Lye, Stourbridge - In the heart of the West Midlands, nestled amidst the industrial landscape, Midland Deburr & Finish says it stands as a testament to the spirit of entrepreneurship, innovation, and unwavering determination. As the company commemorates its 25th anniversary this month, Directors Chris and Sue Arrowsmith reflect on the remarkable journey that has shaped their lives and the landscape of metal finishing in the region.

Arron Wilcock, a Reliability Maintenance Engineering Apprentice at Amazon, who is part of a Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) Training Apprenticeship Programme, has been announced as the winner of this year’s Enginuity Skills Awards Trophy Design Competition.

A honey manufacturer says it will double growth and create five new jobs after investing in automation, with the support of Made Smarter.

Can technology save the planet? The sentiment at the World Economic Forum annual conference in Davos evoked an overwhelming yes. Next generation technologies have undeniable potential. Yet, the success of these technologies hinges on how we navigate their implementation. Stefan Reuther, Member of the Executive Board at automation supplier COPA-DATA, reflects on the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual conference — what change is required to achieve the twin transition?

Nanotechnology, biomaterials, textiles, polymers, metals and glass; MRE 2024 will delve into a diverse range of sustainable and functional materials innovations when it returns to the Business Design Centre, London, from 23 – 24 April 2024.

A MAJOR investment in Barrow-in-Furness can only be good news for supply chain companies and the wider economy. That’s the view of Forth which has one of its three Cumbrian bases in the town.

BEP Surface Technologies, a leading metal surface specialist, has announced it has launched an innovation arm, BEP Solutions, to accelerate international R&D partnerships to solve global challenges.

PWE looks at how an offshore platform in Malaysia solved an increased rate of seal failures on the condensate pumps by a retrofit

We all know that compressed air leaks are a huge source of energy (and money) waste, but do you know how much they really cost? After conducting around 60 surveys in different facilities from different industries, using an ultrasound camera, UE Systems concluded that the average leak would cost around £1200 per year. When you think that any industrial site will have dozens or even hundreds of leaks, you can quickly realise the savings potential. PWE reports

PWE takes a look at how Babcock Wanson’s Navinergy is changing the way boiler rooms are managed, providing users with advanced tools to improve efficiency and maintain regulatory compliance

ChatGPT demonstrates the potential impact that large language models could have on the way people interact with machines. According to Boston Consulting Group, generative AI will surely bring about a boost in productivity from people and machines working together; and there is no place where people and machines interact more than in industrial automation segments. Aurelien Le Sant, Chief Technology Officer, Industrial Automation, Schneider Electric explains further

The British Compressed Air Society (BCAS) has appointed Steven Rohan as its new president.

The recent Talking Industry panel discussion, sponsored by the Drives & Controls Exhibition, delved into the intricacies of network connectivity in the industrial sector. The discussion, which featured seasoned experts David Bradley-Foley, Managing Director of HMS Networks, UK and Ireland, and John Browett, General Manager of CC-Link Partner Association Europe, highlighted several key trends shaping the landscape of industrial communications

Rubis Terminal has become the latest company to join EEMUA, the international membership body for companies that own and operate industrial facilities or that are significant purchasers or users of engineering equipment and materials.

The Leeds Manufacturing Festival returns this month with an extended, year-round programme of events highlighting career opportunities for young people in the region’s manufacturing sector.

January 2024 was Electro-Wind’s 45th Anniversary. Whilst the first generation started and developed the business for 20 years, the next generation, the current Directors, have been committed to leading the company’s growth for the last 25 years.

OMRON has announced it has been listed within the top 97% among peer sector companies on the globally recognised Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World*1), an SRI (socially responsible investment*2) stock price index.

Make UK, the manufacturers’ organisation, will hold this year’s National Manufacturing Conference, in London on Tuesday 27 February 2024. The flagship annual event at the QEII Conference Centre, Westminster will once again bring together leading politicians, senior industrialists, and manufacturing innovators against a challenging landscape of high energy prices, supply chain pressures and an uncertain economic climate.

Digital Catapult, the UK authority on advanced digital technology, has announced five pioneering UK businesses chosen for a new Hydrogen Sensor Accelerator Programme.

Visku, a supply chain consulting and warehouse solutions provider, has announced it hosted a special event for the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) at its Wellingborough HQ on 24th January where Jonathan Reynolds, the Shadow Secretary of State for Business & Trade, set out Labour’s plan for small businesses.

Four Northern Ireland manufacturing companies are preparing to transform their production operations and improve their output, after graduating from the latest Digital Catapult Smart Nano NI Accelerator Programme. Following the completion of the programme, it is hoped that by adopting new digital solutions these four companies will further accelerate smart manufacturing in Northern Ireland.

Fluid Power & Systems and Air-Tech, alongside Drives & Controls, will be taking place at the NEC on June 5th and 6th as part of Smart Manufacturing & Engineering Week 2024. Readers of Plant & Works Engineering will find much of interest among the new technology and educational content both in these 2 events  and in the adjoined Smart Factory Expo, Maintec and Design Engineering Expo events. PWE takes a closer look at what visitors can expect.

The Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) traditionally support two charities during the year and for the first time, the President’s Charity has been chosen as the Children’s Hospital Charity, supporting Sheffield Children's Hospital to provide world-class care to children from all over the world.

Regular pump system maintenance is essential to prevent significant cost and reputational issues. Thomas Marks, General Manager at the Association for Electrical and Mechanical Trades (AEMT) looks at several issues that poor pump maintenance can lead to and outlines some of the key steps that can be taken to minimise the chance of them emerging.

Atlas Copco Group has launched a new identity, including a new Group logo, a new visual identity, and a new Group message: Technology that transforms the future.

A manufacturer of spice products says it is forecast to double productivity and sales to £2m and create new jobs after investing in data and systems technologies, with the support of Made Smarter.

Chris Johnson, Managing Director at bearing relubrication specialist SMB Bearings, explores how the remanufacturing process can yield economic and environmental benefits

With energy accounting for a significant proportion of the cost of ownership of a compressed air system, operators will want to ensure their equipment is optimised for best performance. Vanda Jones, Executive Director at the British Compressed Air Society discusses the importance of good compressed air system design in helping to mitigate for rising energy costs.

Circular economics is going to be a key focus for global businesses in 2024, according to the President of ABB Electrification Service, Stuart Thompson.

Held on 14 November, the last Talking Industry of 2023 revisited one of its most popular topics of robotics and automation, chaired Andy Pye.

SICK has launched an Industry 4.0 on-premise data intelligence platform that enables manufacturing and logistics organisations to optimise their operating performance. SICK Field Analytics can be quickly and easily set up to provide meaningful, application-specific condition monitoring and process insights, independently of an organisation’s existing machinery and systems.

School pupils, university students and engineers travelled to London this week for the highly prestigious Primary Engineer MacRobert Medal Award Ceremony to receive recognition for their work in creating a Prototype based on a school pupils engineering idea.

Businesses, industry, academia and communities in West Cumbria are reported to be well-placed to work together to maximise a wealth of opportunities.

Southern Manufacturing & Electronics 2024 will open its doors again from 6-8 February. PWE takes a closer look at the forthcoming show.

Avoiding process contamination is a necessity for any hygienic application using compressors – ranging from the food and beverage sector, to pharmaceuticals to sensitive electronic environments. Claudia Vignelli, Product Manager Plant Air Centrifugal Compressors Ingersoll Rand, explores the variety of factors to consider when selecting the most appropriate oil-free compressed air technology.

Rockwell Automation has announced that its automation technology sits at the heart of new machines that assemble the Royal British Legion’s new plastic-free poppy.

Greg Wainhouse, Industry Account Manager for Water Applications at Bürkert, explains the importance of reviewing input data for control valve specification

Amina Hamidi, Managing Director of ABB’s Instrumentation Business Line within the Measurement & Analytics Division, was named Industry Personality of the Year at this year’s Instrumentation Excellence Awards. The award was presented at a ceremony in London organised by Instrumentation Monthly publisher Datateam Business Media.

Dave Palmer, General Manager for the UK at ICS Cool Energy asks: Is your cooling system ready for winter?

Advanced Engineering Exhibition is taking significant steps to make this year’s show more sustainable, which is taking place between November 1 to 2 at the NEC, Birmingham.

A pioneering programme helping North West manufacturers invest in industrial digital technology is forecast to create more than 1,550 new jobs and boost the region’s economy by £242m, new figures reveal.

New coil technology for solenoid valves can increase energy efficiency by up to 80%. Bürkert’s Kick and Drop valve coils save significant cost by reducing energy use and extending service life. The increased efficiency also optimises environmental sustainability. With a low maximum operating temperature, the coils enhance safety and remove the potential of electrical overheating. The 3-in-1 design, covering various voltage inputs, also streamlines inventory management.

An African agricultural business which helps the continent’s farmers increase crop yields is among the 13 cohort companies announced for this year’s University of Edinburgh AI Accelerator (AIA). The programme has selected a group of emerging companies from Scotland, the UK and other parts of the globe which are focused on using ‘AI (artificial intelligence) for good.’

By Matt Hale, International Sales & Marketing Director, HRS Heat Exchangers

With just a month to go until the doors open, UK Construction Week Birmingham will feature a dedicated focus to the sector on its very doorstep - the West Midlands.

Cliff Warne, BCAS Executive Director explores the importance of compressed air system design to ensure energy performance is optimised, highlighting the various options available to calculate the annual running cost of an air compressor, while also advising on how best to design an energy-saving system

Etienne Fourie, Technical Sales Manager at Babcock Wanson, explains the use of Thermal Oxidisers in the food industry

With industrial furnaces being one of the biggest energy consumers, it’s no surprise that manufacturers are investing in research and development to create more energy-efficient solutions. Chris Johnson* explains why high-temperature bearings will be crucial in making industrial furnaces more energy-efficient

SICK has announced it has added the UC40, a powerful and compact cube sensor, to its market-leading family of ultrasonic sensors. The company says the SICK UC40 sets the standard for wide-ranging ultrasonic detection duties up to 5m. Equipped with push-lock mounting and IO-Link, it can be quickly integrated in machinery, on conveyors and on automated mobile vehicles.

RSK, a global leader in the delivery of sustainable solutions, says it will nearly quadruple its turnover from this year’s £1.2 billion to more than £5 billion in 2030, doubling its family of environmental and engineering businesses from 200 and 400.