Monthly Archives: January 2012

Economic uncertainty and falling confidence hits UK steel output

Posted on January 30, 2012 by

UK steel output in 2011 ended the year just 0.8% higher than in 2010 as the eurozone crisis and economic uncertainty in the second half of the year badly affected demand as customers ran down stocks. However, according to data … Continue reading →

Posted in Government/statistics, Manufacturing management, metals, Supply chain | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Norbar opens Indian facility

Posted on January 26, 2012 by

Oxfordshire-based Norbar Torque Tools has officially opened its new premises in Mumbai, India, making the sub-continent the latest part of a network of Norbar companies based in Australia, China, New Zealand, Singapore and the USA. The opening and ribbon cutting … Continue reading →

Posted in Manufacturing management, Moves/expansion, Other discrete | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Syngenta awards CHP contract to Cofely

Posted on January 26, 2012 by

The crop protection chemicals manufacturer Syngenta has awarded a six year contract to Cofely to operate and maintain the company’s combined cycle Combined Heat and Power (CHP) energy centre at its Huddersfield manufacturing centre. Syngenta’s Huddersfield facility employs around 300 … Continue reading →

Posted in chemical, Manufacturing management, Manufacturing operations, Process | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Manufacturers could save £110m on compressed air: Carbon Trust

Posted on January 26, 2012 by

Manufacturers could save up to £110m a year by taking simple low and no cost actions to improve their compressed air systems and processes, according to new guidance published by the Carbon Trust. The Trust claims that, contrary to perception, … Continue reading →

Posted in compressed air, energy, Manufacturing management | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Huawei boost for UK hi-tech R&D

Posted on January 25, 2012 by

The ICT specialist Huawei has announced the acquisition of the Centre for Integrated Photonics Ltd (CIP), a photonics research laboratory previously owned by the now all but defunct East of England Development Agency (EEDA). Huawei said that CIP would significantly … Continue reading →

Posted in High-tech, Manufacturing management, Moves/expansion | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Positive outlook for auto, aviation, energy & electronics: Renishaw

Posted on January 25, 2012 by

Renishaw, the Gloucestershire-based measurement, motion control, spectroscopy and precision machining specialist has predicted that the outlook for production systems in automotive, civil aviation, agriculture and energy looks increasingly favourable and is also anticipating a recovery in the electronics sector. Reporting … Continue reading →

Posted in Aerospace & defence, Automotive, Electronics, energy, High-tech, Manufacturing management | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Manufacturing shrinkage outstrips GDP fall

Posted on January 25, 2012 by

The manufacturing industry outstripped the general shrinkage of the UK economy in the final quarter of 2011. Gross domestic product (GDP) fell 0.2% but within that, manufacturing shrank by 0.9%. The general 0.2% decline was the first for a year … Continue reading →

Posted in Government/statistics, Manufacturing management | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Majorsell celebrates new facility opening

Posted on January 25, 2012 by

Airbrake manufacturing specialist Majorsell, which supplies into 70 countries, has been celebrating its expansion by showcasing its new 20,000 sq ft facility in Sandwell at an open day where it predicted a record 2012. The new premises were officially opened … Continue reading →

Posted in Aerospace & defence, Company results, compressed air, Manufacturing management | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

British Gypsum’s waste strategy restores grazing land

Posted on January 25, 2012 by

A local farmer is reaping the rewards of a land restoration project that has seen British Gypsum’s Kirkby Thore manufacturing site close its gypsum waste landfill and restore the site back to grazing. The restoration follows the introduction of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Manufacturing management, Process, waste management | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Surge in water conservation boosts IPS

Posted on January 24, 2012 by

A surge in demand for high efficiency water filtration technology has seen the St Helens, Merseyside-based Industrial Purification Systems (IPS) win orders worth more than £250,000 in the past two months. This new business includes orders from Tata Steel, Tate Gallery … Continue reading →

Posted in Manufacturing management, metals, Other discrete, sales & marketing, waste management | Tagged , , | Leave a comment