Sales have increased for more than half the West’s small to medium-sized West manufacturers over the past six months, with just over a third also experiencing an increase in inquiries and orders. The upbeat picture emerges from the Manufacturing Advisory Service’s latest Barometer, which also reveals a slight rise in the number of companies...
Logistics group Howard Tenens, which has major operations in Swindon, has reinforced its commitment to cutting carbon emissions and operating in a sustainable way by buying 36 dual-fuel trucks this year. The vehicles, which use compressed natural gas (CNG) and diesel, are among 42 new trucks bought this year by the group. Their arrival...
Bosses at Wiltshire manufacturer Avon Rubber today said their strategy to accelerate investment in new products, technologies, systems and people was paying off as they unveiled significant increases in revenues, operating margins and profits. Annual pre-tax profits at the Melksham-based group, best known for its respirators, increased to £14m from £11m on revenues up...
Swindon’s rapidly-recovering industrial property market has received a major boost from Network Rail, which has signed a deal to occupy one of the town’s largest vacant warehouses. The railway infrastructure group, which owns and manages the UK’s rail network, is to use the 150,000 sq ft building on the town’s Groundwell Industrial Estate as...
GWP, the packaging group based in Cricklade, has launched a new division to meet increasing demand for specialist Correx packaging. A lightweight-but-durable ‘corrugated’ polypropylene sheet material, Correx is also chemical and water resistant. As a result it has become the material of choice for packaging in sectors ranging from automotive to construction and is...
Swindon interior door manufacturer Vicaima has supplied its products to one of London’s largest housing regeneration projects. The Portuguese-owned firm, which makes a range of doors at its Greenbridge factory, was chosen by Sussex construction firm Rydon to supply 520 doors for new homes on the 1960s Packington Estate in Islington. Some 538 flats...
BMW unveiled its third generation Mini yesterday at a glittering launch – the result of a £750m investment across its three UK plants including introducing world-class innovative manufacturing processes to its Swindon factory. Millions of pounds have been spent upgrading the Swindon pressings plant, which will make nearly all the body panels for the...
A £75m fund has been launched to challenge UK automotive firms to come up with engine technologies that will make cars more energy efficient and ultimately change the way we drive. The scheme, launched by Business Secretary Vince Cable, is aimed at helping UK businesses make and test low-carbon technologies that will keep the...
The campaign to promote Swindon as a prime location for advanced engineering businesses and expertise is stepped up a gear today when it exhibits at a major trade show. Forward Swindon, the council’s economic development company, is showcasing the town at the Advanced Engineering Show at the Birmingham NEC today and tomorrow. More than...
An ambitious action programme has been launched in Swindon is to position the town as the UK’s centre of excellence for hydrogen technology. The potential of the ‘energy of the future’ will be harnessed in a wide range of initiatives spanning the use of hydrogen to power fork-lift trucks in the town’s warehouses and...
