S Lester packages up major investment and record sales with a name change and new brand

Aug 3, 2021

Demand for moving goods around the country and a boom in home shopping has seen a Burntwood manufacturer report a 150% increase in sales during the pandemic. S Lester Packing Materials, which employs 45 people at its two sites in Staffordshire and Nuneaton, has used its expertise in corrugated boxes, large format, heavy-duty cases and bespoke packaging to help clients in the automotive,...

PP C&A targets training boost with investment in Bright Sparks initiative

Jul 19, 2021

One of the UK’s leading strategic manufacturing outsourcing specialists has signalled its intentions to ramp up investment in its recently launched Bright Sparks University (BSU). PP Control & Automation, which works with 20 of the world’s largest machinery builders, is offering all of its 230 employees the opportunity to engage with in-house learning and development programmes, covering...

Alucast casts the dye with new £200,000 investment in testing capability

Jul 15, 2021

Delivering a single-source manufacturing solution for aluminium castings is helping a Black Country foundry bounce back from the pandemic. Alucast, which employs nearly 100 people at its factory in Wednesbury, has secured a number of new wins with major carmakers thanks to its ability to provide simulation, casting, machining and the latest testing facilities. The latter has been strengthened...

UK’s charge towards electrification could lead to huge ‘reshoring’ opportunity

Jul 13, 2021

The UK’s drive to become a world leader in electrification is set to create a major ‘reshoring’ opportunity, according to a new report. In Charge, a Protolabs-backed survey of 200 senior executives from the European battery industry, has revealed 84% of UK companies are looking to bring parts of their supply chain closer to their manufacturing base over the next 12 months. The desire to localise...

Manufacturing Assembly Network leads industrial fightback with £10m sales boost

Jul 8, 2021

A leading UK manufacturing collective is setting its sights on a £10 million sales boost after seven of its nine members reported being back to or above pre-Covid levels. The Manufacturing Assembly Network (MAN), which works together to win new contracts and share best practice, has secured a string of contracts across automotive, electronics, medical and renewables following the easing of...