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.
Leonardo opens new research site in Newcastle creating 200 jobs
International defence and security company Leonardo has opened its 8th site in the UK, a high-technology science and engineering facility in the Newcastle Helix innovation cluster.
Located in the state-of-the-art ‘Spark’ development, Leonardo Newcastle will focus on the research, development and prototyping of Leonardo’s next generation sensing, security and vertical lift products, many of which will incorporate emerging digital and data technologies.
The site will be home to at least 200 staff and the company is keen to grow beyond this in future. As well as recruiting people who are already highly capable, Leonardo will be investing in up-skilling, training employees in the latest digital engineering practices so that they’re fully equipped for the fourth industrial revolution. Find out more at The Manufacturer
New analysis shows how TfL’s spending with UK-wide supply chain supports billions of pounds of economic growth across the country
A new independent report, commissioned by Transport for London (TfL), sets out the powerful economic effect that sustained investment in London’s public transport system has across the whole country.
Launched at a reception attended by suppliers and key business stakeholders, hosted by the Railway Industry Association, the report by Hatch, a global engineering, project management, and professional services firm, showed how investment by TfL has huge benefit for its UK-wide supply chain. This in turn delivers wider benefits for the economy of the local areas where the suppliers are located, supporting jobs and economic growth across the country. Find out more at RailBusinessDaily
RS Group announces ambitious carbon reduction targets
RS Group, a global provider of product and service solutions for industrial customers, has announced that four of its near-term climate reduction targets have received validation from the SBTi.
The SBTi is a global body that drives ambitious climate action in the private sector by enabling organisations to set science-based emissions reduction targets.
RS is committed to helping fight the climate crisis through genuine actions to reduce its emissions, from ensuring its distribution centres generate and use renewable electricity, to cutting the distance its products travel and switching to deliveries by road or sea rather than air. And by working with its suppliers to offer customers products that save energy and reduce the carbon footprint of their operations, through its new Better World product range. Find out more at The Manufacturer
Nokia to axe up to 14,000 jobs to cut costs
Finnish telecoms giant Nokia is to axe between 9,000 and 14,000 jobs by the end of 2026 to cut costs.
The announcement was made as the company reported a 20% drop in sales between July and September.
The company blamed slowing demand for 5G equipment in markets such as North America.
It currently has 86,000 employees around the world, and has axed thousands of jobs since 2015.
Nokia wants to cut costs by between €800m and €1.2bn (£695m-£1bn) by 2026, it said. Find out more at BBC News
PEMDBoK launches to drive £12bn opportunity
A landmark initiative that aims to unlock the universal language of electrification was launched yesterday at a major event in London. Over 100 industry experts were present at the Museum of London to take a first look at The Power Electronics, Machines and Drives Body of Knowledge (PEMDBoK).
This valuable new resource is set to redefine industry standards and align understanding of the essential skills and capabilities required by the sector.
Hosted on the Electric Revolution Skills (ERS) Hub, individuals, employers, course providers, recruiters and companies are urged to sign up and access the wealth of information on skills, competencies and training needed to work in PEMD now and in the future. Find out more at The Manufacturer
More than 100 jobs created as electric vehicle manufacturer opens Staffordshire factory
Electric vehicle and systems manufacturer RBW has opened its UK factory in Lichfield, following multi-million-pound investment from California.
Since its foundation seven years ago, RBW continues to pioneer the safe electrification of vehicles. The investment will enable the company to scale-up to meet global demand.
Meson Capital Partners’ £10m investment follows an original £5m and a further £300,000 in UK grants raised for tooling and manufacturing. Find out more at The Business Desk
£30m initiative announced for early-stage antimicrobial innovation
Innovate UK and medical research organisation LifeArc, have each invested £15m in PACE (Pathways to Antimicrobial Clinical Efficacy), which will be delivered by Medicines Discovery Catapult.
PACE will focus on removing barriers and connecting the AMR ecosystem to accelerate and strengthen the pre-clinical AMR pipeline.
The initiative aims to establish a platform for UK-based early-stage research and development (R&D) projects in medicine discovery and diagnostics, making them more attractive for investment and readily available for medical treatments. Find out more at UK Research and Innovation
Nissan to join European auto manufacturing body ACEA from 1 January 2024
The Board of Directors of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has approved a membership application from Nissan, which will take effect from 1 January 2024.
Established in the 1930s, the Japanese vehicle manufacturer has a rich history, producing a wide range of vehicle types and models. With manufacturing facilities in Spain and the UK, and research and development facilities in Germany, Spain, and the UK, Nissan has a strong presence in and commitment to Europe. Its European headquarters are based in France. Find out more at ACEA
ASG AMF Engineering expands with new factory
ASG AMF Engineering, a precision engineering company known for manufacturing components and assemblies for research facilities across Europe, has announced a significant investment in an additional factory.
The company will continue to retain its existing premises for machining, creating additional space for future investment. It has enabled the company to increase the size of its clean assembly facility, chemical cleaning and welding processes.
It has also allowed the firm to invest around £400,000 in automated thermal spraying equipment and expanding its UHV cleaning facility. Find out more at Production Engineering Solutions
Almac jobs boost with new sites in Craigavon
Almac pharmaceutical firm is to spend £80m on two new manufacturing facilities in Craigavon, County Armagh.
They are the latest stage of an expansion plan which was announced at the end of 2021.
The construction of the facilities will create more than 550 jobs locally, spanning lab and non-lab-based roles. Find out more at BBC News
Management of bankrupt Volta Trucks seeking buyer
The management of bankrupt electric truck maker, Volta Trucks is urgently seeking a buyer to take the company out of administration and help it complete the ramp-up to mass production, a source familiar with the issue told Reuters.
Volta, which is headquartered in Sweden and has operations in the United Kingdom, filed for bankruptcy on Tuesday citing the bankruptcy in August of its supplier Proterra and uncertainty over its battery supplier, which had made it hard to raise sufficient capital. Find out more at Reuters
