º  Sir Anthony Cleaver has been appointed chairman of the Engineering and Technology Board (ETB), succeeding Dr Mike Howse, who has been chairman since Sir Gareth Roberts died. Sir Anthony is a former chairman of IBM UK and the UK Atomic Energy Authority.

º  The Manufacturing Technologies Association has sold all of the space for next April’s MACH show, which runs at the same time the Drives & Controls Show at the Birmingham NEC. More than 400 exhibitors have booked stands for the show that will be more than 1,000m² bigger than the last show in 2006.

º  EEF, the manufacturers’ association, has announced managerial changes designed to improve the service it offers to its almost 6,000 member companies. From January 2008, director-general Martin Temple will take on the new role of chairman, enabling him to oversee a restructuring of the EEF and the development of its business operations. A new chief executive will be recruited.

º  Dudley-based Revolvo has invested more than £700,000 in new machining equipment that will allow it to produce bearings with outer diameters up to 1.5m. The Wyko subsidiary says it will also be able to deliver large bearings in 36 weeks or less.

º  A team of four managers has bought the Sheffield heavy lifting gear manufacturer, Mechan, from its founder, Tony Hague, who is staying on as chairman. The new managing director is Richard Carr, the company’s former business development director.