The University of Sheffield’s AMRC will host two new Smart Factory Innovation Hubs as part of a pilot scheme to accelerate growth in the manufacturing sector through better use of digital technologies. Smart Factory Innovation Hubs are being led by the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult and Made Smarter, which together constitute the UK’s manufacturing digitalisation movement. The project will see HVM Catapult’s network, which includes the AMRC and Nuclear AMRC, offer companies the opportunity to reduce the risk of implementing new digital manufacturing solutions within their businesses.

For further information www.hvm.catapult.org.uk/innovation-hubs

The UK SMR consortium, led by Rolls-Royce, expects to create 6000 regional UK jobs within the next five years and 40,000 in 15 years in a boost to the green economic recovery. These jobs will emerge if the UK Government makes a commitment that enables the build of 16 small modular reactor (SMR) power stations over the next 20 years. The power stations will help secure the UK’s net-zero commitments affordably, revitalise the UK’s regional industrial base and position the country to secure exports of at least £250bn. Factories in the Midlands and North of England will make up to 80% (by value) of the power station components.

For further information
www.rolls-royce.com

A Birmingham-based stamping specialist is pressing the button on a £1m project that will see it develop a new process to support the UK’s acceleration into electrification.

Brandauer has secured over £300,000 of funding from the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund run by UK Research and Innovation to help it set-up a high volume e-machine stack line that will produce thin laminates required by the automotive and aerospace sectors. Working in partnership with WMG and supported by Jaguar Land Rover, the firm believes there is an initial £500,000 opportunity it can secure once the methodology is in place.

For further information www.brandauer.co.uk

Protolabs, a manufacturer of custom prototypes and low-volume production parts, has created a new e-commerce platform for the UK. The digital manufacturing platform allows users to easily manage their prototyping and on-demand production requirements. Like the previous solution, it still provides quotes for parts with design for manufacturability (DFM) analysis, but now has a more intuitive, user-friendly and even faster interface. The e-commerce solution offers all three of the firm’s manufacturing services – 3D printing, CNC machining and injection moulding – in one place.

For further information www.protolabs.co.uk

IMI Truflo Marine – a manufacturer of critical flow control solutions – plans to create a multi-million-pound centre of engineering excellence in the West Midlands. A state-of-the-art 57,000 sq ft manufacturing and design facility will take shape at Birmingham’s Advanced Manufacturing Hub (AMH) in a deal with Barberry Industrial. IMI Truflo Marine will relocate to the Witton manufacturing hub from its existing facility nearby. The company has agreed a 15-year lease on the new headquarters, a move that not only safeguards the jobs of its existing workforce, but creates new employment opportunities.

For further information
www.imi-critical.com