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

Posted on 6 Mar 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.

Tata Technologies expands operations in the West Midlands to leverage region’s talent

Tata Technologies has announced its plans to scale up its West Midlands operations that will see the creation of around 350 jobs in the region.

The announcement marks a commitment from Tata Technologies’ to develop and leverage the next generation of digital capability and talent in the West Midlands through strategic collaboration with the University of Wolverhampton and the University of Warwick to establish Centres of Excellence for Cybersecurity, FUSA (Functional Safety for Automotive) and AUTOSAR (Automotive Open System Architecture). Read more via The Manufacturer

Oxfordshire named as home for new Moderna vaccine manufacturing hub

Covid-19 vaccine manufacturer Moderna has announced its new research and manufacturing base is to be built in Oxfordshire to develop the next generation of jabs.

The move is set to create hundreds of jobs both in the construction as well as the operation of the manufacturing facility, which is expected to be operating in 2025. Read more via Evening Standard

Bentley appoints new Head of Sustainability Communications

Bentley Motors has announced the appointment of Stefanie Lackner as its new Head of Sustainability Communications, reporting directly to Wayne Bruce, Director of Communications.

Joining from Audi AG, she will work closely with the Bentley Board of Management, the leadership team and regional networks to shape communications around environmental, economic and social sustainability, as well as helping to increase understanding of the value of diversity and inclusion across the company. Read more via The Manufacturer

JLR’s Halewood plant is UK’s biggest building

The Jaguar Land Rover plant in Halewood spans 347,399 square metres, giving it the biggest footprint in the UK if covered walkways aren’t included. If they are, its position is taken by the company’s factory in Solihull in the West Midlands, according to analysis by Alasdair Rae, a former urban studies professor and founder of spatial data company Automatic Knowledge.

Before Ford Motor Company built a factory on the Merseyside site in 1963, the land was home to several moats and medieval residential buildings. This included the gothic arch and fireplace of Old Hutt, a substantial, isolated moated house thought to have been built by the Irelands, Lords of Hale in the 14th century. Read more via Liverpool Echo

Tile manufacturer invests £750k in time-saving innovation

A leading pitched roof tile manufacturer has invested over £3m in the last two years in projects at its Lochmaben site that aim to increase its operational efficiencies, with a new ridge tile plant becoming the latest investment.

The £750,000 major upgrade is taking place at Russell Roof Tiles’ Scottish site, located in Lochmaben, Dumfries, and is one of the biggest upgrades the site has seen since its operations began back in 1986. Read more via The Manufacturer

China’s CFMoto looking to establish up to 30 UK dealers by 2024

CFMoto has big plans for the UK in 2023, with ambitions to recruit up to 30 new dealers supported by backing from Pierer Mobility – the Austrian conglomerate behind the success of KTM, Husqvarna, GasGas, and the WP Suspension brand.

It was announced in late October 2022 that KTM would take over distribution for Chinese firm CFMoto in the UK and Ireland from January 2023, with bosses now confirming plans for between 20 and 30 new standalone dealers this year, as well as more KTM-powered production motorcycles on the way. Read more via Motorcycle News

Then and now pictures show Kidderminster steel factory still going strong after 110 years

Titan Steel Wheels in Cookley stands at on one of the longest continually used plants for manufacturing in the UK. For it was as far back as 1650 when forges began the Bridge Road plant’s long association with metalwork. Usefully nestled on the Stafford and Worcester Canal before lorries were invented. The equipment and products may have changed but a factory remains.

Through the decades the site has changed owners and names including Chaddesley Manufacturing Company Limited in 1904, Steel Stamping Limited from 1913, part of Sheffield Steel Products from 1920 to 1963 and later Parkfield Steel Wheels, Lemmerz UK Limited and now Titan Steel Wheels.

Take a look at recent and historic pictures from the factory’s past through to the present day. Read more via Birmingham Live