News Archive

Manufacturing news

October 2007

Government reviews CGT changes

It seems that the Government is planning a partial U-turn on its pre-budget report capital gains tax changes, which had caused uproar amongst industry groups and small business owners.
31 Oct 2007 13:34

Sour profits for sweetener-maker

Tate & Lyle, the sugar refiner and sweetener-maker, has experienced a near 20 per cent fall in its half-year profits, to £120 million.
31 Oct 2007 10:09

Imperial Tobacco deal delayed

Imperial Tobacco’s acquisition of Altadis – the Spanish firm responsible for Gauloises and Gitanes – is now expected to be completed by January 2008, rather than the end of 2007 as previously planned.
30 Oct 2007 10:10

Salmonella detected at confectionery plant

Confectionery company, Fox’s, has been forced to shut down four production lines at its Leicester site, following the discovery of contamination in some of its products.
30 Oct 2007 16:53

Seagate to close

Seagate, the American computer firm, is to close its plant in Limavady, County Londonderry, with the loss of over 900 jobs.
30 Oct 2007 11:52

Sir Paul visits Norfolk factory

Sir Paul McCartney yesterday surprised staff with a visit to the factory set up by his late first wife, Linda.
30 Oct 2007 10:13

Finmeccanica eyes A350

It has emerged that Italian aerospace and defence company, Finmeccanica, is looking to become builder of part of the new Airbus A350’s airframe.
29 Oct 2007 10:11

BAE to move its bridging operations to Telford

BAE Systems has announced plans to move its military bridging operations from Wolverhampton to Telford, just 24 miles down the road. The move is part of an ongoing transformation of its Land Systems business.
26 Oct 2007 9:44

First passengers experience A380

Airbus’ megaliner has made its first commercial journey, from Singapore to Sydney.
26 Oct 2007 9:40

S&N rejects “unwelcome” offer

Scottish & Newcastle, the largest UK-owned brewing company, has turned down the recent buyout bid from Carlsberg and Heineken, deeming it “derisory”.
26 Oct 2007 10:22

A380 lands in Sydney

The world's largest passenger plane, the Airbus A380, has landed in Sydney on its first commercial flight, after a seven-hour journey from Singapore.
25 Oct 2007 9:16

Drugs group to shed 1,000 UK jobs

GlaxoSmithKline’s operations in the UK look set to bear a large proportion of the planned staff cuts, with more than 1,000 positions in the country under threat.
25 Oct 2007 10:28

Mattel issues new toy recall

Toy firm Mattel is recalling a further 55,000 Chinese-made toys after lead contamination fears, according to US reports.
25 Oct 2007 9:55

Commission examines rural business

Members of the Commission for Rural Communities have made a visit to Cheshire manufacturer Flowcrete, in order to examine the way in which business opportunities function within the countryside.
22 Oct 2007 16:55

No compensation for asbestos condition

Law Lords have ruled that UK workers suffering from pleural plaques – lung scarring caused by asbestos exposure – will not be able to claim compensation for the condition.
18 Oct 2007 11:35

Scottish & Newcastle takeover bid expected

Brewing giants Carlsberg and Heineken have said they are considering a joint bid for Foster's brewer Scottish & Newcastle.
17 Oct 2007 14:16

UK inflation holds at 1.8pc

Falling gas and electricity bills have kept inflation below the Government's two per cent target for the third month in a row, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics.
16 Oct 2007 16:20

Airbus unveils first A380

Today, Airbus is celebrating the handover of its first A380 Megaliner to Singapore Airlines.
15 Oct 2007 11:20

Back to school for Chinese toymakers

The Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of Quality Supervision in China has held a two-day course of training for the staff of Chinese toy making companies.
15 Oct 2007 10:17

Profits soar at GE

US manufacturer, General Electric, has seen a solid profit rise of 13.8 per cent in the third quarter of the year.
15 Oct 2007 9:47

CEO of Aston Martin wins award

Dr Ulrich Bez, chief executive of Aston Martin, has received the award for German national responsible for making the most positive contribution to Anglo-German dialogue in 2007.
12 Oct 2007 16:41

Minister denies Airbus insider trading

French finance minister Christine Lagarde has told parliament that the Government did not act improperly in relation to alleged insider trading at Airbus parent, EADS.
12 Oct 2007 14:53

Qinetiq sues BAE for blowing up its laboratory

A rather costly mistake by one of BAE Systems’ scientists has landed the company with a writ filed by defence research firm, Qinetiq.
12 Oct 2007 15:58

Cadbury chairman announces retirement

Sir John Sunderland, chairman of Cadbury Schweppes, will be retiring next year following 40 years of dedication to the company.
11 Oct 2007 10:58

CBI sends letter to Chancellor

Richard Lambert, director-general of CBI, has sent an open letter to the Chancellor, Alistair Darling, outlining concerns over the pre-budget report.
11 Oct 2007 14:24

Chrysler strike ends

Just six hours into Wednesday’s strike, which saw the walk out of United Auto Worker (UAW) members at 19 of the 24 Chrysler factories in the US, the union managed to agree a four-year contract with the company.
11 Oct 2007 11:30

Rainy days for Magners-maker

C&C – the brewer behind Magners cider – has announced its intention to restructure having suffered the effects of the poor summer.
11 Oct 2007 10:20

Kettle Chips faces e-boycott

An online campaign has been launched against Kettle Foods by workers and consumers angered by its liaison with US union squashers, Omega Training.
10 Oct 2007 16:12

Manufacturing costs up 3.2pc

New manufacturing figures show inflationary pressures persisting in the economy.
10 Oct 2007 10:02

Team brewing

Two major brewers in the US, SABMiller and Molson Coors, have announced plans to merge, creating a joint venture expected to gain regulatory and shareholder clearance by mid 2008.
10 Oct 2007 14:50

Tyneside factory closes

Over 600 jobs are to be lost as American owners decide to close the Silverlink site of Atmel.
10 Oct 2007 15:28

GE flicks the switch on bulb factories

General Electric has announced the closure of several of its light bulb manufacturing sites across North America due to the changing market.
08 Oct 2007 14:37

Glaxo chooses CEO

Following a two-year battle between four internal candidates, GlaxoSmithKline has finally announced who is to replace current CEO, Jean-Pierre Garnier, on his retirement.
08 Oct 2007 12:55

Manufacturers suffer cost increase

Last month, UK manufacturers were hit with raw material prices rising at their quickest rate in over two years.
08 Oct 2007 11:24

Manufacturers to tackle skills shortage

Manufacturers are to get the opportunity to play an important part in reversing the skills shortage and helping to promote manufacturing in schools.
05 Oct 2007 9:30

Cadbury is to close its Keynsham chocolate factory

Cadbury Trebor Bassett has announced plans to close its Keynsham chocolate factory with the loss of 500 jobs, and to move some production from the UK to Poland.
03 Oct 2007 10:53

SELEX wins £1 million contact for the Navy’s new aircraft carrier

Selex Communications has won a contract worth over £1 million to design and manufacture advanced identification friend or foe equipment for the Navy’s two new 65,000 tonne aircraft carriers.
02 Oct 2007 17:12

CP Desoutter to move its tools assembly line to Hungary

CP Desoutter, a division of Atlas Copco, has announced plans to move the assembly part of its pneumatic power tools production from Hemel Hempstead to Hungary.
01 Oct 2007 14:47

Manufacturers are upping the investment game

In contrast to the official figures, new research from the EEF shows that Britain’s manufacturers are significantly increasing their investment performance as they strive to improve productivity and take advantage of growing world markets. And for most, the investment is made from retained income, and not from borrowing
01 Oct 2007 9:54

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