So, with half of 2023 behind us, we’ve seen some tough times what with interest rates and inflation affecting us all! However, behind the façade of the general media, there is still a lot to be positive about in and surrounding UK Manufacturing.
The sheer volume of Good News stories that are coming through remains a truly cause for positivity.
If you’re looking for some good news in these challenging times, look no further than UK manufacturing! We are proud to be leading the way in innovation and excellence, and we invite you to join us in spreading the word. Share these incredible stories and news articles with everyone you know, and let’s make sure that the world knows loud and clear: UK Manufacturing is absolutely fantastic!
BAE Systems is creating more than 200 jobs, and investing millions of pounds at its UK production sites
After securing new orders worth £280m (with the option to increase to over £400m) for the supply of munitions to the MoD.
The new roles will significantly boost BAE Systems’ existing munitions business which employs 1,260 people at five sites across the UK: Glascoed, Radway Green, Washington, Bishopton near Glasgow, and Ridsdale in Northumberland.
Building on the existing £2.4 billion 15-year partnering agreement, the new orders will significantly increase the production of vital defence stocks such as 155mm artillery shells, 30mm medium calibre rounds and 5.56mm ammunition.
Key investments are already underway at BAE’s site across the UK to support the ramp up in production including an additional 155mm machining line in Washington, a new explosive filling facility at Glascoed and the re-instatement of 30mm medium calibre manufacturing capability at Washington and Glascoed.
British commercial vehicle and car production up in May
UK commercial vehicle manufacturing grew 36.9% in May as
10,813 new vans, buses, trucks, coaches and taxis left British factories, according to new figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The sector’s performance was the strongest in May since 2008, surpassingits 10-year high for the month last year, and marking the second consecutive month of rising output.
Growth was driven by production for export last month, with a significant 48.1% rise in the number of commercial vehicles shipped overseas, at 7,943 units. More than seven in 10 (73.5%) British-built commercial vehicles left UK shores – 93.6% of which were exported to markets in the EU. More vehicles were also built for UK operators, meanwhile, with volumes up 13.1% to 2,870 units.
Boeing has invested over £300 million in the UK
and spent in excess of £12.3 billion with British suppliers, since 2015. More than 3,600 people are employed in this country by the American-owned aerospace giant.
Recent major infrastructure projects include a £40m factory in Sheffield – its first in Europe, a new £88m hangar and freighter conversion facility at London
Gatwick and a new £83m facility at RAF Lossiemouth to house the UK’s E-7 Wedgetail fleet.
A £54mln research and technology centre in St Helens
UK will pioneer ways of making carbon-neutral glass to help the global glass industry. Glass Futures in collaboration with the global glass industry has opened the world’s first openly accessible, commercially available, multi-disciplinary, glass melting facility, say the not-for-profit.
The Global Centre of Excellence in St Helens will soon be home to a unique experimental furnace and other technology to help in moving towards carbon-neutral glass.
The 50,292m3 state-of-the-art facility will be capable of producing up to 30t of glass per day in a purposefully designed research and development furnace.
Members, researchers and industry leaders will collaborate and experiment with different energy sources, raw materials, and technologies to demonstrate solutions leading to sustainable energy usage in the glass-making process.
Wrightbus secures £50M of government-
backed funding to boost exports
It will target new markets in Germany and the US and grow its presence in Singapore and Hong Kong
Wrightbus has said it will target sales of its hydrogen and electric buses in Germany, the US, Singapore and Hong Kong with the help of £50 million government-backed funding.
UK Export Finance has given the Ballymena bus maker a guarantee for 80% of a loan which has been provided by Barclays Bank. It said the move will give Wrightbus “critical working capital” and a more flexible way to deploy funds to support the business.
Initially, it is focused on breaking into new markets in Germany and the US, as well as growing its exports to Singapore and Hong Kong.
Wrightbus introduced the world’s first hydrogen-powered double-decker bus in 2020, and also produces and exports electric-powered single and double-decker buses. The business is aiming to manufacture 3,000 zero-emissions buses by 2024, comprising 10% of the UK’s total fleet.
Total Connections is continuing to invest in equipment, ensuring our capabilities place us at the very forefront of manufacturing expertise.
We are excited to announce that we have acquired a state-of- the-art machine that has already boosted our production capacity. Bruderer have supplied us with a new 110T power press. Bruderer are the leading manufacturer of high-performance stamping presses. The unique tooling was designed and built by Alan Spargo Ltd, the experts in precision engineering.
The new press is a versatile and powerful machine that can perform multiple forming processes simultaneously. It’s large bed size enables us to produce 1000mm terminals, making us one of the few UK manufacturers with the capability to do so. This means we can offer our customers more options and solutions for their electrical connection needs.
Look out for Bruderer’s next edition of Good News Stories. Keep positive, keep the faith and keep punching.
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