Process news in brief: sector recruitment, expansions, training, appointments, contracts

It also saw a record number of mature students, local enrolments more than double, its first international students and a rise in RPEL (Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning) uptake – allowing career changers to use work experience instead of A Levels for entry

NMITE, which opened in 2021 with 27 students, now offers four accelerated degree programmes and expects to reach almost 200 students enrolled across cohorts this year.

Its first graduates this year secured jobs with Balfour Beatty, KIER, Mondel?z International and Oakwrights. President and chief executive of NMITE James Newby, said: “This year’s enrolment proves there’s real demand for our skills-based approach."

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ABB’s new manufacturing and R&D facility in Nottingham, aims to expand research and development and production of the company’s earthing and lightning solutions. The £27 million investment is intended to address growing demand from customers for protecting data centres, buildings, renewable energy systems, and communications and transportation hubs.

The new c.95,000 sq. ft. manufacturing and R&D facility is an estimated 35% larger than the previous local ABB office and factory, which operated for over 130 years. The R&D, lab and testing site, along with a collaboration area and dedicated section for ABB’s Furse Surge Protection Device (SPD) product range, will become a global centre of excellence for lightning protection technologies, developing new solutions as safety and performance requirements continue to evolve.

ABB has more than 20 manufacturing, distribution and operational facilities across the country, with 1,700 employees.

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Dawn Ohlson took up office this month as the 155th president of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) succeeding business leader Sir Warren East.  

Vice president of engineering at Ultra Cyber, Dawn brings over three decades of global experience in Systems Engineering and technical leadership, including senior roles at Thales and Northrop Grumman. An Oxford graduate, she began her career in avionics and rose to become Engineering Director at Thales Avionics UK. Ohlson is a recipient of the?WISE Excellence Award?and the?First Women Award for Engineering.  

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WERiT, a leading manufacturer of plastic packaging solutions, has opened its expanded production site in Irlam, Greater Manchester following an £8 million investment.    

The investment has delivered a 3,000 m² warehouse extension, a two-storey 860 m² office complex and state-of-the-art blow-moulding machinery. The expansion increases the total site footprint by 40.    

Production capacity has been increased with a MAGIC all-electric multi-layer blow-moulding machine, new moulds for 5L and 10L canisters, and automated packing and palletising systems to improve efficiency and reduce manual handling. Employee numbers have increased from 50 to 59, with further recruitment planned

WERiT supplies clients across the food and beverage, chemical and petrochemical sectors. Customers include KTC Edibles, Regus Sugar, Kerry Ingredients, GreenChem, Tetrosyl, and Autosmart.        

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The British Compressed Air Society has developed what it says is the UK’s first independent performance verification programme for 50 Hz rotary compressors in the European market.

The programme, which is supported with a new website,  produces datasheets which provide a uniform and commercially practical means of comparing compressor performance claims during the specification and buying processes.  

BCAS says this ensures that all compressors under consideration are measured using the same standards, claims BCAS allowing performance comparison including differences in power rating, pressure and energy consumption.

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Basingstoke College of Technology (BCoT) and Thames Water have opened the doors to a new training facility.

The Thames Water Engineering Room will teach practical skills such as bench fitting, hand skills, and various other core engineering techniques.

The result of a five-year partnership between the college and the water company, it provides immersive, hands-on training 100 of the firm’s apprentices currently studying at the college.

Thames Water and BCoT developed a curriculum to meet the specific operational needs of the water and wastewater services provider.

Tess Fayers, waste and bioresources director at Thames Water, said: “This facility is where theory transforms into hands-on experience, giving our apprentices the critical skills they need to ensure we can deliver life’s essential service for years to come. It is the perfect celebration of our five-year partnership with BCoT.”

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Precision Micro has been contracted to supply etched stainless-steel filters for a leading German brand’s high-end appliance line, with production set to begin in November.  Filters will be integrated into subsystems in Germany before final assembly by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM).

The filters replace previous versions manufactured from plastic to ensure long-lasting reliability. Each is made from 100 microns-thick stainless steel and contains hundreds of perforations, all of which must meet precise alignment and geometric accuracy, with annual output expected to reach around half a million units.

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The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) hosted more than 250 senior leaders, engineers, and technologists from across the UK to Coventry for the second edition of Digital Manufacturing 2Day.

Oragnised by MTC Events, this year’s conference and exhibition brought together more 30 expert speakers and 25 sponsors, exhibitors and event partners, including headline sponsor Sage, plus Siemens Digital Industries, Dell Technologies, Tecman, Agility Cyber, Make UK and HVM Catapult.

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Manchester-based paint manufacturer HMG Paints has officially opened its new department dedicated to boosting its water-based production.

Named after its former production director, The Len Hutton Centre investment coincides with the business’s 95th anniversary and is projected to increase capacity by an estimated 50,000 litres per month.

Operated by six staff members, it is equipped with 12 high-efficiency mixers and a dedicated washout facility and is designed serve as a hub for developing and manufacturing innovative, water-based coatings for a range of markets.

"This is a huge honour, having a department named after myself makes me feel my name will truly live forever at HMG” said Hutton, who began his career in production at HMG in 1974, before establishing the HMG colour laboratory, before becoming production director and retiring in 2021.

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Phil Colquhoun will head up engineering consultancy NIRAS’s process industry operations in the UK to lead its team of consultants and engineering specialists across food and beverage, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, and green fuels. 

He joined Lorien Engineering Solutions 25 years ago as a project manager, becoming managing director before the acquisition by NIRAS. 

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Pics: (clockwise from top left) Thames Water/BCoT, WEREiT, Precision Micro, HMG Paints