Last week, 'Brand Britain' was dubbed stronger than ever, as Brand Finance's annual report placed the UK at number four (up one place) in the top 20 most valuable global brands.
According to the consultancy’s report, the UK has a brand value of $3,750bn (£2,870bn) up from $3,129bn (£2,395bn) the previous year.
Taking the top spot was the US with a brand value of $25,899bn (£19,827bn), followed by China in second and Germany the third most valuable nation brand.
The Manufacturer speaks daily to industry leaders in Britain, and regularly sees examples of just how resourceful, lively and exciting the sector is.
Britain is pushing industry forward, and here are 10 recent examples over just the past month that illustrate how advanced UK manufacturing is:
Design-thinking with Marchant Cain
“We need to be thinking what is out there, what is happening?” Pam, co-director at Marchant Cain told me. “How can we fit in what we do, augment it, adapt it, change it, develop it, to fit more markets and serve current ones?”
Marchant Cain specialise in the design and manufacture of bespoke components for highly specialised super and hyper cars.
www.themanufacturer.com/articles/marchant-cain-the-ultimate-innovators
Safe-T: Saving lives and the NHS millions
Needlestick injuries cost the NHS over £4m between 2012 and 2017. One inventor, Russell Maudsley spoke to TM about his company’s device Safe-T, which could eradicate needlestick injuries for good.
He said: “With Safe-T, you never take the needle out of the patient. It automatically retracts from the injection site and it is then locked into our device. That is the key.”
www.themanufacturer.com/articles/the-device-that-could-save-lives-and-the-nhs-millions
Advanced autonomous ship research in Cambridge
What if the entire maritime operation – every boat on every body of water – could connect across one system?
TM spoke to Alex Raymond, PhD student at the University of Cambridge, who has won a competition to develop his innovative idea of a connected, standardised operation across the global maritime industry.
www.themanufacturer.com/articles/will-future-autonomous-ships-enable-mimic-humans
Virtual steel factory in Swansea
The introduction of a virtual steel factory could enable developing and testing of new steel alloys to be reportedly up to 100-times faster.
Funding worth £7m was announced for the virtual factory to be developed by Swansea University, in partnership with Tata Steel and WMG, at the University of Warwick.
www.themanufacturer.com/articles/speeding-uk-steel-innovation-virtual-factory
Transforming farming with agribots and Small Robot Co
The Manufacturer sat down with Small Robot Co for our October issue, to learn about how farming can be revolutionised by using a servitized approach to robotics.
www.themanufacturer.com/articles/transforming-farming-with-agribots
Aurrigo leads world’s first AV demo in Coventry
The specialist manufacturer used its Pod Zeros, to showcase an autonomous first/last mile transport solution in Coventry and Milton Keynes earlier this month.
www.themanufacturer.com/articles/aurrigo-leads-worlds-first-autonomous-vehicle-demo
Arc Vehicle launches first electric motorbike
New British company, Arc Vehicle revealed that it will release its first new electric motorcycle, the Vector, at the Milan motorcycle show (EICMA) in November.
The Coventry-based manufacturer’s bike will also reportedly have Human Machine Interface (HMI) technology integrated.
www.themanufacturer.com/articles/new-british-manufacturer-launches-electric-motorbike-with-sensors
Future generation welcomed at Bentley
Bentley Motors recruited a new intake of apprentices earlier this month, as the business takes a strong stance toward UK manufacturing.
www.themanufacturer.com/articles/bentley-welcomes-future-generation
Landmark deal for Sheffield’s MetLase
Leading mechanical engineering specialist, MetLase, is celebrating a record-breaking year after securing a landmark contract with the world’s largest aerospace manufacturer, as TM reported.
www.themanufacturer.com/articles/uk-made-intelligent-fixturing-wins-landmark-boeing-deal
£12.5m centre opened in Wolverhampton to boost high value manufacturing
The Black Country Elite Centre for Manufacturing Skills (ECMS) will aim to link education and higher education with local, regional and national employers, as TM reported last week.
Courses at the centre have been developed in casting, tool making, pattern making, metal forming and foundry training, as well as mechatronics, product design and development, and advanced computer numerical control.
Digital Manufacturing Week – see for yourself!
Digital Manufacturing Week or DMW, is the UK’s largest showcase of industrial technologies, innovation and individual excellence.
It is made up of a series of different events that can help your business learn and understand the latest in 4IR and more!
- Smart Factory Expo – grew by a third to 3,968 attendees in 2017, with exhibitors doubling to 100+
- Manufacturing Leaders’ Summit – grew by 56% to more than 600 delegates
- The Manufacturer Top 100 2018 – a 500-strong alumni community of UK manufacturing talent
- The Manufacturer MX Awards – the UK’s largest annual manufacturing awards, celebrating the Best of British industry
