CONFIDENCE IN the UK economy among plumbing and heating firms has dropped to its lowest level since reporting began. Only 6% indicated optimism about the UK's economic outlook, while pessimism has climbed to 64%, compared with 49% in Q2 and 46% a year ago.

The sharp deterioration comes just weeks before the Autumn Budget, with firms calling for clear signals from government on business investment, support for skills and action to ease the cost of living.

These are the headline findings of the Q3 2025 State of Trade report from the Plumbing and Heating Federation (SNIPEF), the principal employers’ association for the plumbing and heating profession.

"Although I am relieved to see confidence in our industry has remained relatively steady over the last quarter, the collapse in optimism for the wider UK economy is striking," said Fiona Hodgson, CEO of SNIPEF.

"It reflects a deeper malaise being felt across construction, especially in housebuilding, where repeated government promises of a renaissance have yet to materialise."

The State of Trade report has shown signs of resilience within the plumbing profession. Trading activity in Q3 improved, with 37% of firms saying they were busier than expected. Forward order books have also strengthened, with 32% reporting higher or much higher workloads over the next six months. This is a significant rise from 17% in Q2 and 18% in Q3 2024. 

However, these gains risk being short-lived. Growing speculation around income tax rises in the Autumn Budget is fuelling concerns that household budgets will be squeezed even further. Any such move could hit consumer spending hard and push many public-facing sectors, including plumbing and heating, into renewed stagnation.

"When people are unsure about their disposable income, they delay spending on planned home upgrades and essential maintenance. That has a direct impact on our members, many of whom work in domestic settings and rely on customer confidence. The profession is doing its part to stay resilient, but the government must now do its part to support it," Hodgson added.

"We need a Budget that backs working people, builds business confidence and invests in the skilled workforce that will drive recovery. Without it, we risk pushing stability further out of reach."

www.snipef.org/publications

Recent years have seen a dramatic decline in apprenticeship starts, with 170,000 fewer places available in 2024 than in 2014. 

The former Sector Skills Council, known as the ‘Sector Connector’, Enginuity carries out regular SME Snapshots, monitoring the real time issues affecting small and medium-sized business in engineering and manufacturing.

The latest snapshot showed that the greatest pressure on the bottom line comes from employment costs with issues on the cost of apprenticeships and recent increases in National Insurance Contributions.

"High employment costs are now the largest factor driving inflationary pressures and undermining the UK's labour market. This week’s unemployment figures may well reflect just that," said CEO Ann Watson.

"The skills system must work for the majority - especially SMEs - who are fighting to survive. When it becomes too expensive to invest in the skills of the future, we jeopardise not only businesses but also the prosperity and innovation of our country.

"This is a direct result of soaring employment costs, including a 66% increase in the National Living Wage for apprentices over just two years, alongside additional increases to National Insurance for the existing workforce," she continued. 

"It is absolutely right for apprentices to be paid fairly but for the first 18-24 months of the apprenticeship they are effectively in training and the cost differential between an apprentice and some experienced workers is now so small that we may see many employers replacing their normal apprentice intake for those with more experience. 

"For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the backbone of UK manufacturing, these costs have become unsustainable, forcing many to cancel or downsize their apprenticeship programmes."

Chris Houston, MD of Tadweld, a leading steel fabrication and engineering company explains why: "In 2023 the minimum wage for an apprentice welder was £6/hour. Whilst that may seem low, apprentices attend college one day per week and we pay them for that time too. They’re in training for most of the time they are with us, working alongside a skilled fabricator, so we’ve always seen apprentices as an investment rather than an employee able to produce high volumes of work. 

"In 2024 the apprentice NLW increased to £7.50/hour, and then in 2025 it increased to £10/hour. That’s a staggering 66% increase in 2 years. It makes offering apprenticeships exceptionally expensive."

Tadweld’s campaign to safeguard apprenticeship opportunities is a shining example of grassroots action addressing urgent workforce needs. 

By championing apprenticeships and investing in future talent, Tadweld sets a precedent for others in the industry to follow. 

The UK has a proud history of apprenticeships dating back to the Statute of Artificers in 1563. These programmes have been integral to the success of industries from engineering and construction to hospitality and healthcare.

Yet, recent policy decisions - including the 2017 introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy, alongside a national push for university degrees - have had a lasting negative impact. 

While there has been a recent shift in attitudes recognising apprenticeships as a valuable alternative to academic routes, the most recent increases in minimum wage have made it cripplingly expensive for businesses to train apprentices, threatening the future pipeline of skilled workers.

At Enginuity, we hear daily from SME leaders who are passionate about developing the next generation but are unable to afford it. The cost of employing an apprentice has risen by over 70% when factoring in both wage and the cost to train. For many, this means having to make the difficult decision to suspend programmes that have produced talented professionals for decades. SMEs constitute 90% of UK manufacturing, and if they cannot invest in skills, the competitiveness and resilience of our industry is at risk.

With demand for skilled roles, such as welders, set to rise sharply in the next five years, but with just 231 welding apprentices trained in 2024, the current trajectory is not sustainable. We must act now. The upcoming budget presents a vital opportunity for Government to support UK industry by making apprenticeships affordable once again. 

Enginuity, alongside partners across the manufacturing sector, calls on policymakers to review employment costs and ensure that SMEs can continue to invest in talent and training. Only by prioritising apprenticeships can we secure the future of British industry and provide meaningful opportunities for young people.

www.enginuity.org

The emergency stop device is triggered manually by a single action of a single person.

Explosionproof emergency stop devices are subject to both Directive 2014/34/EU (ATEX 114) and Machine Directive 2006/42/EC.

The emergency stop function must be designed in such a way that the decision to operate the emergency stop devices does not require the person to think about any consequences resulting from it.

The emergency stop devices must be permanently installed, so that it is easy for the operator to press in the event of danger. When pushbuttons are used, it should be possible to actuate them easily with the palm of one’s hand.

The emergency stop function must be available and operational at all times. It must have priority over all other functions and work processes in all types of operations of the machine without adversely affecting other protective functions.

The emergency stop function must be designed in such a way that, once the emergency stop devices has been actuated, any dangerous movements are stopped and the operation of the machine is suitably prevented without causing additional hazards and without any further intervention.

An electrical emergency stop device must apply the compulsory opening principle with a mechanical locking function. Electrical emergency stop devices meet the requirements of EN 60947-5-5.

Colours and texts

The button of the emergency stop device must be RED. If there is a background behind the actuator and inasmuch as it is realizable, this must be YELLOW.

Neither the control device nor the background of the control device is marked with a text or a symbol. If, for the sake of clarity, a symbol is required, the symbol must comply with IEC 60417-5638.

Resetting

If the emergency stop function has been activated:

• it must be maintained until it is reset manually
• a renewed starting of the work processes that were stopped by the initiation of the emergency stop function must not be possible.

The emergency stop function must be reset by a conscious act of one person. An emergency stop function must be reset by unlocking an emergency stop device. The reset must not initiate a restarting of the machine or installation.

The emergency stop function must not adversely affect the effectiveness of other safety functions.

Measures against unintentional activation

The emergency stop device must be designed in such a way that any unintentional activation is avoided. Measures against the unintentional activation of an emergency stop device must not create a risk of hindering the operation or the accessibility of the emergency stop devices. Provided that it is feasible, any unintentional activation must preferably be avoided by the arrangement than by constructional measures.

Certain precautions can be taken to avoid an unintentional activation, for example:

• positioning the emergency stop device far from areas that are expected to be very busy,
• selection of the type of emergency stop device,
• selection of the suitable size and form of the emergency stop device, or
• mounting the emergency stop device in a recessed surface of the surrounding control station.

The use of a protective collar around the emergency stop device to avoid any unintentional operation should be restricted to applications where other measures are not practicable.

A protective collar must not have sharp corners or edges or rough surfaces that could cause injury. Corners and edges must be deburred and the contact areas of surfaces must be smooth.

www.thuba.com

FOR NEARLY all applications, electric linear actuators are a preferable choice compared to their hydraulic counterparts. Today, electric linear actuators from a brand like Tolomatic are available in bore sizes up to 127mm (5”) and can exert up to 222.4kN (50,000lbf) of force. As a result, they can handle force demands across virtually all applications, ranging from metal presses to cranes, except for those requiring the very highest force, where hydraulic designs still have an advantage.

However, when considering retrofitting an application, or upgrading a machine design, reluctance to switch from hydraulic to electric is often a result of the perceived time and cost of the update. Long term though, it’s nearly always less expensive, and a time saving, to make the change to electric.

The demand for regular maintenance, and the risk of leaks, are inherent to hydraulic systems, whereas their electric counterparts are almost maintenance free. The high reliability of electric designs also results in significantly less downtime, which optimises application productivity. What’s more, electric actuators are less expensive to run; while hydraulic systems only achieve around 50% efficiency, electric systems typically operate at 75-80%. 

Lower cost, improved performance

The improvements in precision and repeatable accuracy also mean that electric actuators can deliver a boost in throughput as well as production quality. The motion capabilities of an electric design enable real-time management over force, position, velocity, as well as acceleration and deceleration. This level of control also expands the functionality of what a machine can do. 

However, when converting an existing machine or design to electric actuators, accurate sizing is crucial. When conservative estimates are applied in place of confidence in accurate sizing, this usually delivers an oversized and overpriced actuator. The system pressure method of actuator sizing falls into this category, taking the area of the cylinder multiplied by the rated system pressure. 

To achieve accurate sizing, calculating the true peak and continuous working force of the hydraulic cylinder is the optimum approach. This means identifying, as closely as possible, the forces acting on each side of the piston, then calculating the effective area of the rod side by subtracting the rod area from the full bore area. Finally, ensure that the actuator can deliver the required application force by considering the difference in force between the two sides.

Accurate sizing

Recording the values of the application while in operation will achieve the most accurate data, and this requires a load cell or an electric actuator installed in the application. This method may not be possible with existing machines, so a practical alternative is to measure hydraulic pressures in the cylinder while the process is in operation. 

The closer the measurement is taken to the point of work, the more accurate the measurement, and this means measuring the pressure at the cylinder, however, this area may be the least accessible. An alternative is to measure pressure between the valve and cylinder, as pressure-compensated flow controls and needle valves or other inline 

accessories downstream of the control valve may have an influence on pressure. It’s also possible to measure the pressure at the valve, and while this is the most common for conversion applications, it’s the furthest distance from the work point. This can increase the error in actual versus measured pressures. However, even a pressure estimation within 15% of the actual force will provide a reasonable level of accuracy compared to the system pressure method.

Support in specification

It’s also important to measure the return pressure. Usually, there will be minimal back pressure in the return lines, but some systems can have high return pressure between the cylinder and the valve that will impact the output force of the cylinder. The most accurate force calculations will also determine the dynamics on both the piston end and the rod end of the cylinder. When back pressure is applied to the rod end of a cylinder during an extend move, this will also offset some of the force applied to the piston end of the cylinder, and this must also be accounted for. 

Tolomatic provides a range of electric actuators ideally suited to hydraulic replacement applications, such as the RSX extreme force actuator rated to 222kN force, through to the RSH hygienic actuators designed with IP69K protection for clean-in-place (CIP) applications. INMOCO supports Tolomatic products in the UK and can assist with hydraulic replacement projects including accurate electric linear actuator sizing. 

Gerard Bush is an engineer at INMOCO

For more information: 

www.inmoco.co.uk

Tel: +44 (0) 1327 307600 

Located in Milan, Replique Srl will serve as an additional base from which the company can deploy its continually expanding range of manufacturing technologies - including 3D printing, CNC and injection molding - to address customers’ production challenges.

Expanding International Presence

"The foundation of Replique Srl is a strategic milestone in strengthening our platform’s position on a global stage," said Henrike Wonneberger, co-founder and COO of Replique. "With this step, we’re deepening our connection to the Italian market and enhancing our ability to support our customers in the region in realising spare parts and series applications quickly and cost-efficiently."

Renato Marelli, technical sales manager at Replique, from the company’s new office in Italy, says: "Italy’s rich industrial heritage and energy for innovation make this region a truly exciting frontier. By establishing our local presence, we strategically support Italian companies in bringing innovative manufacturing solutions to life."

Growth in Qualified Series Production

Qualified series production is becoming an increasingly important driver of growth. With an average of around 100 parts per order - a fivefold increase compared to the previous year - the platform now delivers regularly to diverse industries, from rail and mechanical engineering to pharma and healthcare. Series applications already account for 65% of the business, alongside engineering services and one-off parts.

Replique’s network of qualified partners now numbers over 350 worldwide and covers all key manufacturing technologies - from 3D printing and CNC machining to casting, forging, and injection molding.

Meet Replique at Formnext 2025

At Formnext 2025 (Hall 12.1, Booth B95), Replique will present its comprehensive platform, covering everything from engineering services and secure digital storage to decentralised, quality-assured production. Visitors can experience how Replique enables industrial companies to stabilise supply chains, reduce costs, and manufacture more sustainably.

replique.io

These complex assemblies, designed and manufactured in-house by Filtronic are engineered to withstand the demanding conditions of the space environment at low Earth orbit, delivering high-reliability performance across a wide range of communication applications.

"This contract highlights the increasing diversification across customers within the space markets and reflects the trust placed in Filtronic’s capability to deliver at scale for the most demanding space applications," said Nat Edington, CEO at Filtronic. "As demand for satellite connectivity continues to grow, this is another milestone in Filtronic’s mission to support the growing satellite market for Non-Terrestrial Networks, Mobile Satellite Services, and Direct-to-Device connectivity."

Manufacturing will take place at Filtronic’s state-of-the-art facilities in the North East of England. The award reinforces Filtronic’s position at the forefront of RF and mmWave innovation and deepens its partnership with a key European customer, marking further business in the rapidly growing LEO constellation sector.

For more information about Filtronic’s range of components and solutions for space and defence applications, visit its website here. Alternatively, you can speak to a member of the team on +44 (0)1740 618 800.

filtronic.com

HINVII (High intensity non-visible intelligent illumination) produces a distinctive purple flash to activate high-visibility materials. This makes hi-vis clothing, signs, cones, and machinery glow brightly, dramatically improving visibility at dawn, dusk, or in poor weather, without creating distracting glare for drivers or crews.

The new warning lamp includes multi-programmable flash patterns and operates on 12/24V systems. Its rugged design is IP67 and IP69K rated, ensuring high performance in demanding environments. Built to last, it withstands vibration, water, and dirt, making it ideal for high traffic areas, roadside incidents, and industrial sites, says the company.

Especially relevant for sectors such as waste management, construction, highway maintenance, distribution, recovery, utilities, agriculture, and logistics, the warning lamp is suitable for any vehicle operating in high-risk or variable lighting conditions.

"This patented technology enables fleets to access precision warning lighting which quite literally cuts through the dark," said John Nobbs, UK sales director for Durite. "By enhancing visibility without increasing visual noise, it empowers fleet and emergency service operators to improve crew safety without compromising performance or compliance. Truly, a leap forward in lighting safety."

www.durite.co.uk

MANNOL is addressing this challenge by introducing new screw caps for its containers. With easily identifiable authenticity features and transparent manufacturer details, the brand is sending a clear signal: at MANNOL, product security is a top priority.

Uniform Features for a Global Brand

To make it easier for distributors and end customers to verify authenticity, the new screw caps bear the SCT and MANNOL brand marks, including the motto "Professionals in Lubricants." The top of the cap features a tactile, embossed texture with an iridescent effect that shimmers depending on the light - a detail that is intentionally difficult to copy. The inner seal now reads "Made by SCT," while the "Original Quality" notice and the SCT logo remain.

The caps are produced in a distinctive silver tone that is echoed on the product labels, including in the product names, viscosity grades, and elements of the new vehicle sketches. This allows the security feature to blend seamlessly into the brand's overall visual identity without overshadowing its functional purpose: clear identification and counterfeit prevention. For trade and service partners, this creates clear checkpoints for incoming goods and sales; for end customers, it provides reliable guidance at the point of purchase.

The new caps will be used across all relevant product categories – including engine oils, transmission oils, industrial oils, and operating and service fluids – and are designed for 1-litre, 4-litre, and 5-litre canisters. The introduction of the new container caps begins immediately; the transition will be rolled out gradually worldwide across the specified product categories and container sizes.

"For MANNOL, product security is the highest priority. That is why we are actively combating counterfeiting and continuously investing in measures, such as these newly introduced container caps, to protect our customers from risks and to strengthen their trust in our brand," said Juri Sudheimer, founder and owner of MANNOL/SCT.

MANNOL Container Caps: 

The New Features at a Glance

• Prominent Logo Placement: SCT / MANNOL and "Professionals in Lubricants"
• Difficult-to-Copy Surface: Embossed cap top with an iridescent, colour-shifting effect
• Inner Seal: "Made by SCT" now complements the existing SCT logo and "Original Quality" notice

www.mannol.de

TRADITIONAL GEARBOXES with solid shafts are a well-recognised feature in automotive transmissions, industrial machinery and heavy-duty equipment. Yet these mechanical power generating stalwarts have several drawbacks; including limited flexibility due to rigid design, increased weight and susceptibility to vibration or wear - all of which can lead to higher maintenance costs and decreased efficiency.

Overcoming these shortcomings is where shaft-mounted gearboxes, otherwise known as direct drive gearboxes, come in. Unlike traditional gearboxes with solid shafts, these gearboxes slide over the shaft, so the shaft supports the weight and torque. There are numerous advantages to this design.

The benefits of direct drive gearboxes

First, shaft-mounted gearboxes eliminate the need for extra mounting components like couplings or belts. Not only does this make the designs of the gearboxes less complex, it eases the assembly and alignment process and makes the systems ideal for space-constrained environments. Known for strong performance in tight spaces, shaft-mounted gearboxes efficiently convert high-speed, low-torque motor output into low-speed, high-torque motion, reducing misalignment and maintenance needs.

That’s why shaft-mounted gearboxes are favoured in critical applications like conveyors, mixers and pumps. Nevertheless, despite their advantages, shaft-mounted gearboxes come with their own set of installation challenges and can experience premature failure and operational inefficiencies if they are improperly mounted.

Here are some tips for how installers can prevent these mistakes and, in doing so, get the most efficiency and cost savings.

1. Ensure proper alignment

Many operators make the mistake of bolting the gearbox down to a solid plate or mounting surface. While bolting the gearbox down may seem like a solid solution, bolting down the gearbox prevents it from adjusting to shaft movements, causing misalignment, vibration and damage to components like bearings and gears. Over time, even slight shaft imperfections can lead to premature failure.

Instead, proper alignment is essential for the smooth operation and longevity of a shaft-mounted gearbox. A reaction bracket, torque arm or reaction bolt kit should be used to allow the gearbox to move with the shaft. These flexible mounting solutions help accommodate misalignments, reduce radial loads and minimise wear on the gearbox bearings. In large machinery, such as mixers or conveyors, the reaction bracket helps redistribute torque and protect the gearbox from damage.

Additionally, the anchor point for the reaction device must be strong enough to handle high reactive forces, especially during direct-on-line (DOL) starting, when torque can spike up to three times its nominal rating. Operators should also schedule regular inspections both during the installation and for ongoing maintenance.

2. Choose the right components for the application

Selecting the right components is critical when designing a gearbox system. It’s essential that the shaft and bearings are properly sized to support the gearbox’s weight and torque. The chosen parts must help the system withstand operational loads without premature wear or failure.

For instance, Technidrive recently assisted a customer in the asphalt industry, which faced repeated gearbox failures on its mixers. The issue arose from two gearboxes that were bolted down solidly on misaligned shafts. The bending of the shafts under the weight of the gearboxes caused excessive strain, leading to frequent breakdowns and costly downtime. The system used a 37-kilowatt motor, which contributed significant power and was crucial in ensuring that the gearboxes could handle the torque demands.

To solve the problem, Technidrive designed a new system using a reaction bracket and flexible mounting along with Bonfiglioli hollow bore gearboxes. These are favoured in quarry and mine applications where absolute reliability and low maintenance are key factors.

This solution allowed the gearboxes to shift with the shaft movement, alleviating the stress that was causing premature gearbox failure. As a result, the customer experienced a significant reduction in failures. Whereas the previous system was prone to failures two or three times a year, it has since run smoothly for years without further issues.

3. Consult technical experts

This example shows us that selecting the right gearbox components is only part of the equation - it’s just as important to consult an expert and understand how to best configure these parts to your specific application. This helps avoid installation mistakes - like bolting the gearbox solidly or using incorrectly sized shafts — which cause significant issues further down the line. It’s also why Technidrive leverages over 25 years of experience, providing expert consultation from component selection to installation.

While the advantages of shaft-mounted gearboxes over traditional gearboxes are clear in some applications, their efficiency and longevity utterly depends on proper installation. By seeking expert advice and using the right solutions, such as flexible mounting and precise alignment, costly mistakes can be avoided so operators can ensure long-term system performance, efficiency and cost savings.

David Strain is technical director at Technidrive

For more information:

www.technidrive.co.uk

Tel: +44 (0) 28 37 518111

This initiative - called IONOMY - unites experts in technology and solutions, including materials, curing, systems integration, software and hardware

The IONOMY ecosystem includes the following partners:

• AkzoNobel Coil and Extrusion Coatings - initiator of IONOMY and a global leader in coil coatings solutions
• PCT Ebeam and Integration - the leading supplier of innovative and reliable ebeam systems for coil lines
• IST METZ  - a leader in UV and LED curing systems
• Globus - a reference in coating systems and machines engineering for coil
• NOVACEL - a global leader in processing and protective films for innovative materials.

While energy-curable products are available for coil coating, AkzoNobel attributes slow adoption to the complexity of transition, with many businesses unsure how to adapt their operations in order to seize the renewable energy-curing opportunity.

"It isn’t just about making a tweak to the process," explained Sebastien Villeneuve, transformation manager, coil coatings, AkzoNobel Coil and Extrusion Coatings. "Energy-curing is a complete reimagining and transformation of how coating lines are designed, operated, and optimised. We see the enormity of the challenge through our customers’ eyes, and this is why we have created the IONOMY ecosystem."

The name IONOMY is derived from ‘ionisation’ and ‘economy’. Ionisation refers to the critical role energy plays in triggering the cold curing process – a cornerstone of the renewable energy curing technology. Economy reflects the significant business benefits of energy curing: lowering energy costs, faster throughput, improved sustainability, and long-term profitability. 

IONOMY is a cross-functional partnership that supports every stage of the energy curing journey - from diagnostics and road mapping to line redesign and long-term optimisation. It is designed to give businesses the tools, expertise, and confidence to adopt energy curing that unlock measurable efficiency and performance gains, while reducing exposure to energy costs volatility and tightening sustainability regulations.

Built on deep experience across adjacent sectors like automotive, wood, and packaging (where energy curing is already well established), AkzoNobel brings these learnings into the complex, high-throughput world of coil coating.

With the IONOMY ecosystem there will be no prescribed architecture or predefined solutions. Whether a customer is a coil coater, steel producer, or new entrant, the IONOMY ecosystem will help shape a path based on their unique needs, constraints and goals to give them access to operationally feasible, and commercially smart transformation that fits each business.

Chris Bradford, market director, coil and packaging coatings, AkzoNobel says that the creation of IONOMY stems from AkzoNobel’s core values: "We’ve been guided by the values of collaboration, innovation, and sustainability to step forward and help our customers unlock change. No one company can deliver this kind of transformation alone, which is why the IONOMY ecosystem is built on collaboration to guide the industry into its next chapter.

"Our aim is to help coil coaters embrace the more efficient and sustainable future that’s within reach," he stated. "Together, we’ll make renewable energy curing not just possible, but practical and profitable for all coil coaters and steel processors who will be free to adapt, innovate and compete on a new level.

"This challenge requires new thinking. It requires us to have the courage to break from old models and seize the energy-curing opportunity. IONOMY is exactly that."

Backed by AkzoNobel’s global network and science-based carbon reduction targets, the launch of the IONOMY ecosystem represents a bold commitment: to help the entire value chain with the challenges of decarbonization, modernisation, and resilient growth.

See Welcome to the IONOMY ecosystem for details on how the IONOMY ecosystem can support reduced energy consumption and waste through renewable electricity use and material efficiency compared to traditional curing methods.

www.akzonobel.com