Andrew Hodgson, strategic lead – digitalisation at Siemens, has been named by the Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) as its vice president.

Hodgson has been a member of the MTA board for a number of years, and chairs the association’s technical committee, which looks at activities in advanced manufacturing technologies, such as 3D printing, automation and industry standards.
“We look forward to working closely with Andrew in his new position, especially in relation to the enormous opportunities for increased productivity in UK manufacturing brought about by accelerating digitalisation,” says James Selka DL, CEO at the MTA. Hodgson adds: “The MTA works hard to both represent and inform members in a fast-changing manufacturing environment. I look forward to working even closer with James Selka and his team, ensuring we continue to progress as an association and accurately reflect the diverse range of technologies we champion.”
For further information www.mta.org.uk

Construction is now well underway on the new foundry of MRT Castings in Andover.

With 60% more space than the company’s current die-casting area, this purpose-built, 20,000 sq ft additional facility is only 100 yards from the existing site and represents an ambitious new chapter for the company. After several years of sustained growth, MRT realised that it had outgrown its current foundry and needed to invest in a new site. In addition to relocating all of its existing foundry machinery to the new building, the company will be investing in new equipment and capabilities that will provide a platform for the next phase of development.
For further information www.mrt-castings.co.uk

On 11 September, SolidCAM UK will be hosting a ‘learn and lunch’ event at its Technology Centre in Dodworth, Barnsley.

The event will give visitors the opportunity to see the company’s CAM developments working in conjunction with products from work-holding and gripping expert Schunk. The 10:00 until 13:00 event will demonstrate how working with technology partners like Schunk can improve machine-shop efficiency. With SolidCAM presentations throughout, the event will host
live cutting demonstrations on a Romi D-800 vertical machining centre.
For further information www.gb.schunk.com

Automation expert Bosch Rexroth has recently made a significant investment in its UK service and repair centre, resulting in a facility with higher capacity, faster throughput and state-of-the-art technology.

The new workshop, which specialises in the repair of hydraulic products, is based at the company’s UK headquarters in Cambridgeshire and opened officially on 13 August. Including planning phases, the project has taken two years. The new facility will double both the size and the repair capacity of the previous workshop.
For further information www.boschrexroth.com

To meet the growing demand for fully automated end-of-line systems, which increasingly require robotic solutions, Endoline Machinery has launched a sister company – Endoline Robotics Ltd (ERL) – and formed a strategic partnership with FANUC UK.

The move reinforces Endoline’s expertise as a provider of case erecting and sealing automation and, through the strength of the FANUC brand, will now manage the installation of robotic palletising systems under the umbrella of ERL.
For further information https://endoline-automation.com/