Sodick Europe welcomed 170 guests to the grand opening of its new architect-designed headquarters in Warwick.

Kenichi Furukawa, president of Sodick Co Ltd, son of Sodick’s founder Toshihiko Furukawa, helped CEO Peter Capp and other VIP guests break the traditional sake barrels to bring good fortune to the enterprise. At 4200 sq m, the building has been designed with expansion in mind and, on a 1.2 hectare site, there is plenty of space for further growth at a later date. One of the key advantages of the new building is its large, temperature-controlled showroom.
For further information https://sodi-techedm.co.uk/

Flexiform, a manufacturer of office furniture, is investing £3m at its manufacturing plant in Thornbury, Bradford.

Over the last decade, Flexiform has grown to a £29m turnover business, manufacturing office furniture for government organisations, blue-chip companies, the education market and private businesses. As part of the investment, the company has purchased a Bystronic laser cutter and a Salvagnini panel bender. These machines are currently being installed, with employees receiving training, and in the next 3-4 years Flexiform will be working on transforming the production facility further.
For further information www.flexiform.co.uk

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