Manufacturing news
July 2007
Progressive year for Cussons
The Imperial Leather soap group PZ Cussons today reported a “year of considerable progress” during which it had launched important new projects including increasing manufacturing capacity in Nigeria, and plans for a new UK innovation centre.
31 Jul 2007 9:22
AstraZeneca puts in ‘solid performance’ but cuts more jobs
Reporting its second quarter and half year results today, pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca said it had put in a solid financial performance, strengthened its pipeline with two new compounds progressing to a new phase of development and the addition of MedImmune, the US company it acquired last month.
26 Jul 2007 12:41
BAE and VT to build the £3.9 billion future aircraft carriers
The UK’s largest warships, two 65,000 tonne aircraft carriers, are to be built by a new joint venture between BAE Systems and VT Group. The order will ensure the future of naval shipbuilding in the UK for the next 10 years.
26 Jul 2007 9:26
Rolls-Royce to maintain the Navy’s nuclear powered subs
Rolls-Royce has won a new £1 billion contract to provide through-life support for the reactors for the Royal Navy's current fleet of nuclear powered submarines for the next ten years.
26 Jul 2007 9:46
Demand for British-made goods slows slightly
The growth in demand for UK manufactured goods has slowed slightly but remains firm, according to the latest quarterly survey of Industrial Trends published by the CBI today.
24 Jul 2007 11:26
‘British engineering legend’ on the road to recovery
The Austrian electrical engineering group that came to the rescue of the long-established British electric motors specialist Laurence Scott said today that its four week old acquisition was well on the road to recovery.
23 Jul 2007 9:29
Jaguar and Land Rover excite interest
Ford has confirmed that it received a number of offers for Jaguar and Land Rover in the run up to yesterday’s deadline for potential buyers to make a proposal.
20 Jul 2007 10:52
Underrated UK manufacturing has a strong future
Businesses that manufacture have a strong future in the UK, but Government policy has not caught up with the changing dynamics of the sector, the new CBI Manufacturing Council chairman said today.
20 Jul 2007 10:58
The LDV returns to profit under Gaz
Van-maker, LDV, has officially return to profitability, less than one year after being purchased by Russian firm Gaz.
19 Jul 2007 9:54
£40,000 boost for SMES with big ideas on climate change
Small businesses urged to grasp rapidly growing £2.8 billion climate change market
19 Jul 2007 15:46
Cadbury receives £1 million fine over salmonella contamination
Birmingham Crown Court has handed Cadbury a £1 million fine as punishment for its actions concerning last year's salmonella outbreak which resulted in 42 people getting food poisoning from its chocolate bars.
18 Jul 2007 9:02
JCB pre-tax profits surge by 35 per cent
JCB has reported its most successful year ever, in 2006, with new records for pretax profits, turnover, machine sales and global market share.
18 Jul 2007 10:38
Ringing the changes at Airbus
Tom Enders, who has been joint CEO of EADS, is to take control of Airbus, and guide it through the Power8 restructuring programme.
18 Jul 2007 10:12
Unilever to shed 40 UK managers
Anglo-Dutch consumer goods manufacturer, Unilever, is to axe around half its senior UK managers as part of its ‘One Unilever’ programme, aimed at streamlining the company and making it more competitive.
16 Jul 2007 11:17
UK manufacturers sees 'major improvement'
The UK manufacturing sector saw a 'major improvement' in activity during the second quarter, a survey by the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC).
12 Jul 2007 15:06
Narrowing trade gap boosts the pound
The pound has risen to a new 26 year high following yesterday’s news that the UK's trade deficit fell during May to its lowest level since October 2005.
11 Jul 2007 10:39
Orders fly in for R-R Trent 1000 engines
The Nakash Group of America has ordered Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines for two firm and two option Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, preferring the British engine to its US rival GE.
10 Jul 2007 11:54
Boeing unveils 'green' passenger plane
Planemaker Boeing has launched its new ‘green’ 787 Dreamliner aircraft powered by Rolls-Royce engines.
09 Jul 2007 9:53
Premier Foods' upbeat in first half
Premier Foods has said it is confident of meeting its full-year expectations after strong trading in May and June offset the effects of hot weather in April.
09 Jul 2007 10:08
Aerospace skills set to receive a boost
UK aerospace employers are being invited to participate in the greatest skills shake-up ever experienced by the sector.
06 Jul 2007 9:39
Aga puts its foodservice business up for sale
Aga Foodservices Group, the manufacturer of upmarket country style stoves, has announced today that it plans to sell its food services operation, which accounts for nearly half of group revenues.
06 Jul 2007 9:56
Bank expected to raise interest rates
The Bank of England is expected to raise UK interest rates from 5.5 per cent to 5.75 per cent today, in an effort to reduce inflation.
05 Jul 2007 9:14
Interest rates raised to 5.75pc
The Bank of England has raised UK interest rates a quarter of a point to 5.75 per cent, the Bank’s fifth rate rise since last August.
05 Jul 2007 14:11
Wiseman warns on packaging costs
Dairy giant Robert Wiseman told shareholders today that its sales volumes were satisfactorily ahead of last year and registered its pleasure that producers had been able to win milk price increases from supermarkets Tesco and Sainsbury. However, it also warned about the impact of increases in packaging costs.
04 Jul 2007 10:04
Premier Foods to close six factories
Premier Foods, owner of household brands such as Branston Pickle, Oxo and Mr Kipling, has announced that it will be closing six factories across the UK, with the loss of nearly 600 jobs.
03 Jul 2007 9:54
Manufacturers report strong performance
Manufacturers are reporting a strong performance during June according to the latest figures from the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS).
02 Jul 2007 11:31
Manufacturers urge bank against rate rise
EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, has urged the Bank of England not to raise interest rates this week, believing that the balance of evidence is beginning to show that the increases in the current cycle are beginning to take effect.
02 Jul 2007 10:50
Ford Dagenham’s newest engine production line has won a green award
Ford Dagenham’s newest engine production line has won a green award within two months of starting up.
01 Jul 2007 8:59
Manufacturers prepare to receive recognition
AWARDS: Entries now open for awards to celebrate manufacturing excellence
01 Jul 2007 8:56
Nissan UK has new role
SKILLS: Sunderland plant becomes a global training centre
01 Jul 2007 9:00
Paris Airshow
The Paris Airshow last month yielded a lucrative string of orders
01 Jul 2007 9:01
The Brown broom sweeps through Government
DTI: The DTI becomes the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
01 Jul 2007 8:57
