This year’s Inspiration through Innovation brand identity has been machined from solid on a Hermle C32 five-axis machine by technician apprentice, Emma Roberts.

The part was machined from a solid aluminium billet (200 x 200 x 30 mm) in a total cycle time of two hours. Seco’s Inspiration through Innovation manufacturing best-practice event is taking place at the company’s Innovation Hub facility in Alcester on 9-10 October. As this year’s event is focused exclusively on the aerospace segment, the long-standing brand logo has been slightly modified and redesigned accordingly.
For further information www.secotools.com

A trio of strategic appointments is helping a Telford precision manufacturing specialist deliver a 40% boost in sales.

Advanced Chemical Etching (ACE) has strengthened its management team by recruiting Carwyn Howells and Peter Kirwan as production manager and head of plant and facilities respectively, with the duo key to managing volume increases and capitalising on a £500,000 investment drive in new inspection equipment and pre and post-cleaning machines. They will be joined at the Hortonwood firm by Ian Radford, who brings years of experience in the aerospace sector to his role as quality manager.
For further information www.ace-uk.net

The MMMA Metalworking Village at MACH 2020 (20-25 April, Birmingham NEC) already has 23 members confirmed as exhibiting, with more set to follow.

At around 650 sq m, the MMMA Metalworking Village is the fourth largest in the entire exhibition halls. At present, members companies present will include: Esprit Automation, Cotswold Machinery, Worcester Presses, Bruderer, Schuler, Presscare, TMA, Roemheld UK, Industrial Clutch, Kaller Springs, Press Techniques, Helm, Anton Saws, QualiMach, Wilson Tool, Pressform Machinery, Ortlinghaus, Decade, Group Rhodes, Oerlikon Balzers, Voith Turbo and Formit.
For further information www.mmma.org.uk

A West Midlands company that helped pave the way for the Channel Tunnel and produces forged parts for use in hip replacements, is celebrating its 100th birthday in style.

KimberMills International, which employs 50 people across two sites in the Black Country and Coventry, has enjoyed a £1m boost in its centenary year by securing new contracts in the oil and gas, mining, motorsport, and rail sectors. The order haul has taken sales to a record high of £8m, created six new jobs and underlined the company’s recent decision to invest nearly £1m in a new drop forge and additional machining capabilities.
For further information www.kimbermills.co.uk

CGTech has opened a new office based in Gloucestershire as a result of ongoing business success.

The office is situated next to SGS Berkley Green UTC, and forms part of the cyber security and digital centre buildings. Gavin Powell, technical support manager, says: “We understand the importance of delivering and maintaining an exceptional level of support for our customers. The opening of this office will provide us with a central hub for support, additional training facilities and a great opportunity to strengthen and grow our technical team.”
For further information www.cgtech.co.uk