A Shropshire company is embarking on ambitious growth plans to boost its £11.4m annual sales by 15%, with the potential of creating 30 new jobs in 2019.

Corbetts the galvanizers, one of the UK’s longest established hot-dip galvanizers, is looking to build on significant investment in new equipment and a number of senior appointments to target opportunities in the agricultural, transport infrastructure, street furniture and utilities markets. Despite a challenging year due to rising zinc costs, the Halesfield-based firm has managed to secure a number of new contracts that are making the most of the larger galvanizing kettle it installed in late 2017.
For further information www.wcorbett.co.uk

A UK manufacturer of electro-mechanical motion control systems, LG Motion, has updated its in-house machining capability with the arrival of three machines from XYZ Machine Tools.

The investment includes two SMX 3500 ProtoTrak bed mills, which have been brought in to replace two older machines. The nature of the work is generally small batches and bespoke systems, so quick changeover is very important. Moreover, with their increased spindle-speed capability and ISO 40 taper connection, the bed mills are improving cycle times and component quality. A third machine, a ProTurn SLX 425 lathe will also target productivity improvements.
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

Lotus and Williams Advanced Engineering have commenced a strategic technical partnership in which the companies will share R&D into advanced propulsion technologies.

Phil Popham, CEO at Lotus Cars, says: “Our new technology partnership with Williams Advanced Engineering is part of a strategy to expand our knowledge and capability in the rapidly changing automotive landscape. Applying advanced propulsion powertrains can provide numerous exciting solutions across multiple vehicle sectors.”
For further information www.williamsf1.com

To accelerate the adoption of laser powder bed fusion technology for series production, Renishaw has expanded its network of AM (additive manufacturing) Solutions Centres.

Newly created facilities in Barcelona and Turin are now operational to allow companies in Spain and Italy to access Renishaw’s equipment and expertise at a fixed and predictable cost. Launched in 2016, Renishaw’s AM Solutions Centres provide businesses with a secure development environment to build their knowledge and confidence using 3D printing technology. The facilities are equipped with the latest AM systems, including Renishaw’s multi-laser machines.
For further information www.renishaw.com

Burnett & Hillman has become a ‘brand name’ in its role as a major manufacturer of hydraulic adaptors and associated fittings that it supplies into around 90% of the world’s countries with a known customer base that exceeds 1000 names.

In addition, parts are sold through significant numbers of distributors and stockists. The company’s standard range includes over 4500 different machined parts, of which 99% are held in stock for next-day delivery. While its machine shop processes some 40,000 components a day, consuming 200 tonnes of mild steel a month, these contribute to a massive year-on-year tally of over 10 million individual machined parts, of which a quarter are exported.
Nestling in the Somerset village of Wrington, this family-owned business still uses multi-spindle automatics to meet its larger volumes. However, for smaller demands and batch sizes, typically from 1 to 250, a progressive addition to the production capability has been the installation of turn-mill centres, including five Miyano multi-axis machines from Citizen Machinery UK.
Following the reliable and consistent performance capability obtained from the first 12-axis Miyano ABX-51TH3 fixed-head turn-mill centre with two spindles and three all-driven 12-station tool turrets, three further smaller capacity Miyano BNA-42GTY machines arrived in 2015 and 2017, while in October 2018, the fourth BNA-42GTY was commissioned. The company has invested some £500,000 over the past two years.
Says general manager Dan Burnett: “We face ever increasing demands for non-standard parts, smaller batches and in-house store top-ups. Due to the demanding specification requirements of customers, quality is the prime requisite, followed by delivery.”
For further information www.citizenmachinery.co.uk