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Rubix buys Matara to strengthen its mechatronics arm

The industrial distributor Rubix UK has acquired Matara UK, the Gloucestershire-based supplier of industrial automation, linear motion, pneumatics, aluminium extrusion and actuator products and services.

Gresham buys Relec for $4m to boost its presence and capacity

Gresham Worldwide has acquired the Dorset-based power electronics and display technology specialist, Relec Electronics, for around $4m, with potential performance-related payments of up to $665,000. Gresham plans to combine Relec with its Salisbury-based subsidiary Gresham Power Electronics, which designs and manufactures power electronics for the industrial and naval markets, with the aim of boosting its presence in the UK and Europe, and augmenting its manufacturing base and specialist product lines.

UK motor developers benefit from £92m vehicle programme

UK companies working on novel electric motor technologies are to receive millions of pounds of funding as part of a £92m government/industry scheme to accelerate decarbonisation of the automotive sector and to help achieve net-zero emissions. A total of 49 projects will receive investments, coordinated by the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC).

Mitsubishi sets up UK support network for larger drives

Mitsubishi Electric UK is setting up a network of Drive Solutions Centres (DSCs) to support large-capacity low- and medium-voltage VSDs (variable-speed drives). Initial partners in the network include Total Automated Solutions in North Yorkshire, Lawrence Electrical Contractors in the East Midlands, Newton Tesla in Cheshire and Engineering Systems & Projects in East Anglia.

ABB opens UK drives workshop and moves support to Daresbury

ABB has opened a dedicated UK Drives Service Workshop (DSW) in Coalville, Leicestershire which, it says, will result in faster VSD repairs. The company has also has moved its VSD (variable-speed drive) customer services team from Aberdeen to its UK head office in Daresbury, Cheshire, with the aim of improving response times.

Becker is Schneider’s new president for UK and Ireland

UPDATED: Kelly Becker has been appointed Schneider Electric’s zone president for the UK and Ireland, succeeding from Mike Hughes, who is moving to a new global position overseeing Schneider’s Digital Customer Experience, Digital Marketing and Global Sales operations.

Innovation hubs will help manufacturers to go digital

The High Value Manufacturing Catapult and the Made Smarter movement are setting up a network of innovation hubs that will help UK manufacturers to cut the risks of implementing new digital manufacturing systems in their businesses. The pilot scheme will allow them to test projects and early-stage technologies in a safe, industry-like environment with expert support.

37% of manufacturers think recovery will take at least a year

A survey of almost 200 UK manufacturers has revealed that more than a third (36.8%) believe it will take then longer than 12 months to return to normal trading, with more than a quarter (26.8%) thinking it will take 6–12 months. Just 26% of companies expect to be at full operating capacity by the start of 2021.

Digital skills helped UK manufacturers to survive Covid

When the Coronavirus pandemic struck, British manufacturers adopted digital technologies rapidly, with nearly half switching to digital working practices within two weeks of lockdown, according to new research published by the manufacturers’ organisation Make UK, and Sage. Within a fortnight, 94% of the 208 companies surveyed said they had staff working from home in industries often associated with manual tasks and a high proportion of production-based work.

Trio enters servodrive market with ‘lowest-cost’ 64-axis system

The UK-based motion control specialist, Trio Motion Technology, has entered the servodrive market for the first time with a drive and motor package that, it says, will make it faster and easier for OEMs to apply its high-performance Motion Coordinator motion controls. It adds that combined with its free Motion Perfect 5 software, it now offers the lowest cost-per-axis motion control for 64 axes.

Variohm adds US magnetic encoder specialist to its group

UK-based Variohm Holdings has acquired the US magnetic sensor and encoder manufacturer, Phoenix America, for an undisclosed sum. The deal will give Phoenix a marketing platform in Europe, while Variohm’s five existing European-based group members – Variohm EuroSensor, Herga Technology, Ixthus Instrumentation, Heason Technology and Positek – will gain an American sales and support channel for their sensor, measurement and motion control products.

Control Techniques rebrand aims to end confusion

The Welsh drives-maker Control Techniques has launched a new identity aimed at clearing “confusion” in the marketplace about the company. CT, which is owned by the Japanese group, Nidec, has also launched several new products including: its largest-ever drive; a dedicated pump drive; a series of I/O modules that allows drives to manage applications without needing a PLC or Scada system; and a new version of CT’s Motion Made Easy servo control suite.

5G in manufacturing project goes live in Bristol

The first phase of a pioneering project to assess the potential benefits of 5G wireless communications for UK manufacturers, has gone live with the switching on of a private industrial 4G network at the National Composites Centre (NCC) in Bristol. The installation – part of the Government-backed 5G-Encode project – will establish a baseline using existing 4G technologies before a second phase, using 5G, goes live next year. The performance of the two technologies will then be compared.

Talking Industry tackles automation in post-Covid era

DFA Media, the publisher of Drives & Controls and its sister magazines Smart Machines and Factories and Plant & Works Engineering, has announced the second in its Talking Industry series of live, digitally broadcast panel discussions with leading experts from the industrial, automation and manufacturing sectors.

UK manufacturing output rises for fourth month in a row

The UK manufacturing sector continued its recovery from the Coronavirus-induced downturn during September. Output and new orders increased as new work intakes improved from both domestic and overseas markets, according to the latest seasonally adjusted IHS Markit/CIPS Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI).