ROUND-UP FEBRUARY 2019
In Brief
Investment
Lucozade factory boost
Japan-based Suntory Beverage
& Food is investing £13m in its
UK-based subsidiary Lucozade
Ribena Suntory, which will
see a new high-speed bottle
filler installed at its factory
in Coleford, Gloucestershire
(pictured below). The new filler
will produce 1.3 million bottles
per day and will be instrumental
in increasing productivity and
efficiency at the site.
LR Suntory
£10m Tayside investment
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon
has announced a £10m boost
for manufacturers in the
Tayside region of Scotland,
covering Dundee, Perth and
Angus. The investment forms
part of a wider £200m plan
for the area, designed to
improve infrastructure and
turn the region into a “global
manufacturing leader”.
New Corolla at Burnaston
Production of the all-new
Corolla has officially started
at the Toyota Manufacturing
UK (TMUK) car plant in
Burnaston, Derbyshire,
following a £240m investment
programme in its UK
manufacturing operations.
“This is a proud day for
everyone,” said TMUK MD,
Marvin Cooke.“This is a real
sign of confidence in the
capabilities of our workforce
and in TMUK as a centre for
world-class manufacturing.”
Seven-figure sum
for York company
A leading York-based
manufacturer is set for
rapid overseas growth
following a sevenfigure
funding boost
from HSBC UK.
York Instruments,
established in 2015,
manufactures medical
brain scanners for
the diagnosis and
treatment planning
of epilepsy and other
brain disorders, as
well as brain tumours
and sporting injuries.
The firm’s core
technology was
originally developed
by members of the
York Neuroimaging
Centre, based at the
University of York.
Three years later,
York Instruments leads
the world in costefficient
and accurate
functional brain
imaging, with scanners
that incorporate
cryogenics, sensors,
electronics and
software.
Already contributing
over £2 million per
year to the region,
York Instruments
anticipates that the
investment will enable
it to boost turnover
and create many new
jobs in the next year.
John Fulford, COO
of York Instruments,
said: “We’re a young
business, so it was
critical that we
secured the necessary
capital to help finance
the build of our new
scanner to meet
customer orders. With
HSBC UK’s backing
we’re ideally
positioned to push
forward with plans to
capture this market.”
People
EEF has appointed Seamus
Nevin as its new chief
economist, replacing Lee
Hopley. Prior to joining EEF,
Nevin was head of policy
research at the Institute
of Directors. He is also a
current or former member of
numerous boards and advisory
groups for trade bodies.
Peter Harvey MBE is
stepping down as chief
executive of the Fork Lift
Truck Association after six
years in the role. He has
been credited with raising
awareness of health and safety
within the materials handling
sector, through initiatives
such as ‘Safetember’.
Energy & Environment
Offshore supply for Wavin
As part of its commitment to
achieving more sustainable
operations, leading
manufacturer of plastic and
clay pipes, Wavin UK, has
awarded its energy contract
to offshore wind specialists,
Ørsted. The new energy
supply will see Wavin reduce
CO2 emissions at its four
sites across the UK by over 13
tonnes each year (see p26).
Highland Spring goes eco
Following a trial period
last June, Scottish water
producer Highland Spring,
has announced that its bottles
will be made from 100%
recycled plastic from this year.
“Increasing our use of recycled
plastic is an absolute priority
for Highland Spring and this
is a hugely exciting step,” said
Highland Spring Group chief
executive, Les Montgomery.
Hot topic
The University of Chester has
launched the UK’s first chemical
engineering degree apprenticeship
programme, in association with the
Institution of Chemical Engineers
Technology
Connected Factory demo
Digital Catapult, Dyer
Engineering and Special
Metals Wiggin have teamed
up on an industry-first project,
called the Connected Factory
Demonstrator, to prove the
potential of leading-edge
networks technologies,
and how they can unlock
productivity, streamline
processes, improve yield
and increase quality control.
Robot tackles skills crisis
The Danish team behind a
revolutionary new robot is
hoping that it can be used to
tackle the UK’s STEM skills
gap. Shape Robotics’ Fable
Spin has been designed to
allow learners of all levels –
from primary school to work
placements and vocational
training programmes – get to
grips with the skills needed
to work with robotics.
University of Chester
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