The University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC) has secured £16.5m of funding to establish an advanced hot-forging facility.

FutureForge, as it will be named, will adjoin the existing Renfrewshire-based centre and help generate around £40m of new collaborative R&D projects over 10 years, creating up to 34 new jobs. Set to begin operating in 2020, FutureForge will be the world’s most advanced hot-forging research platform and include a one-of-a-kind, industry 4.0-ready demonstrator. The facility will enable the AFRC to work with companies to increase their global competitiveness.
For further information www.strath.ac.uk/research

Matsuura Machinery Ltd recently held a welcome evening for the four successful candidates who comprise the company’s next intake of technical apprentices.

Their families were also welcomed along to find out more about Matsuura and the staff who will guide their sons through their time at the company. Long-serving members of staff from each department spent time with the young recruits and their families, providing them with a good understanding of Matsuura, its products and customers.
For further information www.matsuura.co.uk

After 18 years at the helm of Schunk Intec Ltd, Martin Kent has stepped down from his role as general manager to allow Marcel Machado to take the reins. Machado arrives from machine tool and plastic injection moulding specialist Romi Machine Tools.

Commenting upon his new position, Machado says: “The opportunity to work with a global brand like Schunk was too good to miss. Roles of such magnitude are generally only available when a company is in difficulty. However, Martin has done a fantastic job in growing the UK business, which is yielding year-on-year growth.
“Thankfully, Martin will be staying with Schunk in a managerial role and his expertise and support as we go forward will be critical to our continued success,” continues Machado. “My personal challenge is to keep a consistent pace of growth and intensify our efforts with regard to targeting new market segments and building new relationships and sales networks.”.
For further information www.gb.schunk.com

Midland Machinery (Heavy Lift) Ltd will soon be celebrating its 20th anniversary.

The family-run company, which is based in Wednesbury, West Midlands has contracts throughout the UK and Ireland, and has become one of the UK’s leading providers of heavy-lift transportation. The company’s fleet consists of specialised heavy-goods vehicles with low loaders, semi-low loaders, trailers with loading ramps, lorry-mounted crane vehicles, Versa-Lifts and fork trucks, and fully-equipped site vehicles. Midland Machinery has its own escort vehicles for abnormal loads.
Recent investments include a Scania tractor unit in 2017 (pictured), which offers up to 78 tonne capacity. New to the fleet in 2018 is a 25/35 Versa-Lift, which provides lifting capabilities of around 16 tonne, while up and coming for 2019 is a new Faymonville four-axle, low-loader curtainsider, which is currently being manufactured. Additional services available from Midland Machinery include internal machinery relocations and storage for abnormal large equipment, if required. All health and safety regulations are handled comprehensively with the provision of method statements, risk assessments and bespoke lifting plans.
For further information www.midlandmachinery.co.uk