OCTOBER 2019 ROUND-UP
Did you hear... The best soundbites from around the industry
“This is a serious situation for the industry. We’ve had a zero tariff on
imports to the United States for the past 25 years, so this is quite a hike.”
Karen Betts, chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Association, comments after
single malts were among some of the products targeted with new US import tariffs.
Pic of the month
“Young people increasingly want make a difference, but unfortunately the lack
of understanding around engineering is stopping them being able to do this.”
After a report finds that 76% of young people don’t know what an engineer does, Hayaatun
Sillem, chief executive of the Royal Academy of Engineering, says things must change.
Leading performance brake and caliper manufacturer, AP Racing, has opened a new multimillion
pound, state-of-the-art, semi-automated production line at its facility in Coventry.
The new line offers flexibility in product manufacturing across seven workstations, all of
which can be configured according to individual customer requirements. It is able to produce
20 families of calipers, incorporating more than 100 different part numbers in a matter of
minutes. “The new caliper line allows us to meet evolving customer demands, while still
providing the same unrivalled support to our race and performance customers worldwide,”
explained David Hamblin, managing director of AP Racing. “Our new semi-automated
capabilities deliver flexibility, quality and traceability throughout AP Racing calipers. With
Industry 4.0 around the corner, considerations to implement a second, similar line are already
in place, as we anticipate greater and greater demand from the OE sector for our calipers.”
Welsh home
for INEOS 4x4
Bridgend has been
named as the home of
INEOS Automotive’s
new 4x4 project,
named Grenadier.
The vehicle will be
built in a brand new,
bespoke factory on a
greenfield site (below),
which will initially
employ 200 people,
and a further 300 in the
long-term. Production
is due to begin in 2021.
The company is also
developing a subassembly
plant in
Portugal to supply parts
to the Bridgend site.
INEOS Automotive
is part of the INEOS
Group, which is owned
by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the
UK’s richest person.
He said: “We have
looked long and hard at
possible manufacturing
locations for Grenadier
across the world with
lots of good options
to choose from. The
decision to build in
the UK is a significant
expression of
confidence in British
manufacturing, which
has always been at the
heart of what INEOS
stands for.”
Flogas offers carbon offsetting to customers
LPG supplier Flogas Britain
has unveiled its latest Carbon
Offsetting Scheme following
the UK’s legally binding
commitment to reach net-zero
carbon emissions by 2050.
With pressure now mounting
for manufacturing businesses
to take more accountability for
their carbon footprint, Flogas’
scheme gives them the chance
to offset up to 100% of their
carbon impact from using gas, by
providing much-needed support
for conservation and renewable
energy projects that directly
benefit the environment.
An internationally recognised
way to manage carbon emissions,
businesses who participate in
the Carbon Offsetting Scheme
will purchase carbon credits
based on their gas consumption,
which in turn are used to
offset unavoidable emissions
created during their day-to-day
operations. Each carbon credit
will support an environmental
project by capturing or reducing
one equivalent tonne of CO2e
that otherwise would not
be captured.
“Companies that are
actively leading the way
and planning for climate
change with initiatives like
this, are setting themselves
apart, and ahead of the
competition,” said David
Taylor, head of corporate
affairs and innovation at
Flogas. “It’s an excellent
opportunity for savvy
business owners keen to
get ahead of the curve.”
Prova/Luke Bull
www.manufacturingmanagement.co.uk 7
INEOS Automotive
/www.manufacturingmanagement.co.uk