A Coventry-based aerospace supplier that has pivoted to the supply of critical parts for ventilators is celebrating after it received the Queen’s Award for International Trade. Arrowsmith Engineering, which employs 76 people, secured the accolade after it recorded a 996% increase in export activity over the past three years, supplying precision components to global manufacturers such as Rolls-Royce, GKN, ITP and Siemens.

The company’s parts are used in aerospace engines, landing gear and airframes, with recent wins seeing sales rise to £7.6m and investment in the latest CNC robotics paving the way for 10% growth in 2020. Arrowsmith Engineering, which is part of the Aero Services Global Group, has recently been lending its manufacturing expertise to support the frontline fight against COVID-19, after being invited by Rolls-Royce Control Systems and Rolls-Royce in Derby to join their ventilator supply chains.
For further information www.arrowsmitheng.co.uk

TRB Lightweight Structures is using its material science know-how and specialist equipment to produce vital PPE based on the Foster + Partners design in the battle against COVID-19.

The company has redeployed personnel and machinery – which normally create advanced composite components for electric vehicles – to produce an innovative reusable face visor, and is now generating 1000 of these per day. TRB has adapted its expertise and cutting equipment to manufacture the simple, reusable visors, one every 50 seconds.
For further information www.trbls.com

Vehicle transmission specialist Xtrac has received a Queen’s Award for Enterprise. The company won the award in the ‘Innovation’ category for its development of an Integrated Lightweight Electric Vehicle (ILEV) gearbox range spearheaded by Xtrac CEO Adrian Moore.

Xtrac previously received a Queen’s Award for Export and Excellence in 1992, less than a decade after it was founded to serve the motorsport industry. Nowadays, as well as continuing to serve the industry globally, it has successfully reached out to the automotive mainstream.
For further information www.xtrac.com

3T-am, a production additive manufacturing (AM) company, is utilising EOS’ global partner ecosystem to 3D print face-shield headbands for health workers in the UK.

According to 3T, it is now producing 20,000 headbands per week, and will exceed 100,000 within the next few weeks. The face shields are being used by frontline workers, across the NHS and UK healthcare system, fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. 3T has also provided the CAD for free, available to download from the company’s website.
For further information www.3t-am.com

Research materials supplier Goodfellow is showing support to several initiatives in the fight against COVID-19, supplying materials that are being used to make protective equipment for frontline workers.

The company’s latest donation has seen it donate 130 kg of polypropylene coil to Stamford School in Lincolnshire, where design technology teachers are voluntarily manufacturing 1000 protective face masks a day. The school is contributing to the national effort to increase the availability of PPE for frontline NHS staff.
For further information www.goodfellow.com