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.
DS Smith launches industry-leading R&D centre: ‘R8’
DS Smith, leading provider of sustainable, fibre-based, packaging, has announced the launch of its global Research & Development (R&D) and Innovation Centre, ‘R8’.
The new facility is an industry-first and allows DS Smith, its customers, and partners to accelerate the research and development of radically new packaging fulfilment solutions.
Located near Birmingham in the UK, the R8 facility includes a 4,000m2 pilot hall, four laboratories, conditioning chambers, an ideation and design studio, prototyping areas, and collaboration spaces. Find out more at The Manufacturer
UK Research and Innovation to invest £70m in new future telecoms technologies
The UK is joining forces with leading nations to strengthen coordination on telecoms security, resilience and innovation as a new global coalition is launched yesterday (5 October 2023).
Together with Australia, Canada, Japan and the US, the UK will use the coalition to help ensure communications networks can remain resilient and adaptable when confronted with challenges, ranging from supply chain disruption to cyber attacks, strengthening the country’s ability to stay connected at the most critical times.
The Global Coalition on Telecommunications (GCOT) will also explore opportunities for closer coordination in areas such as research and development, information sharing and international outreach. Find out more at UKRI
September new car market grows but motorist support needed to reverse falling private consumer EV demand
The UK new car market grew 21.0% in September with 272,610 registrations in the month, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The 14th consecutive month of growth was also the second busiest of the year after March, with the new number plate delivering its traditional market surge despite a challenging economic backdrop. Find out more at SMMT
Orbex educates and inspires the next generation of spaceflight professionals
UK-based orbital launch services company, Orbex, spent Monday 2 October with pupils from Farr High School, Thurso.
As part of a secondary school careers event, Orbex highlighted the job opportunities, different skills and the pathways that can lead to a career in Scotland’s spaceflight industry.
Thanks to the rapid growth of the Scottish spaceflight industry, space job opportunities are generating high levels of interest, especially among young people. Find out more at The Manufacturer
Babcock’s LGE business secures 15 VLEC contracts in China
Babcock’s LGE business, the leaders in liquefied gas, has secured contracts to provide its innovative ethane cargo handling and fuel gas supply system – ecoETHN®.
The contracts are for 15 Very Large Ethane Carriers (VLECs) at Jiangnan Shipyard for shipowners Tianjin Southwest and Pacific Gas.
These latest orders push the total number of ecoETHN® contracts for Babcock’s LGE business to 27, all delivered in partnership with Jiangnan Shipyard in China, with four vessels already delivered and in successful operation. Find out more at Babcock
Britvic expands footprint in Brazil
The board of Britvic has announced the completion of the acquisition of the Extra Power energy drink brand from GlobalBev following receipt of regulatory clearance.
As part of the transaction, Britvic has also agreed to acquire three additional Brazilian soft drinks brands from GlobalBev, including the energy brand Flying Horse, the juice brand Juxx and the acai smoothie brand Amazoo.
Collectively, this acquisition in Brazil enables Britvic to expand its brand portfolio and regional footprint. Energy is the fastest growing category in the market with volume growing 17% in 2022 on the previous year and forecast to grow 20% year-on-year in 2023. Find out more at The Manufacturer
Alexander Dennis grows Scarborough production capabilities with new warehouse
Alexander Dennis has announced that is has taken on a lease for additional warehouse capacity at its Scarborough bus and coach manufacturing facility in England.
This will allow Alexander Dennis to concentrate logistics for its Scarborough facility in the new 104,000 sq ft unit, which is being leased from Yorkshire-headquartered commercial property developer Eshton Group. Find out more at Alexander Dennis
Rosehill Polymers Group creates new jobs with multi-million-pound funding
Rosehill Polymers Group has finalised a multi-million-pound deal with Virgin Money and UK Export Finance to complete a refinancing and management buyout of the business and accelerate its worldwide growth ambitions.
The funding package from Virgin Money will help Rosehill to complete a management buyout, continue its worldwide growth and accelerate the move into new international markets. Find out more at Bdaily News
