LCA moves to new facility

Electrical engineering specialist LCA Group is looking ahead to a sparkling future after the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for the Economy Ken Skates joined staff and management to open its new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in North Wales.

LCA HQ opening visit by AM and Lord LCA HQ opening visit by AM and Lord Barry Jones. LCA HQ unveiling new machinery visit by AM Ken Skates and Lord Barry Jones at their Hawarden plant.

Skates cut the ribbon at the new building on the Hawarden Industrial Park, which is named ‘Gibson House’ in tribute to the famous Dambusters pilot and the many Lancaster bombers built close to the site, near Hawarden Airport, during WWII.
LCA managing director Alan Sheppard and David Williams, who chairs the LCA Group board, spoke about the firm’s future and its commitment to North Wales business at the event, which was also attended by Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami, as well as regional business leaders.
The launch event was rounded off with a chance for the invited guests to view LCA’s new £500,000 ‘UK first’ 3D laser machining centre from Rittal. As the only one of its type in the UK and one of only seven similar machines in the world, the laser machining centre will enable LCA Group to dramatically boost production of its stainless steel control panels.
Traditionally made manually by experienced electrical engineers, who have all been retained as part of the move to Hawarden, the manufacture of LCA’s control panels is essential in a range of industries, including nuclear, food manufacturing, power generation, water and utilities, oil and gas, and pharmaceutical.
The relocation will mean the consolidation of the two existing LCA Group sites – in Runcorn and Ewloe – under one roof, enabling the company to significantly expand its service offer to customers around the globe.
For further information www.lcacontrols.co.uk

Seco sets date

The annual ‘Inspiration through Innovation’ manufacturing best-practice event staged by Seco Tools UK will this year take place at the company’s technology centre in Alcester on 9-10 October.

Inspiration through Innovation will host 40 exhibitors, a full seminar programme, a series of best-practice tutorials and 18 machining demonstrations. All technical partners, representing machine tool builders, and CADCAM, work-holding, cutting fluid and metrology specialists, will be directly involved in at least one machining demonstration. The event is free of charge.
For further information www.secotools.com/ITI

ITMG launches

A new consortium of like-minded companies has been launched to boost UK manufacturing’s productivity and competitive advantage.

The In-Comm Training & Manufacturing Group (ITMG), a not-for-profit organisation, has been created to give SME manufacturers access to world-class technology, and business and learning support that can bridge the skills gap, increase R&D, help drive continuous improvement and embrace Industry 4.0. Over 140 members have already signed up to receive discounted access to 100 up-skilling training courses and networking events, and access grant and funding opportunities.
For further information www.in-comm-tmg.co.uk

Honorary degree for Rolls-Royce chief

A leading figure at one of the UK’s most distinguished engineering companies, and a former director general at the Ministry of Defence, has received an honorary degree for his outstanding contribution to aerospace.

Paul Stein, chief technology officer at Rolls-Royce, joined around 1000 postgraduate students from more than 100 countries receiving their degrees from Cranfield University last week. Stein is responsible for ensuring Rolls-Royce’s investment in technology is closely aligned with the company’s business strategy. Prior to commencing his current role in April 2017, he spent seven years working in a variety of other leadership roles at Rolls-Royce.
For further information www.cranfield.ac.uk

Wele names new agent for the UK

Whitehouse Machine Tools has been appointed, with immediate effect, as the sole UK sales and service agent for the full range of machine tools manufactured by Wele Mechatronic.

Founded in 2007, the Taiwanese firm produces vertical and horizontal machining centres with X-axis strokes up to 2500 mm, B-axis and trunnion-type five-axis machining centres with up to 4 m travel in X, large bridge-type mill-turn centres with capacities up to 16 x 5 x 1 m, horizontal borers, and both horizontal- and vertical-spindle turning centres. Whitehouse has already sold a Wele AA1165 vertical machining centre to a UK manufacturer of split valves for the pharmaceutical industry.
For further information www.wmtcnc.com