Supporting Our Distributors

Operating from a brand-new 15,000 sq. ft. facility in Carterton, West Oxfordshire, the company sits alongside JOTA Advanced Engineering and the celebrated JOTA Sport motorsport team – the latter currently marking its 25th anniversary with an outstanding record of 13 podium finishes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans over the past 12 years. This investment marks a significant step forward as JOTA Composites continues to push the boundaries of engineering and manufacturing excellence. Over £2.5 million has been invested in establishing the facility, which features the latest advancements in composite manufacturing and automation technology, according to Managing Director Matt Cox. “It took over a year to bring JOTA Composites to life,” said Matt. “Our investment in state-of-the-art technology ensures we consistently deliver accurate, high-quality results, on time and within budget.” He added, “Zünd is a well-known name in the composites industry, recognised for its precision, accuracy, longevity and reliability, so choosing to invest in a Zünd cutter was an easy decision. We have been really pleased with the support we received throughout the process, including demonstrations and training for our new staff.”

We're extremely proud to announce that the PENNINGVAC series PTR90/225 RN has been shortlisted by the Lab Innovations Awards 2023 in the Best Consumables Innovation category. The Best Consumables Innovation Award is be given to the most innovative lab consumable, whether it is new or redeveloped. "This award recognition is testament to the effort by our R&D team over the past few years, in really understanding the customers needs, and developing a product which is robust and reliable enough for some of the most challenging environments." Said Thomas Cowan, Global Product Manager Instrumentation. The winners will be announced on 1 November 2023 at The Vox Birmingham, after the first day of Lab Innovations and Advanced Engineering at the NEC, where you can visit Leybold on booth P120 and talk all things vacuum! About the Lab Awards Here https://www.lab-innovations.com/lab-awards/ Register for free entry to Advanced Engineering on 1&2 November Here https://www.advancedengineeringuk.com/ Designed from the ground up to be robust, reliable and compact! These gauges are accurate and have a small, compact footprint. They are packed with cutting edge technologies taking them to even higher levels when it comes to measuring vacuum. The active PENNINGVAC series PTR 90/225 RN utilize multiple enhancements to increase the gauges service intervals in harsh applications. This coupled with the ultra-low turn on pressure enabled in the combined sensor leads to a sensor suitable across a wide range of applications requiring rough to high vacuum measurement. Options include various serial interfaces and programmable setpoint relays, making it an ideal transmitter for controlling systems. The all new adaptive LED light ring allows you to understand the live status of your gauge without having to connect it to a readout or controller.

The partnership included the engineering, procurement, construction, and installation of a flexible solar PV system on the rooftop of the 80,000 square foot store. In the first year alone, the solar installation is expected to generate 339,506 kWh of electricity, delivering significant carbon savings.

Anyone working with reinforced materials knows this well: when fiber content exceeds 30%, mechanical properties improve, but problems arise. Surface quality deteriorates, shrinkage becomes unpredictable, and warpage can challenge even the best-engineered designs. In applications like frames, housings, and load-bearing structures, there’s no room for compromise: you need tight dimensional tolerances, aesthetic finishes, and mechanical strength-all at once. To meet this challenge, LATI developed the LATIGLOSS family: structural compounds based on PA6, PA66, and PPA, reinforced with up to 60% glass or carbon fiber, engineered to deliver top mechanical performance without sacrificing surface aesthetics. These are materials for designers working on geometries where dimensional precision is key-and where parts must be reliable, functional, and visually appealing.

MAPAL attaches importance to the production of sustainable tools and this claim also includes accessories and supplementary products. Traditionally made from brass, sealing rings for flanges and adapters are characterised by their high resistance to physical stress and excellent corrosion resistance. Sealing rings are used to manually close the clamping bore on HSK spindles and adapters and protect them against the ingress of dirt. However, like the associated holding screws, conventional brass products contain small amounts of lead, the release of which can have harmful effects on the ecosystem. Consequently, many countries introduced strict regulations to minimise the release of lead into the environment. In response to the REACH regulation - the European Chemicals Regulation for the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals, which regulates the use of lead and imposes an obligation to inform users - MAPAL decided to go a step beyond the legal requirements. The company subjected its products to a critical review and looked for alternative solutions. In the meantime, new production of sealing rings and holding screws has been switched to environmentally friendly materials. During the material changeover, MAPAL also focussed on technical product improvements. Thanks to these, the maximum speed of the sealing rings can be increased by up to 100 per cent. An additional anodised layer applied to the rings, visible through the blue colour, effectively protects them against corrosion. The fatigue strength of the sealing rings is also guaranteed in the new version and remains at the usual high level. The interchangeability of the rings is ensured.

In recent years, the composition of materials used in contact with drinking water, such as brass, has undergone strict regulatory reviews. Traditional copper and zinc alloys, used for valves, taps, and fittings, contain up to 4% lead, a quantity that improves machinability but poses risks of releasing toxic substances. With the upcoming restrictions from RoHS2 directives (July 2026) and ELV3 (2025), the elimination of leaded brass is set to accelerate. This scenario paves the way for alternative materials that combine safety and performance. Low or lead-free brass alloys represent the first alternative to traditional materials. Among these, ECObrass CW724R and CW511L stand out as new benchmarks in the hydraulic and thermosanitary sectors. However, reduced lead content makes machining, particularly milling and turning, more challenging. An increasingly popular alternative to lead-free brass is represented by glass fiber-reinforced thermoplastic compounds certified for drinking water contact.

Very high radiation tolerances and flexible remote operation Accordingly, the TURBOVAC iR was designed for flexible remote operation from 3 m up to very long distances. In all aspects the products were also designed to resist the challenges which are present in environments with high to very high ionizing radiation. "For this, we offer special cable lengths of up to 200 meters, and also the option for the users to use their own cables," explains product manager Petr Lastovicka According to Lastovicka, the iR models were developed using the existing material knowledge of the research community: As a result, the materials they contain have radiation tolerances of up to 1 million grays (Gy). In combination with the ion getter and non-evaporable gettter pumps, so called ultra-high vacuum pumps, "These attributes set them apart from standard market models, which are meeting the market requirements but not specifically those needed for the particular conditions encountered in research centers," says Petr Lastovicka. This is different with the TURBOVAC iR product series: on the one hand, they were developed for the special requirements regarding cable length and radiation tolerance. "In addition, we can offer the TURBOVAC iR pumps combined with our ion pumps and NEG pumps, which other suppliers cannot offer as a package," adds Petr Lastovicka. TURBOVAC iR fits perfectly well in the TURBOVAC i eco systems as other products such as accessories or the software LeyAssist can be utilized as well. Requirements of the high-energy physics market. The bottom line is that the new iR models are designed to meet the technical requirements of the high-energy physics market. This makes them predestined for applications such as synchrotrons (particle accelerators), cyclotrons (circular accelerators), linear accelerators and free-electron lasers. "In these areas, users can remove the electronics and place them in areas where they are not exposed to radiation," explains Lastovicka.

Leybold UK has opened a newly extended service facility in Chessington, UK, offering a comprehensive in-house service for the SCREWLINE dry screw pump range, along with the capability for the larger dry pumps. This expansion means customers will no longer need to ship pumps overseas for service and maintenance, thus reducing transport costs, lowering environmental impact, and improving lead-times, meaning a better-quality service for customers throughout the UK. This is the only certified facility in the UK for the Leybold SCREWLINE range. To ensure consistency in standards UK engineers have completed extensive hands-on training at the Leybold Service Technology Centre in Dresden, Germany, working along time-served engineers who have service the SCREWLINE range for many years. In addition, the new service line in Chessington has been designed to maximise productivity and efficiency in accordance with Leybold’s high quality standards, with only genuine parts and tools used and backed with a full 12-month warranty. SCREWLINE is a dependable backing pump, installed across a range of demanding and harsh environments, including the areas of vacuum furnace, aerospace, composites, and the production of Li-ion batteries for electric mobility. “It’s an exciting time for the Leybold UK Service team, as well as customers,” explains Erik Vosselman, Business Line Manager, Service. “As a manufacturer of vacuum pump equipment, we are now able to offer local service support across the range of Leybold dry pump ranges, including DRYVAC, LEYVAC and VARODRY, as well as SCREWLINE, making us the partner of choice when it comes to vacuum repair and maintenance in the UK.” "With this new fast and efficient service, major servicing can now be carried out within ten days at our own on-site facility in Chessington, using genuine OEM parts,” adds Paul Carroll, UK Service Manager, “quick response and minimal down time is also ensured by our exchange pool of pumps.”

Vacuum equipment manufacturer Leybold shortlisted for Employer of the Year 2023 Recognising our commitment in making Leybold a “Great Place to Work” Leybold UK, who are based in Chessington, UK, have made the final shortlist for Employer of the Year Award 2023 of the Composites UK Trade Association. The award for Employer of the Year is designed to acknowledge and celebrate employers’ commitment to developing their workforce through apprenticeships or training. The Industry Association wishes to recognise the effort being made by companies investing in their employees and being committed to developing their workforce. Companies entering this award should demonstrate evidence in: -Commitment to in house or external training. -Identification of training needs. -Internal appraisals and goal setting for employees. -Links to education establishments securing apprentices/trainees. "The nomination alone recognises the beginning of our journey in becoming a great place to work," says Sarah Cogswell, HR Manager. “We promote a culture of lifelong learning, continuous feedback and self-development to enable people’s potential. All employees have a ‘mission’ (which includes performance and development goals) and take part in our Performance Enablement cycle.” Focus areas over the past 12 months to make Leybold a “Great Place to Work” include: Development of our early careers framework and outreach plan with local colleges, and we currently have two engineering apprentices and one digital apprentice within the business. Embed continuous development framework into the appraisal system where individuals are responsible for their own personal growth. A commitment to 40 hour of self-requested learning per year The winner will be announced at the Awards Dinner on 1st November 2023, taking place at the National Motorcycle Museum. The event coincides with the Advanced Engineering Show at the NEC, where customers can meet with the Leybold team on booth P120.