PE roundup 18 April: output, appointments, orders, certification, awards
18 Apr 2023
Lontra’s new 60,000sq ft smart factory manufacturing centre in Doncaster (see pic) has manufactured its inaugural LP2 Blade Blower, the first commercially available blower redesign in 85 years. “This highlights the market’s appetite for something different: to explore what’s available on the market and adopt both best practice and latest blower innovation,” said head of commercial Chris Hyde. “Our distributors and end-users want a more reliable technology, with low lifecycle costs, but also, a technology that is going to help their business meet 2030 net zero emission targets.”
The latest quarterly survey of Chemical Business Association member companies reveals some improvement, with an order book balance of +34% –substantial increase from the 15% reported in September. Sales volumes increased nearly twofold to +31%, sales margins to +22% compared to the +12% in the previous quarter, while employment and training also improved. CBA chief executive Tim Doggett commented: “The chemical supply chain industry has always been resilient and although many of our members are still facing serious supply chain constraints, the impact of these disruptions has lessened in recent months.”
Sleaford Quality Foods has appointed Trevor Holmes as innovation manager, responsible for its new product development capabilities. Holmes spent more than 26 years at Bakkavor and headed product development across multiple categories into M&S as culinary innovation chef.
Manufacturing and industrial internet of things (IoT) advanced analytics software firm Seeq Corporation has achieved the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Manufacturing and Industrial Competency, following the required rigorous technical validation with vetted customer references.
UK battery manufacturer AMTE’s hint that it could consider switch its proposed Dundee megafactory to the USA to take advantage of the Biden administration’s green subsidies is reflective of broader trends in UK industry, warned Daniel Giemajner, partner at global law firm Akin. “These businesses are looking at the US and the EU, and they are being offered meaningful financial incentives to move their production base abroad. Equivalent financial incentives simply aren’t there (at the right scale) in the UK and, ultimately, cash is king. … If major industry decides that the UK is not a competitive host, then the effects of moving production abroad will be multi-faceted and will be felt for years to come,” he stated.
The UK Atomic Energy Authority’s (UKAEA) RACE team was one of three winners of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Impact in Society Awards. Their teamwork won in the digital futures category for its in-house developed robotics control system, CorteX. Robert Skilton, Robotics Fellow, UKAEA said: “Winning the IET’s Impact in Society Award is a really important achievement for UKAEA. It gory demonstrates how we are bringing immediate benefits to society as a direct result of the research being conducted to enable the future with fusion energy.” Other winners were Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (sustainability and climate change category) and Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd recognised for their teamwork in the (healthy lives category).
Biopharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organisation Rentschler Biopharm has appointed Thomas aus dem Siepen as global head digital manufacturing and automation, responsible for the alignment of digitalisation and automation. Chief scientific officer Christian Schetter said: “I am pleased to warmly welcome Thomas aus dem Siepen to Rentschler Biopharma. He brings strong experience in digital manufacturing; this sub-area of Industry 4.0 aims to digitise and intelligently network production workflows to advance the automation of processes.”
The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) has awarded its concept study on offloading liquefied CO2 (LCO2) captured onboard ships to Lloyd’s Register, supported by their partner Arup. Currently, there are no guidelines for offloading captured CO2. The findings of the study will form a basis to enable sea trials in Phase 3 of Project REMARCCABLE (Realising Maritime Carbon Capture to demonstrate the Ability to Lower Emissions).
Hoss Engineering, KGN Pillinger, Pumps & Gearboxes Ltd, and Selwood Pump Company are the latest recruits to the British Pump Manufacturers Association (BPMA), trade association for UK and Irish suppliers of liquid pumps and pump related equipment.
Power generation experts Finning claimed a 176 per cent rise in demand for engine overhauls from 2019-22, as customers sought to balance net zero targets and minimising capital expenditure. Product manager for energy & transportation Peter Hutyan said overhauls offered faster turnaround, allowing customers to hold on to assets. Another key driver was cost – typically 60-70% lower than replacement. “The process can be complete within a few days to a few months, and it can go another 20,000 hours before the next major intervention, depending on the engine model,” he said.
