Girl power was at the fore last month, with two female apprentices claiming the main prizes at the In-Comm Training Awards.

Integrated Water Services’ Laura Thacker was named ‘Most Improved Learner of the Year’ having overcome several setbacks to develop her skills and excel in her apprenticeship, while Maria Collins from IMI Precision (Norgren) secured the ‘Outstanding Learner of the Year and Peter Wood Memorial’ award. They were joined on stage by Caterpillar Shrewsbury’s Lauren Ball, who is one of the first apprentices in the country to be trained at the Marches Centre of Manufacturing & Technology in Bridgnorth.
For further information www.in-comm.co.uk

Leading engineers are now working together at the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) to drive forward cutting-edge capabilities for manufacturing composite components in ways not currently available in the supply chain.

The team consists of Prasad Potluri, professor of robotics and textile composites at the University of Manchester, and Chris McHugh, who has joined the AMRC Composite Centre with decades of textile experience under his belt. They will be joined by Richard Scaife, head of the AMRC Composite Centre; Hannah Tew, partnership lead at the AMRC Composite Centre; and Dr Hassan El-Dessouky, a senior research fellow with the AMRC.
For further information www.amrc.co.uk

Matsuura Machinery has appointed three new engineers to its Spindle Department.

Said to be unique for any machine tool supplier in the UK, Matsuura’s Spindle Department, with its Class 1000 cleanroom based in Leicestershire, provides off-the-shelf service exchange spindles for Matsuura users all over the UK and Europe.
Paul Godfrey, spindle build engineer, is an experienced tool fitter and CNC machinist, having served in aerospace and power generation industry sectors. Joining him is Rhys Buxton, apprentice spindle build engineer, who prior to joining Matsuura undertook his apprenticeship at a precision machining company. Buxton is working towards his BTEC Level 3/NVQ3 in Engineering. The final addition is Sam Clegg, technical support engineer, who previously worked as a toolmaker and in machine tool sales.
For further information www.matsuura.co.uk

Optimas Solutions, a full service provider of fasteners and C-class components, is now licensed by the Phillips Screw Co to manufacture a number of its drive systems.

The company’s manufacturing sites, located in Wood Dale, Illinois, US, and Droitwich, UK, are licensed to produce Phillips Square-Driv, ACR Phillips II, MorTorq Super and External MorTorq Super drive systems for automotive and heavy industrial applications.
Phillips Screw Co is the inventor of the original Phillips drive system and continues to develop fastening solutions such as MorTorq Super spiral drive and External MorTorq Super bolting systems. These are a family of products that, thanks to their long product lives, are used in challenging environments. MorTorq spiral drive products are said to feature high torque control, which is achieved by providing a greater contact surface area between the driving tool and fastener head.
For further information www.optimas.com

The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry has been chosen by global standards organisation ASTM International, based in the US, to be the first non-US founding partner of ASTM International’s Centre of Excellence in Manufacturing.

The centre aims to bridge standards development with R&D, filling industry gaps in additive manufacturing (AM). MTC’s participation will involve a funded project to advance additive manufacturing standards and innovation in Europe and beyond. Along with the centre’s other partners – Auburn University, NASA and EWI – the MTC will work towards establishing international standards that support innovation in AM.
For further information www.the-mtc.org