Manufacturing news
May 2007
Is it crunch time for Northern Foods?
Northern Foods, the makers of Fox’s Biscuits and Goodfella's pizza see pre-tax profits fall.
30 May 2007 15:56
Longbridge production restarts
The Longbridge car plant will officially reopen today, two years after closing following the collapse of Rover.
29 May 2007 9:54
JV cosies up to Eastern European auto market
Two automotive interiors specialists have joined forces to exploit future growth in Eastern European markets.
28 May 2007 18:33
Manufacturers expect to put up prices at 12 year high
Manufacturers are growing more confident about their ability to increase prices with the balance of firms expecting to put them up next quarter the highest for 12 years, the CBI said today.
24 May 2007 11:31
Sweet results for Tate & Lyle
British sugar firm Tate & Lyle has announced pre-tax profits of £336 million for the year to 31 March – a rise of 14 per cent on last year’s figures.
23 May 2007 10:56
Daimler sells stake in Chrysler
Car manufacturer Daimler has sold 80 per cent of its US Chrysler business to German company Cerberus Capital.
22 May 2007 9:14
Remploy in talks with unions
Remploy will meet with unions today to discuss the possible closure of 30 factories
22 May 2007 12:16
The MoD orders new nuclear powered attack submarine
The £200 million contract with British industry Ministry of Defence (MoD) has placed a for the construction of a new nuclear powered attack submarine, to be named HMS Audacious.
22 May 2007 9:13
BAE leads onslaught on space
BAE Systems' onslaught on the US defence market was in full flood this week as it headed an industry team in pursuit of a contract to support NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center with the design, development and production of Instrument Unit Avionics (IUA) on the new Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle.
21 May 2007 7:07
Mars recovers its vegetarian integrity
Chocolate maker, Mars, has bowed to consumer pressure and reversed its decision to use animal extracts in the manufacture of its chocolate.
21 May 2007 10:15
Billionaire to buy Scottish whisky firm
Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya, head of the spirits giant United Breweries, is set to pay £600 million for Scottish whisky distiller Whyte & Mackay.
16 May 2007 9:47
Doncaster acquires US fastener company FastenTech
UK-based precision engineering group, Doncasters, has acquired US fasteners and precision components manufacturer, FastenTech, Inc. from Citigroup Venture Capital for $492 million.
15 May 2007 16:09
Milk plant faces closure
According to reports, Dairy Crest has confirmed that one of its regional dairies could close later this year
15 May 2007 16:20
Britvic mixes Irish drinks deal
Robinsons, Tango and Pepsi drinks firm Britvic has announced that it has agreed to acquire the soft drinks and distribution businesses(CCSD) of C&C Group plc for €249.2 million (£169.5m) in cash.
14 May 2007 15:25
Sunderland brokers new Nissan deal
A deal that will enable Nissan to build a new logistics facility and will also create the potential for 4000 new jobs in the North East was announced today.
14 May 2007 15:12
660 jobs to go at Burton’s Foods’ Wirral plant
Burton’s Foods, the privately owned manufacturer of brands including Wagon Wheels and Jammie Dodgers, is to cut production at its Moreton facility with the loss of up to 660 jobs.
11 May 2007 12:55
Ex apprentice buys Weir Pumps
Jim McColl, chief executive and owner of Clyde Blowers and one of Scotland’s richest men, has bought Weir Pumps, where he began his career as an engineering apprentice.
11 May 2007 12:28
Manufacturing output on the rise again
Manufacturing output rebounded between February and March, according the figures released today by the Office for National Statistics.
10 May 2007 12:15
Rosy with cider
Renewed popularity of cider among trendy drinkers has helped Magners maker, Irish group C&C, see a massive 84 per cent jump in its yearly profits.
10 May 2007 9:59
UK interest rates raised to 5.5pc
The Bank of England has raised interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point to 5.5 per cent.
10 May 2007 12:21
BAE to acquire Florida-based Armor Holdings
BAE Systems, Europe’s largest defence company, has agreed to acquire US defence company, Armor Holdings, for £2080 million.
09 May 2007 7:26
Unilever bans size zero models
Unilever, the group already known for its Dove advertising campaigns featuring women of all shapes and sizes, has announced that it will be banning the so called size zero models from its global advertising.
09 May 2007 7:55
Airbus and Emirates ‘settle past issues’ with new A380 order
European plane maker Airbus has received a welcome boost with the reaffirmation of an order for 43 of its A380 superjumbo aircraft from Dubai-based Emirates – and a contract for another four.
08 May 2007 8:17
Manufacturing demand up across the country
The last three months have seen a marked improvement in business confidence among manufacturers right across the UK, with virtually all regions benefiting from better margins and stronger order books.
08 May 2007 7:24
BMW profits drop
German car manufacturer BMW sees profits fall as a result of new model launch.
04 May 2007 9:13
Linpac Plastics to close site in north east
Manufacturing suffered a further blow yesterday as another UK factory announced that it will be closing its doors.
04 May 2007 9:17
ICI profits grow
Chemicals and paints giant ICI has reported a 12 per cent rise in pre-tax profits for the first quarter, at £101 million.
03 May 2007 7:57
Tomkins “outlook uncertain”
Tomkins, the maker of car components and air conditioning systems for use in commercial and residential construction, has posted a 23 per cent fall in underlying first-quarter profit.
03 May 2007 8:31
Unilever sales beat expectations
Consumer goods giant Unilever has reported a better than expected 5.7 per cent in quarter one underlying sales.
03 May 2007 8:13
Michelin to close final salary pension scheme to all UK staff
French tyre-maker, Michelin, is to address the growing deficit in its pension scheme by closing the final salary scheme to existing UK members who will be transferred to a money purchase scheme.
02 May 2007 11:57
Lotus in more talks held on 'most advanced electric vehicles in history'
The engineering arm of Norfolk-based niche sports car maker was in more talks at the weekend with representatives from Santa Rosa, California's alternative transportation pioneer ZAP it emerged today.
01 May 2007 7:03
Sharp acceleration in manufacturing output growth in April
The month’s first economic indicator of manufacturing’s state of health pointed to a noticeable acceleration in the rate of expansion of production as output rose at its fastest rate since September 2006.
01 May 2007 17:21
Acceleration in growth in April
PERFORMANCE: Factory gate prices rose at a near record pace as companies offset costs
01 May 2007 12:41
Astra Zeneca
PHARMACEUTICAL: Deal
01 May 2007 12:42
BAE’s new contract
DEFENCE: UK army order
01 May 2007 12:48
BMW Hams Hall plant
The BMW Hams Hall plant has passed a milestone.
01 May 2007 12:42
Lotus plans to switch to wind power generation
AUTOMOTIVE: Ecotricity seeks permission for wind farm
01 May 2007 12:47
SME manufacturers
SME manufacturers had another strong quarter
01 May 2007 12:45
The DTI-led Technology Programme
The DTI-led Technology Programme has made £100 million available to UK businesses researching and developing new technologies which will boost the economy.
01 May 2007 12:43
