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.
EVs drive down carbon emissions and lift vehicle ownership to record high – SMMT
The number of vehicles on UK roads reached a record high in 2023, rising by 1.7% to 41,404,589 vehicles, according to new Motorparc data published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) – with plug-in vehicles driving the biggest growth in car ownership since 2016. More via The Manufacturer
Fears grow for British Steel’s rescue deal
The UK government is struggling to seal a deal with British Steel to secure the future of the country’s second-largest steelworks 18 months after the Chinese-owned company asked ministers for a £500mn financial aid package.
Jingye, which bought Britain’s second biggest steelmaker out of insolvency in 2020, is yet to submit a detailed, fully costed proposal that can be put before the Treasury for approval, according to people familiar with the matter. More via Financial Times
Luxury bed manufacturer eyes growth despite ‘challenging’ year
A historic Plymouth-based manufacturer of luxury beds has reported a “challenging” financial year but plans to grow its share of the market and expand.
Established in London in 1901, and now based in Plymouth, Vispring is a global brand for handmade, bespoke, high-quality beds which are made to order. More via Insider
Touble brewing for Britain’s tea amid price hikes and stock shortages
National Tea Day is just around the corner and UK consumers will be celebrating with a cuppa that is almost 50% more expensive than it was this time last year.
A combination of cost-of-living increases (rising inflation and wider economic uncertainty) and the impact of geopolitical issues, like the Red Sea crisis have impacted the supply and price of Britain’s favourite beverage. More via The Manufacturer
Daikin UK warehouse facility goes live
Daikin says it has this week commenced deliveries of its HVACR products from a new purpose-built warehouse facility based in the Midlands.
The company said the new site marked a £4m investment – funded in partnership with logistics group GXO – to create a single site for addressing demand for cooling, heating and ventilation products. More via rac Magazine
UK MoD orders more Airbus H145 helicopters
The UK Ministry of Defence has ordered a further six Airbus H145 helicopters as the next step in renewing its rotary fleet and cutting the number of different types in service.
The new aircraft will be deployed to Cyprus primarily for emergency response duties and to Brunei to support UK military training in jungle warfare and will replace Airbus Pumas currently performing those roles. More via Airbus
Amazon engineering apprentice wins Enginuity Skills Awards Trophy Design Competition
Arron Wilcock, a Reliability Maintenance Engineering Apprentice at Amazon, who is part of a Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) Training Apprenticeship Programme, has been announced as the winner of this year’s Enginuity Skills Awards Trophy Design Competition.
His design will now be manufactured by industrial automation specialist, FANUC, and presented at the prestigious Enginuity Skills Awards 2024. More via The Manufacturer
