Smart Machines & Factories

The Government will be investing £147m in the Manufacturing Made Smarter challenge to transform UK manufacturing capabilities through the development and adoption of Industrial Digital Technologies (IDTs).

As we work to manage our emergence from the in-the-moment quest for survival that characterised the height of the pandemic, our politicians must turn their minds to the longer-term view and, crucially, how to rebuild the British economy. Dick Elsy, CBE, chief executive, HVM Catapult, reports.

Sheet metal firm Salamander Fabrications has partnered with Siemens Mobility and The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) to undergo an environmentally friendly project that will transform its operations to become entirely paperless.

As we enter the Autumn and industry, the economy and the political world emerges from the late summer break all eyes will be on how far the recovery is becoming entrenched or whether there remain many long months ahead. Stephen Phipson, chief executive of Make UK, the manufacturers' organisation, comments.

Having been given the green light to go ahead by the Government, the forthcoming co-located events; Smart Industry Expo, Plant & Asset Management, Drives & Controls, Fluid Power & Systems, and Air-Tech Exhibitions – will return to Birmingham’s NEC between the 25th -27th January 2021, alongside MACH.

Having been given the green light to go ahead by the Government, the forthcoming co-located events; Smart Industry Expo, Plant & Asset Management, Drives & Controls, Fluid Power & Systems, and Air-Tech Exhibitions – will return to Birmingham’s NEC between the 25th -27th January 2021, alongside MACH.

Having been given the green light to go ahead by the Government, the forthcoming co-located events; Smart Industry Expo, Plant & Asset Management, Drives & Controls, Fluid Power & Systems, and Air-Tech Exhibitions – will return to Birmingham’s NEC between the 25th -27th January 2021, alongside MACH.

Now in its 12th year, the prestigious Make UK Awards acknowledge and reward the extraordinary work of the UK manufacturing sector. The 2020 Make UK Awards seek to recognise leading lights within the manufacturing industry, looking for those apprentices and businesses that have made significant contributions across the industry.

The go-ahead for SPS 2020 in Nuremberg, Germany from 24th - 26th November 2020 has been given the green light after the Bavarian Government has approved the protection and hygiene concept for exhibitions in Bavaria.

Mike Wilson has been appointed as Chief Automation Officer at The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC).

MTC Training is launching its first fully online certificate in 3D printing or additive manufacturing, designed and endorsed in partnership with world-leading experts from the National Centre for Additive Manufacturing.

In a survey of UK cyber security, IT and business professionals, 86% of businesses expect cyber threats to increase over the next 12 months. The survey, commissioned by WatchGuard Technologies, also reveals that 44% of organisations have experienced a cyber attack over the last year – and alarmingly, another 11% either didn’t know, or were unsure whether they had been targeted.

The Coventry-based Manufacturing Technology Centre has partnered with advanced robotics manufacturer Tharsus to support the roll-out of cutting-edge wearable technology which will help social distancing in the workplace.

The UK Government has confirmed it has given the green light for trade exhibitions to go ahead from October this year.

Young engineers at Siemens have become part of manufacturing history after playing a major role in the record-breaking ventilator challenge.

The Manufacturing Technology Centre Training has made a range of online courses available free of charge to SMEs in the Liverpool City Region during the COVID-19 crisis. The virtual resources will support the development of organisations’ workforces during the pandemic as employees in the region adjust to new ways of working.

Food and beverage manufacturers of all sizes are facing huge operational challenges right now. Emma Ryde reports.

Two funding competitions for Britain’s most innovative businesses to come together to develop world-leading digital technologies to boost supply chain productivity and resilience to turbo-charge the COVID recovery, have been launched by Made Smarter and UK Research and Innovation.

The biennial co-located events; Smart Industry Expo, Drives & Controls, Fluid Power & Systems, Plant & Asset Management, and Air-Tech Exhibitions, which will be taking place between January 25th-27th 2021, alongside MACH, is on track to potentially be the largest UK manufacturing event in a generation.

Made Smarter, the movement helping SMEs join the Industry 4.0 revolution, has reached a major milestone having now funded more than 100 businesses.

Car manufacturer Honda was recently attacked by a cyber attack, which affected its ability to access its email and internal systems. The attack was felt across its entire global network, with experts widely suggesting it could be the work of the “Ekans” or “Snake” ransomware strain, designed to attack industrial control systems networks.

Car manufacturer Honda was recently attacked by a cyber attack, which affected its ability to access its email and internal systems. The attack was felt across its entire global network, with experts widely suggesting it could be the work of the “Ekans” or “Snake” ransomware strain, designed to attack industrial control systems networks.

One in three UK adults see a key role for the use of robotics in tackling the COVID-19 crisis and future pandemics, recent research has highlighted. The public poll, commissioned by the EPSRC UK Robotics and Autonomous Systems (UK-RAS) Network, which has been released as part of the annual UK Robotics Week, which returns for its fifth year from 22nd – 28th June 2020. 



Now in its 12th year, the Make UK Awards acknowledge and reward the extraordinary work of the UK manufacturing sector. The 2020 Make UK Awards seek to recognise leading lights within the manufacturing industry, looking for those apprentices and businesses that have made significant contributions across the industry.

Manufacturing Technology Centre Training has collaborated with Aston Business School to provide an MBA degree tailored for the development of leaders in manufacturing organisations of all sizes and sectors.