News Archive

Manufacturing news

March 2008

Hornby falls short of profit expectations

Hornby has suggested it may not meet profit expectations for the year due to slowing demand for Hornby and Airfix models and Scalextric racing sets, and coupled with shipping delays during January.
31 Mar 2008 16:06

Airbus site sale talks cease

Airbus has ended its talks with the Germany-based OHB and MT Aerospace consortium over the possible sale of three of its German sites.
28 Mar 2008 10:03

Ford figurehead dies

Sam Toy, former chairman and managing director of Ford of Britain, passed away on 24 March at the age of 84.
28 Mar 2008 9:31

EADS wins second military deal

EADS, parent company of Airbus, has been awarded a £13 billion ($26 billion) air refuelling tanker contract with the Royal Air Force (RAF).
27 Mar 2008 16:50

Northern Foods cuts its losses

Northern Foods is to cut some of its less profitable products in order to increase its operations in faster-growing markets.
27 Mar 2008 17:09

Ford sells Jaguar and Land Rover to Tata

Ford has sold its Jaguar and Land Rover brands to Indian manufacturer Tata for $2.3 billion (£1.15 billion) after many months of negotiations.
26 Mar 2008 14:39

IMechE awards shortlist revealed

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) has unveiled the final shortlist of companies for its Manufacturing Excellence Awards (MX) 2008.
26 Mar 2008 9:46

Second Singapore Airlines A380 grounded

Singapore Airlines has been forced to ground a second one of its Airbus A380s due to a problem with the fuel pump.
26 Mar 2008 14:52

Motorola shareholder to take legal action

Carl Icahn, Motorola’s second-biggest shareholder, is planning to sue the company to force it to make documents about its struggling mobile phone handset unit accessible.
25 Mar 2008 17:07

First fully electric car soon to be released

The first fully electric powered car is due to be released for sale in the UK later this year, providing a new green alternative for motorists.
20 Mar 2008 15:11

Strong profits for Nike

Nike has experienced an increase in profits as the weak US dollar has caused its products to become cheaper to overseas customers.
20 Mar 2008 16:40

Slow sales growth for Sony Ericsson

Sony Ericsson has warned it expects profits to be lower than previously expected for the first quarter of 2008 due to slow sales growth.
19 Mar 2008 16:47

Toshiba to discontinue HD DVD production

Japanese electronics firm Toshiba has predicted that the decision to stop making high definition DVD players, coupled with falling flash memory chip prices, will damage its 2007 profits to the effect of 125 billion yen (£0.63 billion, $1.26 billion).
19 Mar 2008 15:51

Government abandons Learning and Skills Council

The Government has announced plans to scrap its Learning and Skills Council, which was created in 2001 to improve the nation’s skills.
18 Mar 2008 17:11

Drayson-Barwell and JCB in green racing partnership

International British GT sports car racing team Drayson-Barwell has formed a technical partnership with construction equipment manufacturer JCB in the hope of furthering its environmental commitments.
17 Mar 2008 10:13

News International opens world’s biggest print plant

News International has opened a brand new state-of-the-art printing facility – covering an area the size of 23 football pitches.
17 Mar 2008 11:24

China output weakening

Data has shown that China’s industrial output growth reduced noticeably during January and February.
14 Mar 2008 10:17

Chrysler orders shutdown

Chrysler has ordered a two-week company-wide shutdown in July following a dramatic fall in sales of its vans and lorries.
14 Mar 2008 15:02

Parmalat scandal trial begins

The main trial has begun into the collapse of Italian food firm Parmalat, following the revelation of a £10.7 billion ($21.7 billion) hole in its 2003 accounts.
14 Mar 2008 15:28

Russian steelmakers secure US pipe deal

Two Russian steelmakers – Evraz and TMK – have been awarded a $4 billion deal to supply specialist pipes to the US energy industry.
14 Mar 2008 11:56

Soaring profits for Embraer

Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer – the world’s fourth largest commercial jet maker – has announced a marked rise in profits thanks to an increase in orders.
14 Mar 2008 11:11

Tayto continues on acquisition path

County Armagh crisp and snack firm Tayto is to expand yet further following its acquisition of Red Mill Snack Foods.
14 Mar 2008 15:48

Automotive chief to join BMW board

Ian Robertson, chief executive of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has been appointed sales and marketing director for BMW Group.
13 Mar 2008 16:33

EADS hopes for dollar supplier payments

EADS, parent company of Airbus, has expressed its wish to pay its suppliers in dollars to reduce the currency risk.
13 Mar 2008 8:57

Nestle confident over future

Confectionery firm Nestle has announced a predicted sales growth for 2008 to match the 7.4 per cent rate of the previous year.
13 Mar 2008 12:16

Order growth for technology sector

The Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) Quarterly Trends Survey has shown a pronounced increase in orders for the technology sector during the fourth quarter of 2007.
13 Mar 2008 9:35

Record profitability for Bentley

Bentley Motors has announced its financial results for 2007, which show an impressive growth in volume, turnover and profit.
13 Mar 2008 16:51

Chancellor’s Budget fails to impress industry

Alistair Darling’s 2008 Budget statement has received a less than rapturous response from UK manufacturers.
12 Mar 2008 16:57

Continued workforce expansion for Nissan

Nissan is to create a further 50 jobs at its Sunderland plant following continued sales success of its Qashqai model.
12 Mar 2008 15:05

Renault achieves 300 units-per-day

Renault Trucks has broken the 300 vehicle-a-day production threshold across its plants during February.
12 Mar 2008 14:31

BMW to invest in US production

BMW has announced plans to invest $750million (£373 million) in increasing its industrial presence in the United States.
11 Mar 2008 12:12

Cadbury announces demerger timetable

Cadbury Schweppes has signed a credit agreement alongside a consortium of five banks, marking the start of its planned demerger.
11 Mar 2008 14:55

EXCLUSIVE BUDGET REPORT - Watch this space....

In association with Clydesdale Bank, The Manufacturer will be bringing you an exclusive report from the imminent chancellors’ budget.
11 Mar 2008 14:05

Green taxes for cars in 2008 Budget?

There are suggestions that Alistair Darling’s Budget speech may introduce a series of taxes in order to prompt consumers to opt for greener cars.
11 Mar 2008 11:25

New centre of excellence for manufacturers

A centre dedicated to improving manufacturers’ assembly processes has been officially opened by Top Gear’s Perry McCarthy.
11 Mar 2008 9:35

Patriotic launch for British supercar

A brand new British supercar is set to be unveiled on St George’s Day – 23rd April – developed by Keating Supercars.
11 Mar 2008 11:53

Student success in design competition

SolidWorks Corporation has announced the winners of its second annual Student Design Contest.
11 Mar 2008 14:27

Transport to receive Government research funding

A joint initiative between Department for Transport, the Technology Strategy Board and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council will see funding of £8 million invested in improving transport services.
11 Mar 2008 9:47

Manufacturers welcome extended diplomas

Proposals announced today to introduce a fourth tier of Extended Diplomas were welcomed by Britain’s manufacturers as a further attempt to ensure the new curriculum delivers excellence.
07 Mar 2008 15:50

Glaxo case prompts tighter drug trial laws

GlaxoSmithKline has avoided criminal proceedings following claims it withheld potentially life threatening information on its antidepressant drug Seroxat.
06 Mar 2008 12:07

Study finds China losing competitive edge

The first China Manufacturing Competitiveness survey, conducted by Booz Allen Hamilton and the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Shanghai, has suggested the nation’s manufacturing attractiveness may be diminishing.
06 Mar 2008 11:12

All new vehicles are low-emitters says SMMT

With CO2 levels for new cars having fallen by 13 per cent since 1997, SMMT is urging the Chancellor to take a long-term and consistent approach to vehicle-related taxes to encourage both manufacturers and consumers to opt for cleaner, greener cars, vans and buses.
05 Mar 2008 14:18

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