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.
Hitachi Rail awarded new contract to maintain TransPennine Express Nova 1
Hitachi Rail has been awarded an eight year contract by TransPennine Trains Limited and Angel Trains to continue maintenance of 19 intercity Class 802 trains.
The contract, which is worth £240m, will help maintain over 550 jobs in depots across the North of England and Scotland, while also contributing to Hitachi Rail’s £460m gross value add that comes from UK maintenance business. Read more via The Manufacturer
Fears for Vauxhall Luton van plant’s future due to Brexit
The long term future of a major vehicle plant and 1,500 jobs could be put in jeopardy if part of the Brexit treaty is not renegotiated, its plant director has warned.
Luton Vauxhall director Mark Noble said he was confident, however, the “massive challenges” could be overcome.
But he said with 70% of vans being exported into mainland Europe, tariffs risked its competitiveness. Read more via BBC News
‘End of an era’ as last ever Ford Fiesta built after years as Britain’s favourite car
It’s officially the “end of an era” as the last ever Ford Fiesta has been built after years as Britain’s favourite car.
Named the best-selling car in Britain for 12 years in a row from 2009 to 2020, The Ford Fiesta model had around 1.5 million registered keepers on record in 2022. On Friday, July 7, Ford manufactured the last ever model, marking an end to its 47-year production run. Read more via Liverpool Echo
Six University Technical Colleges receive £7m in T Level capital funding
Six University Technical Colleges across England have been awarded over £7m in T Level capital funding by the Department for Education.
The department has announced the successful bids for the latest wave of the T Level Capital Fund, with individual UTCs receiving up to £4m.
The money will be used to improve students’ experience of studying the flagship technical qualifications and maximise their outcomes by, for example, expanding teaching spaces and building new employer partnerships in the manufacturing and creative sectors. Read more via The Manufacturer
SJC Group Malta and Britten-Norman sign LOI for new Islander aircraft
UK aircraft manufacturer Britten-Norman and Malta-based SJC Group have signed a Letter of Intent to order two factory new Islander aircraft, with an option for a third.
The two new Britten-Norman Islander aircraft will be used By SJC Group to establish a new company focused on building a fleet of fixed-wing aircraft, intended to be used as transport aircraft for routes in the Mediterranean, Europe, and North Africa. Read more via Britten-Norman
Huddersfield institution celebrates 120 years in business
A Huddersfield manufacturing company founded in 1903 is celebrating 120 years in business with big plans for the future.
F.Shaw & Co Ltd was founded by Fred Shaw in Lord Street, Huddersfield town centre. The company, which now has a burgeoning world-wide reputation, was involved with ventilation from its foundation; manufacturing decorative cowls for passive ventilation systems and providing early ventilation systems for the local mills and factories. Read more via Yorkshire Live
