UK NEWS

UK Steel DG

UK Steel has appointed of Peter Brennan as its new director-general, taking over the leadership of the trade association at a pivotal moment for the UK steel industry. Brennan succeeds Gareth Stace, who steps down after 12 years as director-general but will remain with UK Steel as an adviser for a short transition period before leaving the organisation. Having worked at the heart of UK Steel’s policy and advocacy work, Brennan brings extensive knowledge of the industry and the challenges and opportunities facing UK steelmakers.  

More information www.uksteel.org 

Nasmyth Secures Air Inlet Manifold Contract for Coolbrook

Nasmyth has been awarded the first Air Inlet Manifold contract by Coolbrook for its pioneering RotoDynamic Heater (RDH) technology, marking an important new programme for Nasmyth within the industrial and energy sectors. The contract follows several months of close collaboration between the two companies and will see Nasmyth produce a key element of the RDH system. It provides Nasmyth with an opportunity to apply its established precision engineering, fabrication and extensive manufacturing expertise to this fast-growing multi-million pound market. 

More information www.nasmyth.com 

Made Smarter Teams Up With Toyota

Made Smarter South East, the Government-backed technology adoption programme, has teamed up with the Toyota Lean Management Centre (TLMC) to bring manufacturing and continuous improvement expertise directly to SME factory floors. Together the organisations have developed a two-day programme tailored to SMEs, helping manufacturers improve processes, eliminate waste and boost productivity before investing in new technology. 

The programme was successfully piloted in Buckinghamshire, bringing together 14 manufacturers hosted at Ercol in Princes Risborough factory. Day one combined expert-led workshops and practical exercises with a factory tour, while day two took the learning directly into selected businesses. 

More information www.tinyurl.com/4zxthect 

Rolls-Royce Invests £300m in UK Facilities

Rolls-Royce is making a landmark £300m investment in its manufacturing and engineering facilities across the UK. The investment reinforces the company’s commitment to the UK’s manufacturing ecosystem, laying the groundwork for further growth across its global civil aerospace and defence businesses. The funding includes £140m for its Derby plant, £90m for Bristol, £43m for Inchinnan, £19m for Rotherham and £5m for Ansty.  

Rolls-Royce has invested more than £3bn in the UK since the start of its transformation programme in 2023. Across the country, the company has been investing in R&D and cutting-edge engineering programmes, alongside upgrading its facilities. This new investment will ensure Rolls-Royce’s UK infrastructure can meet manufacturing demand and support the development of future aerospace programmes.  

More information www.rolls-royce.com 

Walter GB Expands with Trio of Appointments

Tooling specialist Walter GB has strengthened its UK sales operation with three new appointments, including two field sales engineers (Ben Stephens and Chris Auton) and the creation of a key account manager role (Ross Shaw) for the company’s largest OEM customers. The new recruits mark another milestone in Walter’s ongoing UK growth trajectory, bringing talented and experienced engineering talent into the business. Managing director Ashley Battison says: “We’re building an engineering team to enhance and streamline service and support for customers, particularly those with challenging projects.”  

More information www.walter-tools.com