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.
The Big Bang Fair set to ignite young people’s passion for STEM
The much-loved Big Bang Fair, the largest celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) in the UK, is returning for another year. Taking place from 21 to 23 June 2023 at the NEC in Birmingham, registration for free tickets to attend is now open.
The Fair is aimed at young people aged 10 to 13 – who can attend with their school, or with their family or community group during The Big Bang Fair Unlocked session. Young people will have the opportunity to meet real engineers and scientists and get involved in hands-on activities, exciting live shows and inspiring career panels. Read more via The Manufacturer
Coventry University research centre stakes its claim as hydrogen power research leader with £4m of new engineering contracts
More than £4m of new hydrogen testing contracts have been secured within the Centre for Advanced Low-Carbon Propulsion Systems (C-ALPS) at Coventry University.
The £50m research centre, a joint investment between Coventry University and global engineering consultancy FEV, is working with some of the world’s leading engine and vehicle manufacturers, electrification start-ups and UK and European research consortia to develop new solutions for e-mobility start-ups and zero-emission drive systems. Read more via The Manufacturer
New manufacturing facility to boost production capability
Paragraf, the company delivering a scalable approach to graphene electronic device manufacturing, has taken possession of a second manufacturing site in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.
The new site will allow Paragraf to massively increase the size of its clean room facilities and other manufacturing areas while providing additional office space. Paragraf staff are beginning to move in during the first quarter of 2023 and production is expected to ramp up in the second half of the year. The initial expansion of staff into the Huntingdon facility will enable accelerated development of the research, development and production areas on the current Somersham site to cope with increasing customer demand as fit out of operations at the new site progresses. Read more via Paragraf
British Steel announces 260 job losses at Scunthorpe works
British Steel is closing the coking ovens at its Scunthorpe works with the loss of 260 jobs, as the UK steel industry struggles amid high energy prices and the need to invest heavily in lower-carbon technologies.
The company’s owner, China’s Jingye Group, said the move was partly “to overcome global economic challenges” and also due to £190m in extra costs last year from higher energy bills and carbon credits. Read more via The Guardian
Car manufacturer takes green ambitions up a gear with six-figure finance package
A family-owned West Midlands automotive manufacturer is transforming unused parts into sculptures, thanks to a six-figure funding package from Lloyds Bank.
Birchills Automotive has been trading in Walsall for 130 years, manufacturing exhaust systems for the car and motorcycle industry. The business also uses computer aided design and 3D printing to produce working models that support clients with the design process. Read more via The Manufacturer
Food producer Pilgrim’s UK adds 50 jobs at expanded Cornwall factory
Food producer Pilgrim’s UK has said it is looking to recruit 50 new staff over the next six months as it looks to boost output at its newly expanded factory in Cornwall. The pork products purveyor has made a £1.8m investment into its Bodmin site, including on new high-speed packing lines and a storage racking system have been installed to maximise the site’s operational capacity. Read more via Business Live.
