CBM calls on Government for energy support

Manufacturers are facing an ‘energy apocalypse’ as recent non-commodity changes and a new stealth tax have added millions to crippling bills. That is the stark message from the Confederation of British Metalforming (CBM), which is calling on the Government to do something for the many, rather than just a few larger high-intensity energy businesses.

Leaders at SME manufacturers have reached the end of their tether trying to compete globally while facing extortionate prices for gas and electricity exacerbated by the amount of taxes and levies that form parts of the bill. CBM members have already come forward to explain what this means on the shop floor, with many expecting rises of 10-30% in the cost of energy over the next six months. In some cases, this equates to an extra £1m of charges.

More information www.thecbm.co.uk

ASG Group director appointed to NMC

ASG Group reports that Mandy Ridyard, director of ASG Produmax, has been appointed to the National Manufacturing Commission (NMC) as part of its newly launched inquiry into how the Government’s Industrial Strategy can best support UK SME manufacturers. The NMC, the research arm of the All-Party Parliamentary Manufacturing Group, plays a vital role in shaping policy recommendations that strengthen UK manufacturing.

She says: “SMEs are the lifeblood of UK manufacturing and play a crucial role in creating innovation, resilience and jobs across our regions. I’m honoured to join the NMC at such a pivotal time, ensuring the voice of SME manufacturers is heard loud and clear as the Industrial Strategy takes shape.”

More information www.asg-group.co

Iscar to sponsor E&D Zone at MACH

Global tooling specialist Iscar Tools will give its support to the Education and Development (E&D) Zone at the MACH 2026 exhibition (Birmingham NEC, 202-4 April) by taking on the role of headline sponsor. The move demonstrates the company’s commitment to attracting the next generation of engineers into the advanced manufacturing sector. The E&D Zone is the educational hub at MACH 2026 for students keen to explore what manufacturing can offer them as a future career and help them find their ‘pathway to engineering’. A lynchpin of the E&D Zone is the guided tours of the exhibition by apprentices.

More information www.machexhibition.com

End-of-Year Open House at Hurco

Hurco’s annual end-of-year open house exhibition will be held this year at its High Wycombe showroom on 2 and 3 December 2025, from 08:30 to 16:30 each day. Lunch will be provided, as well as refreshments throughout the event. In addition to a showroom full of new Hurco CNC machine tools under power and cutting metal, there is the added attraction of up to 19 primary Hurco suppliers in attendance.

Taking centre stage this year will be four different five-axis machining centre configurations, allowing visitors to compare the benefits and limitations of each option: a three-axis VMX60Ti  with Kitagawa TT182 rotary-tilt table; the cantilever-design VC500i; the swivel-head VMX42SRTi; and a VMX30Ui trunnion machine fully automated with a Hurco ProCobot ProFeeder-X, 10-drawer, heavy-duty system.

Register at www.hurco.com

Ex-Dyson MD joins AMufacture as new chairman

A UK additive manufacturing (AM) company has appointed the former managing director of Dyson as its new chairman. David Hollander (photo, centre) is taking on the role at Portsmouth-based AMufacture to support its rapid growth and international expansion.

AMufacture, founded in 2018 by Craig Pyser and Will Howden, says it has grown into a leading contract manufacturer in the AM industry, specialising in marine, automotive and defence contracts. It recently benefited from significant follow-on investment made by private equity firm Maven Capital and Scottish-based co-investor Turner, which has been helping ambitious companies to grow for more than 100 years.

Hollander, who has more than 40 years’ experience in leading and transforming businesses, says: “I’m delighted to join AMufacture at such an exciting time in the company’s development. We now have seven times the capacity we had two years ago with the opportunity ahead to develop either in other areas of the UK or, more importantly, overseas. What I’m bringing – from my time at Dyson and other companies – is experience of having been there and done it before. I greatly admire Will and Craig’s ambition and the progress the company has made to date. I’m also impressed by the focus and support that comes from the investment they have received.”

He continues: “The potential for growth is huge. AM has historically been used for R&D but is now at such an advanced level that it’s very cost effective for relatively short manufacturing runs and for situations of rapid change where a client does not want to commit to a long run. It allows customers to prepare for multiple scenarios in the most cost-effective way.”

More information https://amufacture.com/