News: MTL Group joins Norwegian Windcluster

MTL Group Ltd has become the first UK company to join Windcluster Mid-Norway, a group of around 40 businesses and research facilities working together to advance industrial and technological development using wind energy.

The contract-manufacturing specialist is placing itself at the heart of the Norwegian wind energy industry as it expands and relocates from its current premises in Sheffield to a new 300,000 sq ft advanced manufacturing facility in Rotherham.

As a global supplier of secondary steelwork, MTL Group handle multi-million pound contracts for customers who manufacture large offshore foundation structures for the offshore and renewable energy sectors.

They specialise in high strength steels and are a major supplier of boat landing systems, nacelle bed plates, transition decks and plate girders. MTL is supplying the Ormonde Offshore Wind Farm that is currently being built in the Irish Sea, 10km off Barrow-In-Furness.

Constant investment in new equipment means that MTL ha a wide range of facilities including laser, plasma, waterjet and profile cutting and the largest machine can cut up to 20m long x 3.2m x 25mm thick.

Earlier in the year, the group acquired dockside facilities at the port of Blyth with a view to producing large structural fabrications and loading them straight onto vessels and barges. The facilities provide the capability to supply fabrications in excess of 100 tonnes.

Mid-Norway has significant expertise in the offshore industry and has become home to G.E. as they move into the renewable energy industry, in addition to experienced partners, such as Aker Solutions.

Darren Taylor, Business Development Manager at MTL Group said: "We are very pleased to be part of the windcluster and proud to be the first company outside of Norway to be members."

MTL Group website
Windcluster Mid-Norway website

Images: mtlgrp.com

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News: Burgess Commercial show that quality counts

The commercial property market in 2010 has shown that quality counts for Burgess Commercial, Rotherham's only firm of Chartered Surveyors specialising exclusively in commercial property.

Well-positioned industrial units offering convenient accessibility to the motorways and principal transport links and / or offering quality accommodation have proved to be popular.

Burgess Commercial has recently agreed the sale of an industrial unit of 20,000 sq ft on Meadowbank Industrial Estate. This estate offers almost immediate access to Junction 34 of the M1 motorway and is a well-established industrial location.

During the year a number of lettings have been achieved on nearby Aspen Court, which is now fully let. The Templeborough development not only comprises modern quality units, but also benefit from excellent accessibility once again for the motorway network and the centres of both Rotherham and Sheffield.

To the north-west of Rotherham there is an abundance of vacant industrial accommodation at Barbot Hall Industrial Estate, which ranges from small nursery units to large distribution centres. Recently, a unit of 80,000 sq ft has been sold to a nearby occupier as part of an expansion program. Smaller units have also been let consistently throughout the year within this estate.

Burgess Commercial has also had success in Rotherham town centre, helping both independent and national retailers to take units.

Neil Keally, Director at Burgess Commercial said: "In the vast majority of cases in order to achieve a letting it has been necessary to adopt the use of flexible lease terms, rent-free periods and other in-going incentives.

"There are signs of improvement in the commercial market but we anticipate 2011 is likely to be similar to the past 12 months, with another year of hard work ahead."

Burgess Commercial website

Images: burgesscommercial.co.uk

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News: Prize-winning students show their metal

Six students on the AEM Futures programme run by NAMTEC in Rotherham have become prize-winners thanks to Rotherham-based INOX Solutions.

The undergraduates, Tomas Katafiasz, Lucy Smith, Adam Jones-Bradburn, Peter Halls, Nick Carrier and Saffiya Osman, were chosen from over 20 competitors as winners of the "AEM Futures 2010 Design & Innovation" project for their unique Bespoke Barriers system.

A high-class alternative to common fabric, their innovative solution for use in bars and restaurants is set for trials across Yorkshire before going into production in early 2011.

Having been placed in a dozen different companies by skills and development organisation, AEM Futures, the student competitors were given just four weeks to identify, design and demonstrate a new application for stainless steel.

The teams then presented their ideas to INOX Solutions Managing Director, Nick Cowley, who had the difficult task of choosing one winning group.

"The standards were extremely high," said Nick, "and the level of research and presentation were very impressive. We liked the simplicity of the Bespoke Barrier idea and the details that the group had gone into to prove there was a market for it."

With prototyping and product development already underway, the new designs will be manufactured by INOX Solutions, who currently supply the infrastructure, medical, security and petro-chemical sectors.

To celebrate their success the group were invited to a prestigious awards evening hosted by the Sheffield Metallurgical and Engineering Association and Special Metals Forum at the Cutlers Hall, Sheffield. Dr. Alan Partridge, Chief Executive Officer of NAMTEC, the National Metals Technology Centre, presented the awards and congratulated the group on their exceptional efforts.

Dr Partridge said: "The team deserve all the plaudits. They are a great example of the innovation and skill of young people entering our industry. Our remit is to help businesses invest in new talent to ensure we remain competitive in world markets, and this is a great way of showing what can be achieved. The team have a bright future."

Inox Solutions website
AEM Futures website

Images: aemfutures.com

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News: Bramall helps Rotherham residents benefit from retrofit

Rotherham residents have become some of the first in the country to benefit from thousands of pounds worth of eco-friendly refurbishment works, thanks to 2010 Rotherham and Bramall Construction.

Six council homes in Wath Road, Brampton Bierlow have been given an overhaul in order to improve their energy efficiency and drastically reduce carbon emissions, as part of a government pilot project.

Work carried out on the six properties has included improvements to insulation, using sustainable products such as paper and wood fibre, and the installation of photovoltaic panels and solar thermal tubes to generate electricity and hot water.

Residents have also benefitted from technology including mechanical ventilation systems, which greatly improves air quality, and high performance double and triple glazed windows.

Residents Shirley and Melvyn Dalton, who have lived in their home for 38 years, said: "We have already noticed a real difference with the heating and level of noise. It's almost like having a new home! We're looking forward to seeing how much of a difference the work will make to our energy bills, particularly during the winter months."

Funding for the £150,000 project came from the £17m "Retrofit for the Future" competition, which was launched by the Technology Strategy Board in early 2009 with the aim of bringing existing housing up to excellent environmentally friendly standards by reducing carbon emissions by 80%.

The project in Brampton is one of 86 that received funding to showcase innovative, environmentally sustainable housing. Bramall was the only contractor in Yorkshire to be selected.

Neil Baxter, Managing Director at Manvers-based Bramall, said: "We are delighted to have been involved in the delivery of this programme in the town.

"It's great that Rotherham is leading the way when it comes to ensuring that its existing housing contributes towards meeting the Government's carbon emissions reduction targets."

2010 Rotherham's Interim Chief Executive Graham Eades said: "The six Brampton Bierlow homes were chosen as the style is typical of the majority of Council properties. Following the completion of our Decent Homes programme this month, we are committed to ensuring that homes are kept to decency, and this includes keeping properties free from damp with efficient heating systems. This scheme will go a long way to trialling new ways to do this."

Bramall are working to make retrofit projects affordable and are already pioneering sustainable new build properties. They are already building zero carbon homes to Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes for less than £130,000 and have worked on one of the UK's largest zero carbon developments in Slough, Berkshire.

Bramall recently become a founder member of the Passivhaus Trust and is working on site to build what are thought to be the first rural Passivhaus accredited homes in the UK at Wimbish, Essex.

Rotherham 2010 website
Bramall Construction website

Images: bramall.com

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News: Strong performance from Bromley Technologies

Team Bromley's athletes, Shelley Rudman and Kristan Bromley have had a strong first half of this year's FIBT Skeleton Bobsleigh World Cup competition.

With six medals between them from a potential eight, they are both placed second in their respective overall World Cup standings.

The athletes performance has contributed to an unprecedented level of orders for runners and sleds from other athletes and international teams, and currently Bromley Technologies supply 15 nations from their base at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham.

Mike Maddock, COO of Bromley Technologies said: "The results from the first half of the year have been excellent, and show the consistent high quality of the Bromley equipment supporting our athletes.

"Although we exceeded our R&D targets in getting our athletes and also a number of clients to Vancouver in February, it was tinged with the disappointment of not topping what had been an amazing season by winning a medal at the [Winter Olympic] games.

"It's pretty much a case of "situation normal" now, collecting all of the British medals so far this year, and showing that the Bromley equipment can perform well on all tracks across the world. It is great to have both Shelley and Kristan currently standing as second in the world rankings, as this is a great tribute to the technology and athlete partnership.

"We have great hopes for the remaining part of the season and delivering on this year equipment R&D programme and we are over the moon that Shelley and Kristan are happy with the support being delivered by our team.

"In addition to our Team Bromley athletes, Shelley and Kristan, we have had a very good year with commercial sled sales and it's great to see our customers performing well on the World Cup, Intercontinental and Europa Cup tours."

Bromley Technologies website

Images: Bromley Technologies

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News: Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership names board

Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership has named the six private sector representatives to join the Vice Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University and the local authority leaders of the city region to make up the board.

Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) are the government's new model to promote economic development. The intention is that LEPs will provide the strategic leadership required to set out local economic priorities, and better reflect the natural economic geography of the areas they serve.

The Sheffield City Region was given the green light to establish one of the UK's first Local Enterprise Partnerships in October.

The former Master Cutler and current chairman of Finance Yorkshire, James Newman was named as chair last month. He will be joined by Philip Bartey of The Adsetts Partnership Ltd, Nigel Brewster of Sewell Moorhouse, Simon Carr of Henry Boot Construction, David Grey of the OSL Group, Chris Scholey - the former MD of Rexam Glass and Renaissance South Yorkshire and Lee Strafford - the co-founder of PlusNet PLC and former chairman of Sheffield Wednesday.

The LEP Board met for the first time this week and will initially meet monthly for the next six months.

James Newman, Chairman of the Sheffield City Region LEP said: "I am delighted to welcome all my new colleagues from the private sector to the Board. There were a large number of applications for the six places on the Board and those selected are of the highest calibre and will, I am sure, contribute significantly to the many challenges facing the Board.

"Between them, they span a broad spread of business sectors and all the geographical parts of the region, which should assist in bringing together the key industries and other partners, so essential to the success of the LEP."

One of the first key tasks is to communicate the aims and plans of the LEP with the private sector and to establish a way in which the wider business community can input into the future economic growth of the region in alongside and in partnership with the public sector.

The board showed their determination to ensure that the manufacturing national hub is based at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham and are focused on ensuring we have great housing to drive the economy forward.

The board will now be moving fast to get the first business plan to the Government.

The Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership website

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News: College students spruce up Rotherham vacant shop units

Fashion and Clothing students from Rotherham College of Arts and Technology (RCAT) have played a part in improving Rotherham town centre.

Council funds have been used to help increase the range of shops on offer and initiatives are also underway to improve the appearance of empty shop units until they are taken over.

The "Meanwhile Project" aims to bring life and footfall back to the town centre by improving the look of vacant units throughout the town centre.

RCAT students have played a part by creating a number of Christmas themed window displays including garments made from a variety of unusual materials.

The College students worked to a brief provided by The Source, a training and skills academy who are working with Rotherham Council on the initiative.

Gwen Plant, the College's Curriculum Leader for Art and Design, said: "To produce the window display to professional standards the fashion students were required to work as a team and to meet a short deadline. The Fashion students also benefitted from working with representatives from the Source training agency and gained a good understanding of visual merchandising requirements."

Dave Webber, Visual Merchandiser for The Source was impressed with the newly improved displays and said: "The students have been very creative and the final results have a fantastic visual impact."

Other initiatives has seen Rotherham Open Arts Renaissance take over the Old Market building during the Rotherham Open Arts Festival and "official" graffiti artists, Urban Canvas improving the look of the empty shops on the High Street with large scale artwork.

Rotherham town centre website
RCAT website
The Source website

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News: Occupier activity signals returning confidence in the commercial property market

Capital values in the Yorkshire and Humber industrial property market increased by 2.5 per cent in the first half of this year, according to latest research by property consultants, King Sturge.

The increase created an annual rate of 6.5 per cent during the 12 months to the end of June although rental values fell by 1.9 per cent in the same period and by five per cent over the previous 12 months, says the research by King Sturge's Leeds-based Industrial Agency Team.

During the first half of the year available industrial floorspace in Yorkshire rose by 0.3 per cent - a total of 8,924 sq m - to reach 2,882 sq m at the end of June 2010.

Space available in large industrial buildings - those above 10,000 square metres which represent 41.2 per cent of the region's supply - rose by 3.7 per cent, a total of 41,889 sq m, in the same period to 1.186 sq m.

Meanwhile availability in new buildings, which accounts for 21.9 per cent of the region's total supply, the largest percentage across Britain, fell by 9.5 per cent - 66,336 sq m - to 631,305 sq m.

Speculative development under construction has fallen with Yorkshire and Humber representing only four per cent of all such development across Britain. At the end of July there was only 3,746 sq m being built in four schemes - a fall of 28 per cent on January. The largest development of 2,388 sq m is due to complete this month.

A partner in King Surge's Industrial Agency Team, Richard Harris, said: "One sign of returning confidence is an increase in occupier activity since the start of the year resulting in several recent deals, particularly on the larger available units."

Recent deals by King Sturge include almost 28,000 sq m at J34, Rotherham, owned by fund manager Threadneedle Property Investments, London, being let to award-winning steel contract manufacturing business, MTL Group.

Richard Harris adds: "Landlords are keen to fill voids and are prepared to offer significant incentive packages or negotiate short-term deals until the market improves.

"In spite of this, a substantial supply of big sheds in the 13,000 m² to 32,000 m² remain in South Yorkshire. Development of any kind is rare, and with very little speculative development, we are likely to see a shortage of quality stock under 10,000 m² soon."

The Leeds office of King Sturge is one of the region's largest independent firms of chartered surveyors and property consultants with 70 staff providing property agency and investment services throughout Northern England and North Derbyshire.

King Sturge website

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News: Dormer Tools sees better than expected results

Dormer Tools is enjoying better than expected results two years after moving to their facility at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.

The firm is part of Sweden's Sandvik Group and has seen a significant increase in sales of more than 20 per cent for 2010 and is likely to achieve pre-recession levels of two years ago.

Dormer's premises at the AMP incorporate a state-of-the-art training suite and a major research and development facility - one of only four such facilities worldwide. Both areas have played a significant role in providing customers across the UK with the right cutting tools for their applications.

Dormer believes its decision to place greater emphasis on training staff and customers on their products is leading to an upturn in the amount of tools being sold to blue chip organisations as well as small and medium sized enterprises.

The increase has also been supported with the recent launch of new a branding strategy for its high performance tools - Spectrum and Elect - which simplifies the decision making process for Dormer’s client base.

Chris Herring, business development manager at Dormer Tools, said: "We have seen a significant increase in the amount of high performance tooling being sold during 2010. It is a case that we are not only selling more products, but we are selling more of the right products.

"A couple of years ago we re-wrote our strategy to shift more focus onto research and development and training to handle any effects of the recession. Since moving to the AMP we have underlined the importance of customer's application requirements and we are now starting to see the benefits.

"Our research and development centre of excellence is tasked with identifying, devising and delivering new products and machining solutions. Products are only created if there is a market need.

"As soon as a product is launched we provide an extensive amount of training for our national sales staff and distributors to help them identify what products to sell to what customers.

"Increasing their knowledge and understanding of the machining process has enabled them to identify the optimum product for each customer's requirement. This has then lead to positive results for the client, building Dormer's reputation as an expert supplier."

Dormer's export team are also based on the park and supply markets in countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Pakistan, Thailand and the Philippines.

Dormer Tools website

Images: Dormer Tools

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News: Aspen Court is fully occupied

Property company, Northern Trust has announced that their 95,000 sq ft industrial scheme at Aspen Court, Rotherham is now fully occupied.

The latest letting sees Skylite Packaging Ltd take a three year lease on a 1,588 sq ft unit.

Three other companies' have recently expanded their businesses and taken additional space on the estate. These include Bereco Ltd, a supplier of timber windows and doors, who have taken an additional lease of Unit 4 taking their total occupancy to 9,656 sq ft.

Award-winning energy saving specialists, EMSC UK, who originally occupied 4,149 sq ft have taken an additional 540 sq ft and APC Industrial Services Limited has also leased an additional unit and has increased their occupancy from 3,535 sq ft to 5,454 sq ft.

The Templeborough development is now home to 19 companies in 23 industrial / warehouse units. Northern Trust's portfolio covers over 227,800 sq ft in the Rotherham area, including the successful Redwood Court industrial park in Dinnington.

David Lee, Regional Property Manager for Whittle Jones, managing agents acting on behalf of Northern Trust said: "Aspen Court occupies a strategic location at Centurion Business Park, with excellent transport links. With high quality units and the ability to offer flexible tenancy agreements, the estate has attracted a range of new and existing businesses.

"We are pleased to have been able to accommodate a number of current occupiers in their business expansions by offering additional space. Aspen Court has proved a huge success and we are delighted to announce it being 100% let."

Neil Keally, Director at joint-agents Burgess Commercial in Rotherham added: "Aspen Court has certainly proved a popular estate during 2010, not only to businesses within Rotherham but also to existing businesses re-locating to larger premises within the estate.

"It's been encouraging to see the estate continue its success and return to being fully let. Aspen Court has certainly defied the general trend of difficult market conditions, assisted by continuing to appear an attractive and well-managed estate."

Northern Trust website
Burgess Commercial website

Images: northerntrust.co.uk

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News: Free Saturday parking to end in Rotherham town centre

From Saturday January 8, drivers will have to pay in both Rotherham town centre's council-run car park and the on-street parking bays.

The re-instatement of Saturday charges comes after Rotherham Borough Council has exhausted every alternative funding option in an effort to try to resolve the budget gap and continue some form of parking incentive.

The Council's Cabinet Member for Town Centres, Cllr Richard Russell, said: "The funding we received to pay for free parking incentives was actually cut in July. But the authority agreed to find funding of its own to continue free Saturday parking to cover the Christmas period, which we know is so important to local traders.

"Unfortunately, funding to continue the scheme just is not available, especially as other essential services must continue under already reduced budgets.

"From speaking to the owners of businesses in town, we know that free parking has proved beneficial and we will continue to do our very best to look for ways in which we could continue to fund the scheme in the future."

Funding had been used to provide free parking after 3 o' clock and on Saturdays and consultation with town centre businesses earlier in the year showed that 74 per cent traders felt the "Free After 3" initiative had the potential to improve trade and footfall and just under half of those indicated that trade had already improved shortly after the scheme was brought in.

Sixty four per cent of those traders surveyed also suggested trade and footfall had also increased with the free Saturday parking scheme.

Rotherham town centre website

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News: Rotherham companies discover how to be fit for business

Rotherham businesses came together to find out about important new changes to employee sickness absence rules introduced by the government.

50 local companies attended an event last month as ACAS representative, Darrell Johnson, GP practitioner, Dr Mark Boon and Occupational Health practitioner, Sandra Winters talked to delegates about the new "fit note" and what this meant to employers and employees.

In April 2010 the Statement of Fitness for Work ("fit note") replaced the Sick Note. Absence costs the UK economy £17.3bn per year and almost four in 10 employers say that the recession has increased their organisation's focus on reducing absence levels and costs. The Fit Note helps employers to address this issue and removes some of the challenges of returning to work.

Anna Patterson, of Rotherham based business Tradebe attended the event and, said: "It has been useful to hear different perspectives and I will be revisiting our absence policy and looking at our systems to make sure we comply."

The event was organised by Rotherham Investment and Development Office (RiDO), NHS Rotherham and the BeingBetter Project, funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the Big Lottery Fund.

Sarah Wilkinson, HR Business Consultant from RiDO added: "The event was really successful and we have got some good feedback from the companies who came along. It has been a great opportunity to work together with our partners in the Rotherham area, and to help local businesses to learn more about these important new rules."

Rotherham Investment and Development Office
BeingBetter website
NHS Rotherham website

Images: beingbetter.co.uk

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News: Beatson Clark go Dutch

Rotherham glass manufacturer, Beatson Clark, has provided the perfect packaging for a new product by Hela Sauces of the Netherlands.

Beatson Clark were called upon by Pont Packaging, their sister company in Holland, when Hela Sauces launched its new Garlic, Fish, Mustard and Cocktail dressings earlier this year.


They chose a 250ml Round Sauce Bottle with a 43mm Twist off neck finish. Manufactured in white flint it is available from Beatson Clark's extensive general sale range and Hela were immediately impressed by the speciality nature of the design.

Charlotte Taylor, marketing manager at Beatson Clark said: "Hela were looking for the widest possible distribution network in the Netherlands and are looking to expand further into Europe with this product.

"We were delighted to work with Pont Packaging to support their client ensuring demand was met as required."

As this was a completely new product for Hela there was uncertainty as to volume requirements. Here, Beatson Clark were able to help by having a flexible approach and tailoring productions to meet demand.

"Our extensive general sale range demonstrates Beatson Clark's flexibility to a wide variety of industries," said Charlotte. "It allows companies to either test the market with new products before commissioning bespoke designs or select a design from the many and varied high quality containers that can be utilised for their product in the longer term."

Beatson Clark website

Images: beatsonclark.co.uk

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News: AMF highlights the elements of high performance machining

December's Advanced Manufacturing Forum (AMF) in Rotherham gave companies working with exotic materials an insight into the many technological elements that can improve performance, from innovative tool design to coolant optimisation.

The AMF is the technology network for manufacturing businesses and run by the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing. The regular AMF events cover a range of topics of relevance to manufacturing businesses, offering insight into current and emerging technologies and supply chain issues.

Paul Williams, product manager at Sandvik Coromant, set the scene by emphasising that businesses which cut high-performance alloys are only making money while the metal is actually being cut.

Steve Maddy of Nikken Kosakusho outlined the role that tool holdings can play in improving performance. A precise interface between the cutting tool and its holder, and between the holder and spindle, can increase the accuracy of the tool and significantly improve tool life.

Mark Kirby of Technicut returned to the role of tool design for aerospace machining, explaining how features such as unequal flute divides, higher flute density and refined geometries can improve work rates, save costs, and reduce capital expenditure requirements.

Steve Rushton of Houghton talked about the importance of choosing the right coolant and other machining fluids. Houghton has been working with the AMRC on a coolant characterisation project to identify the optimal fluids for common titanium alloys, and has demonstrated that the right choice can significantly extend tool life. Similar trials are now starting for Inconel and other high-performance alloys.

James Butler of Dormer and Ken Baldwin of CAM software group Open Mind closed the morning's talks with a joint presentation on how the right choice of tool and tool path can improve performance in rough cutting.

AMF website

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News: BG Controls appoints operations manager

Award-winning Rotherham building controls expert BG Controls has appointed Ian Ross as the new Operations Manager for the South East.

Ian - aged 41 and from Islington in London has over 15 years of sector experience and joins the leading independent building controls company from NG Bailey.

Prior to this he was at Honeywell Building Solutions - he has held similar managerial roles at both companies.

In his new role, Ian will oversee and ensure efficient delivery of all projects in the BG's growing South East division.

Based in Dinnington, the BG Controls group of companies designs, manufactures, installs, commissions and services Building Management Systems. They provide specialist controls design, in-house motor control panel manufacture, in-house electrical installation, energy saving solutions, hotline customer support, service and maintenance.

Ian said: "I'm looking forward to my new role at BG. I joined the company because of the quality and strength of the team at BG and its reputation as a leading building controls expert.

"This is a great opportunity as the South East is a fairly new region for BG and it will be good to develop the market with a growing company."

Duncan Biggins, BG's managing director said: "It's great to have a candidate of Ian's calibre joining the team at BG. I'd like to welcome him to the team and look forward to working with him."

BG Controls website

Images: bgcontrols.co.uk

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News: New Doha airport takes shape thanks to Macalloy

The billion dollar development at the New Doha International Airport in Qatar is being made possible by products made in Rotherham by construction experts, Macalloy.



With Doha's current airport facing increasing congestion, the new airport will replace the current facility with much larger cargo and passenger facilities, thereby providing an important transportation hub for the people and materials needed to fuel the country's ongoing development. It will also provide a base for Qatar Airways and accommodate the new Airbus A380 super jumbo jets.

With an estimated cost of over $7bn, the project is being led by US construction giants Bechtel who specialise in "megaprojects" including the Hoover Dam and the Channel Tunnel.

When it opens next year, the new airport will accommodate 24 million passengers and 750,000 metric tons of cargo annually. When totally complete, the new airport will handle 50 million passengers, 2 million tonnes of cargo, and 320,000 aircraft landings and takeoffs each year.

It will feature two of the longest commercial runways in the world, an 85 meter high crescent-shaped control tower, a 510,000-square-meter passenger terminal with 40 gates, a separate terminal for the Emir of Qatar, a general aviation terminal, a cargo terminal, a 150,000 square meter aircraft maintenance center, one of the world's largest airport catering facilities, state-of-the art air traffic control equipment and security systems, and other facilities.

Airport buildings on the 22 sq km site were designed by Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum (HOK) architects and many of them have a water theme. The passenger terminal roof is shaped like a wave and the Emiri terminal is externally shaped like sail boats. On the inside, many of the finishes feature water themes and support facilities have undulating metal roof structures.

To make this possible, Macalloy stainless steel bar tendons and stainless steel cable tendons have been used as they provide the optimum balance of strength, ductility and appearance.

Based in Dinnington, Macalloy won the prestigious Queen's Awards for Enterprise for international trade. Their threaded bar and cable systems can be found in engineering and construction projects across the globe.

In the Middle East, these include the Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai, terminal three at Dubai International Airport, new stations along the Dubai Metro system and the Khalifa Stadium in Doha, Qatar.

Macalloy website

Images: hok.com

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News: Bromley and Materialise showcase expertise on international stage

Bromley PES and Materialise UK teamed up to show their combined capabilities in engineering design and rapid manufacturing at the Technology World show held recently at London's ExCeL Arena.

The event in association with UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), allowed representatives from leading international companies looking to generate investment, collaboration, research and business development opportunities to meet with UK science and technology organisations during the show.

The two companies based at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham brought their Skeleton Challenge simulator which was the star exhibit of the Sport Technology zone.

Bromley showcased its R&D and manufacturing capability in producing Olympic winter sport equipment, and as the world's leading commercial developer of high performance skeleton and bobsleigh products, currently supply the team's of nearly 20 nations. It's equipment has also provided the British Skeleton Bobsleigh team with all of its medals in the past two years of World Cup competition.

Dan Fleetcroft, design director at Bromley PES said: "It was an extremely successful show for both ourselves and Materialise. We had a large number of enquiries for our joint services from companies in the film production, lighting, aerospace and automotive industries, and also a potential bespoke design project using reverse engineering.

"We've also been able to secure some invaluable practical advice about the best way to enter new markets. We already do a significant amount of business in the US, Japan, Russia and Canada, but, for instance, we've learnt an awful lot here about doing more work in the Baltic states."

Materialise enjoys a worldwide reputation for its activities in the field of rapid industrial and medical prototyping, as well as being a provider of innovative software solutions.

Philip Hudson, managing director of Materalise UK added: "Shows like Technology World are important to highlight the latest developments in engineering design, rapid prototyping and rapid manufacturing technologies.

"Techniques that were not realistic options only a few years ago are now available. In addition to exhibiting at these shows we are visiting businesses to showcase the technologies available and show how they can be applied in many processes to drive efficiency and new provide innovative ways of manufacture.

"We're also keen to work with companies to understand their issues and for them to challenge us to provide a solution."

Bromley Technologies website
Materalise website

Images: Bromley Technologies

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News: Solid performance for United Carpets

Rotherham-based United Carpets, the second largest chain of specialist retail carpet and floor covering stores in the UK, has announced its interim results for the period ended September 30 2010.

In difficult trading conditions, network sales across the group's corporate and franchise stores, was broadly maintained at £34.2m compared to £34.5m in 2009. Profit before tax decreased by 14.0% to £604,000.

Revenue, which includes marketing and rental costs incurred by the group and recharged to franchisees, was £13.36m (£14.06m in 2009) principally reflecting the reduction in the average number of corporate stores during the period. The majority of revenues are derived from the sale of floor coverings, predominantly carpet, laminate and vinyl flooring through franchised and corporate stores.

With their head office at Bramley, United Carpets has 83 branded stores across Northern and Central England and has seen significant progress in successfully franchising corporate stores with the average number of corporate stores reducing to 11 from 20 and total stores up from 82 to 83.

With the majority of stores operating under the group's franchise model, the business benefits from the entrepreneurial drive and motivation of the individual store owners which, the company believe, is a critical advantage over more traditional retail networks.

Paul Eyre, Chief Executive, said: "This was a solid performance in a very challenging trading environment. Consumers remain cautious over spending, following uncertainty in the job market and the lack of any clear signs of economic recovery.

"However, United Carpets' focus on offering exceptional value combined with the benefits of our franchise model has ensured we have maintained our market position and continued to attract new franchisees.

"We continue to expand the business and have the financial flexibility to take advantage of any opportunities that come about as a result of the current slowdown and remain well placed to benefit as and when growth returns to the economy."

United Carpets website

Images: unitedcarpetsandbeds.com

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News: FireChill signs agreement with Capstone

FireChill, the global green cooling technology company with a manufacturing base in Rotherham, has signed an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) agreement with the world's leading producer of low-emission microturbine systems, Capstone.

Both parties will work to produce ammonia absorption chilling packages, powered by microturbines for combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP) applications.

The PowerChill system will use energy-efficient Capstone microturbines manufactured in California, and FireChill's proven, patented, heat-activated cooling technology will recover the energy from the exhaust heat of the microturbine and effectively deliver free cooling.

The green benefits are magnified many times by recycling the exhaust heat and by extracting the heat from the exhaust, there is less heat expelled into the atmosphere, reducing the effect of global warming.

When used in conjunction with a condenser, Powerchill can even produce water extracted from high humidity air, or recovered from cooling tower vapour and stored for later use.

Manufactured in Rotherham by Firechill Manufacturing, a joint venture between Rotherham-based Newburgh Engineering and Leeds-based Firechill, PowerChill is a pre-engineered, factory assembled and tested product that can quickly and easily be installed onsite.

The systems are well suited to construction sites, off-grid environments, data centres and a number of portable and temporary uses which opens the doors to new markets for both FireChill and Capstone distributors.

Mark Gilbreth, Capstone's Executive Vice President of Operations and Chief Technology Officer said: "Capstone is delighted to be working with FireChill on future technology rich projects.

"We have already demonstrated that our products provide clean and reliable energy sources and can build sustainable energy development. By working with FireChill to deliver broader applications, we will be able to demonstrate more uses for the microturbine and help reduce carbon emissions.

"This is just the kind of cooperative development we seek that can so easily lead to breakthrough technology. The projects already underway with FireChill have the potential to open up large markets, including the previously untapped rental market."

Simon Clothier, CEO of FireChill, added: "Capstone is a company with a great set of products for us. They have a super-efficient turbine and we have a way of turning their waste heat into cooling without further energy input and at low or no cost. We can do this in a variety of ways and in a range of environments.

"This agreement with Capstone will allow us to explore what is really possible and we can now work smarter, faster and together to bring a more diverse set of usable, relevant green applications to market."

In June FireChill secured just under £1m from a group of private investors to add to the £4m invested to date in research and development. The new money was to fund accelerated infrastructure development, product field-testing and manufacturing mobilisation.

Firechill website
Capstone website

Images: Firechill

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News: Greenberg reach major milestones in year of growth

One of the UK's leading independent glass and glazing specialists, Greenberg Glass and Glazing, has cemented its position as a major supplier to the UK's high streets with a year of continued growth from their Rotherham headquarters.


Working nationwide Greenberg delivers on new development projects, replacement and emergency glazing and architectural glazing projects and supplies many of the well known contractors, shop fitters, high street retailers and maintenance companies.

The company recently celebrated fitting its 5,000th window of 2010 and the signing of its 100th Storeplan contract.

The nationwide Storeplan scheme fully supports and services Greenberg's completed new works installations or an existing property portfolio. Providing a fully integrated reactive store shop front emergency call out, repair, replacement and maintenance service the scheme is specifically for multiple retailers.

Storeplan is supported and managed by a new bespoke job management system, designed and built in house specifically for Greenberg, which provides clients with up to the minute job information.

Managing Director, John Askew, said: "Storeplan offers multiple retailers peace of mind as they can be confident in the consistent service and the understanding that we have of their business.

"Our aim is to respond quickly and meet the client's requirements as quickly as possible with minimum disruption. The fact that we have now signed 100 Storeplan contracts is testament to this."

Greenberg Glass and Glazing Ltd was formed following the purchase of Greenberg Glass and EG Glass Ltd by a management team led by John Askew, previous owner and managing director of EG Glass Ltd. They set up a head office, call centre and depot in Hellaby employing 30 people initially, with plans to increase this number to 80.

Askew added: "It's been a busy year for Greenberg and we're delighted with how things are progressing. The business continues to go from strength to strength and we're continuing to grow."

Greenberg website

Images: greenbergglass.co.uk

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News: Bramall completes new council homes three months ahead of schedule

Rotherham social housing specialist, Bramall Construction, has completed the first council properties to be built in 20 years in Nottingham - three months ahead of schedule.


The eight properties in Clifton has been delivered and project-managed by Nottingham City Council and Nottingham City Homes in partnership with Bramall Construction. The scheme has been funded by Nottingham City Council and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

Work began in the spring and had to be completed by March 2011. Despite the recent cold snap, the site has been handed over three months ahead of schedule, enabling new tenants to move in before Christmas.

The brand new energy efficient three bedroom properties have all been built to high sustainability standards. They include photo-voltaic panels which will provide free electricity to the homes during daylight hours, an 'A' rated boiler and high levels of insulation.

Each property has been built to Lifetime Homes standards, which means they are easily adaptable as a tenant's needs change.

Chris Langstaff, Chief Executive of Nottingham City Homes, said: "These new properties have been built to be highly energy efficient, providing affordable living and accommodation fit for a family.

"Working together with Bramall Construction and Nottingham City Council, we have been able to deliver a fantastic collection of family-sized properties for those that are most in need."

Graham Lonsdale, Contracts Manager at Bramall Construction added: "We are delighted to be involved in building the first new council homes in the area in 20 years.

"Working alongside Nottingham City Council, Nottingham City Homes and the HCA we have been able to complete the new homes to excellent standards and are glad the new residents are looking forward to enjoying the benefits of their new home."

Bramall Construction website

Images: nottinghamcity.gov.uk

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News: EMSc signs international distribution deals

Award-winning Rotherham company EMSc (UK) Limited has announced that it has signed exclusive agreements with companies in Australia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to market and install its Powerstar voltage optimisation solution.

In Australia the company has set up a joint venture with Perth based Cockburn Electrical and in the UAE it has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Wildcatos Oil services. The company carried out in-depth demographic and market research to identify countries in which to market Powerstar.

In line with the success the company has been experiencing in the UK, it has also seen sales for Powerstar grow in markets across Europe. To meet demand in Cyprus, for example, the company has had to employ a new business development manager.

To further highlight the growing international interest in Powerstar Dr. Alex Mardapittas, designer and managing director of EMSc, recently appeared on national television in South Africa, on CNBC's Powerlunch, to talk about Powerstar. He was also invited to be a guest speaker at the South African Energy Efficiency Convention.

Dr. Mardapittas said: "As international interest in Powerstar increases, we will continue to identify and implement the most appropriate distribution strategy for each market. In Australia and the UAE our partners have long established businesses and know their respective markets very well."

Powerstar is the only voltage optimisation system wholly designed and manufactured in the UK and is the most efficient voltage optimisation system in the world.

Voltage optimisation is a cost efficient way to control a buildings incoming voltage in order to maximise energy savings. Powerstar can save up to 26.1% of total electricity consumption and related CO2 emissions, all without compromising the supply to electrical equipment.

EMSc Ltd website

Images: EMSc Ltd

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News: Sterecycle's pioneering Rotherham plant impresses Minister

Sterecycle, the waste treatment and renewable power company, hosted Charles Hendry MP, Minister of State for Energy at its waste treatment plant in Rotherham last week as part of the Minister's tour of Yorkshire which was focused on the area's low carbon development.

The Minister participated in a site tour of what is the world's first commercial autoclave waste treatment facility at Templeborough to see how Sterecycle's autoclaving technology "steam processes" black bag waste to recover recyclables and energy in the form of an organic biomass.

Minister of State for Energy said: "The less waste we send to landfill, the better. That's why I'm very interested to see this system first hand.

"Pioneers like the people here at Sterecycle should be commended for developing such an innovative solution to what we do with our waste."

Tom Shields, Sterecycle CEO, said: "It is extremely positive for us to have key political figures such as Charles Hendry interested in our technology and recognising the huge benefits it brings.

"Increasing awareness of our solution to waste and its ability to recover energy is vital in ensuring we can roll out more plants across the UK to meet the needs of local authorities and businesses who are increasingly looking for greener waste treatment processes.

"We hope the government maintains its renewable energy incentives such as ROCS (Renewable Energy Obligation Certificates) which are very important to the development of the renewable energy side of our business.

"The Rotherham community has been very supportive of our facility and understand the advantages of using our technology to treat their waste. It's safe, increases recycling performance and reduces the amount of waste going to landfill by up to 70%.

"The demand has been so high that we're increasing the Rotherham plant's capacity from 100,000 tonnes per annum to 240,000 tonnes per annum so that we can continue to help drive down the amount of waste going to Yorkshire landfills."

The site tour was followed by a round table discussion with community representatives which included Tony Mace and Kirstie Royce from A4e, Graham Whitfield from the Tinsley Forum and Matthew Beck from the science and adventure centre, Magna.

The site employs 41 local people which will increase to 57 in 2011 when the plant's expansion is complete. Recruitment agency A4e is working with Steryccle and their Employer Services Manager, Kirstie Royce said: "We're delighted to have placed eight customers in new jobs with Sterecycle within 12 months, all who are now working at the cutting edge of renewable energy technology, and we look forward to supporting with more opportunities as this company expands."

Matthew Beck, Managing Director of Magna, a trust which runs the Magna Science Adventure Centre situated next to Sterecycle's plant, said: "Magna and Sterecycle have formed a close working partnership. As a science centre we engage with tens of thousands of families and school children and by demonstrating this innovative system of waste management they then understand and are aware of this greener approach to waste recycling and the benefits it brings to the local area. On top of this Magna also benefits from recycling its waste through this system, reducing its own carbon footprint."

Sterecycle website

Images: Sterecycle

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News: Atkins in nuclear engineering joint venture

Atkins and Assystem are to form a strategic alliance to create a 50/50 nuclear engineering joint venture to provide consultancy and engineering services to the rapidly-expanding international nuclear new build market.

The Nuclear Atkins Assystem Alliance will enable both companies to address demand from governments and utilities in countries developing nuclear power as part of their energy mix and will provide services to nuclear new build projects and across the entire nuclear fuel cycle.

Britain's Atkins and France's Assystem are recognised by key participants in the global nuclear power industry for their engineering expertise and the two companies each enjoy more than 40 years experience in the nuclear sector.

Atkins has a reputation for delivering engineering excellence worldwide including in many countries which are considering adding nuclear power to their energy mix.

Assystem has built its engineering reputation in some of the world's safest, most advanced nuclear technologies by working with such market leaders as AREVA and EDF, supporting them on all of their projects in France and abroad.

Headquartered in France, the alliance will combine Atkins' and Assystem's strengths to position both companies to take advantage of opportunities in the international nuclear market estimated to see more than 200 new reactors over the next 20 years.

The companies will continue to serve their home markets of the UK and France as separate entities.

Keith Clarke, chief executive of Atkins, said: "Nuclear engineering is a key part of Atkins' strategy going forward. The alliance with Assystem will give us a strong platform from which to deliver nuclear services to emerging international markets.

"The combination of our collective nuclear expertise will position us superbly to pursue opportunities in a broader array of markets with a wider range of services which go beyond our considerable presence in our own home markets."

Dominique Louis, chairman of the Assystem management board, added: "By combining our capabilities and the experience acquired in the French and British nuclear programmes, which are among the world’s most advanced, Assystem and Atkins will together deliver unrivalled nuclear engineering excellence to governments and utilities."

In 2008, Atkins acquired Rotherham design engineers, Bennett Associates to strengthen its position in the nuclear sector.

They have been involved in the nuclear industry for over 20 years and their mechanical engineering designers have worked on systems for the Sizewell B nuclear power station, lifting frames for nuclear submarines and the design and analysis of nuclear shield doors and restraints.

Atkins website

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News: Inditherm signs distribution deal with ADI

Innovative Rotherham company, Inditherm has signed an agreement that assigns exclusive distribution for the process solutions part of their Industrial business to a subsidiary of the ADI group.

The new business will trade as ADI Inditherm but the Manvers company will retain all activity related to their other industrial products, including IBC, drum and cylinder heating systems.

Inditherm products use their patented, low voltage carbon polymer technology to provide heat and unlike other forms of heating, there are no hot spots. Uses include heating mattresses, pipework, sports pitches, storage vessels and medical treatments.

The heating pads will continue to be manufactured by Inditherm, with ADI taking responsibility for all sales, marketing, design, installation and project management.

ADI will promote heating solutions to the food, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and petrochemicals markets and under the agreement, Inditherm has also granted a license to ADI to use know-how in respect of the application of the Inditherm heating solutions technology and a license to use Inditherm trade marks. Inditherm will retain all intellectual property rights and rights to manufacture the core polymer technology.

Some of Inditherm's staff associated with this specific sector of the business will transfer to ADI as part of the deal.

ADI are already a well established provider of pipework and process solutions, with over 20 years' experience in the industry. They have a strong track record dealing with many of the current and potential users of Inditherm technology and are therefore well placed to increase the uptake.

The ability of a single, established supplier to provide a complete turnkey solution should allow ADI to be more competitive and achieve greater market penetration with Inditherm's technology.

Inditherm CEO, Nick Bettles, said: "We believe that our relationship with ADI will allow wider uptake of the Inditherm technology in the process industries, due to their established relationships.

"This move will also allow us to focus on the growth of our medical business and the more standard products in our Industrial range, at the same time as reducing the overheads associated with the complex bespoke process solutions.

"Naturally we will benefit from any success ADI have with our technology, as we will be supplying them with all the carbon polymer heating pads."

Inditherm website

Images: inditherm.co.uk

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News: Fulcrum confident of turnaround

Rotherham based energy solutions company, Fulcrum, has releasesed its interim results for the ten month period to 30 September 2010.

In July, Marwyn Capital acquired Fulcrum Group Holdings Limited, an independent gas transporter and provider of unregulated gas connection services from National Grid plc for a nominal consideration of £10. The group also raised approximately £11m through a share issue to fund the takeover, provide working capital and finance the proposed turnaround strategy.

The reverse takeover saw an experienced new management team brought in to turnaround loss-making operations and re-establish the business as a market leader.

Following completion, the management launched a series of initiatives aimed at improving the operational efficiency of the business, including a comprehensive appraisal of business processes, systems and contract profitability. The management also held a number of meetings with key suppliers and customers in order to reinforce existing relationships and develop new business opportunities.

Following a review of the group's design capabilities, a proposed reorganisation will see the design function, previously split between Edinburgh and Rotherham, housed entirely in Rotherham, enhancing process coherence within the team and rationalising the overhead base. In addition, management have proposed measures to reorganise the Rotherham office into a new structure, further enabling process efficiencies.

The group reported a loss after tax in the period of £4.1m and revenue in the period of £9.8m. Proforma revenue for the six months to 30 September 2010 was £18.4m and was ahead of management expectations, in part due to a focus on enhanced job delivery since completion.

John Spellman, CEO of AIM-listed Fulcrum, said: "I am extremely encouraged by the performance of the Fulcrum business. Since completion our new management team has been fully integrated into the business and we believe there are a large number of opportunities to improve process efficiency.

"We believe that there is considerable scope for developing revenues and have been positioning the business to capitalise on new business opportunities. I look forward to delivering the Fulcrum business back to profitability and further success."

Based on Greasborough Road, Fulcrum designs and project manages connections to gas pipelines for customers seeking either a new connection or the alteration or refurbishment of an existing connection.

Fulcrum website

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News: £50m to continue the Manufacturing Advisory Service

The Government has announced that they are investing £50m over three years in the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) which provides a highly valued advice service to industry making SMEs more productive and competitive.

The announcement came as Business Minister, Mark Prisk launced a review into Advanced Manufacturing.

Mark Prisk said: "I am pleased to announce that we are investing £50 million over three years in the Manufacturing Advisory Service so it can continue giving the support SMEs need to become more productive and competitive.

"While recent statistics have shown the future is bright for manufacturing the job losses announced by BAE systems yesterday show that there remains challenges that the Government will need to work with industry to address."

The Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) has been a huge success since its launch in 2002. MAS now plays a vital role in helping UK manufacturers to share knowledge, improve productivity and achieve success in an increasing competitive global economy.

With a base on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham, the Yorkshire and Humber MAS is the best performing MAS in the country; delivering £170m of additional gross value added in the companies it has assisted to date.

The service is managed in the region by YFM Business Development and has been jointly funded by Yorkshire Forward and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

With a reduction in funding, MAS Y&H submitted a business plan ealier in the year in a bid to secure £1m of ERDF funding to enhance the service until 2012.

MAS Y&H website

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News: Government takes action to grow advanced manufacturing

The government has launched a review into Advanced Manufacturing, a key sector in Rotherham, to examine how to remove the barriers that are preventing the UK becoming Europe's leading exporter of high value goods and stopping people from seeking a career in engineering.

In January the government will hold an Advanced Manufacturing summit attended by Nick Clegg, Vince Cable and Mark Prisk as well as key manufacturing stakeholders and other Government departments.

Contributions from industry at this event and from responses to the framework will feed into the Advanced Manufacturing strand of the Government's Growth Review which will announce policy proposals by Budget 2011.

Business Minister Mark Prisk said: "A strong manufacturing base is essential for a balanced economy, where exports and investment drive growth, not debt and unsustainable government spending.

"The review into Advanced Manufacturing will see the Government align with industry in our shared ambition to put manufacturing industries on a more solid footing than in the past decade.

"I am looking forward to the manufacturing summit which will be an opportunity to agree actions that Government, industry and education can take over the next 10 years to meet our challenging ambitions."

Advanced Manufacturing is among the first Growth Reviews to be taken forward. The report sets out the action Government is taking to provide the right business environment, the key competitive strengths on which we can build, and examines the major future long-term growth opportunities and challenges.

The Government's goals, over the next 10 years, are also outlined. These are to: Grow manufacturing in the UK; Make the UK Europe's leading exporter of high value goods and related services and: Increase the proportion of the workforce seeking, and capable of, a career in manufacturing.

John Cridland, CBI Director-General Designate, said: "We welcome the announcement from Mark Prisk of a review of advanced manufacturing.

"This fits with our vision for the manufacturing sector, which we published earlier this week, and is a good step on the way to the Government's wider Growth Review.

"UK manufacturing is in many ways the unsung hero of our economy. Big productivity gains in the past ten years have made it leaner than ever before, and it's now well placed to lead the country's economic recovery."

Rotherham is home to the Advanced Manufacturing Park, which is the UK's premier manufacturing park and recognised internationally. The park enables tenants to harness manufacturing innovation through collaboration between industry, research, the region's renowned universities and centres of excellence.

One tenant, the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing (AMRC), is highlighted in the review for their strengh in novel machining that boosts the UK's capability in new production processes technologies, including additive manufacturing.

BIS website
AMP website

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News: Minister in Rotherham to visit pioneering waste plant

Charles Hendry, Minister of State for the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is visiting Sterecycle's "world first" waste treatment plant in Rotherham today.

The Minister is undertaking a one day tour of Yorkshire to consult with local communities, businesses and councils on the growth of the area's low carbon economy and the revised draft Energy National Policy Statements.



Sterecycle is a clean technology company that uses a patented "steam processing" method called autoclaving to treat household and commercial "black-bag" waste thereby reducing the amount sent to landfill by up to 70%. The Rotherham plant is the world's first commercial scale autoclave waste treatment facility and has been operational since August 2008.

Sterecycle Rotherham is assisting both local authorities and businesses to improve their green credentials by increasing recycling performance and reducing the amount of waste they send to landfill. It has also boosted green jobs in the area employing 41 local people which will increase to 57 in 2011 when the Templeborough plant's expansion is complete.

Tom Shields, Sterecycle, CEO said: "Autoclaving as a waste treatment process is safe, cheap to build and our experience to date is that planning permission can be achieved within six months. And it delivers high rates of resource recovery.

"South Yorkshire's local councils and businesses recognise the benefits of using our technology to treat their waste. It not only decreases the landfill tax payable by our customers but reduces methane emissions which are 23 times more damaging to the environment than CO2.

"The demand has been so high that we’re increasing the Rotherham plant's capacity from 100,000 tonnes per annum to 240,000 tonnes per annum so that we can continue to help drive down the amount of waste going to Yorkshire landfills."

Sterecycle works with Sheffield-based training and recruitment solutions company A4e to create local jobs for local people as well as work experience opportunities for A4e's job seekers. A4e Employer Services Manager, Kirstie Royce said: "We work with thousands of employers across the country and internationally but it's particularly exciting for us and our customers to work with Sterecycle and secure jobs with a company leading the world on such an important issue.

"We're delighted to have placed eight customers in new jobs with Sterecycle within 12 months, all who are now working at the cutting edge of renewable energy technology, and we look forward to supporting with more opportunities as this company expands."

Sterecycle are set to invest further in their Rotherham facility by creating a heat and power generation plant on the Templeborough site. The firm recently secured planning permission to create a biomass plant with combined heat and power (CHP) technology on the site and are also working on plans for an anaerobic digestion (AD) plant which could be positioned alongside a smaller CHP.

Sterecycle website

Images: Sterecycle

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News: South Yorkshire trade mission to the USA

South Yorkshire business community is forging strong links with the largest economy in the world and the UK's single biggest export market – America.

South Yorkshire International Trade Centre (SYITC), along with Creative Sheffield and UK Trade and Investment, has arranged a trade mission to Philadelphia and Richmond in Virginia.

Philadelphia is the fifth largest city in USA and the city region is home to nearly six million people. Strong sectors for the area include manufacturing, oil refining, food processing, health care and biotechnology, tourism and financial services.

Stuart Steel, head of international trade at SYITC, said: "A trade mission group recently returned from a successful trip to Chengdu, in China, where delegates enthused about the support that travelling as part of a business delegation provided.

"Travelling as part of a group gives companies unique access to the support available through local business agencies which organise activities such as briefings, networking and business match-making.

"The visit to America will be of great use to businesses in the Sheffield City Region looking to expand their work into the world's largest market."

Joanna Lavan, international manager at Creative Sheffield, added: "In times of economic uncertainty, businesses need to look for opportunities across the world in order to grow and fill their order books.

"This trade mission is a fantastic opportunity for organisations and entrepreneurs in the region to take the next step towards developing their business on this global level.

"Desk research has its value but there is really no substitute for visiting the country and meeting with potential clients and investors. The USA is the UK's single largest export market and therefore has vast potential for businesses."

The USA trade mission will take place from January 29 to February 4 and tickets cost £1,295 which covers the flights, hotel accommodation, transfers and benefits including briefings, networking receptions and business matchmaking.

Eligible companies will be able to receive £665 of grant funding towards the cost of the trip.

SYITC website

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News: New MD as Crossroads expands

Following its recent acquisition of Midlands based Hartshorne Motor Services, Crossroads Truck and Bus has restructured its senior team and Paddy Limb, formerly Divisional Director will now be assuming the role of Managing Director.

The former MD of Crossroads Truck and Bus, Martin Cronin will be stepping up as Group Chairman and Managing Director of Hartshorne to ensure the smooth integration of Hartshorne and its ten depots as part of the newly expanded group.

The merger which took place in August this year saw Crossroads and Hartshorne become the largest commercial distributor group in Europe with a combined annual turnover of £200 million and over 1,000 staff - enabling the group to look after Volvo customers across the Midlands, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

The joining of the two companies allows the group to provide even greater customer service and build for the long term future of both businesses.

Earlier this year, the Rotherham site at Canklow added Nissan commercial vehicles to their Volvo offering.

New MD, Paddy Limb said: "The acquisition went very well and has brought together two very trusted business which combined, creates a fantastic offering. I am delighted to be stepping up as Managing Director of Crossroads to ensure that the business has strategic direction and can continue to grow and prosper.

"I have been with the company for ten years and so I know both the team and the business well. This is an exciting time for Crossroads and I am thrilled to be a part of it."

Crossroads Truck & Bus website

Images: Crossroads Truck & Bus

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News: Stafforce in partial MBO

Rotherham businessman, Nick Cragg is celebrating the partial management buy out of Stafforce Recruitment, the company which he founded 33 years ago.

Led by Ian Anderson, chief executive and Bruce Allen, finance director, the senior management team of Stafforce Recruitment now owns 15% of the share holding of the business.

Stafforce began its 33 year history in Rotherham and has been providing local jobs for local people ever since. The business has grown beyond the Rotherham area and now has 11 high street branches around the country. Stafforce works with over 500 employers in England, delivering quality recruitment and business support solutions and also works on-site with larger employers including Stelrad Ideal and Garnett Dickinson in Rotherham.

Bruce Allen, finance director of Stafforce Recruitment, said: "The business has been working towards this partial management buy-out for a couple of years now and the move supports our plans for growth and the strategic development of Stafforce."

Nick Cragg, chairman, said: "Today Stafforce is a national recruitment agency but our roots lie here in Rotherham and as a business we will continue to make a difference to our local community and find jobs for local people. There are exciting plans for the future and I look forward to being a part of them."

Stafforce website

Images: Stafforce Recruitment

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News: RiDO help MTL Group relocate to Rotherham

MTL Group is the latest investor to be helped in relocating their business to Rotherham by the Council's investment service.

MTL Group is a fast growing contract manufacturing company that works with a global blue-chip customer base in the defence, construction equipment, rail and off-shore wind energy sectors.

When the company was looking to expand and relocate from its current premises in Sheffield to a new 300,000 square feet advanced manufacturing facility, they turned for help to Rotherham Investment & Development Office (RiDO), the regeneration arm of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council.

MTL Group had identified a property in Rotherham through their agents Knight Frank and RiDO helped by linking them in to other organisations such as Rotherham Council Planners, CO2Sense, and The University of Sheffield's AMRC with Boeing to ensure a smooth relocation in to the borough.

MTL has taken a 15 year lease at J34, the former Excel Logistics site in Brinsworth. JF Finnegan are currently undertaking work for MTL on the premises which is being project managed by Knight Frank's Building Consultancy Team and the whole relocation is set to be complete by Easter 2011.

Over 250 jobs will be relocated in Rotherham and Yorkshire Forward is supporting the capital expansion with regional grant funding to support another 50 new jobs which will be created as a result of the move.

Dr Henry Shirman, managing director of MTL Group said: "Since 2006, our business has trebled sales to £50 million and more than doubled staff levels to 310. We needed to move to a larger facility that would both house the company's state of the art equipment and provide space for continued expansion. We wanted to stay within the same area and Rotherham offered a great option. RiDO linked up with Knight Frank to take all the hassle out of the property side of the move, and have introduced us to some key organisations in the Rotherham area."

Andrew Nettleton from RiDO, added: "We are very pleased to welcome MTL Group to Rotherham. The Borough has an established reputation for manufacturing excellence, and having businesses such as MTL alongside our existing companies means that this reputation will be further enhanced in the future."

RiDO provides a professional and completely free service that can help with everything from finding the right sites and premises, to planning advice and guidance, from finding and training recruits to locating new customers and suppliers.

MTL Group website
Rotherham Investment and Development Office

Images: mtlgrp.com

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News: Nabarro advises on Newburgh JV

The Sheffield office of national law firm Nabarro has played a key role in creating up to 100 manufacturing jobs in Rotherham.

The joint venture (JV) between Rotherham-based Newburgh Engineering and Leeds-based Firechill is set to create up to 100 new jobs in the manufacture of a new energy-efficient low carbon refrigeration system in Rotherham.

FireChill Manufacturing is the result of a Yorkshire Forward initiative to search for new opportunities to bring manufacturing into Yorkshire. FireChill Manufacturing will be responsible for the production of units, while FireChill Trading will focus on global distributor recruitment and marketing.

The Sheffield office of national law firm Nabarro advised the JV in securing the US-developed Cooltec heat-activated technology that Firechill Manufacturing will manufacture and market to worldwide.

Nabarro partner Andrea Cropley, who advised Newburgh said: "Firechill Manufacturing is set offer a new, commercial green product manufactured in our region for export to a worldwide market. This is an excellent example of private sector growth in our local economy following assistance from a public sector initiative.

"The creation of the new jobs will depend on the success of the product in the coming years, but early estimates of up to 100 new jobs is not over-optimistic."

Vincent Middleton at Newburgh Engineering added: "The assistance from Nabarro in forming the JV was critical, it is now up to all the Firechill team to now deliver a world beating green product that's "Made in Sheffield."

In June FireChill secured just under £1m from a group of private investors to add to the £4m invested to date in research and development. The new money was to fund accelerated infrastructure development, product field-testing and manufacturing mobilisation.

The proven, patented, heat-activated cooling technology technology reduces operating costs by up to 20% in traditional air conditioning applications and by up to 80% when integrated into a combined heat and power (CHP) system.

The unit's low cost, low carbon technology provides a competitive advantage, particularly in areas which are hot, crowded, have plenty of gas and/or where the electricity supply is unreliable or expensive.

A wide range of potential commercial applications includes; reducing supermarket energy costs through pre-cooling; removing supply chain food waste in India; high-volume production of water from air in South Africa and Australia and even cooling for one-day old chicks.

Firechill website
Newburgh Engineering website

Images: firechill.com

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News: PDR Construction awarded Rotherham Aldi contract

German discount retailer Aldi Stores Ltd has awarded Hull-based PDR Construction a £2m contract to build a new store in Rotherham.

The plans by The Harris Partnership and 3e Consulting Engineers for a 950 sq m store were approved in January and could create 15 - 20 jobs.

Work starts on the former Matthewman's car showroom on Fitzwilliam Road in Eastwood in early January.

PDR director John White said: "UK business is good for discount retailers such as Aldi, and we are benefiting from their expansion plans thanks to our track record of delivering successful projects for them."

This will be PDR's 12th Aldi project, following successful work for them in Grimsby, Sheffield, Willerby and refurbishments with Darlington south region.

In addition, PDR has also started this week with a £500k enabling package at Aldi Pocklington, near York.

PDR website

Images: The Harris Partnership

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News: Bromley Technologies complete Canadian Job with skeleton simulator

The Formula Ice athletes may have missed out on the medals at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver but Rotherham based Bromley Technologies has recently completed a trip back to Canada on their first international tour with their unique skeleton simulator educational experience.

The Advanced Manufacturing Park firm visited Alberta, Canada at the invitation of the South Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), together with Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton, the national governing body for bobsleigh sports in Canada.

The trip started at the SAIT Presidential Gala Dinner for over 200 guests including many influential local and national business leaders. The dinner also gave a first opportunity for the women's World Number 1, Canadian skeleton bobsleigh athlete Melissa Hollingsworth to try out the simulator.

The Skeleton simulator has been designed by the team to identify talent who have the necessary natural ability, balance, coordination and core stability, to successfully navigate the skeleton down the virtual bob track. The simulator, through the software, can be tuned by changing the four key engineering principles involved in designing and development of a racing skeleton.

Due to this very unique design the simulator has been promoted by the Bromley Technologies team as a unique educational platform to help to promote design, sport and performance engineering as a stimulating and very real career option.

During the tour the Bromley team presented to over 600 students and parents in the Calgary area, working alongside athletes from the Canadian national s keleton squad to give the youngsters a better understanding of the sport and allowing them to experience skeleton for themselves through the simulator.

The visit also made national news in Canada, with broadcaster CTV reporting on one of the school visits in their daily primetime sports programme.

Mike Maddock, COO at Bromley Technologies said: "The reception we got from everyone was amazing. It seemed odd at first to be taking the skeleton simulator from Britain over to a winter sports nation like Canada, but there is nothing else like it in the world.

"It was clear that the pupils loved being able to emulate their heroes like Melissa and men's Olympics champion Jon Montgomery, whilst also learning more about the science, engineering and technology of sport.

"We live and breathe design and performance engineering and we want to promote to the next generation. We show that it can be a great career choice as engineers and designers are key to the future economy."

Dr. Alex Zahavich, Director – Applied Research and Innovation Services, SAIT Polytechnic added: "Bringing the skeleton sled simulator to Calgary was an excellent example of international collaboration to promote this exciting, highly technical sport. The response at SAIT Polytechnic's President's Gala and at the high schools was beyond what we expected.

"We look forward to expanding our relationship with Bromley Technologies and bringing the simulator back to SAIT and Calgary next year, while working on other projects."

Bromley have a number of booking from schools in the UK for the simulator and have presented to over 8,000 UK children and students in the last 18 months to raise the profile of careers in Design engineering and sports.

The team are already in discussions to repeat the Canadian trip in early 2011 and are looking forward to working with more Canadian schools.

Bromley Technologies website

Images: Bromley Technologies

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