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.

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.

Time is running out to prepare and submit nominations for the 2023 AEMT Awards Programme. With the final entry date set as 5pm on Friday 8 September, the AEMT again looks forward to recognising and rewarding business and professional excellence across the electrical and mechanical repair sector.

Schneider Electric, has announced it has launched a Managed Security Services (MSS) offering to help customers in operational technology (OT) environments address the increased cyber risk associated with the demand for remote access and connectivity technologies.

RARUK Automation has announced a new partnership with Vention and says t The new deal will enable RARUK Automation to offer Vention’s high-quality, custom framework solutions for robots to UK customers.

ASG Tooling has announced a recent major contract award win with Airbus. The company says the contract, worth $2.4 million, solidifies its position as a trusted partner in the aerospace industry and highlights its expertise in providing innovative solutions for complex transport container requirements for both land and sea.

The Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA), the voice of the UK’s engineering-based manufacturing sector, has appointed a new Acting President.

Applus UK is the newest member of EEMUA’s Associate Scheme. The company’s Tank Inspection Team falls within scope of the Associate status.

At its recent AGM, the Association for Electrical and Mechanical Trades (AEMT) announced the appointment of James Stevens as its new honorary President, taking over the position from outgoing President, Central Group Director Shaun Sutton.

Electromechanical repair specialist, Fletcher Moorland, has announced it has launched an initiative to support the younger generation entering engineering, design, and manufacturing careers.

The inaugural Talking Industry Live conference took place at the MTC on 25 April. Moving from its on-line format to a physical version, the event started with a keynote session dedicated to a case study in digital transformation, followed by three themed discussions. Chair Andy Pye takes a look back over the day.

Robotics, sustainability and productivity will all be highlighted in Future Lab at UKCW Birmingham this October - a showcase of technology, disruptors and change-makers who are at the leading edge of innovation in the industry.

Smart Machines & Factories’ and Talking Industry’s Aaron Blutstein talks to John Kraus, Chief Executive for Engineers Without Borders UK, to find out a bit more about the origins, philosophy and the role the organisation is playing to help reimagine engineering practice so that engineers can respond effectively to the complexity and uncertainty of pressing global challenges such as climate change

Special Report – Talking Industry Live Review

Manufacturing & Engineering Week 2023, produced in association with The Manufacturer, has become the biggest industrial sector event in the UK in just its second year, according to statistics released by event organisers The Nineteen Group. Over the course of the live shows on the 7th and 8th June, 10,355 manufacturers, designers, engineers and maintenance professionals attended the event at the NEC which had 342 exhibitors.

Serving as a reminder that air pollution causes up to 36,000 deaths every year in the UK, Clean Air Day 2023 will take place on Thursday 15th June.

Held at ExCeL London in May, GEO Business showcased cutting-edge technologies, ground-breaking innovations, and an insightful education programme. With over 3950 total attendees, the packed-out event served as a platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and exploration of emerging trends.

Opportunities for businesses in Cumbria to diversify into the space industry are being brought to the region in June. iSH, the Industrial Solutions Hub, is hosting Space Week across West Cumbria from June 26-30.

Three manufacturers have scooped awards for eco innovations developed as part of a groundbreaking R&D programme.

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

Donaldson, a leading manufacturer of filtration solutions, has announced it will be exhibiting its venting and industrial air expertise at The Battery Show Europe in Stuttgart, Germany, between May 23rd – May 25th, 2023.

As part of its campaign to inspire the next generation of robotics engineers, automation expert FANUC UK has announced it will showcase a suite of education-themed initiatives at Automation UK in Coventry in June

Radwell International has announced it has launched a new UK field buying division headed by Andrew Duke and Daniel Jones.

Turck Banner spoke to PWE about four different applications in the production efficiency category; increasing yields in meat processing, increasing efficiency in assembly stations, Edge Guiding to reduce waste and picking solutions to eliminate errors and returns.

Chris Johnson, managing director of ceramic bearings specialist SMB Bearings, explains the specifications, capabilities and differences of full ceramic and hybrid bearings.

Digitalisation and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) represents the next level of industrial automation. Consultant editor at DFA and chair Andy Pye summarises some of the discussions from the recent Talking Industry episode

Real time process control for food manufacture has come a significant step closer, thanks to pioneering research work at University College Dublin into viscosity measurement techniques for characterising the flow and mixability of highly non-Newtonian fluids.

ABB’s Robotics and Discrete Automation business has announced it is expanding its presence in Ireland with the opening of a new office in Dundalk, Co Louth.

Gary Wilde, Technical Services Officer at the British Pump Manufacturers Association (BPMA) offers some basic information and guidance on purchasing, maintaining, and designing pump systems for optimum energy efficiency, CO2 reduction and capital expenditure payback time.

PWE spoke to Trenton Roncato Juraszek, mechanical project analyst at the global motor and drive manufacturer WEG to discuss the importance of digitalisation in industry, and how it can help you to remain competitive in an evolving technological landscape

Delta, a  leading provider of power and thermal management solutions, has announced it has been honoured for the second consecutive year as one of the Top 100 Global Innovators (2023) by Clarivate for its superior innovation and patent intellectual property portfolio.

Manufacturers face the ongoing challenge of delivering goods in greater volumes and speeds while keeping prices competitive in an overcrowded market. Automation that features software integrated solutions are helping manufacturers meet these challenges by providing precision and versatility through intelligent systems that increase order fulfilment and improve quality control. Steffen Thierfelder, managing director, Northern Europe of Dematic UK and Ireland, explains more.

ABB has announced it has enhanced its industry-leading RobotStudio robot programming and simulation software with cloud-enabled functionality.

When it comes to power transmission chain, Tsubaki told PWE that buying a quality product results in significant life-time cost savings.

PWE spoke to Kieran Bennett, Industry Manager – Food & Beverage at Bürkert, who explains how to specify a control valve.

The humble potato has been voted as the UK’s favourite vegetable, according to a new public poll. But do you know how they end up on your plate? Here’s how industrial motor manufacturer, WEG has partnered with Technidrive to provide equipment for an automated cart system for plant propagator, John Gabbie & Sons, to help produce over 52 million seeds a year.

Prashanth Mysore, Strategic Business Development and Industry Marketing Director at DELMIA, part of the Dassault Systèmes Group, looks at what is Digital Twin technology and why is it important for manufacturers?

Beth Ragdale, product manager of the energy industry at Beckhoff UK, discusses how automation technology can help support the wind industry

The future of safety engineering and manufacturing and processing now focuses around the digital and this creates new opportunities and challenges for plants operators, and enables them to enhance efficiency, increase flexibility, while making their plants more safe and secure. Andy Pye, Talking Industry Chair looks at some of the discussion points.

Marek Lukaszczyk, Europe and Middle East marketing manager at the motors and drives specialist WEG, looks at how Industry 4.0 has evolved to now support increased equipment life in pumps

With a myriad of new product launches, new technologies and live demonstrations of the latest smart manufacturing solutions, PPMA Total Show 2022 is set to be an important event for members of the processing, packaging machinery, robots and industrial vision communities. PWE reports.

By applying the 3 Rs waste hierarchy - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - to bearings, we can make a genuine difference, explains Alan Stewart, Brammer Buck & Hickman Bearing Product Manager – SKF Products.

While there are some similarities between RFID tags and barcodes, there are also significant differences. Tony Coghlan, Managing Director at Turck Banner explains how his company is specialising in harvesting these extra benefits.

A petrochemical processor was recently forced to make an emergency shutdown to reveal that it was being supplied with counterfeit bearings. Most people do not fully appreciate the scale of the counterfeiting problem or the risks it creates. At a time of rising demand and growing pressures on supply chains, Chris Johnson* asks if the problem of counterfeiting may be on the rise.

Roller chains used to drive food packaging machines have to ensure stable motion. With produce destined for demanding supermarkets, conveyors driven by roller chains must maintain the quality of packaged produce, as well as high throughput. PWE reports.

If you think that valve position sensors are uninteresting devices and that there’s little to choose between them, read on, says Andy Walker of ifm electronic.