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 manufacturers’ confidence jumps to highest level in a year as economic outlook improves
UK manufacturers’ confidence rebounded in February to its highest level in a year, according to the latest Accenture / S&P Global UK Business Outlook, as expectations towards future activity picked up sharply from a record low in October.
At +53%, manufacturing sector firms expecting activity to increase over the next 12 months was the strongest recorded in over a year, and marked a significant uptick from the +24% registered in October 2022. Read more via The Manufacturer
Oscar win for Pinocchio puts Made Smarter-backed puppet-maker in global spotlight
The puppet–maker behind the Oscar-winning animation Pinocchio has praised the transformative impact of Made Smarter’s technology adoption programme.
Mackinnon & Saunders, based in Altrincham, collaborated with Hollywood director Guillermo del Toro to manufacture the miniature stars of the hit Netflix stop-motion animation. Read more via The Manufacturer
China’s BYD blames Brexit as it rules out UK for first electric car plant in Europe
The world’s largest seller of electric and hybrid cars will not consider building its first European car factory in the UK because of the impact of Brexit.
China’s BYD, which has been backed by the US investment billionaire Warren Buffett since 2008, intends to take on household names such as Tesla and become one of the three most popular electric vehicle brands in Europe by the end of the decade. Read more via The Guardian
STEM promoting Science Museum exhibit features MTC apprentices
Two MTC Training apprentices are featuring in a permanent exhibit at London’s Science Museum. The exhibit aims to promote STEM (science, technology and mathematics) subjects to youngsters.
MTC Training apprentices Kieran Bullivant and Evadney Enock, who have completed their advanced manufacturing apprenticeships, feature in a video talking about their training and the opportunities that have opened up to them. Read more via The Manufacturer
Volkswagen and PowerCo to build North American battery factory in Canada
Volkswagen Group and its battery company PowerCo have picked Canada for its first overseas battery cell factory.
The plant, located in St. Thomas, Ontario, will produce battery cells beginning in 2027, according to the German automaker. PowerCo, a VW company that launched in July 2022, will handle the automaker’s global battery business, including sourcing raw materials, cell production and manufacturing at the Canada location. Read more via TechCrunch
Maritime UK launches landmark Offshore Wind Plan
Maritime UK has launched its comprehensive and ground-breaking Offshore Wind Plan at the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult’s Operations & Maintenance Centre of Excellence in Grimsby, with the support of Associated British Ports.
The Offshore Wind Plan makes a series of recommendations for how the maritime sector, the offshore wind sector, and governments can work together to deliver maximum economic benefit from the growth of offshore wind across the maritime supply chain in sectors like ports, shipbuilding, crewing and professional services. Read more via Maritime UK
Conservatory Outlet praised by the Mayor of West Yorkshire for its commitment to industry
Conservatory Outlet has been praised by the Mayor of West Yorkshire for its commitment to boosting industry and offering tens of job opportunities for young people in the local area.
The comments were made after a site visit by Tracy Brabin, which formed part of a wider fact-finding mission into manufacturing and how investment into the region could be increased. Read more via The Manufacturer
