SHD Composite Materials is celebrating its 15th year as a family owned, independent business and has recently opened a new high-volume manufacturing facility on their UK campus to ensure that SHD continues to remain flexible, reactive and supportive in the future. Excited to enter its 15th year of trading as an independent composite material manufacturer, SHD has always taken pride in supporting all size of customers with high quality prepreg materials. Through increasing production capacity, SHD are future proofing their ability to continue supporting their wide array of customers and bespoke projects, by improving manufacturing efficiencies whilst still protecting the company’s commitment to short lead times. Over the last 15 years, the company has grown considerably into the global business that it is now with 4 sites across Europe and US, as well as the UK campus spanning 5 sites. With 7 fabric prepreg lines, offering material up to 1500mm wide, 2 uni-directional lines and a further uni-directional line under construction, SHD will continue to support global contracts of any size, for all markets and applications. “We are so proud to have reached this milestone as a business! Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the last 15 years, our fantastic teams across the Group and our wonderful customers and suppliers.” Helen and Steve Doughty, Owners of SHD Composite Materials.

SHD Composite Materials has been listed 36th in The Sunday Times 100 Tech, Britain's fastest-growing private technology companies. The company was established by Steve and Helen Doughty in 2009 and is currently celebrating its 15th year of trading. Since its inception, SHD has prided itself on quality, service and innovation, which have all been key to the 44.22% growth the business has seen in the last three years. With 4 sites across UK, Europe and US, and 9 prepreg lines across the group, SHD is set to continue its growth at a similar rate. ‘Steve and I are so proud that the business we began 15 years ago has been recognised in The Sunday Times 100 Tech companies! The growth we have experienced is amazing and is testament to our dedicated teams across the Group. Together with our customers and suppliers, we will continue to embrace our position within the composites market as the leading innovative and independent composite prepreg supplier.’ Helen Doughty, Founding Director of SHD Composites. The Sunday Times 100 Tech, which celebrates Britain’s fastest-growing private technology companies, is supported by Singer Capital Markets, HSBC Innovation Banking, and BDO. You can read more here: Sunday Times 100 Tech 2025 | The Times and The Sunday Times

DynamxMFG’s intuitive shop floor interfaces streamline goods booking, stock tracking, and batch management. With touchscreen and QR code data capture, including QA and part measurements, plus clear work allocation views, the system ensures accurate, efficient production control at every stage. Efficient Goods Booking and Stock Tracking DynamxMFG’s shop floor interfaces simplify the booking of goods into inventory and enable precise picking and tracking of stock locations, ensuring materials are always accounted for. Batch and Kit Management Easily create and monitor batches and kits throughout the production process, maintaining tight control over grouped materials and assemblies. Comprehensive Data Capture Capture essential data at every phase of production using touchscreen devices or QR code scanning, making process tracking fast and accurate. Quality Assurance and Measurements Record QA data and part-specific measurements directly on the shop floor to uphold quality standards and ensure product consistency. Work Allocation Management View and manage work assignments by work centre or specific resources, giving supervisors clear oversight of production workloads and capacity.

Imagine a world where anyone can access the power of simulation without having to be an expert in building computational models. Colleagues in the field would be empowered to make decisions informed by simulation-assisted predictions, factory workers could confidently adjust manufacturing outputs on the fly, researchers could couple experimental data with simulation directly in the lab, and design teams could iterate on ideas faster. Organizations that build and distribute their own apps are able to extend the benefits of simulation-based decision making to more collaborators within the R&D workflow and even to colleagues and customers far removed from it. What follows is effective collaboration and accelerated innovation.

Rockwood's newest addition to our machine shop, a full 5-axis CNC machine, the VMX60 SRTi, will enable in-house machining of complex components and mould tools and significantly increase our monthly production output. Rockwood are excited to put this piece of equipment into full action and have therefore expanded our machine shop personnel in conjunction. Full commissioning, HURCO training, and Software training will all be complete before the start of November 2024!

Ultimate High-Mix Production The ii-N2 platform is the perfect combination of performance and flexibility. Equipped with 2 Tornado heads, this machine offers a large loading capacity while providing the trademark performance expected of Europlacer equipment. Discover our dedicated range to high-mix low volume placing solutions.

At SolarSense, we believe renewable energy should not only reduce costs and cut carbon emissions but also create lasting social value in our communities. That’s why we were delighted to partner with our client, apetito to repurpose more than 150 solar panels, giving them a new lease of life and ensuring they continue to generate clean energy where it’s needed most. Following the installation of a new clean energy system at apetito’s main manufacturing site, including multiple rooftop solar PV arrays, solar carports and totalling more than 2,800 solar panels, SolarSense partnered with the company to ensure the responsible decommissioning of its previous solar panels which were to be replaced with higher wattage modules. Ensuring the previous solar panels didn’t end up in landfill, we worked together to find a meaningful reuse solution that reflects our shared commitment to sustainable leadership and social responsibility. We arranged for the decommissioned solar panels to be donated to South West charity Paul’s Place, dedicated to enhancing the lives of adults with physical, cognitive, and sensory impairments. The contribution will significantly support operations at the charity’s new facility and help to reduce monthly running costs, allowing more of the money raised to go on enhancing the lives of those supported by the organisation. “With over one hundred solar panels going on the roof, we’ll have more money to spend on the members, rather than building facilities. Prior to this, we were looking at electricity bills of £1,200 – £1,500 per month. When you put that across a year, that is a phenomenal amount of money we need to raise to just get us through. Having SolarSense come along and say that we can not only put solar panels on the roof, but provide the scaffolding, inverters and fire kill switches too – and make it all happen – it has an extraordinary impact for us as a very small charity.” Lynda Williams, CEO of Paul’s Place

Solarsense, a Certified B Corporation™ and leading provider of clean energy solutions, has achieved ISO 9001 certification, a globally recognised standard for quality management systems (QMS). This certification marks a significant milestone in the company’s ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional quality and customer satisfaction in the renewable energy industry. The ISO 9001 certification, issued by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), is awarded to companies that demonstrate a consistent ability to provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements, whilst continuously improving processes. Achieving this certification underpins Solarsense’s dedication to operational excellence and its unwavering focus on quality throughout every aspect of its business. ISO 9001 is a globally recognised standard that sets the criteria for a quality management system (QMS). It is based on several quality management principles, including a strong customer focus, the motivation and implication of top management, a process approach, and continual improvement. The road to ISO 9001 certification is a rigorous process, involving a comprehensive audit of Solarsense’s quality management systems by an independent certification body. The certification process examined every aspect of the company’s operations, from product development and supply chain management to customer service and after-sales support. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire Solarsense team. For customers, ISO 9001 certification offers additional assurance of the quality and reliability of the service that Solarsense delivers. In an industry where technological advancements are rapidly evolving, having a certified Quality Management System (QMS) ensures that Solarsense can consistently deliver innovative clean energy solutions, whilst adapting to changing market demands.

Solarsense, a leading provider of renewable energy solutions, has been announced as a finalist in the prestigious South West Business of the Year Awards 2024. Short-listed in the sustainability category, this recognition highlights the company’s ongoing commitment to quality, sustainability, innovation, and its positive impact on the region’s environmental footprint. The South West Business of the Year Awards, known for celebrating business excellence across the region, selected Solarsense for its remarkable contributions to the clean energy sector. The company has played a pivotal role in helping its clients transition to cleaner energy sources, reducing carbon emissions, and promoting energy efficiency. Founded over two decades ago, Solarsense has grown into one of the UK’s most trusted renewable energy companies. The employee-owned B Corporation, specialises in solar PV, battery storage, and other clean energy technologies including solar carports. The company has recently hit a key milestone by completing 20,000 renewable energy installations. In the past 12 months alone, Solarsense has installed more than 24,350 solar panels for clients such as The Crown Estate, Brothers Cider and Museum of London. As a certified B Corp, Solarsense is part of a global community of businesses that meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. They are also legally committed to bringing benefit not just to their shareholders, but all business stakeholders including their staff, customers, communities, and the environment. Managing Director, Stephen Barrett, expressed his pride in the recognition, stating, “Being named a finalist is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire team. Our mission has always been to provide high-quality renewable energy solutions that not only benefit our clients but also have a lasting positive impact on the environment. We’re honoured to be recognised for our efforts.”

SolarSense has officially launched Solar as a Service – a fully funded model designed to make clean energy accessible to more organisations without the burden of upfront capital expenditure (CapEx). Aimed at businesses seeking to cut costs and accelerate their Net Zero goals, the service enables the installation of solar PV, battery storage, and solar carports with no capital outlay, no ownership obligations, and no maintenance responsibilities. Instead, clients pay a fixed monthly fee and can start achieving significant energy cost savings compared to grid electricity from day one. “Installing solar PV is one of the most effective ways to cut costs and combat climate change, however, too often we see businesses delay action because of the upfront investment. Our Solar as a Service model removes that barrier entirely – turning a major capital expense into a predictable operating cost, while delivering all the benefits of clean energy and immediate financial savings.” Chris Ashfield, Sales Director at SolarSense. While CapEx offers the highest return on investment over the lifetime of a clean energy system, it also requires significant upfront capital – funds that could otherwise support critical business activities. From covering operational expenses and hiring staff to driving growth strategies or building emergency reserves, keeping capital free provides flexibility and resilience. For many organisations, this makes funded models like Solar as a Service a more attractive route to decarbonisation without compromising liquidity. That’s why many businesses are exploring Solar as a Service, a fully funded alternative that removes the financial barrier to clean energy. With no upfront cost and a fixed monthly fee, you can start reducing energy bills and carbon emissions immediately, while preserving your capital for strategic investments elsewhere. It’s a low risk, high impact solution that supports both your sustainability goals and your bottom line.

What is SPR-Pathfinder®, and how does it work? To help effectively remove excess powder from complex internal structures, the software uses a build job’s CAD file to calculate the optimal motion sequence for the machine to use. With this ideal path calculated, the powder is able to flow out completely. - SPR-Pathfinder® uses a part’s digital twin to optimise post-processing. - Calculations are based on a flow simulation that analyses this digital twin. - The motion sequence is then read by the Solukon system, which in turn runs the programmed paths. The result? Expert cleaning of even the most complex parts, all in record time and all without any human programming. “In contrast to conventional manufacturing processes, 3D printing uses the part’s digital twin. To date, however, this was only utilised during the printing itself. With SPR-Pathfinder®, the part’s digital twin can now also be used during depowdering. This is how we ensure that the potential of the digital twin can be used to the fullest in post-processing as well,” says Andreas Hartmann, CEO/CTO of Solukon.

Founded in a small village between West Sussex and Hampshire, from where its name derived, Southbourne Rubber (SBR) has been prominent in the manufacture of industrial rubber (precision rubber and silicone components) since the 1970s. With sustainability and renewable energy being hot topics, Southbourne Rubber were keen to lessen their impact on the planet and looked into new ways to achieve this. In 2021, Stephen Wilde visited the Advanced Engineering tradeshow at the NEC in Birmingham, where he came across the Zünd exhibition stand. Stephen said “ I was very impressed with the Zünd Cutter, especially the footprint, flexibility and ability to cut a wide range of materials with just a simple tool change. Furthermore, the Zünd cutter would support our ongoing efforts of reducing our carbon footprint by minimising the amount of rubber and silicone material wastage. The Zünd digital cutting system uses sophisticated nesting algorithms, programmed to maximise material yield, which in return reduces the amount of waste. I decided to follow up with Zund UK and book a product demonstration, so we can test our own materials.”

As part of this new collaboration, Stone Junction will use its expertise in digital PR to generate high-quality backlinks for Arbor Law, which are critical for improving the law firm's position in search. This strategy is designed to move Arbor Law onto page one of search engine results, ensuring that the firm is visible to potential clients searching for corporate legal services online. Since its inception in 2019, Arbor Law has earned a reputation for delivering exceptional legal services and solutions. It has recently expanded from its London base to become an international firm with an office in the UAE and was recently recognised by Legal 500 as a “Firm to Watch”. “Arbor Law has built a strong reputation in the legal world, and Stone Junction are going to help amplify that online,” said Jessica Phillips, director of business development at Stone Junction. “Our approach will push them to the top of search rankings, secure high-quality backlinks and increase their visibility in front of the right audience. We’re committed to making sure Arbor Law dominates the digital landscape and stays ahead of the competition.” “Stone Junction brings exactly what we need — a strategic approach to boost our online presence,” said Dan Adams, founder of Arbor Law. “We’ve made significant strides as a firm, and now it's about translating that success into our digital footprint. With Stone Junction’s expertise, we’re set to strengthen our position and ensure Arbor Law is the first choice for businesses looking for legal excellence.” This partnership reflects Stone Junction's continued growth and its ability to deliver tailored PR solutions that meet the unique needs of its clients. With a focus on measurable results, Stone Junction is set to help Arbor Law achieve its goals and stand out in a competitive market.

A process for the complete machining of stator housings for electric motors developed by the Chemnitz machinery manufacturer NILES-SIMMONS and tool manufacturer MAPAL has made it to series production. Suppliers and OEMs are now using it to produce high-efficiency components designed for drives for battery-powered electric vehicles and hybrid models from major automotive manufacturers. Read more on our website in the link above...