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 car production stable in January as EV output charges ahead
UK car production was stable in the first month of 2023, with output down just -0.3% to 68,575 units, according to the latest figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The loss, equivalent to just 215 fewer cars, was driven chiefly by structural changes, reflecting a move from car to van making at one major plant, but with supply chain shortages still afflicting some manufacturers.
The ongoing shift to electrified car production continued, with combined battery electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid electric vehicle volumes up 49.9% to 28,329 units. They represented more than four in every 10 (41.3%) cars made in January, a near record monthly share, and further evidence of the UK’s capability in making these important models, most of which (77.0%) are exported to meet global demand. Read more via The Manufacturer
Industry 4.0: Global first Digital Twin of a cement plant
Holcim Switzerland’s Siggenthal cement plant is serving as a pilot site to test the latest technologies and working methods as part of the global digitalisation initiative ‘Plants of Tomorrow’ – ‘the plant of tomorrow’ – to make cement production more efficient, sustainable and safe.
In the latest cooperation with the British start-up “HyBird,” a virtual 3D twin of a cement plant is being created for the first time worldwide to massively simplify maintenance workflows and thus save time and costs. Read more via World Cement
Engineering summer experience opens 2023 applications for Staffordshire students
The Next Engineers programme, launched by the GE Foundation, has opened applications for its free, one-week long Engineering Experience. Up to 200 selected Staffordshire students, aged between 14 and 15 (Years 9-10), will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in all things engineering whilst also getting a sense of college and university life.
Following the success of its inaugural year, the second cohort will have access to world-leading expertise and equipment, completing real-world inspired design challenges to help build up their own identity as aspiring engineers. The programme, run in collaboration with GE Foundation and its partner, The Inspirational Learning Group and FHI 360, has been designed to encourage a diverse range of students to pursue engineering as a career through an interactive and engaging experience outside of the classroom. Read more via GE Foundation
Getting more women into manufacturing: what can you learn from a lawyer?
Lucy Pringle, partner at international law firm, Womble Bond Dickinson, shares how lessons learnt on supporting the progression of women in law can transfer to manufacturing.
What do manufacturing and law have in common? Both are traditionally male dominated work environments, which increasingly attract women into their industries at entry level but have not seen the same pace of change in terms of women reaching senior leadership roles. Read more via The Manufacturer
The Manufacturer Podcast: An awards night – and are apprenticeships getting it right?
In the fifth episode of this People & Skills Series, we chat to some of the winning categories at The Engineering Trust Awards which took place in Oxford on Wednesday night. And our hosts; Tom, Joe and Lanna discuss whether apprenticeships are creating the right opportunities for women in manufacturing. Enjoy! Listen via The Manufacturer
Demand for solar in UK manufacturing goes through the roof
Solarsense has reported a 400% increase in commercial enquiries from the manufacturing sector during 2022, as soaring energy bills lead industry to look seriously at on-site solar energy generation.
This follows a report published by the International Energy Agency (IEA) which revealed a massive acceleration in the installation of renewable power globally in the past year, surpassing even the agency’s own predictions by 30%. Read more via Production Engineering Solutions
