£17m hydrogen aviation project

The MTC (Manufacturing Technology Centre) is playing a pivotal role in a major new £17m initiative to accelerate the development of a zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell system that could power commercial aircraft before the end of the decade. Project HEIGHTS – a three-year programme led by Intelligent Energy – aims to advance the company’s modular 300 kW aviation fuel cell platform, IE-FLIGHT 300, for use in next-generation aircraft.

MTC has secured £1.2m in funding from the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) to support the work. It will utilise the latest design tools and state-of-the-art metal additive manufacturing equipment to reduce the weight and size of critical components developed and tested in the HEIGHTS project. The work will be completed in a way which will also enable these parts to be manufactured on a commercial scale.

More information www.the-mtc.org

adi Group Celebrates 35th Anniversary

Engineering a better future for over three decades, adi Group is celebrating 35 years of delivering engineering and construction services. Founded in 1990 by Alan Lusty, adi Group began as a small team under adi Electrical. Inspired by a dream to create a self-delivered ‘one-stop-shop’ for multidisciplinary engineering services, Lusty’s vision was clear: build a business that would add an engineering service or sector specialist delivery division every 12-18 months – a vision that continues to drive the company today. Fast forward to 2025, the group now boasts nearly 40 specialist divisions and a team approaching 1000.

More information https://adiltd.co.uk

Advanced Engineering opens registration

Visitor registration is now open for Advanced Engineering UK, an annual UK exhibition for engineering and manufacturing professionals. Taking place on 29-30 October 2025 at the NEC in Birmingham, Advanced Engineering is the UK’s only event that connects the entire industrial ecosystem. This year, the show features additions like the expanded Composites Pavilion, SME Village, ADS Pavilion and AMForum.

The 2025 event comes at a pivotal moment for UK industry, following the Government’s announcement of a new 10-year industrial strategy. With measures that could reduce electricity bills by up to 25% for over 7000 manufacturing firms and billions earmarked for innovation, R&D and AI, the strategy signals a renewed focus on long-term industrial growth – a direction that will be reflected across the show floor at Advanced Engineering 2025.More information www.advancedengineeringuk.com

AXYZ WARDJet Names Open House Dates

AXYZ WARDJet, a global specialist in CNC router and waterjet cutting systems, will stage an open house and CNC manufacturing expo at its Telford headquarters on 16-17 July. Following a successful run in Ontario, Canada, the event brings the latest in smart manufacturing technology to the UK – offering live machine demonstrations, hands-on experiences and direct access to CNC experts.

With over 30 years of experience, AXYZ and its sister brand WARDJet say they are known for building versatile, high-performance systems that power manufacturers across a broad range of industries – from signage to aerospace, automotive and plastics. The UK open house offers a rare opportunity for professionals to see this technology in action and explore real-world applications tailored to their specific production needs.

The event will feature live CNC router and waterjet demonstrations where visitors can witness machines cutting a wide range of materials, including aluminium, acrylic, foam, wood, stone and composite. Also prominent at the event will be high-speed (40,000 rpm) spindles for twice the output and ultra-clean edges, while a new wire-free automatic loading system streamlines loading without messy cables.

Further attractions are set to include: an on-machine sheet loader that reduces footprint and increases efficiency in material handling; a 10-position automatic tool changer for fast and seamless tool transitions; and expert consultations.

New for 2025 is smart safety technology, with the debut of machine safety innovations that include laser Scanners (creating adjustable safety zones for safer machine interaction) and AI-driven cameras (providing intelligent threat detection and real-time operator monitoring).

More information www.bit.ly/3TDcZJr

Leibinger expands presence in the UK market

Leibinger, a global specialist in the manufacture of industrial coding and marking systems, is strengthening its presence in the UK through a new partnership with Rotech Machines, an established provider of coding solutions. This strategic collaboration enables Leibinger to serve the UK market more directly and effectively, a market known for its high expectations in terms of flexibility, reliability and expert consultation.

In a mature industrial landscape where products and packaging must be reliably marked with batch numbers, expiry dates or other information – often at high speeds and under challenging conditions – success depends on robust, low-maintenance and user-friendly high-end technology. At the same time, compliance with UK-specific regulations, such as UKCA marking, remains essential for long-term market access. Leibinger says its systems are fully equipped to meet these evolving demands – delivering both technical performance and regulatory compliance.

Rotech, based in Welwyn Garden City, contributes in-depth application knowledge, close customer relationships, and decades of experience with a wide range of printing technologies.

“Our mission has always been to provide reliable, easy-to-use systems that meet our customers’ needs and solve their challenges,” says Richard Pether, general manager at Rotech. “Over the years, we’ve offered various technologies, from hot foil to thermal transfer and thermal inkjet, each with unique features and benefits. The Leibinger range of continuous inkjet printers is a welcome addition to our range and has been well received by our customers, across many applications.”

He adds: “To succeed in a mature market, a new product must offer clear advantages. Leibinger printers do just that, takings convenience, cleanliness and cost-effectiveness to new levels.”

More information https://leibinger-group.com/