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 Space Agency announces £8m for Space startups with UKI2S
As part of the UK government’s ambitious 10-year vision for the Space Industry, where over £10bn has been pledged to position the UK as a global leader, the UK Space Agency is announcing the launch of the £8m Space Portfolio within the UK Innovation and Science Seed Fund (UKI2S) – managed by Future Planet Capital. More via The Manufacturer
Offshore wind industry unveils Industrial Growth Plan to triple supply chain manufacturing
RenewableUK, the Offshore Wind Industry Council, The Crown Estate and Crown Estate Scotland have published a detailed Industrial Growth Plan, setting out how to triple offshore wind manufacturing capacity over the next ten years, firmly establishing the UK as a leader in a surging global market.
The UK offshore wind industry already employs 32,000 people and each new large offshore wind farm adds £2-3bn to the economy. Employment is set to rise to over 100,000 by 2030 and investment in new offshore wind projects will create an economic opportunity worth up to £92bn for the UK by 2040. More via RenewableUK
UK’s four largest robots will be used in aerospace projects
Four of the largest industrial robots ever ordered in the UK are to be used in a £80m aerospace manufacturing R&D project which includes a facility at the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) that will help solve composites manufacturing challenges to meet future demand for lighter commercial aircraft and to help the aviation industry reach net-zero. More via Drives & Controls Magazine
Food and drink manufacturing leads output and demand growth in March – report
UK food and drink producers outperformed all other UK sectors in both output and new order growth in March and were the primary drivers for the wider manufacturing sector’s first expansion in output in more than a year, according to the latest Lloyds Bank UK Sector Tracker. More via The Manufacturer
BAE Systems investigating explosion at its Welsh munitions site
Britain’s BAE Systems (BAES.L), opens new tab said it was investigating the cause of an explosion at its munitions manufacturing plant in Glascoed, Wales, on Wednesday.
Safety protocols were immediately enacted and emergency services attended the site, where shells are filled and packed, the company said. More via Reuters
German company produces optical glass using 100% hydrogen in a furnace in world first
German manufacturer Schott has conducted the first-ever production of high-quality optical glass using 100% hydrogen in a furnace instead of natural gas.
The “large-scale test” in Mainz, Germany, went well and the quality of the glass is now being analysed, the company said.German manufacturer Schott has conducted the first-ever production of high-quality optical glass using 100% hydrogen in a furnace instead of natural gas. More via Hydrogen Insight
Sheffield Forgemasters granted strategic nuclear status
Sheffield Forgemasters has been awarded a crucial strategic qualification, positioning the company to support development and delivery of the next generation of civil nuclear power plants.
The company’s nuclear qualification came after an American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Section III Division I NCA 3300 (NCA 3800), NCA 4000 and NQA-1 Code survey and audit, recommended it for Material Organisation (MO), and welding (NPT) accreditations. More via The Manufacturer
