MACH visitor registration now live

With just a few months to go before the doors open to MACH 2018 at the NEC in Birmingham, the team behind the exhibition has announced that visitor registration is now live.

MACH 2018 takes place on 9-13 April and will be located in a new home on the atrium side of the NEC, in Halls 17, 18, 19, 20, 6 and 7. This is the first move of the show since relocating to the NEC when it first opened in 1976 and reflects the changing technologies that the show covers. Visitors are invited to register early for their entrance pass and fast-track entry pack on the MACH website.
For further information www.machexhibition.com

XYZ awarded safety accreditation

XYZ Machine Tools has been awarded accreditation from third-party accreditation scheme Alcumus SafeContractor for its excellence in health and safety in the workplace, an award which is used and recognised by SMEs and FTSE 100 companies across UK. In gaining the award, XYZ Machine Tools had to prove that it met Alcumus SafeContractor’s rigorous standards in health and safety management.

Gemma Archibald, director of Alcumus SafeContractor, says: “More companies need to understand the importance of adopting good risk management in the way that XYZ Machine Tools has done. SafeContractor plays a vital role in helping clients to meet their compliance needs, while working with their contractors as they progress through the accreditation process.”
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

Kiwa appoints Dugard as UK agent

Dugard is the new exclusive agent throughout the UK and Ireland for Kiwa Machinery. Based in Nabari, Japan, Kiwa manufactures horizontal machining centres which feature a tool changer and multi-pallet system that is upgradable from a two-pallet, 120-tool machine to a six- or eight-pallet machine with 220 tools. This gives customers the necessary flexibility to meet any future expansion needs without having to buy a completely new machine.

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Featuring rapid traverse speeds (up to 80 m/min on the KH-400 model) as well as direct drive (up to 15,000 rpm) and built-in (up to 20,000 rpm) spindle options, Kiwa machines feature a patented hybrid slideway design that combines roller and boxways. A compact footprint is another attribute, at just 1.6m wide for a HMC with 500 x 500 x 500 mm travels (Kiwa KH-4100) in the X, Y and Z axes.
For further information www.dugard.com

RBS facilitates MBO at Fife Fabrications

Fife-based precision sheet metal manufacturer, Fife Fabrications, has secured a seven-figure funding deal from Royal Bank of Scotland to assist the company in undertaking a management buy-out.

The company will now be owned and operated by its four remaining directors John Penman, Craig McIntosh, Steven Smith and Roberto Morris, after they were supported by RBS to purchase the business from majority shareholder, Archie Smith, upon his retirement. As well as the recent funding support, Royal Bank of Scotland has also assisted the company in creating and implementing a three-year business plan.
For further information www.rbs.co.uk/corporate

Solving the UK’s productivity puzzle

SME manufacturers are looking for productivity gains from their workforce and existing equipment ahead of investment in automation, according to the latest National Manufacturing Barometer. The quarterly survey, which is conducted by SWMAS in partnership with Economic Growth Solutions, asked over 280 manufacturing industry leaders how they plan to increase productivity at their business.

Just 43% of respondents said they are planning to invest in new equipment and only 40% are planning to recruit to meet future increases in sales – the lowest recruitment figure the Manufacturing Barometer has reported since 2013. Despite this, an overwhelming majority of firms (61%) reported an increase in sales over the past six months, while 59% are confident this trend will continue.
For further information www.swmas.co.uk/knowledge