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The latest industry business and manufacturing news brought to you by Works Management magazine. For in-depth features by topic check out the Features Directory. Archived news stories can be found via the news library or the search facility. You can also subscribe to the Works Management RSS News Feed. 
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Finalists announced for 2010 Best Factory Awards
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02/09/2010
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| The final shortlist has been announced for manufacturing's most rigorous and prestigious awards programme, the Best Factory Awards, run by Cranfield School of Management in partnership with Works Management magazine. Contenders for the 2010 Awards are plants producing goods as diverse as magnets for MRI scanners, soot blowers for power stations, pastry products, car seats and fire alarms.
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Latest data reveals slower pace to manufacturing recovery
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01/09/2010
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| Closely-watched industry data released today (1 September) shows UK manufacturing's progress out of recession stalled last month and one expert is warning that a reluctance to invest could further hinder the sector's speed of recovery. |
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Aga looks to processes to counter weak demand
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27/08/2010
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| Aga Rangemaster, the upmarket cooker maker, said today (27 August) that against a background of consumer cautioun about committing to larger value purchases, it did not expect a substantial profit rebound.
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Spirax-Sarco Engineering steams ahead
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24/08/2010
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| Steam systems specialist Spirax-Sarco Engineering reported improvements in sales and profits and said today that it had seen an improvement in trading conditions although Europe's recovery remained "fragile and mixed". It had made good progress implementing a global manufacturing strategy which is expected to yield cost savings that will begin in 2011 and build to full savings of about £4 million a year in 2012. |
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Goodwin bridges revenue gap
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23/08/2010
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| The metal castings and engineering specialist Goodwin plc said today (23 August) that it had managed to maintain profitability during the current year despite an overall drop in sales revenue that will nevertheless be boosted by two large machined casting contracts for bridge construction in the US and Norway worth around £12 million.
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Growth sustained in manufacturing technology
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23/08/2010
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| The level of orders and sales in the manufacturing technology sector was maintained in July although the level of customer enquiries and the value of orders have fallen slightly.
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TT fortunes rise on the back of reorganisation and improving markets
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19/08/2010
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| TT electronics, which supplies leading manufacturers in the defence, aerospace, medical, automotive and industrial electronics markets, today (19 August) announced a substantial hike in sales and a return to profits on the back of a major reorganisation and improving markets.
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Tanfield reduces losses as markets stabilise
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18/08/2010
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| The Tanfield Group which makes aerial work platforms and reckons to be the recognised world leader in commercial electric vehicle technologies today (18 August) reported reduced losses and said that, after "an extremely turbulent two years", some of its markets were beginning to stabilise.
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Manufacturers urged to make Olympic torch bid
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17/08/2010
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| West Midlands' manufacturers are being urged to leave their unique mark on the Olympic Games by bidding for a chance to be involved in the design, development and production of new torches for 2012.
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Experts get to grips with safe maintenance
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16/08/2010
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| The manufacturers organisation EEF, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the TUC are joining forces to tackle what they agree is one of the major causes of serious injury in manufacturing. The organisations have joined forces to run a series of events around Britain to provide expert advice and help as part of the European Safe Maintenance Campaign.
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Renishaw buys stake in laser specialist
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13/08/2010
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| The engineering technologies company Renishaw has acquired a 29% stake in York-based Measurement Devices Ltd (MDL), in a deal which the acquirer says will help MDL fund its expansion in the fast-growing global eye-safe laser measurement technology sector.
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Companies urged to put engineers on the board
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13/08/2010
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| The traditional focus on financial, legal and accountancy qualifications and experience within UK company boards is not enough to avoid business disaster, according to a report from SMF the Sainsbury Management Fellows' Society (SMF). The Society is urging HR directors to consider professional engineers with business qualifications and experience as an attractive complementary skill base for board positions.
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Geely reneges on cab fare share
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12/08/2010
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| Manganese Bronze, the leading manufacturer of the distinctive London black taxi, announced today (12 August) that its Chinese manufacturing partner, Geely Automobile Holdings, was pulling out of a deal whereby it was to take part in a share placing that was set to raise new funds.
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British made machinery heads for Haiti
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11/08/2010
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| A Lincolnshire-based engineering firm is playing a major role in helping to re-build Haiti following the devastating earthquake that destroyed much of the country in January.
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Manufacturing is ‘star of the UK economic show’
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11/08/2010
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| Latest official figures monitoring the heartbeat of British manufacturing have been hailed as underlining the sector's current position as "the star of the UK economic show". The newest, June, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed total manufacturing output increasing by 4.1% compared to the same month a year ago and by 0.3% over May.
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Forklift safety: managers ‘often weak link’
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11/08/2010
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| Many managers know less about forklift truck safety risks than the employees they supervise. That's the claim from the Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA), whose chief executive David Ellison says that busy managers are "too often the weak link", lacking the necessary awareness to implement and enforce safe working practices.
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Cable in the North East to promote green energy
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05/08/2010
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| Business Secretary Vince Cable (pictured) was in the North East today (5 August) at Corus, where he announced a £4.6m funding package from the Tees Valley Industrial Programme (TVIP) for 14 projects in the region. Of this, £1.3 million will help develop Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in the region.
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Cobham resilient in face of fragile market
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05/08/2010
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| The aerospace specialist Cobham increased its order book to £2.5bn in its first half year to 30 June and said it had introduced a new 'excellence in delivery' programme with approximately two year payback from one-off costs of some £130-£150m.
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Unilever continues to assume slow economic growth
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05/08/2010
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| The fast moving consumables giant Unilever today (5 August) said that market growth in developed economies in which it traded remained depressed although there was evidence of strong growth in emerging markets but negative pressure on prices in all regions.
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Good progress at Smith & Nephew
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05/08/2010
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| Medical devices manufacturer Smith & Nephew today (5 August) reported good progress across the group, announcing enhanced sales and profits during the second quarter and first half of its financial year.
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Tidal turbine to light the Thames
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05/08/2010
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| A small proportion of the Thames is to be illuminated using power generated by the flow of the river itself, as Kingston University tests prototypes of a new hydroelectric turbine design.
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