PE Roundup 6 July – Challenging stats, major investment, mixed family firm fortunes and more...
5 Jul 2023
UK manufacturing jobs experienced growth in multiple regions and nations. Make UK's Annual Manufacturing Outlook Report reveals that six of eight English regions, as well as Wales, saw an increase in employment. While this challenged the notion of decline and highlighted the sector's importance in creating skilled and higher-paid jobs, labour challenges persist, with 74,000 vacancies remaining unfilled, resulting in an estimated £6.5 billion output gap. Efforts are needed at national and regional levels, said Make UK, including infrastructure, innovation and skills, to support further growth.
Leading deep-tech start-up Twinsity completed a €2.5-million funding round led by the esteemed European Innovation Council Accelerator (EIC). The firm’s products include its AI-based automated inspection platform, Twinspect, designed for large infrastructure assets and maintenance solutions for bridges, dams, and oil and gas refineries.
Gerhard Schubert, the founder and shareholder of packaging machine manufacturer Schubert, has died at the age of 84. His ideas for modular robot-assisted top-loading packaging machines continue to shape modern packaging technology worldwide. Starting with an apprenticeship as a mechanic in 1953, he established his own engineering and design office before founding Gerhard Schubert GmbH in 1968, becoming a leading global packaging manufacturer. Sons Ralf and Gerald Schubert continue to be involved in the company.
Yorkshire Water is investing £60 million in its Knostrop wastewater treatment works to reduce phosphorus levels in treated wastewater discharged into the river Aire. As the largest treatment works in Yorkshire, it processes wastewater from nearly one million people at a rate of 5,600 litres per second. The upgrade includes the introduction of Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal (EBPR) processes and a solids removal plant to treat the final effluent. This sustainable approach reduces phosphorus levels and aligns with Yorkshire Water's commitment to improving water quality in the region's rivers. The project supports the company's £790 million investment in phosphorus removal by 2025.
Family-run engineering firm K Home International is celebrating 50 years in business, having worked on prestigious projects worldwide. Established by Ken Home in 1973, the Thornaby-based company offers engineering design and project management services for industrial plants. Notable projects include the ICI Tioxide expansion (now Venator's project ICON), as well as contracts with BP, Victrex, Croda, Mitsubishi Chemicals, and Nippon Gases. Today, the business is led by Ken Home's sons Andrew and Michael, who said: “Dad established the company on firm foundations and set up a culture based on long-term success rather than short-term gain and it’s really paid off. To reach 50 years in business through several recessions, the banking crisis and a pandemic is a tribute and testament to all our staff throughout five decades.”
K Home International received the Queen's Award for Export in 1998 and the Queen's Award for Enterprise in 2005.
Gas distribution company SGN has partnered with flow control solutions specialist Oxford Flow to validate the compatibility of the UK's local transmission system (LTS) with hydrogen gas. Oxford Flow will supply hydrogen-ready gas pressure regulators (IM-S) for testing decommissioned gas pipelines with 100% hydrogen. The regulators are designed to facilitate retrofitting of existing gas systems and reduce maintenance. The collaboration aims to establish a hydrogen-ready solution for pressure regulating equipment and support clean energy transition, and promote decarbonisation and emissions reduction in the gas network. The LTS Futures project will conduct further testing at a research facility in Cumbria later this year.
European Inventor Award 2023 laureates were announced by the European Patent Office (EPO). The prestigious innovation prize recognised inventors from various countries for their outstanding contributions in catalyst chemistry, hydrogen storage, renewable fuels, noise reduction, and more. Among the winners, Spanish chemist Avelino Corma Canós received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his seminal work in synthetic catalysts. The awards also recognised advancements in car battery safety, hydrogen storage, noise reduction materials, and more. The EPO celebrated the winners' innovative solutions addressing global challenges such as sustainability and social inequality.
Essentra Components, provider of essential components and solutions, has surpassed its 2025 Scope 1 and 2 emissions targets. The company's manufacturing operations have achieved a significant 27% reduction in direct emissions and a 35% decrease in emissions intensity since 2019, surpassing the 2025 target ahead of schedule. Essentra's long-term goals is achieving net zero in its operations by 2040 and throughout its value chain by 2050. Additionally, the company claims substantial progress in waste management, with 12 component sites achieving zero waste to landfill status in 2022, surpassing its waste intensity target.
Birmingham-based photochemical etching company Precision Micro has released its first Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Impact report, outlining a series of environmental advancements. Notably, reducing total waste by 45% and achieved a 98% recycling rate for waste materials. In addition, it aims to minimise single-use plastics and increase recyclable or recycled packaging. The report also highlights efforts to address energy consumption, with 100% of electricity sourced from renewable sources and various energy-saving measures implemented. Furthermore, 35% of water used in the etching process was recycled in 2022 through data-driven initiatives and machinery investments.
Valmet, the Finnish global developer and supplier of process technologies, has acquired NovaTech Automation's process solutions division based in Maryland, USA. The acquisition boosts the 220 year old firm as a leading automation provider in North America.
Reliance on fossil fuels is linked to differing perceptions of climate change, warns global safety charity Lloyd's Register Foundation. Countries heavily dependent on fossil fuel production for energy or exports are less likely to see climate change as a threat, according to analysis of the World Risk Poll surveying 125,000 people in 121 countries. In nations where energy accounts for over 50% of exports, less than 50% of the population view climate change as a serious threat. The foundation calls for economic diversification, incentivising low-carbon technologies and renewable energy in fossil fuel-producing countries.
Students from Fallibroome Academy in Cheshire won the national IET Faraday® engineering challenge, earning their school £1,000. The competition's top five school teams gathered at Cranfield University's Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre for the final. The challenge, in partnership with UKRI's Future Flight Challenge, required teams to design a prototype that promotes accessibility, safety, and environmental impact in relation to future flight. Fallibroome Academy's winning design was a receiver box with a pressure pad for drone deliveries at hospitals. The event aimed to inspire young people to pursue STEM careers through hands-on engineering experiences.
According to recent findings by the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS), the decline in UK manufacturing intensified towards the end of 2022, marking one of the sharpest declines in the past 14 years. Companies cited reduced output due to decreased new work and disruptions caused by stretched supply chains and material shortages.To address the challenges posed by long lead times for sourcing genuine parts, Obso Global has launched a new free guide that outlines five steps to secure and maintain stock of new and refurbished parts, mitigate risk of unplanned downtime, and sustain productivity. The guide is available advises on operational strategies, contingency planning, and third-party providers for bonded stock holding.
Stockton-on-Tees company Francis Brown is partnering with Teesside University to adopt a more digitally focused approach. As part of this collaboration, the company is recruiting students for digital apprenticeships. In addition, Francis Brown has joined The 5% Club, a UK charity that aims to have 5% of its members’ workforce in ‘earn and learn’ positions. The firm wants to embed contemporary skills and knowledge into its fabrication and engineering service, particularly in the hydrogen and renewable energy sectors to improve employee engagement, training and workflow.
