RARUK Automation has opened the UK’s first Universal Robots authorised training centre at its headquarters in Shefford, Bedfordshire.

The move will allow the company’s certified UR trainers to provide tuition in collaborative robot (cobot) programming, empowering UK customers to get the best return from their UR investment. Says Mark Gray, UK sales manager at Universal Robots: “Through our partnership with UK application specialists such as RARUK Automation we can now expand our online training to hands-on classes, so manufacturers can extend their use of cobots and drive even more value from their automation investments and employees.”
For further information www.rarukautomation.com

Ineos Team UK is the recipient of the 10,000th Haas machine tool installed in the UK. As one of the world’s largest manufacturers, Ineos has formed the team to challenge for the 36th America’s Cup, which will be held in New Zealand in 2021.

The Haas CNC Toolroom Mill will be in constant use at the team’s Portsmouth base, where it will be developing components for their first America’s Cup race boat, named ‘Britannia’. Once the boat’s development work has been completed, the Haas Toolroom Mill, together with a Haas Toolroom Lathe, will accompany the team to New Zealand for the event.
For further information www.haas.co.uk

UK defence spending in Wales reached more than £1bn for the first time in 2018-19, supporting more than 7000 jobs.

New MoD figures show that the department’s procurement spend in Wales increased from £960m in 2017-18 to £1.08bn last year – an increase in per capita spending from £310 to £350. Major defence projects in Wales include: production of the Army’s next-generation AJAX armoured fighting vehicles at General Dynamics in Merthyr Tydfil and Oakdale; the development of a new £11m Royal Naval Reserve centre in Cardiff Bay; and a £250m contract with Raytheon in Broughton to provide support services to the Royal Air Force’s fleet of surveillance aircraft.
For further information www.gov.uk

Comprising four stands across MACH 2020 (Birmingham NEC, 20-24 April) the HVM Catapult trail will demonstrate how companies can harness key Industry 4.0 technologies to improve their bottom line.

All seven of the HVM Catapult’s centres of innovation will be on display along the trail, with special features on the future of machining, additive manufacturing, digitalisation and automation. Dick Elsy, chief executive of the HVM Catapult, says: “Our team of specialists will be on hand across the HVM Catapult trail to help visitors achieve a step-change in company performance.”
For further information www.machexhibition.com

A new partnership has been forged between Verus Metrology and Apex Metrology that will see the latter supply Verus’ bespoke metrology fixtures, along with its modular metrology fixture kit – V-FIX – for non-bespoke workpiece clamping solutions.

The venture also sees Apex become the latest member to join Verus’ Approved Partners Programme.
For further information www.verusmetrology.com www.apexmetrology.com