A group of Midlands-based manufacturers has set its sights on taking a share of the expected £300bn spend on vehicle electrification.

The Manufacturing Assembly Network (MAN), which is made up of eight subcontract manufacturers and a specialist design agency, is already supplying components to 10 projects focused on battery development and electric motors, and is expecting this figure to more than double over the next 12 months. Bosses at the collective point to its ability to offer a single source solution, with 1st tiers and major blue-chip OEMs able to tap into a host of engineering disciplines, ranging from concept design, precision pressings, laminations and forgings, to castings and fabrication.
“I can’t remember the last time our members have been so excited about the potential opportunities presented by just one sector; spend on automotive electrification is going through the roof and legislation is driving it,” explains Rowan Crozier, CEO of Brandauer and chairman of MAN. “A single electric car can contain anything between 70 and 150 electric motors, which makes it a very exciting opportunity for parts manufacturers. We are already supplying a number of firms with electrical steel laminations.”
For further information www.man-group.co.uk

Renishaw is inviting engineers to register for a free place at its forthcoming Manufacturing in Aerospace open day.

Taking place on 5 March at the company’s Innovation Centre in Gloucestershire, leading figures in the aerospace industry will illustrate the key trends and technologies that are transforming the sector. The day aims to lead discussions on the direction that the aerospace industry is taking, and what is expected of the
supply chain in order to fulfil these ever-changing requirements in a buoyant and growing sector. Presentations during the day will include those
from Airbus, GKN and Rolls-Royce.
For further information www.renishaw.com

Blackman & White, which employs 28 people at a factory in Essex, grew 10% in 2018 after a surge of orders from customers involved in the aerospace, automotive and marine sectors.

The company is now targeting greater production control, operational efficiencies and the opportunity to scale after it successfully commissioned a new MRP system thanks to the support of the Manufacturing Growth Programme (MGP).
For further information www.manufacturingrowthprogramme.co.uk

Experts at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry have developed a demonstrator to show businesses how they can grow through the adoption of smart manufacturing technologies and processes.

Created by the MTC working alongside the University of Birmingham, Loughborough University and a team of industry partners, the ‘Factory in a Box’ is an industrial scale demonstrator. A formal launch is planned by the MTC on 13 March. Manufacturers are invited
to attend the free event and learn how their businesses can benefit from the adoption of a smarter, more digital approach.
For further information https://is.gd/owihuq

Westermans International is enhancing its services to customers in both the home and international markets with a sole UK and Ireland distributorship agreement for the ProArc range of welding, cutting and drilling systems.

Although a supplier of ProArc equipment into worldwide markets for some 25 years, this latest move is set to strengthen product availability and choice in the UK and Ireland, while also providing support where needed for the company’s European sales activity.
Key markets where the development will be of particular note include automotive exhaust, vacuum component and cryogenic vessel manufacturing, as well as water tank, aircraft component, flexible metal hose and sheet metal fabrication. Westermans will be stocking a broad range of ProArc products. Also, a number of units will be set-up for viewing and demonstration at the company’s Leicester premises.
For further information www.westermans.com