UK NEWS

Conference backs CBI agenda

Yamazaki Mazak has backed the CBI’s Innovation agenda with the hosting of a special Business Insights Conference.

The conference, held at Mazak’s European Technology Centre in Worcester, was attended by nearly 100 delegates from senior positions across business and industry in the West Midlands. Included at the one-day conference were talks from a host of speakers, including Aon Affinity, Innovation Birmingham, Freeths law firm, LEVC, Kimal PLC and Strategenic.
The conference agenda started with a presentation by Marcus Burton, non-executive director at Yamazaki Mazak, on innovation in manufacturing systems and the new opportunities available through digitalisation: “If UK business is to continue thriving it must harness the power of innovation and, specifically, digitalisation,” he said.
For further information www.mazakeu.co.uk

Awards recognise future engineers

Three schools from Wales and Warwickshire were the main winners at the first ever ‘Design and Make Challenge’ organised by the Manufacturing Assembly Network (MAN).

Alcester Grammar, Southam College and Ysgol Bro Dinefwr beat off competition from other rivals to take the Manufacturing, Innovation and Efficiency titles respectively, impressing judges with their teamwork, creativity and ability to meet the project brief.
In total, 28 students swapped their daily lessons for the chance to test out their engineering and design skills by using basic materials and tools to make a device capable of lifting a 13 kg block of stainless steel using friction grip alone. The event, which was hosted by WMG, is the first in a number of activities being created by MAN in order to help it bridge the skills gap and start developing a pipeline of future engineers.
For further information www.man-group.co.uk

Record-breaking day at showroom opening

XYZ Machine Tools officially opened its new showroom at Slough earlier this month, an event that resulted in a record-breaking day for machine sales.

“This is the best one-day open house that we have ever seen, with over 50 companies taking the time to visit XYZ and see what was on offer,” says managing director Nigel Atherton. “By lunchtime we had already taken orders for 15 machines, with the afternoon proving just as popular when a further eight machine orders were taken. The total value of sales was just shy of £800,000.”
The new showroom is located just off the M4 motorway and is available for customer demonstrations and training, being a relatively short drive for customers from across the southeast and central England regions. “Visitor numbers at this opening event shows that we have selected a good location,” says Atherton. “This will allow more customers the opportunity to see demonstrations of XYZ machines, as well as receive training once they have made a purchase.”
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

Best exhibition

The MACH 2018 exhibition, which was held at the Birmingham NEC in April, has won Exhibition of the Year at Trade Association Forum (TAF) Best Practice Awards.

Now in its 16th year, the TAF Best Practice Awards recognise, reward and promote best practice among UK trade associations. The annual event is formally supported by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and took place on 10 July at Draper’s Hall in London, with hundreds of guests from the UK’s premier trade associations.
For further information www.machexhibition.com

30th anniversary for metrology specialist

Midland Metrology says it is marking the company’s 30th anniversary this year with continued growth and expansion.

Trading locally, nationally and internationally, the company is a supplier of both new and used precision measuring equipment. A Midlands-based showroom hosts a wide variety of machines, including profile projectors, video machines, hardness testers and granite products, all available to view and demonstrate.
Having recently taken on three new members of staff, Midland Metrology is announcing the launch of its new, purpose-built inspection room, which is in addition to the company’s existing inspection and calibration facility. The latest addition to the team, Andy Holt, formerly of AC Inspection, will be heading up the new inspection department. He has a total of 25 years’ experience in quality and inspection, and with his knowledge and expertise in this field, is well equipped to run the new department.
All types of subcontract inspection and measurement work is undertaken by Midland Metrology, including machined parts, pressings and fabrications. The service includes fully detailed spreadsheet reporting. The company says it happy to discuss any specific requests and solve any measurement issues.
Midland Metrology’s showroom in Coventry is within easy reach of the M6, M1 and M40 motorways. Visitors can come along and meet team members, who will be pleased to demonstrate the company’s capabilities and discuss any inspection and measurement requirements. All quotations are provided without obligation.
For further information www.midland-metrology.co.uk