In brief

Webtec, the Cambridgeshire-based manufacturer and distributor of hydraulic equipment, has acquired the assets of H&C Hydraulic Components. Webtec is now manufacturing products previously supplied by H&C under brands including Johnson Fluid Power, JFP Products and B&G. These products include cartridge valves, control valves, diverter valves, and lever- and solenoid-operated slice valves.

Large sections of UK factories are standing idle with 74% of UK manufacturers working below capacity - the highest figure since January 1983 - according to the CBI`s latest quarterly industrial trends survey. In the four months to January, 31% of firms saw a fall in orders, while 22% saw a rise. Some 30% of firms are less optimistic about business than they were four months ago and the CBI predicts that 42,000 manufacturing jobs will be lost in the first quarter of 2003.

Mitsubishi Electric has formed a team of motion control experts to support customers in areas such as standards, mechanics, networking and system integration. The team, which has more than 100 engineer-years of motion application experience, will help customers to avoid potential problems and will deal with issues such as interpreting machine dynamics.