Birmingham-based photoetching specialist Precision Micro says it was proud to support a recent charity auction raising money for The Hepatitis C Trust. The main event is a secret auction held in London each November where more than 400 artists contribute postcard-sized original artworks.

The auctions have so far raised in excess of £400,000. One contributor who joined the 2017 list was Russell Marshall, an award-winning artist based in London who worked with Precision Micro to produce images of Sid Vicious, David Bowie, Elvis Presley and Jimi Hendrix. The images were etched on metal and donated by Precision Micro.
For further information www.precisionmicro.com

The Castings Group of the AMRC has unveiled the largest ceramic-shell titanium casting ever created from a single pour in Europe. According to the AMRC, the casting is a milestone test piece and will become a showcase for development of the AMRC’s titanium casting facility (which became operational earlier this year).

The large-scale, near net shape casting is an industrial centrifugal pump housing, used for highly corrosive applications in the chemical and petrochemical sectors. Poured from a 680 kg melt, the finished part has a weight of 200 kg.
For further information www.amrc.co.uk

Rapidly expanding laser-cutting specialist FC Laser has reached yet another milestone by achieving a monthly turnover of £½m. This follows the recent announcements of a record year that saw the company’s sales grow by 30% over 12 months and customer activity increase by 20% in a single month. FC Laser recently extended its suite of Bystronic laser-cutting machines with the addition of three 10 kW fibre machines automated with the latest ByTrans material load/unload system.

Says FC Laser’s general manager Steve Connolly: “Achieving a turnover over £500,000 in a single month is phenomenal, but it is no surprise because we have worked tirelessly over the years to satisfy customer demand and generate new business. So much of this growth is down to the company’s ethos on how it treats customers and how it supports its employees, who can pat themselves on the back for reaching this milestone.”
For further information www.fclaser.co.uk

Independent tool-holding specialist Gewefa UK signed off 2017 with a record order book. “While undoubtedly there has been uncertainty at periods during the year, we look back on 2017 as being very successful for our own-brand tool-holding products, as well as the equipment we represent on behalf of our partners,” explains Gewefa UK managing director Keith Warner.

“In fact, in 2017 Gewefa UK secured an aerospace order for a programme of tool holders that was the largest ever placed with the company.” Gewefa will exhibit at MACH 2018 (9-13 April) on stand 362 in hall H17, and at Southern Manufacturing (6-8 February) on stand P7.
For further information www.gewefa.co.uk

An initiative to develop industry-ready engineers has seen its first cohort of students graduate. The Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME), a joint collaboration between Coventry University and Unipart Manufacturing, held a special ceremony in the cathedral grounds to mark three years since its launch.

Seven graduates picked up their BEng degrees: Alicia Prior, Daniel Davey, Daryl Eastgate, Daryl Obe, David Mordi, Joe Howe and Nick Hugill. They have all secured employment, five of them for firms in the automotive, motorsport and metals sectors.
For further information www.ame.co.uk