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The government says it is keen to push engineering and manufacturing as part of the UK’s economic recovery, so toolmakers need to step up and prove the worth of these sectors, says Peter Barnes, a director at the GTMA 18 January 2012

Havant-based Formaplex, a supplier to the motorsport, automotive and aerospace industries, has ordered two DMU100U monoblock five-axis machining centres from DMG (UK). They will be installed in May 2012 to assist the company in meeting short-lead-time deliveries. 12 January 2012

Petford Tools, a specialist toolmaker for plastic injection, compression and composite moulds, has reported 15% annual growth for 2011 after landing a string of new orders from the automotive and agricultural sectors. 16 December 2011

The GTMA is to hold a series of regional Toolmakers’ Forums – a series of informal meetings designed to offer toolmakers an opportunity to discuss issues with the association and receive advice and feedback. 5 December 2011

The European Commission has praised the results of a European Union (EU)-funded initiative aimed at boosting the competitiveness of European mould manufacturing. 1 December 2011

Bayer MaterialScience is planning its next free annual course for UK schoolteachers in polymers and polymer processing. 31 October 2011

Scientists have unveiled a piece of kit that will improve the design and processing of plastics and has been nine years in the making. 16 September 2011

Politicians should roll up their sleeves and become business buddies to local small firms, according to the prime minister David Cameron. 15 September 2011

Energy costs and supply plus the state of the economy are issues that will be debated next month at a BPF event designed to help plastics companies make the most of 2012. 15 September 2011

The Maurice Ward Manufacturing Division, part of the overall Maurice Ward Group, is expanding in central Europe with new facilities in the Czech Republic and Hungary. 16 August 2011

Blackburn-based Partwell has invested in an SCM Accord 40 Prisma five-axis CNC machining centre with 3D CAD software from AlphaCam. 13 July 2011

The award-winning GoCycle electrically assisted bicycle is cited as “the world’s lightest production two-wheeled electric vehicle.” It was developed partly using the Protomold process provided by Proto Labs, rapid injection moulding service with a UK facility at Telford. 17 June 2011

A family-run Polish manufacturer of plastics moulds is planning to establish a new production plant in Kraków. 18 May 2011

PET tooling and services specialist R&D/Leverage reports accelerated demand throughout Europe for single-stage PET tooling. The company’s UK operation has achieved four consecutive years of double-digit growth and has increased its manufacturing capacity by 40% in the last year alone. 20 April 2011

North American injection machinery maker Husky Injection Molding Systems said today (10 March) it is to acquire Austrian closure mouldmaker KTW. 10 March 2011

• Plastics recycler seeks cross-party support for industry 1 February 2012
• ECO Plastics wraps up a £1.15m investment 2 February 2012
• Dow earnings hurt by Performance Plastics unit 3 February 2012
• Petainer’s ‘greenest ever’ refillable bottle 2 February 2012
• Door opens to natural fibres in PUR 3 February 2012

more

• Eastman buys Solutia for $3.4bn 30 January 2012
• Welsh plastics recycler in administration 3 February 2012
• British Vita sells its Elian business for €48m 31 January 2012
• Superfos doing a super job for RPC Group 30 January 2012
• Dow additive keeps PC from scratching 1 February 2012

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