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.
UK Manufacturing PMI: Industry output and new orders contract amid weak domestic and export markets
The UK manufacturing industry’s downturn continued at the end of Q3 2023, with output and new orders both contracting as demand from both domestic and foreign markets weakened, according to the latest S&P Global / CIPS UK Manufacturing PMI®.
September saw the seasonally adjusted UK Manufacturing PMI rise slightly to 44.3, up on August’s 39-month low of 43. A reading below 50 suggests contraction in the sector and we have now been in this territory for 14 months.
Manufacturing output declined for the seventh successive month in September, as manufacturers wound down production in the face of fewer orders. Market uncertainty, the cost of living crisis and weak conditions in overseas markets were all cited as reasons behind the lower demand. There were reports of lower demand from within Europe, the US, mainland China and Brazil. Find out more at The Manufacturer
LATAM Airlines takes delivery of its first Airbus A321neo, adds 13 more to orderbook
LATAM Airlines has taken delivery of its first A321neo leased from AerCap and placed an order for 13 additional A321neo aircraft to further expand its route network and drive its regional growth. This is the first delivery of a committed backlog of 76 A321neo aircraft. In total, LATAM has 111 A320 Family aircraft to be delivered.
The newly delivered A321neo for LATAM can seat up to 224 passengers and feature Airbus’ Airspace XL bins in the cabin. The larger bins provide a 40% increase in storage space and facilitates 60% more carry-on bags, allowing a more relaxed boarding experience for passengers and cabin crews. The newly delivered A321neo flew to its destination with 49% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Find out more at Airbus
National Manufacturing Day ignites spark for future engineers
‘Unforgettable’ is what students and teachers said about their National Manufacturing Day event experience hosted by Make UK and the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).
The AMRC’s flagship Factory 2050 facility opened its doors to welcome 150 people, made up of school pupils and members of the public from across South Yorkshire, to celebrate the engineering, innovation and manufacturing sectors. Acting as a hub for some of the region’s change makers to manufacturing, everyone came together under one roof with the aim to inspire, inform and ignite young minds about the possibilities and career opportunities on offer within the industry. Find out more at The Manufacturer
Kellas Midstream enters FEED for its H2NorthEast hydrogen project on Teesside
Kellas Midstream, the Aberdeen-based independent energy infrastructure company, has started front end engineering design (FEED) work on its H2NorthEast hydrogen project in Teesside. The project has been working towards this key milestone since it was successfully awarded funding in March this year through the Net Zero Hydrogen Fund, a UK government initiative to support the commercial deployment of low carbon hydrogen projects.
H2NorthEast is strategically located in Teesside, an area committed to becoming one of the world’s first decarbonized industrial clusters. Phase 1 of the project involves the design and build of a 355MW hydrogen production facility and hydrogen distribution system, with the potential to upscale to more than 1GW in a second phase by 2030, contributing up to 10% of the UK’s target hydrogen capacity.
Kellas is delighted to announce it is partnering with Worley and Johnson Matthey, two leading service companies, for H2NorthEast FEED. Find out more at Johnson Matthey
Call for ‘Minister for Manufacturing’ as latest report points to ‘cocktail’ of supply chain issues for industry
A complex cocktail of supply chain pressures, availability of raw materials and recruitment issues is holding back UK industry, according to a new report.
Crowe’s Summer Manufacturing Outlook, conducted in partnership with the Confederation of British Metalforming (CBM), revealed a mixed picture of optimism and the potential for reshoring, yet management teams continuing to be plagued by long-running supply and labour issues.
Eighty eight per cent of respondents admitted suffering from the price and availability of raw materials, whilst over three quarters had experienced supply chain issues caused by the war in Ukraine, high inflation and ongoing issues with Brexit. Find out more at The Manufacturer
Nissan reveals all-electric Nissan Hyper Urban concept toward Japan Mobility Show
In the lead up to the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo later this month, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. is revealing a series of exciting all-electric concept vehicles, the first of which is the Nissan Hyper Urban, digitally revealed today.
The series, to be revealed one by one* in digital form leading up to the show’s press day on October 25, features the word hyper to express the heightened excitement they aim to bring. Each concept is represented by a symbolic character and has custom-tailored features that add value to unique lifestyles and diverse aspirations. The concepts help customers make a positive impact on the planet without compromising on style or fun.
Nissan’s vision for the Japan Mobility Show embodies the company’s unwavering dedication to enriching people’s lives and to revolutionizing the electric-vehicle (EV) landscape with transformative products and technologies. Find out more at Nissan
Little Moons to open new production facility after more than doubling turnover
Little Moons, the pioneers of mochi ice cream, have announced the opening of a new 50,000 sq. ft. production facility in Kettering planned for H1 2024 after filing accounts that show booming demand for their bite-sized, handheld treats led to the business more than doubling turnover in the 18 months ending 30 December 2022.
Broadening distribution across the Top 6 UK grocery customers, multiple new flavour listings and heavyweight marketing support that included TV, Video-on-Demand and a headline partnership with Luna Cinema drove Little Moons to become the 8th largest ice cream brand in the UK and the second fastest growing by units in the Top 10 (IRI, MAT to end Dec 2022). Find out more at The Manufacturer
County Durham-based manufacturer secures £4m facility to fuel growth plans
Leading UK manufacturer, Ebac, has secured a £4m asset-based lending facility from Cynergy Business Finance (CBF) to fuel its expansion and sustainability initiatives.
With a rich legacy spanning over half a century, Ebac has become synonymous with innovation, quality, and community support. With a deep-rooted connection to County Durham, Ebac is currently the sole dehumidifier and washing machine manufacturing plant in the UK.
Ebac’s visionary approach extends to the introduction of new heat pumps. Ebac produced its first heat pumps more than 30 years ago when the feasibility was not what it is today with Net Zero targets. Its unit includes a unique feature which reduces running costs without inflating the purchase price making it a very attractive proposition. Find out more at Bdaily News
UK Windows and Doors: 500 jobs to go as firm goes bust
A window and door manufacturer has been placed into administration, resulting in more than 500 job losses.
Administrators for UK Windows and Doors said 496 jobs would go at sites in Treorchy, Llwynypia, Williamstown and Taff’s Well, all in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
A further 67 jobs will go at sites in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, and Biggleswade, Bedfordshire.
The firm’s chief executive said a decline in sales meant the business had become financially unsustainable.
The Welsh government said news of the job losses was “extremely concerning”. Find out more at BBC News
