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.
Virgin Orbit fails to secure funding, will cease operations and lay off nearly entire workforce
Virgin Orbit is ceasing operations “for the foreseeable future” after failing to secure a funding lifeline, CEO Dan Hart told employees during an all-hands meeting Thursday afternoon. The company will lay off nearly all of its workforce.
“Unfortunately, we’ve not been able to secure the funding to provide a clear path for this company,” Hart said, according to audio of the 5 p.m. ET meeting obtained by CNBC. Read more via CNBC
Manufacturing excellence boost for the West Midlands
A ground-breaking agreement has been signed between the Manufacturing Technology Centre and the Herefordshire-based New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering, leading the way to regional partnership and industrial and educational growth.
The agreement, signed by the CEOs of both organisations, marks a collaboration that will build on the strengths of each – the advanced technologies of the MTC and the academic quality and distinctiveness of NMITE, providing its students with hands-on access to the latest in manufacturing equipment and techniques. Read more via The Manufacturer
BAE Systems and Heart Aerospace to collaborate on battery for electric airplane
BAE Systems, a leading aerospace and defense company, and Heart Aerospace, a Swedish electric airplane maker, announced a collaboration to define the battery system for Heart’s ES-30 regional electric airplane.
The battery will be the first-of-its-kind to be integrated into an electric conventional takeoff and landing (eCTOL) regional aircraft, allowing it to efficiently operate with zero emissions and low noise. Read more via BAE Systems
New Group CEO joins Hitachi Rail at the start of an exciting new chapter
Giuseppe Marino has begun work as the new Group CEO of Hitachi Rail, as the global leader in rail enters an exciting new chapter delivering innovative digital technology and sustainable transport around the world.
In his new role, Mr Marino is set to lead expansion of capability and capacity at Hitachi Rail, which is already delivering rail transport in 38 countries and making 18 billion passenger journeys possible every year. He rejoins the company after four years, having previously been Hitachi Rail’s COO of Rolling Stock, where he was responsible for the company’s manufacturing of high quality trains around the world. Read more via The Manufacturer
Bentley Motors named Britain’s Most Admired Automotive Manufacturer
Bentley Motors has been named Britain’s Most Admired Automotive Manufacturer according to the UK’s longest running corporate reputational survey.
The annual Most Admired Companies Study dates back over 30 years and honours the best businesses throughout the country. The award reflects Bentley’s extraordinary lineup of cars, its business success, and future-looking Beyond100 strategy, enabling Bentley to revolutionise from the world’s biggest 12-cylinder engine producer to an all-electric car company within a decade. Read more via Bentley Motors
GE settles wind turbine patent disputes with Siemens Gamesa
General Electric Co has settled all its outstanding wind turbine technology patent disputes in the United States and Europe with Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy S.A, the companies said on Friday.
Terms of the settlement, which was described as amicable, were not disclosed. Under the deal, the companies and their subsidiaries will receive cross licenses for the patents in question. Read more via Reuters
British adventurers begin Pole to Pole expedition in electric vehicle
Surrounded by the vast ice-covered Arctic Ocean, EV adventurers Chris and Julie Ramsey have started their highly anticipated Pole to Pole expedition. Following a comprehensive safety assessment, the team set out from the 1823 North Magnetic Pole*. Their journey ahead will see them drive south, covering more than 27,000 km through North, Central and South America, aiming ultimately to reach the world’s most remote place, Antarctica’s South Pole, in December.
No vehicle has ever completed the journey between these extremes of the globe and the Pole to Pole team are undertaking the challenge in a 100% electric vehicle. Chris and Julie have embarked on the journey to showcase just how capable and exciting electric vehicles are, with the hope to accelerate their adoption as a positive action against the climate crisis. Read more via Nissan
Reshoring, innovation, and investment in people help Brandauer claim two CBM Awards
One of the West Midlands’ best kept manufacturing secrets has capped a record-breaking year by securing two major industrial awards last night.
Brandauer, which produces millions of high tolerance metal pressings/stampings every week for customers in 10 sectors and across 26 different countries, was named the Confederation of British Metalforming’s Company of the Year in front of 200 people at Birmingham’s Grand Hotel. Read more via The Manufacturer
Toyota Yaris reaches the landmark of 10 million global sales
The ever-popular, multi-award-winning Yaris* nameplate has reached 10 million cumulative worldwide sales, performance which earns it a place alongside Toyota’s illustrious eight-figure achievers – Corolla, Camry, RAV4, Hilux and Land Cruiser.
Yaris has consistently been a pioneer, introducing new technologies and concepts to the compact car market for almost a quarter of a century. Its spirit of innovation has helped maintain its status as one of Toyota’s consistently best-selling models in the UK and Europe. Read more via Toyota UK