Manufacturing news
May 2008
Coats plc agrees RBS refinancing
Coats plc, the sewing thread and needlecraft product manufacturer, has agreed an $85 million refinancing deal with The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) to support its business growth.
30 May 2008 9:34
M&S underwear manufacturer claims to have first carbon-neutral clothes factory
A company in Sri Lanka who manufacture underwear for Marks & Spencer (M&S) claim to have the first carbon-neutral clothes factory in the world.
30 May 2008 10:59
Manufacturers will invest in change
Two thirds of manufacturers are investing in change programmes to increase their operational efficiency as a direct response to the credit crunch, according to a research by Celerant Consulting.
30 May 2008 16:22
Shell V-Power Diesel to include biomass at Le Mans
Shell will continue to use motorsport to test new sustainable fuels, announcing that they are to inject biomass into the diesel they use at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race on June 14.
29 May 2008 10:01
Warburtons to open new factory
Construction has begun on the new Warburtons production site in Bristol – an investment that will create 450 jobs for the area.
29 May 2008 9:44
General Electric and Schlumberger to offer "cleaner coal"
General Electric (GE) today announced a partnership with Schlumberger to develop and implement “cleaner coal” technology.
28 May 2008 11:31
Job Creation Index survey makes bleak reading for manufacturing
The manufacturing industry appears to have suffered the most from the credit crunch in terms of jobs, according to research by the Job Creation Index (JCI).
28 May 2008 15:59
Partnership promises to reduce industry skills gap
Semta, the sector skills council for the science, engineering and manufacturing technologies sector, has announced details of a new £65 million partnership with government to deliver desperately needed skills training for workers.
28 May 2008 15:28
Rolls-Royce to upgrade facilities for new model
Rolls-Royce has announced plans for upgraded facilities and new manufacturing methods to be implemented in line with the production of its latest model, the RR4.
28 May 2008 13:22
Consumers unconvinced by ethical advertising ‘greenwash’
Consumers are largely sceptical of the ethical business addresses released by companies, according to a survey by Gfk NOP.
27 May 2008 12:41
Northern Foods profit in pizza
Northern Foods, makers of Fox’s biscuits and Goodfella’s pizza, announced today pre-tax profits of £50.1 million for the last year, up 25% from £40 million the year before.
27 May 2008 17:32
Auto industry output best in two years
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has delivered good news to the UK manufacturing sector amid economic troubles, announcing that April saw the highest vehicle production total in over two years.
23 May 2008 16:11
Flexsys Rubber facing closure
The US-owned Flexsys Rubber Chemicals factory in Cefn Mawr, Wrexham, is due to be closed down because of rapidly increasing competition from low-cost economies.
22 May 2008 14:43
Garnier says a fond farewell to Glaxo
GlaxoSmithKline chief executive of eight years Jean-Pierre Garnier has officially handed over the reins to his successor Andrew Witty.
22 May 2008 15:45
Manufacturers plan price hikes despite poor market performance
Manufacturers will hike their prices over the next quarter despite bleak forecasts for demand, according to a survey by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).
22 May 2008 14:47
New firm offers ‘green’ cars
New automotive manufacturer Liberty Electric Cars is about to embark on production of its first vehicles.
22 May 2008 14:53
Tulip fined as machine cuts off worker’s fingertips
Meat processor Tulip has received a £265,000 fine for health and safety failures at its Thetford, Norfolk, site which led to the harming of two of its workers.
22 May 2008 15:14
British backing for Rockefeller revolt at ExxonMobil
The shareholder rebellion led by the Rockefeller family within ExxonMobil has now established British backing, with a host of investors this side of the Atlantic supporting calls for a change to the governing structure of the global oil giants.
21 May 2008 8:51
Energywatch calls on MPs to end industry oligopolies
A leading energy watchdog yesterday called upon MPs to take action against what it identifies as unfair oligopolies which currently control the British utilities market.
21 May 2008 11:02
Jobs cuts look likely for Wolseley workers
The 15,000 British employees of the construction supplies company Wolseley today fear for their futures after the FTSE 100 firm announced restructuring plans in response to the global credit crunch.
21 May 2008 15:14
Apprenticeships essential for metal sector, say experts
Experts at the Metal Industry Awards have pointed to higher skills, better knowledge and more training as essential for the future of the sector. Apprenticeships, they maintain, are the key to success.
20 May 2008 15:55
BAE chief detained in US
BAE Systems chief executive Mike Turner, along with a senior colleague, has been briefly detained in the US upon landing.
20 May 2008 11:23
Black cabs to go global
Black cab makers Manganese Bronze announced this week that 3,000 international orders have been placed for their latest model of the London-landmark taxi, equalling their UK production for last year.
20 May 2008 12:08
Double green success for Saint-Gobain
Saint-Gobain Glass UK (SGGUK) has won The Sunday Times national award for environmental training and employee motivation, as well as being ranked 8th in The Sunday Times’ 50 Best Green Companies list.
20 May 2008 9:47
Drax announce £50 million biomass plant
This week a £50 million initiative was begun by Britain’s largest coal-fired power station in an attempt to replace 10 per cent of its coal-use with 1.5 million tonnes of biomass per year.
20 May 2008 11:58
Industry works together to boost engineering student numbers
A new industry initiative to help combat the skills shortfall in electrical and electronic engineering was launched today, as engineering graduate numbers hit crisis point.
16 May 2008 18:15
Airbus boosts EADS profits
EADS has achieved a substantial profit for the first quarter of 2008 thanks to the success of its aircraft manufacturing unit Airbus.
15 May 2008 9:47
Bombardier joins greener aircraft wing scheme
Bombardier Aerospace in Belfast has invested almost £9 million (including government support) in a research and development scheme aiming to make aircraft more environmentally friendly.
15 May 2008 10:02
Fenland Foods to be “mothballed”
Northern Foods has announced plans to discontinue production at its Fenland Foods site in Grantham, Lincolnshire, which will result in the loss of 700 jobs.
15 May 2008 9:07
GE looking to sell appliances business?
Suggestions have come to light that General Electric (GE) may be looking to sell off its appliances unit.
15 May 2008 13:53
Mainetti enters into job cut discussion
Plastic coat hanger maker Mainetti has begun talks over possible job losses at its Jedburgh factory in the Borders. Up to 55 of its 300 workers may lose their jobs.
15 May 2008 9:25
VT confident MoD contract is “imminent”
Chief executive of VT Group Paul Lester has said he is confident that the long-awaited Royal Navy aircraft carrier deal is “imminent”.
15 May 2008 10:29
CBI survey confirms input price pressure
A CBI survey has shown that manufacturers are battling with the worst cost pressures in 20 years.
12 May 2008 14:37
China joins aerospace ranks
China has begun commercial aeroplane manufacture to reduce its reliance upon firms such as Boeing and Airbus.
12 May 2008 9:34
Price rises hit Dairy firm profit
Robert Wiseman Dairies warns that the soaring costs of raw materials, energy, utility and fuel costs will have negatively impacted on its operating profits for the current financial year to the tune of £8.5 million.
12 May 2008 15:13
Renault and Nissan in low cost car venture
Nissan and Renault have joined forces with Indian firm Bajaj Auto to produce a new low cost car that is hoped to rival Tata’s Nano model.
12 May 2008 16:17
Diageo to build new Dublin brewery
Diageo is to make its largest ever capital investment – totalling £514.7 million (650 million euros, $1 billion) – in its Irish beer business.
09 May 2008 10:24
Interest rates to stay on hold
Industry has been met with the Bank of England’s decision to leave interest rates on hold in the face of worries about inflation.
09 May 2008 15:33
New investment for non-stick chewing gum developer
Revolymer, the research spin-out of the University of Bristol, has raised £10 million to help bring its non-stick chewing gum to the market.
09 May 2008 10:54
Bombardier invests £70 million in Belfast
Bombardier Aerospace is to make a massive £70 million investment in its Belfast aircraft manufacturing facility.
08 May 2008 12:04
Enodis acquired by US firm
UK kitchen equipment manufacturer Enodis has agreed to be bought by Illinois Tool Works (ITW) for £1 billion cash.
08 May 2008 16:28
Inbev sees surprise profit fall
Inbev, the world’s largest brewer by volume, has reported an 11 per cent fall in profits, despite a 4.8 per cent increase in sales.
08 May 2008 15:57
Longbridge to resume production
The automotive manufacturing plant in Longbridge, which had been closed down in April 2005 following the collapse of MG Rover, is to resume operations thanks to Chinese owners Nanjing.
08 May 2008 12:48
Unilever to sell Bertolli?
Unilever has confirmed it is examining options for its Bertolli brand, which is used on sauces, snacks, spreads and olive oil.
08 May 2008 13:28
BAE chairman calls for SFO inquiry review
BAE Systems is pushing for a review of the Serious Fraud Office’s (SFO) abandoned investigation into allegations that the company entered into a fraudulent arms deal with Saudi Arabia.
07 May 2008 9:52
British baker sells brioche to France
A Barnsley baker has landed a surprise contract to supply France with thousands of loaves of bread.
07 May 2008 12:12
Manufacturing output falls during March
Data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has shown a 0.5 per cent drop in UK manufacturing output for March – the sharpest rate of decrease in six months.
07 May 2008 11:21
Strong currency sees profit rise for BAT
British American Tobacco (BAT) has beaten first quarter profit expectations thanks to strong currency exchange rates and improved pricing.
07 May 2008 11:03
DataLase collaborates with NASA
Laser coding and printing firm DataLase is to collaborate with NASA and Intermec in the launch of RFID tags and aluminium discs into space.
06 May 2008 15:31
EEF calls for delay in flexible working plans
EEF has urged the Government to put plans to increase flexible working rights on hold until companies have had the chance to adjust to the current legislation.
06 May 2008 11:34
J&P Group wins Airbus contract
J&P Group has been awarded a £1 million contract by Airbus to refit one of the main production lines at its wing manufacturing site in Broughton, North Wales.
06 May 2008 12:29
Job losses at Londonderry factory
The Londonderry shirt making site of Graham Hunter is to shed 30 of its staff in an attempt to retain productivity as overseas competition increases.
06 May 2008 14:46
Manufacturers must play catch-up
New report reveals shocking ignorance of the WEEE legislation, a year after it came into force
02 May 2008 10:19
