LET’S CATCH UP
OPEN MIND APPOINTS NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR
OPEN MIND Technologies UK has appointed Ken Baldwin as Managing Director. Baldwin, previously Sales Director, has over 20 years’ experience with the company and will lead UK operations, focusing on business growth and market development. OPEN MIND provides CAD/CAM and MES solutions, including hyperMILL® for precise component machining and Hummingbird MES for seamless digital production integration. Serving industries such as motorsport, aerospace, and medical technology, the UK team comprises 18 experts. Baldwin says, “Our goal is to demonstrate how hyperMILL® and Hummingbird MES enhance manufacturing efficiency and workflow integration.”
RAPID FUSION JOINS £700K MARITIME DESIGN OVERHAUL
UK manufacturers face a triple hit to energy bills, the Confederation of British Metalforming (CBM) has warned. From October, Balancing Services Use of System (BSUoS) charges rise to £1.569p/kWh, followed in November by the Nuclear RAB levy to fund Sizewell C, and Ofgem’s R110- ET3 framework in 2026, projected to increase transmission costs by 100%. CBM President Stephen Morley said many downstream firms - heavy energy users excluded from government relief - could see costs double. With UK electricity already 50% higher than Europe, the CBM is urging urgent intervention to avoid plant closures and safeguard the competitiveness of British engineering. CBM WARNS OF ENERGY COST SHOCK FOR MANUFACTURERS
Rapid Fusion, a UK leader in robotic 3D printing, will deliver the manufacturing element of a £700,000 project to revolutionise vessel design. The Exeter- based firm joins Compute Maritime, BYD Naval Architects, Siemens Digital Industries Software and the University of Southampton on the UK-funded Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition. The consortium’s GenDSOM initiative combines generative AI, simulation, optimisation, and advanced manufacturing to cut design costs by 10%, accelerate cycles by 20% and boost efficiency 50%. Rapid Fusion’s Apollo system will 3D print hydrofoils for a crew transfer vessel, supporting decarbonisation targets and reshaping shipbuilding with scalable, production-ready solutions.
www.openmind-tech.com
DUGARD ANNOUNCES STRATEGIC RESTRUCTURING TO DRIVE GROWTH
UK machine tool distributor Dugard has streamlined its leadership into a three-director team: Eric Dugard, Sales Director Colin Thomson, and Managing Director Jamie Young, all active in daily operations. The move replaces a complex 14-shareholder structure, enabling faster decision-making and agile market responses. Customer service has been enhanced through unified technical and operations oversight, while supplier partnerships are now more collaborative, focusing on end-user solutions. Dugard has also added high-end Zopo machining centres to its portfolio. The restructuring positions the company for accelerated growth, improved operational efficiency, and ambitious future investment in technology and talent.
www.rapidfusion.co.uk
www.thecbm.co.uk
www.dugard.com
PP C&A TAPS GLOBAL LEADER TO DRIVE EXPANSION
CITIZEN MACHINERY OPEN HOUSE TO SHOWCASE ADVANCED MACHINING TECH Citizen Machinery’s Open House returns this year with a bold demonstration lineup. Attendees can expect the debut of 4-axis simultaneous machining, alongside three new Miyano lathes on show: the ABX-80THY3, BNJ-51SY7 and BNX-65MSY2. Also on display will be a BNA-42SY5 equipped with automation, plus the third-generation Cincom L20-LFV series, first launched in Bushey in April. Each machine will feature LFV (Low Frequency Vibration), now in its eighth anniversary year. The event promises engineers and manufacturers a close-up look at tomorrow’s precision machining capabilities. www.citizenmachinery.co.uk/open-house
PP Control & Automation (PP C&A) has appointed Pinaki Banerjee as CEO, with Tony Hague stepping into a commercial- focused role. The move supports the firm’s ambitious growth strategy, including expansion into Central Europe and North America through acquisitions. Backed by Ardenton Capital, PP C&A aims to double revenue to £70m by 2027. Banerjee, formerly CEO of Rubix’s Central Eastern Europe operations, brings extensive global experience and a track record of M&A success. His mission: scale the company internationally while cementing its UK operations as a world-class manufacturing hub.
www.ppcanda.com
8
9
Powered by FlippingBook