The annual ‘Inspiration through Innovation’ manufacturing best-practice event staged by Seco Tools UK will this year take place at the company’s technology centre in Alcester on 9-10 October.

Inspiration through Innovation will host 40 exhibitors, a full seminar programme, a series of best-practice tutorials and 18 machining demonstrations. All technical partners, representing machine tool builders, and CADCAM, work-holding, cutting fluid and metrology specialists, will be directly involved in at least one machining demonstration. The event is free of charge.
For further information www.secotools.com/ITI

A new consortium of like-minded companies has been launched to boost UK manufacturing’s productivity and competitive advantage.

The In-Comm Training & Manufacturing Group (ITMG), a not-for-profit organisation, has been created to give SME manufacturers access to world-class technology, and business and learning support that can bridge the skills gap, increase R&D, help drive continuous improvement and embrace Industry 4.0. Over 140 members have already signed up to receive discounted access to 100 up-skilling training courses and networking events, and access grant and funding opportunities.
For further information www.in-comm-tmg.co.uk

A leading figure at one of the UK’s most distinguished engineering companies, and a former director general at the Ministry of Defence, has received an honorary degree for his outstanding contribution to aerospace.

Paul Stein, chief technology officer at Rolls-Royce, joined around 1000 postgraduate students from more than 100 countries receiving their degrees from Cranfield University last week. Stein is responsible for ensuring Rolls-Royce’s investment in technology is closely aligned with the company’s business strategy. Prior to commencing his current role in April 2017, he spent seven years working in a variety of other leadership roles at Rolls-Royce.
For further information www.cranfield.ac.uk

Whitehouse Machine Tools has been appointed, with immediate effect, as the sole UK sales and service agent for the full range of machine tools manufactured by Wele Mechatronic.

Founded in 2007, the Taiwanese firm produces vertical and horizontal machining centres with X-axis strokes up to 2500 mm, B-axis and trunnion-type five-axis machining centres with up to 4 m travel in X, large bridge-type mill-turn centres with capacities up to 16 x 5 x 1 m, horizontal borers, and both horizontal- and vertical-spindle turning centres. Whitehouse has already sold a Wele AA1165 vertical machining centre to a UK manufacturer of split valves for the pharmaceutical industry.
For further information www.wmtcnc.com