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28 March, 2024

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EEF manifesto calls for 75% of jobs to be skilled

05 March, 2015

EEF, the UK manufacturers' organisation, has launched a skills manifesto urging the British Government to set a target for 75% of jobs to be medium- or high-skilled by 2020. The target is part of a policy blueprint aimed at meeting the UK manufacturing sector's increasing demand for skills.


UK manufacturers lay out manifesto for next government

26 February, 2015

Britain's manufacturers have drawn up four key priorities that, they say, the next UK government will have to build on to create the better-balanced economy that the UK needs to secure its economic recovery.


Industry 4.0 ‘is inevitable, but the UK could be left behind’

23 February, 2015

Britain is on the cusp of a technology-driven fourth industrial revolution, with eight in ten manufacturers (80%) saying it will become a business reality by 2025. However 58% fear that the UK is in danger of being left behind.


£2m EC motor plant opens for business in Swindon

16 February, 2015

Torin-Sifan, which manufactures energy-efficient fan technologies for the European air movement industry, has opened a new UK factory dedicated to producing EC (electronically commutated) motors, fans and blower products. It has invested more than £2m in the new plant in Swindon, and has created 25 new jobs at the site, which will employ a total of around 90 people.


Plan aims to boost output and cut energy bills

11 February, 2015

ABB in the UK has announced a scheme that offers step-by-step help to enhance the performance of motor-driven applications using variable-speed drives (VSDs) and high-efficiency motors. The ten-stage Energy Efficiency and Productivity Improvement Plan takes into account the often-overlooked productivity benefits that VSDs can bring.


‘Game-changing’ best-practice training opens up to SMEs

06 February, 2015

EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, is launching a version of its “lean academy” that will allow mid-sized companies and SMEs to learn “game-changing” methods to boost their efficiency and growth at a relatively low cost. Until now the best-practice training system has been available only to larger organisations.


£1m investment doubles automation firm’s office space

02 February, 2015

HMK Automation & Drives, which claims to be the UK’s largest independent supplier of motion products, has completed a £1m refurbishment of its head office in Congleton, Cheshire, including a new 7,000ft2 (650m2) logistics centre that has more than doubled the company’s office space.


What does the MEPS legislation mean for IE2 motors?

26 January, 2015

ABB in the UK has issued a clarification of how the recent European minimum energy performance standard (EU MEPS) will affect users of IE2 efficiency motors.


Eaton acquires UK hazardous area technology producer

15 January, 2015

Eaton has acquired the UK-based Oxalis Group, which manufactures electrical products for the hazardous area, marine, and industrial communications markets. Details of the deal have not been disclosed.


UK engineering is ‘facing a cliff edge’

12 January, 2015

UK engineering companies need 182,000 people with engineering skills to enter the market every year until 2022 – but there is currently an annual shortfall of 55,000 – according to a new report from EngineeringUK, the independent organisation that promotes engineering in the UK. It says that if enough skilled people were available, engineering could generate an extra £27bn per year for the UK economy from 2022 –­ the equivalent of building 1,800 schools or 110 hospitals.


Okkonen succeeds Takhar as MD of Vacon UK

08 January, 2015

Timo Okkonen has been appointed managing director of Vacon UK, succeeding Stephen Takhar, who is stepping down after running the business for more than 15 years. Takhar will remain with the AC drives company, with responsibilities in sales and marketing and to help ensure a smooth transition.


Automation suppliers join forces to explain Industry 4.0

22 December, 2014

A group of leading UK-based automation companies – including B&R Automation, igus, Kiesling, Omron, Phoenix Contact, Schneider Electric and Weidmuller – are joining forces to explain Industry 4.0 and its implications at an event at Leicester’s National Space Centre on 28 January. The event has been organised by Eplan, which will also be launching a knowledge-based programme for optimising engineering efficiency, called Eplan Experience, which made its debut at the recent SPS IPC Drives show in Germany.


Rockwell appoints Dennison to run sales in UK and Ireland

11 December, 2014

Rockwell Automation has announced the appointment of Bill Dennison as its new sales director for UK and Ireland. He has previously held senior positions in Honeywell International (in both EMEA and global roles), as well working for several specialist software companies in the process, oil and gas markets.


Timken buys split bearing maker Revolvo from Eriks

08 December, 2014

The US bearing manufacturer Timken is buying the assets of the UK-based bearing manufacturer Revolvo from the Dutch group Eriks, which acquired the business when it bought Wyko in 2006. Revolvo, located in Dudley, West Midlands, specialises in manufacturing split roller bearings (SRBs) for applications in process and heavy industries. In 2013, it posted sales worth around $8.3m. The terms of the deal have not been disclosed.


Linear motion specialist acquires UK automation firm

08 December, 2014

The UK-based linear motion specialist Hepcomotion has acquired the automation specialist, Severn Automation, located in Telford, Shropshire. The new business will trade as HepcoAutomation, and will keep Severn’s existing staff and premises. No details of the transaction have been revealed.


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