News » UK News Variohm adds US magnetic encoder specialist to its group
UK-based Variohm Holdings has acquired the US magnetic sensor and encoder manufacturer, Phoenix America, for an undisclosed sum. The deal will give Phoenix a marketing platform in Europe, while Variohm’s five existing European-based group members – Variohm EuroSensor, Herga Technology, Ixthus Instrumentation, Heason Technology and Positek – will gain an American sales and support channel for their sensor, measurement and motion control products.
Control Techniques rebrand aims to end confusion
The Welsh drives-maker Control Techniques has launched a new identity aimed at clearing “confusion” in the marketplace about the company. CT, which is owned by the Japanese group, Nidec, has also launched several new products including: its largest-ever drive; a dedicated pump drive; a series of I/O modules that allows drives to manage applications without needing a PLC or Scada system; and a new version of CT’s Motion Made Easy servo control suite.
5G in manufacturing project goes live in Bristol
The first phase of a pioneering project to assess the potential benefits of 5G wireless communications for UK manufacturers, has gone live with the switching on of a private industrial 4G network at the National Composites Centre (NCC) in Bristol. The installation – part of the Government-backed 5G-Encode project – will establish a baseline using existing 4G technologies before a second phase, using 5G, goes live next year. The performance of the two technologies will then be compared.
Talking Industry tackles automation in post-Covid era
DFA Media, the publisher of Drives & Controls and its sister magazines Smart Machines and Factories and Plant & Works Engineering, has announced the second in its Talking Industry series of live, digitally broadcast panel discussions with leading experts from the industrial, automation and manufacturing sectors.
UK manufacturing output rises for fourth month in a row
The UK manufacturing sector continued its recovery from the Coronavirus-induced downturn during September. Output and new orders increased as new work intakes improved from both domestic and overseas markets, according to the latest seasonally adjusted IHS Markit/CIPS Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI).
Mach exhibition is postponed from January 2021 to 2022
Mach, the UK’s largest manufacturing trade event, which had been due to take place at the NEC Birmingham in January 2021, has been rescheduled to April 2022. The Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA), which owns and runs the Mach exhibition on behalf of the industry, asked companies that had booked to exhibit in January whether they wanted to go ahead with the show, or postpone it to 2022.
UK robot sales fell by 16% in 2019, but its base grew by 5%
Sales of industrial robots in the UK fell by 16% last year compared to 2018, with around 2,000 machines being shipped. The total number of robots in use in the country grew by 5% to 21,700. These figures come from the World Robotics 2020 Industrial Robots report just published by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).
UK industry cuts spending with no sign of V-shaped recovery
Britain’s manufacturers have slashed investment in a battle to stay afloat, despite improvements in output and orders, according to a survey by the manufacturers’ organisation, Make UK, and business advisory firm BDO.
£300m programme aims to transform UK manufacturing
The UK Government is investing £147m in the Manufacturing Made Smarter programme over the coming five years with the aim of boosting productivity by 30%, accelerating the move to net-zero emissions, creating thousands of skilled jobs, and reshaping the future of manufacturing. The government is hoping that a similar investment by industry will achieve a total expenditure of around £300m.
Government injects £65m into robots, batteries and health
The UK government has announced a £65m cash boost for three key technologies that could transform people’s lives – robots, high-tech batteries and advanced healthcare treatments. The funding will come from its Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, managed by UK Research & Innovation (UKRI).
Despite 19% US spurt, EU still takes 46% of UK's goods exports
The US was the biggest single export market for UK manufacturers in 2019 – with sales expanding by 19% to reach £54.4bn – but almost half of the UK’s exports (46%) went to Europe, with the top six EU markets accounting for around a third of total exports, worth £169bn. The figures come from UK Manufacturing Facts, 2020/21, just published by the manufacturers’ organisation Make UK and Santander UK.
UK manufacturers call for job support to be extended
Britain’s manufacturers are calling on the Government to extend its Job Retention Scheme (JRS) or risk losing key skills that will leave the UK in the slow lane behind its major competitors as industries recover from the pandemic.
CP Automation acquires Magnetek’s UK elevator business
Scunthorpe-based CP Automation has acquired Bedford-based Magnetek Elevator UK, which supplies AC and DC drives for geared and gearless lift applications. CP says that the deal will establish it as a leading supplier of drives to the vertical transportation industry.
UK EV motor-maker expands, creating up to 250 jobs
A UK company that manufactures lightweight axial-flux motors for electric vehicles, is expanding its production facilities, creating 150-250 jobs over the next three to five years. Saietta’s plant, at Upper Heyford near Bicester in Oxfordshire, will be powered by solar panels and will be funded by a new investment round.
UK manufacturing output rises at fastest pace since 2014
During August, UK manufacturing output expanded at its fastest rate for more than six years, as manufacturers and their customers restarted operations following Covid-19 lockdowns, according to the latest monthly IHS Markit/CIPS PMI (Purchasing Managers’ Index). New order intakes strengthened, but the sector also recorded its seventh month of job losses, with employment declining at one of the steepest rates for 11 years.
