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.
UK manufacturing contracts as Red Sea crisis hits supply chains and contributes to rising costs
The downturn in the UK manufacturing sector continued at the start of 2024 with a decline of output and new orders.
This lead to additional job losses and cutbacks in purchasing and stock holdings. Manufacturers also experienced rising supply chain difficulties, as the Red Sea crisis led to the re-routing of input deliveries away from the Suez Canal.
Read more via The Manufacturer
Babcock to supply South Korean Navy with submarine weapons system
Babcock International has been awarded a contract for additional work on the South Korean Navy’s submarine programme.
The seven-year contract, awarded by Hanwha Ocean, is to manufacture and install the weapons handling launch system (WHLS) on Boat Six of the Jangbogo-III class boat. Boat Six, namely ‘Jangbogo-III Batch-II Boat Three’, along with the rest of the class, will use Babcock’s air turbine pump and programmable firing valve launch system.
Read more via The Manufacturer
Growth in small businesses slows by 40 per cent during difficult decade
Small business growth in the UK has slowed over the last decade, hindered by Brexit, Covid-19, and geo-political tensions.
This is according to a new report by the Enterprise Research Centre, which reveals the proportion of small firms that were expanding their workforce fell 40 per cent between 2012 and 2022.
The report also warns that the support available to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is also currently insufficient and too fragmented.
Read more via The Manufacturer
Honeywell to drive efficiency through robotics collaboration
Honeywell has announced it will team up with Hai Robotics to deliver flexible, high-density storage and retrieval solutions to distribution centres (DCs).
The alliance couples Hai’s robotics technology with Honeywell’s Momentum Warehouse Execution Software, enhanced cyber security capabilities and experience integrating robotics solutions. Additionally, it supports Honeywell’s portfolio alignment to three megatrends: automation, the future of aviation and energy transition.
Read more via The Manufacturer
Airbus, Avinor, SAS, Swedavia and Vattenfall pave the way for hydrogen aviation in Sweden and Norway
Airbus, Avinor, SAS, Swedavia and Vattenfall have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to investigate the feasibility of a hydrogen infrastructure at airports in Sweden and Norway.
Read more via Airbus
New CEO appointed at Sheffield Forgemasters
Sheffield Forgemasters has appointed a new CEO to oversee increasing defence output and a substantial recapitalisation programme
This has been announced following the news that former boss, David Bond, plans to step down.
Gary Nutter will take up his position in March and brings significant experience of global business leadership, most recently serving as CEO and Director of aerospace engineering group, RLC Aerospace Ltd. He also held positions at Kongsberg Marine Ltd and Rolls-Royce Plc.
Read more via The Manufacturer
The Big Bang Fair returns to inspire the next generation into STEM careers
The popular Big Bang Fair – the UK’s largest celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) for young people – is set to return this summer.
The annual Fair, which is run by EngineeringUK, is designed to ignite a passion for STEM and showcase the exciting career possibilities in these sectors. Taking place from Wednesday 19 to Friday 21 June 2024 at the NEC in Birmingham, The Fair will welcome students aged 10 to 13 from across the UK. From today, schools and home educators can register for free tickets to attend.
Read more via The Manufacturer
BAE Systems’ enhanced M-Code Global Navigation Satellite System technology reaches major development milestone
BAE Systems’ program to design and manufacture an advanced military GPS receiver and next-generation semiconductor has completed Critical Design Review (CDR).
The Military GPS User Equipment (MGUE) Increment 2 Miniature Serial Interface (MSI) program is part of a $247 million contract received in 2020 from the U.S. Space Force.
Read more via BAE Systems
JCB apprentices step into national spotlight
JCB apprentices are set to share their on-the-job training experience with an audience of at least 140,000 people as part of a live broadcast across the UK.
They will be put under the spotlight during National Apprenticeship Week when they host The Big Assembly – a programme which will be broadcast to students next week to highlight the fantastic opportunities apprenticeships offer.
Read more via JCB
