Daily Manufacturing News Digest – the industry stories you should be aware of today

Posted on 1 Dec 2023 by The Manufacturer

Each day The Manufacturer compiles the top manufacturing news stories from around the web. To make your life a little easier, we trawl through all the major trade publications, broadsheets and business magazines to find you the most important manufacturing news each morning. Don't forget to bookmark this page and check back daily.

Manufacturing top target of record-breaking cyber extortion

The manufacturing industry was the top target of nefarious actors attempting to carry out cyber extortion in 2023, new research has revealed.

According to Orange Cyberdefense’s Security Navigator 2024 report, manufacturing organisations represented 20% of all cyber extortion attacks in 2023 – a 42% increase over 2022 and 17% more than the second most targetted industry: professional, scientific and technical services. More via The Manufacturer

Ford teams up with industry innovators Octopus Energy and Tibber for next gen smart charging to save drivers money

Ford today announced that maximising the convenience and cost-savings of the company’s expanding range of electric vehicles (EVs) – as well as optimising the use of electricity from renewable sources 1 – is about to get even easier.

New energy experiences delivered in partnership with industry innovators Octopus Energy in Great Britain and Tibber in Germany, the Netherlands and Norway, will enable Ford customers to charge their EVs using energy tariffs specifically designed to enhance the ownership experience. More via Ford UK

Elon Musk delivers first Tesla Cybertrucks, calling them ‘the most unique thing on the road’

Four years after Elon Musk unveiled it with billowing clouds of smoke, balls of fire and a botched demonstration of its shatter-resistant windows, Tesla has finally made the first deliveries of its alien-punk Cybertruck.

Standing in the bed of the stainless-steel-clad electric pickup, which has been mired by production delays and skepticism about its design and everyday utility, Musk called the Cybertruck “the most unique thing on the road” but promised that it is “actually very useful.” More via Yahoo! Finance

Swedish heat pump maker commits £300 million to UK, intends 8,000 jobs

Swedish-based heat pump manufacturer Aira has launched in Britain, promising to invest £300 million before 2027, en route to sighing up one million homes here as customers.

Credit plans removing the need for multi-thousand ££ of upfront costs for homes are the firm’s intended master stroke in its goal to wean households off carbon-heavy gas.

The firm’s chairman Harald Mix laid out Aira’s pledge to decarbonise the UK at the Global Investment Summit at Hampton Court, attended by premier Rishi Sunak. More via the energyst

CV sector returns to growth in best October since 2008 – SMMT

UK commercial vehicle (CV) production returned to growth in October following September’s decline, rising 47.1% year on year, according to the latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). 12,853 vans, buses, trucks, coaches and taxis rolled out of factory gates, up 4,113 units on last year and with the best percentage gain of the year. In a sign of the significance of the recovery, the increase is October’s best performance since 2008, up 41.4% on 2019’s pre-pandemic figures. More via SMMT

Castore scores £950mn valuation after Raine-led funding round

UK sportswear manufacturer Castore is closing in on a £1bn valuation, after raising roughly £150m from a trio of investors, boosting the British premium sportswear maker’s firepower as it looks to expand its brand on the global stage. More via Financial Times

On day one of COP28, study shows the key role of smarter buildings

As the world races to meet critical climate targets, new research from Johnson Controls and Forrester Consulting reveals some of the biggest opportunities and immediate needs for business leaders looking to advance sustainability commitments.

With buildings representing some 40% of global emissions decarbonising the built environment is one of the fastest paths to meeting net zero targets globally (being discussed at length at the COP28 Conference starting today) and essential for many businesses with 2030 carbon reduction goals. The survey shows widespread acceptance that sustainability is a business priority and a firm recognition that partners are essential to realising 2030 sustainability commitments. More via The Manufacturer