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.
University of Nottingham interactive event unveils engineers’ role in the Apollo landing
Astronaut costumes, air rockets and a gravity demonstration using a BMX bike were all part of an interactive event celebrating the legacy of the Apollo moon landing, and the role engineers played in its success.
Hosted at the University of Nottingham’s Lakeside Arts, “Apollo Legacy: How Engineers Landed People On The Moon” was attended by more than 150 adults and children who came along to learn all about the story of the lunar landing in a presentation delivered by Assistant Professor Jez Turner from the Faulty of Engineering. Find out more on The Manufacturer
China factory activity shrinks in July, adding to pressure to reverse economic slump
Chinese factory activity contracted in July as export orders shrank, a survey showed Monday, adding to pressure on the ruling Communist Party to reverse an economic slowdown.
A purchasing managers’ index issued by the national statistics agency and an industry group improved to 49.3 from June’s 49 on a 100-point scale but was below the 50-point level that shows activity contracting. Find out more on The Independent
Bentey announces strong half-year financials
Bentley Motors has announced encouraging financial results for the first six months of 2023, however cautioned of more difficult trading conditions to follow. The luxury British marque posted operating profits of €390m, slightly down on the same period last year, a two per cent drop from €398m.
Revenue decreased slightly in 2023, posting €1.681bn against a 2022 figure of €1.707bn, with significant interest in Mulliner personalisation, derivatives and optional uptake continuing. Return on sales remained as 23.2 per cent for the first six months of 2023. Find out more on The Manufacturer
Finnebrogue invests £2.8m to upgrade plant-based food factory
The County Down food producer Finnebrogue has announced a £2.8m investment to upgrade its three-year-old plant-based food factory.
The leading supplier of plant-based food to UK supermarkets – also renowned for its pork sausages, wagyu burgers and nitrite-free Naked Bacon – has installed 2,846 solar panels on the roof of its vegan food factory – and is expanding car parking and infrastructure around the site to accommodate for further growth. Find out more on Essex Magazine
Bajaj Auto to set up first overseas manufacturing facility in Brazil
Bajaj Auto, India’s largest exporter of motorcycles and three-wheelers, is setting up its first overseas manufacturing plant in Brazil through its wholly-owned subsidiary Bajaj Do Brasil. Executive director Rakesh Sharma said local presence in Brazil, Latin America’s biggest two-wheeler market, will help Bajaj Auto gain insights into product development and customer behaviour and strengthen its presence in the region.
Pune-based Bajaj Auto, which has a global alliance with UK-based motorcycle maker Triumph for co-developing middle-weight motorcycles, has presence in more than 90 countries, where it follows a distribution-led model – the company’s distribution partners manage local operations, including assembly. Find out more on The Economic Times
