HS2 Ltd has revealed the train builders vying to deliver Britain’s next generation of state-of-the-art high-speed trains, which will carry tens of thousands of people every day across the UK’s new high-speed network and beyond.

Operating at speeds of up to 360 kph, shortlisted bidders for the new train fleet are: Alstom Transport, Bombardier Transportation UK Ltd, Hitachi Rail Europe, Patentes Talgo SLU and Siemens PLC. Each will be invited to tender for the contracts, which will cover the design, build and maintenance of at least 54 trains coming into service from 2026. In total, HS2 will create around 25,000 jobs and 2000 apprenticeships both directly in construction and across the UK-wide supply chain. The first trains will begin to roll off the production line in the early 2020s. Welcoming the shortlist, HS2 Minister Paul Maynard says: “Thousands of skilled British jobs and apprenticeships will be created by HS2, which gets a step closer as we reveal the companies shortlisted to build the high-speed trains.”
For further information www.gov.uk

LPW Technology Ltd and Magnitude Innovations Ltd are combining their additive manufacturing (AM) experience to support the industrialisation of metal AM.

Ben Ferrar, LPW’s chief operating officer, says: “In partnership, LPW and Magnitude will support their clients with metal powders, design, process and application support, helping manufacturers to overcome production challenges throughout the complete AM value chain. The projects undertaken together will offer a tailored, turnkey solution to the adoption of AM technologies, supporting industrial companies to utilise AM and broaden the knowledge-base of the AM sector.”
For further information www.lpwtechnology.com

The order intake of Trumpf UK during 2016/17 has been reported at £57.1m, an increase of 50% on the previous fiscal year. Preliminary operating profit is shown as £988,239.

“We had an unprecedented high number of new and conversion customers this year and I am certain our focus on providing outstanding service to complement the technical competence of our machines played its part,” says managing director Annette Doyle. The UK workforce also grew substantially in the past 12 months with technical service accounting for most of the new staff members.
For further information www.uk.trumpf.com

Birmingham-based contract presswork and stamping specialist Brandauer reports it has just completed a successful ‘first’ prototype project with a major international sensing company, and is currently quoting for 10 new projects worth in excess of £1m.

“The ‘needle eye’ technology deployed lends itself to automation and will offer customers in the automotive sector greater efficiency and robustness in interconnects,” explains Rowan Crozier, CEO of Brandauer. “Our Special Product Division can work with the clients to manufacture to bespoke requirements, producing a prototype push fit terminal in just 15 days.”
For further information www.brandauer.co.uk