[November 2024] STC will be hosting the VIP Lounge at the Advanced Engineering Show again in 2025, after successfully hosting the Lounge at 2024’s show, held at the end of October inside the NEC Birmingham. It was the sixth AES in a row that the STC, in partnership with Silverstone Park and Jaltek, had stamped its name on the Lounge – the greatest draw for the show’s 15,000 visitors. “It just gets better and better for our membership,” said Pim. “We have a great relationship with the show organisers and will continue to build on the success for 2025.” One highlight was a visit from engineering/manufacturing media celebrity and former motorcycle racer Guy Martin. “We’d like to thank the show organisers for introducing Guy who visited the VIP Lounge and had conversations with a few of our members,” continued Pim. “Guy always has several projects on the go which require problem-solving – something that our membership is all about. “Some good contacts were made so who knows? Maybe there will be some opportunities with him in the future…” Around 2,000 people visited and networked in the VIP Lounge during AES24’s two days. Eighteen members exhibited in the accompanying STC Innovation Zone and six were also given the opportunity, through the network, to speak and present in well-attended forums. Amongst them was ‘lost-wax’ metal casting company Sylatech which manufactures parts for sectors such as aerospace, defence, medical devices, rail and space. Commercial Director Gordon Gunn said: “Being at the core of the exhibition with the STC successfully delivered a plethora of leads for Sylatech. IP specialist Lucidity also found great value from having a stand within the Innovation Zone. Director Robert Sansby commented: “Having the VIP Lounge right next to us made it convenient if people wanted a more in-depth conversation.

Get ready to experience SHOP TALK LIVE, a virtual event hosted by Hypertherm Associates and designed to provide participants exclusive access to industry experts across cutting technologies, applications, and industries. Featured technologies include: Hypertherm® plasma | OMAX® waterjets | ProNest® & Robotmaster® software Conversation starters: Have you optimized operations to combat a skilled labor shortage? Is your shop making the most from digitization? Do you want to improve bevel, hole, and robotic cutting? Are you leaving money on the table with consumables? Let’s talk! SHOP TALK LIVE will tackle these topics and more with actionable recommendations. What’s on your mind? Submit a question during registration for inclusion in our industry expert’s roundtable.

Founded in 2010 by Mark Crouchen, who brought expertise from Carbon Design and C2 Composites, Rockwood launched with a bold vision: to deliver complex composite components using compression and bladder moulding—eschewing standard autoclave techniques. From a small operation in Devon, the company grew steadily, evolving into a multi-unit facility before consolidating in larger premises in Paignton in 2022. Over its first decade, Rockwood increased turnover tenfold and grew its team sixfold, even amid economic headwinds. Contracts across aerospace, defence, nuclear, and medical sectors helped fuel that momentum. A major milestone came in 2020 with the delivery of 10,000 Eurofighter Typhoon radar-decoy blades in partnership with Leonardo. In 2018, Rockwood earned the Composites UK Innovation in Manufacture Award. In 2022, the company quadrupled its UK production footprint to over 30,000 sq ft, investing in state-of-the-art precision tools including a Hurco CNC machine and Hexagon Absolute Arm. By late 2023, Rockwood expanded internationally, launching a 21,000 sq ft aerospace facility in Morocco, staffed by a team trained in the UK and built into its global growth strategy. In 2024, Rockwood Composites restructured into The Rockwood Group, comprising four divisions: • Rockwood Aerospace • Rockwood Defence • Rockwood Cryogenics • Rockwood SARL (Morocco-based serial production) Now a global player, Rockwood holds EN 9100:2018 certification and pursues ambitious sustainability targets—cutting pre-preg waste by 50% and maintaining zero-to-landfill operations. 15 years on, Rockwood stands as a testament to engineering excellence, sustainable growth, and the passion to solve tomorrow’s challenges—today. “To our team, customers, partners, and community—thank you for being part of our journey. From a single workshop to a global group, I’m proud of what we’ve built together—and excited for what’s next.” — Mark Crouchen, Founder & Managing Director

Stay up to date with the latest and greatest in 3D printing with the Mark3D UK LinkedIn Newsletter: 3D Printing with Markforged. Here you'll see the latest applications in every industry, and new case studies as they are released every month.

In 2025, 3D reverse engineering uses advanced scanners to digitize physical objects with high precision, enabling accurate recreation and improvement of products without original CAD files. Key scanners like KSCAN-X and HandySCAN BLACK Elite offer accuracy up to 0.025mm, supporting complex industrial designs. Software such as Geomagic Design X converts scan data into editable CAD models, while tools like Geomagic Control X ensure quality through precise measurement. This technology accelerates development, reduces costs, and integrates with AI for smarter manufacturing. Companies like PSH Design combine expert Class A surface modeling with reverse engineering to deliver both technical precision and aesthetic quality. Overall, 3D reverse engineering is essential for innovation and digital transformation in industries like aerospace, automotive, and heavy equipment.

Harnessing 3D Scanning for Quality Assurance and Reverse Engineering in Heavy Industry In the heavy industry sector, ensuring the highest standards of quality and precision in manufacturing processes is critical. Traditional methods of quality assurance and reverse engineering are increasingly being augmented or replaced by advanced technologies such as 3D scanning and laser positioning systems. The integration of Creaform’s 3D scanners with Virtek’s Iris 3D laser positioning system exemplifies how these technologies can be combined to enhance manufacturing processes, from initial design through to final quality checks.

Both scanners use structured light technology and are designed to capture detailed 3D data efficiently. They offer target-free scanning, which simplifies the process and allows scanning in more varied environments without the need for markers. This flexibility makes them suitable for a wide range of applications, including reverse engineering, product design and digital documentation. They can also be used for face and body scanning. Their compact size and quick setup help integrate them smoothly into existing workflows, allowing users to focus on capturing accurate, reliable data. 3DeVOK MT Scanner The MT is the more precise of the two, offering up to 0.04mm accuracy. It produces detailed scans and is ideal for projects requiring high accuracy. The MT uses 34 blue laser lines, 22 infrared laser lines and large-area infrared speckle in its scanning technology. 3DeVOK MQ Scanner The MQ scanner provides accuracy up to 0.08mm and supports full-colour capture. It utilises 22-line infrared laser and infrared speckle light with a double field of view. 3DeVOK Airgo Wireless Handle An optional wireless handle is available for both the MT and MQ scanners, offering freedom from cables and enabling scanning in more flexible environments. Adding 3DeVOK scanners to its range allows Manchester Metrology to support a broader variety of projects and budgets. The company already provides high-precision metrology services along with measurement and scanning equipment including portable arms, laser trackers and CMMs. The MT and MQ offer an alternative when detailed colour scanning and portability are essential while keeping costs manageable. Demand for 3D scanning continues to grow, with many businesses seeking equipment that delivers quality results without complex setup or a steep learning curve. Both the MT and MQ strike that balance well, providing professional-level performance while remaining straightforward and cost-effective to operate.

In a history now spanning 75 years, the family business MAPAL has gone from humble beginnings to an international group with a global reputation. From the very beginning, the tool manufacturer’s company history has been characterised by continuity and an innovative spirit that was nourished by Swabian ingenuity and creativity, as well as by the entrepreneurial courage of the owner family Kress. Close contact with customers and a reliable sense for what will matter in future continue to shape the company’s culture to this day. The foundation of the company in 1950 was quite unusual. Dr Georg Kress held a doctorate in economics and was working as a tax advisor when the opportunity came up to take over one of his clients’ companies, which had got into difficulty. Although he knew nothing about technology, threading tools and dies, he bought “OBA Präzisionswerkzeugbau” from Otto Betzler. He sold his successful tax advisory firm in Aalen and became an entrepreneur. The new name for the business, MAPAL, stood for “Maschinen- und Präzisionswerkzeugfabrik Aalen” and is testament to the fact that woodworking machines were also manufactured in the company’s early days. As cost-effective and efficient production of the profile milling machines was not possible in the long haul in the cramped, simple premises on Obere Bahnstraße in Aalen, MAPAL quickly moved away from this area of business. The focus switched to tap drills, thread dies and thread rollers, which marked the beginning of the product range as we know it today. Read more online [Please see website URL above]

While 3D printing is very much part of the manufacturing conversation in 2022, some of our clients are still surprised to discover the possibilities of 3D metal printing. Here’s a quickfire guide, with your most common questions answered.

Application Note: Revolutionise grease testing with Koehler’s Low-Temperature Flow Tester, ensuring accurate, repeatable results with minimal sample size and remote monitoring.

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Traditional, hardware-centric automation systems are struggling to meet the demands of modern industry, constrained by inflexibility, vendor lock-in, and a shortage of skilled engineers. Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Automation Expert offers a transformative, software-defined approach that decouples hardware from software, enabling IT/OT convergence, asset-centric design, and real-time adaptability. This shift delivers measurable business value across the entire project lifecycle—from faster commissioning and reduced downtime to enhanced agility, sustainability, and long-term cost savings.