As the UK’s leading provider of dynamic balancing solutions, we offer a comprehensive service, ensuring that whatever your balancing requirement, we can deliver. From high-performance machines to dedicated local support, our expert team is here to help optimise your operations.

Bringing together the power of additive manufacturing and CNC post-processing in one machine has helped Rapid Fusion secure a prestigious award – for the second year running. The ‘AM’ specialist beat off strong industrial competition to win the Hardware – Polymer Systems title at The TCT Awards in Birmingham recently, impressing judges with the exceptional power-to-weight ratio of its new hybrid robotic cell. Named ‘Zeus’, this model gives clients the opportunity to enjoy the sped of 3D printing with the precision of subtractive machining – all in one 6-metre x 6-metre cell. The innovative electro spindle is integrated into the robot and is ideal for producing high-quality moulds across a range of industries, such as automotive, aerospace, construction and marine. Martin Jewell, Chief Technical Officer at Rapid Fusion, commented: “To win this award once is some achievement, to retain it a year later is off the chart for everyone connected with the business.

Welding is a common and critical process for manufacturers across a wide range of industries. Unfortunately, welding generates fumes that expose welders to serious health risks and must be controlled in an effective and safe method to protect the welder. Read more by visiting the website.

What does the future of manufacturing look like? Find out by reading Atlas Copco's "The Road to the Smart Factory". This whitepaper discusses the challenges that face manufacturing and assembly across all industries, when attempting to create more productive, quality assured and sustainable processes. Download the pdf and read about Smart Integrated Assembly, the ecosystem of assembly technologies, software and data analytics that is helping our customers achieve their production goals.

Robot adoption in the UK, especially within Industry has been very slow in comparison to other countries globally. This is partly due to complexity of set up, but a lot comes down to integration, health and safety and the costs that are associated with that. However, the world’s attention is now focused on a future that is guided by the concepts of ‘Industry 4.0 and a move towards an automated factory and is something that can’t be ignored. To address this slow adoption of automated technology within UK Industry, MSL has developed the Robo SCAN-R for manufacturers, to help facilitate organisations take their first steps into automation and automated metrology and inspection. We believe that using the universal robot and a portable workstation is the most cost effective way forward to increase Robot adoption. The Robo SCAN-R is an integrated solution utilising the Creaform HandySCAN with a 6 axis Universal Robot. This new ‘off-the shelf’ solution is completely integrated with a specially designed portable workstation, inclusive of rotary table. Our vision for the Robo SCAN-R is to offer OEM’s, Tier one, Tier Two and SME’s access to automated quality control, at an affordable price. Simplicity in application is also of paramount importance, thus integration with the UR (UR5e, UR10e, UR16e) collaborative robot, allowing part programming in minutes. This adaptable solution seemed to be the most logical way forwards to meet our initial objective whereby we can make automated metrology and inspection more accessible, but still have the flexibility of manual intervention.

In today’s precision-driven industrial landscape, 4K UHD imaging in manufacturing is driving a revolution in how defects are detected, products are inspected, and quality is assured. Delivering four times the resolution of standard HD, this advanced imaging technology provides superior detail, vibrant colour accuracy, and the visual clarity needed for industries like aerospace, electronics, and medical device production.

Matthew Judge and Ollie Rosen join the Matta team in London. Matt will oversee software development while Ollie will lead the charge on AI R&D.

Another successful WEAF Cluster event, generously hosted by Airbus, brought together industry professionals for an exclusive look behind the scenes at some of the ground breaking work taking place on the Wing of Tomorrow testing program. With a strong turnout, attendees — including Kathryn Crouchen from Rockwood — had the opportunity to witness first hand how Airbus is pushing the boundaries of aerospace innovation through cutting-edge research in composites, carbon fibre, and advanced materials. The event highlighted the collaborative spirit driving the future of flight and showcased the technologies shaping tomorrow’s skies.

2024 was a year of great innovation for CMS Advanced Materials, with the launch of cutting-edge technologies that have redefined standards in the advanced materials fabrication sector. NEW ANTARES MK3: MORE PRECISE, MORE RIGID AND STILL VERSATILE Presented at the Open House in October, the new antares mk3 was designed and developed to meet the increasingly demanding needs of our customers and their markets. Antares mk3 has an even larger work area, while retaining the size of the previous model. The monobloc structure of the machine was improved and stiffened, together with the beam and the Y-carriage, while the cross-section of the Z-axis was increased to 340x340 mm. These improvements ensure greater rigidity and long-term precision. NEW KREATOR A3: THE TECHNOLOGICAL EVOLUTION LAYER BY LAYER At the FormNext trade fair in Frankfurt, CMS presented kreator a3, an innovative solution dedicated to large format additive manufacturing (LFAM), 3D printing for thermoplastic polymers. Featuring an extrusion unit with a capacity of up to 30 kg/h and capable of vertical, 45° and horizontal printing, kreator a3 represents the perfect balance between performance, efficiency and flexibility. With antares mk3 and kreator a3, CMS Advanced Materials continues to push the boundaries of innovation, offering cutting-edge solutions to optimize productivity and respond to market challenges.

57 trainees started their training at MAPAL at the beginning of September and can now look forward to an interesting and instructive time in the company. The young talents have chosen traditional careers with excellent future prospects. 49 of the 57 newcomers will learn a technical profession, such as cutting or industrial mechanic, mechatronics engineer, machine and plant operator or metal technology specialist. There are also five prospective industrial clerks, a warehouse logistics specialist and two IT specialists. At the beginning of October, three university graduates will begin a dual bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or industrial engineering. Experienced, full-time trainers will look after the young people over the next two to three and a half years and will actively support them on their way into their careers. Thanks to state-of-the-art training facilities and proven training concepts, the young people receive optimal qualifications. In addition to the main plant in Aalen, MAPAL 2023 is training in the competence centers in Altenstadt, Ehrenfriedersdorf, Pforzheim, Winterlingen and at the Rugby location in England. Around 300 young people worldwide are currently preparing for their position in the MAPAL Group. Getting started will be made easy for new trainees this year too. During onboarding on the first day of work, they learned a lot of interesting information about the training and the company. Afterwards we went to one of the training camps or to a team event together with the trainers and human resources managers to get to know each other.

As engineers, precision and efficiency are key when it comes to diagnosing issues and maintaining equipment. Traditional inspection methods often require physical access to components, making it challenging to detect hidden faults before they cause serious failures.

On October 30 and 31, 2024, over 9,800 engineering and manufacturing professionals flocked to the NEC, Birmingham, to attend the 15th edition of Advanced Engineering. Across the two days, visitors witnessed the very latest that the industry had to offer, with over 400 exhibitors showcasing their innovations. The exhibiting companies included representatives from Atlas Copco, Optimas, Airtech Advanced Materials and RS Group. Several leading industry associations also had a presence, such as Composites UK, Innovate UK, the GTMA and the National Composites Centre. Advanced Engineering’s co-located sister show, Lab Innovations hosted a further 200 exhibitors, meaning visitors had access to an even wider array of professionals from the scientific community. One exhibitor, James Watson, a regional director for Make UK Defence said, “This is our first time exhibiting and we’ve been blown away. We didn’t know what to expect, but the interest has been incredible. Our stand hasn’t stopped — we’ve seen a lot of existing members, along with a flood of new ones, and we’ve gathered dozens of actionable leads in one morning.” Visitors included representatives from Airbus, Dyson, JLR, McLaren and Rolls-Royce, plus many more. The event had several features, new and returning, to keep attendees busy across the two days. This included the return of the Enabling Innovation zone — an area for start-ups and SMEs to showcase their cutting-edge technologies. On the second day, Enabling Innovation exhibitors were invited to pitch their company and technology to a panel of judges, including representatives from Innovation DB and Innovate UK. Dream Big Composites was crowned with their winner, with its composite smart vacuum system — a groundbreaking IoT device that automates the critical monitoring and control of vacuum pumps to prevent leaks and thermal runaway in composite manufacturing.

At Rockwood Composites, we are proud to play a part in shaping the future of aviation through our contribution to the VX4 program. By supporting Vertical Aerospace in the development of this ground breaking electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, we’re helping to bring to life a new era of clean, efficient, and sustainable air travel. The VX4 represents a major step forward in how people could one day move seamlessly between cities and regions—without the noise, emissions, or congestion of traditional transport. Listening to Tim speak about the VX4 was both inspiring and energizing. His vision for the future of short-range transportation—one that is not only more sustainable but also faster and more accessible—underscores just how far the industry has advanced in recent years. From design to deployment, it's clear we’re on the cusp of a transportation revolution. And he even shared a personal touch—where he’d love to take his very first flight in a VX4. It’s moments like these that make the work we do feel even more meaningful. 🎥 Don’t miss the full interview below to hear more about the VX4’s journey and how electric aircraft are redefining the skies.