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.
Britain boasts Europe’s biggest new zero emission bus market
Britain’s new bus, coach and minibus market is growing back after three challenging years, with 4,932 new units registered in 2023, according to the latest figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The performance represents a 44.6% increase on 2022 levels as passenger confidence continues to return, although uptake remains -16.0% below 2019 levels. More via The Manufacturer
BAE Systems completes acquisition of Ball Aerospace
Further to the announcement of 14 February 2024, BAE Systems has now completed the acquisition of Ball Aerospace from Ball Corporation.
The transaction closed at a purchase price of $5.5bn (approximately £4.4bn), which has been funded through existing cash and new external debt. More via BAE Systems
Glass manufacturer plans football pitch and cricket nets for unused warehouse
A glass manufacturer is seeking to transform their unused space into a sports facility for football and cricket.
Five cricket lanes alongside a football pitch for small-sided games are planned for Poesia Property Holdings’ Mossley site. The new Waggon Road facility would provide year-round sports use for the general public given it would be indoors, according to documents submitted to Tameside Council. More via Manchester Evening News
New centres for innovation offer support for small businesses to upskill
A £100m investment from the Innovation Accelerator programme will see a new innovation hub launched at University College Birmingham.
The hub will support manufacturing and construction businesses in getting up to speed with new technology adoption. More via The Manufacturer
GSK completes acquisition of Aiolos Bio
GSK plc has announced that it has completed the acquisition of Aiolos Bio (Aiolos), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on addressing the unmet treatment needs of patients with respiratory and inflammatory conditions. More via GSK
UK low carbon concrete solutions accelerated by £3m competition
A £3m Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) funding competition has been launched by Innovate UK to accelerate the commercial adoption of low carbon concrete solutions.
As the concrete and cement industry currently accounts for around 1.5% of UK’s carbon dioxide emissions and around 7% of emissions globally, this competition is an important next step in the industry’s decarbonisation. More via The Manufacturer
Britain’s last remaining professional female ropemaker fears the ancient craft might ‘die out’
Britain’s last remaining professional female ropemaker fears the ancient craft might ‘die out’ if she can’t secure an apprentice in time.
Caroline Rodgers, 56, who is just one of 11 traditional manufacturers left in the country, said it would be ‘tragic’ if the 300-year-old heritage trade ceased to exist. More via Yahoo! News
Historic glass production line closes as part of multimillion-pound upgrade
Production has ceased at a 200-year-old Merseyside glassworks which pioneered the modern method of glass manufacturing used around the world to this day.
The process was created by Pilkington, now part of Japan’s NSG Group.
Now, as part of a major investment project, production at the Watson Street Works in St Helens, which opened in 1826, ceased yesterday (February 15) and production will be transferred to a nearby sister plant, which is expected to begin production in August this year. More via The Business Desk
Google expands AI development with new hub in France
Tech giant Google has confirmed plans to establish a research hub for artificial intelligence (AI) in France, continuing a trend for leading tech firms to set up innovation teams in European cities.
Google’s planned AI hub will host up to 300 researchers and machine learning engineers designed to accelerate the sector’s development. The research-focused hub will lead Google’s attempt at staving off industry competitors and ensuring proper regulatory compliance in the European Union. More via CoinGeek
