Manufacturing news
August 2007
£400,000 fine for factory blast
The operators of a Scottish plastics factory destroyed by a fatal 2004 explosion have been forced to pay £400,000 for violating health and safety regulations, a Glasgow court has ruled.
30 Aug 2007 10:33
Cobra strikes back to open new £4 million factory
Shrewsbury-based Cobra Automotive UK, a car parts manufacturer threatened with closure following the collapse of MG Rover, has opened of a purpose-built £4 million factory after winning new orders and doubling its workforce.
29 Aug 2007 9:48
Government still failing to reach the grade on procurement process say manufacturers
Government procurement processes remain flawed and are failing to achieve full value for the taxpayer according to a report published today by EEF, the manufacturers' organisation.
28 Aug 2007 19:52
Sony to make solar panels in Wales
A solar energy company has partnered up with Sony UK to manufacture solar panels in Wales.
23 Aug 2007 9:24
Higher interest rates dent manufacturers’ confidence
While demand for manufactured goods is at its highest since 1995, companies' expectations for a continuing output growth are weakening, says the CBI.
22 Aug 2007 12:17
Manufacturing administrations down by 20 pc
Administrations in the manufacturing sector were down by 20 per cent in the first half of the year, according to analysts.
22 Aug 2007 9:35
Healthy options boost sales for food manufacturers
Food makers that have responded to demand for healthier products have shown strong UK sales over the past year, a new study has found.
21 Aug 2007 13:41
Cadbury responds to Wispas on the internet
A worldwide internet campaign by fans of the withdrawn Cadbury Wispa bar, has prompted its makers to invest millions in reintroducing the product.
20 Aug 2007 15:03
Mars is denied veggie status
Masterfoods, which this May this year dropped plans to use animal-based products in its chocolate because of objections from vegetarian customers, has been told by the Vegetarian Society that it still cannot use the vegetarian symbol.
20 Aug 2007 15:41
A380 to fly in October
The first commercial flight of Airbus' A380 super-jumbo will take place on 25 October, Singapore Airlines has announced.
16 Aug 2007 8:53
Nokia is hit by product recall
The world’s largest mobile phone manufacturer, Nokia, has been forced to issue a product recall because of concerns about the safety of some of its mobile phone batteries. The news knocked one per cent off Nokia share prices.
15 Aug 2007 9:53
Imperial gets shareholder go ahead
Imperial Tobacco, the British cigarette giant, has received the support of its shareholders for the acquisition of Franco-Spanish rival, Altadis.
14 Aug 2007 15:56
Manufacturing administrations fall
During the first half of 2007 the number of manufacturing companies going into administration fell by 20 per cent.
14 Aug 2007 16:53
Factory gate inflation falls
UK factory gate prices rose in July but input costs fell unexpectedly, indicating that inflationary pressures may be easing, according to the Office for National Statistics.
13 Aug 2007 16:25
ICI agrees to Akzo Nobel £8m bid
British industry stalwart ICI has agreed to an £8 billion takeover offer from Dutch company Akzo Nobel.
13 Aug 2007 10:11
The North Sea oil boosts exports
The UK’s trade gap has shrunk to its narrowest in 20 months, boosted by increased oil production from the North Sea.
10 Aug 2007 10:44
BAE profits rise on Iraq
BAE Systems has said work to re-equip UK and US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan has paved the way for a 27 percent jump in first-half earnings.
09 Aug 2007 15:26
Trent engine gains airworthiness certification
The Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine, chosen to power the first Boeing 787 Dreamliner plane, has received its airworthiness certification just 18 month after its first ground run.
08 Aug 2007 16:42
Brewer's beer sales hit by poor weather
Fosters and Kronenbourg brewer Scottish & Newcastle has warned investors that the severe summer weather conditions could hit profits.
07 Aug 2007 9:29
Dutch group mulls ICI offer
Dutch chemical group Akzo Nobel could raise its offer for UK rival ICI to £8 billion, according to reports.
06 Aug 2007 10:17
Manufacturing jobs losses slow
Manufacturing employment fell at its slowest pace for two years last quarter, even as growth in demand for goods dropped down a gear, according to the latest Regional Trends Survey from the CBI and Experian.
06 Aug 2007 10:22
GKN meets predicted forecasts
GKN's operating profits rise 10 per cent to £137m
03 Aug 2007 10:05
Interest rates set to stay on hold
The Bank of England is expected to keep interest rates on hold at 5.75 per cent when it makes its monthly rate announcement today.
02 Aug 2007 10:27
Strong sales growth at Unilever
Consumer goods giant Unilever has said its annual sales growth will be at the top end of forecasts following a strong start to the year.
02 Aug 2007 13:00
UK interest rates hold at 5.75pc
The Bank of England has kept the cost of borrowing on hold at 5.75 per cent, as expected by analysts.
02 Aug 2007 14:39
Unilever to cut 20,000 jobs
Unilever has said it will axe 20,000 jobs – around 11 per cent of the company’s workforce – over the next four years.
02 Aug 2007 15:23
BMW profits hit by strong euro
BMW has blamed the high value of the euro and the cost of developing new models on a 14 per cent fall in quarterly profits.
01 Aug 2007 11:59
Factory output at three-year high
British manufacturing activity picked up in July to its fastest pace in three years, according to this month’s Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply purchasing managers’ index.
01 Aug 2007 11:21
Auto suppliers
Auto suppliers in the West Midlands are to benefit from a £1.7 million productivity boost through a new initiative run by the West Midlands MAS.
01 Aug 2007 10:10
The winner of the environmental prize
The winner of the environmental prize at this year’s Year in Industry Contribution to the Business Awards is Adam Stables, who plans to study mechanical engineering at the University of Plymouth.
01 Aug 2007 10:10
£40,000 boost for green SMEs
INNOVATION: Small businesses urged to grasp growing £2.8 billion climate change market
01 Aug 2007 10:07
