

The company, which supported more than 2500 people with apprenticeships and upskilling opportunities in 2018, has promoted Chris Reeves to operations director, overseeing the further expansion of its academies in Aldridge, Bridgnorth and Shrewsbury. As a former member of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, Reeves joins directors Colin Mills, Geoff Jones and Bekki Phillips on the senior management team.
For further information www.in-comm.co.uk

Schunk has welcomed a new area sales manager to its expanding UK team.

As the latest addition to the sales force, Jason Hardwidge will be covering the East Midlands area. Hardwidge is a self-motivated sales professional with a strong engineering background. With 15 years in the industry, he has worked with a number of engineering and cutting-tool manufacturers, and will be a welcome and experienced addition to support the company’s ongoing growth. Hardwidge will now start servicing the variety of requests that Schunk receives from customers in the run up to EMO, MACH 2020 and beyond.
For further information www.schunk.com

The Engineering Technology Group (ETG) has acquired HK Holdings and all of its subsidiaries from the Pexion Group.

As a result, ETG is now able to offer its client base a single-source solution for CNC machining, wire EDM machines and 3D-printing systems. For instance, the acquisition gives ETG access to brands in additive manufacturing that include 3D Systems and Markforged. On the EDM side, ETG will now sell the latest Mitsubishi and OPS-Ingersoll machines.
“We had two choices: look to take on additional principals and agree new distribution agreements, or purchase a company that is already established in the sector and can boast immediate access to world-class brands and a host of technical expertise with their current staff,” says Martin Doyle, managing director of ETG. “Pexion Group is a key account for ETG, with multiple CNC machines installed across its group of companies. We knew Pexion was reviewing how to develop HK Holdings, so decided we would approach them about the possibility of integrating it into our business.”
For further information www.engtechgroup.com