The STM-190-35 expands the STM range with increased torque capability and precision, enabling demanding direct-drive applications where performance, compactness, and design flexibility are critical.

The STM-190-35 is designed for high-precision direct-drive systems such as electro-optical platforms, gimbals, robotics, and other motion-critical applications. With a favourable inner-to-outer diameter ratio and a compact axial length, the motor supports space-efficient system designs without compromising torque density or control performance.

To support system-level design and evaluation, the STM-190-35 is fully supported in Alva’s TorqStudio design and simulation platform. TorqStudio allows engineers to evaluate motor performance, explore winding options, and optimise motor selection early in the design process based on application-specific requirements.

"With the STM-190-35, we extend the SlimTorq range to address applications that require higher torque in a compact frameless format," said Nicolas Giraudo, CCO at Alva Industries. "This new size gives system designers more freedom to optimise performance and mechanical integration, especially in direct-drive solutions where precision and smooth motion are essential."

The addition of the STM-190-35 brings the SlimTorq STM portfolio to nine available motor sizes, spanning different outer diameters and lengths. Each size can be configured with multiple inner diameter options, winding patterns, and custom configurations, allowing engineers to tailor the motor to their specific application requirements.

Like all SlimTorq motors, the STM-190-35 is manufactured using Alva’s patented FiberPrinting technology, delivering ironless, slotless windings with high copper fill factor and zero cogging. The motor is available with multiple winding options, different terminal block designs, and optional temperature sensors and Hall sensors, supporting precise control and system-level optimisation.

Detailed specifications and available configurations for the SlimTorq STM-190-35 can be found in the SlimTorq product catalog.

www.alvaindustries.com/contact

Highlights included a presentation on the state of the economy by Trevor Williams, former chief economist for Lloyds Bank, who outlined the challenges facing businesses due to the conflict in the Middle East. The war has hastily revised all growth forecasts, and the volatility of the situation would impact the UK in the long term. He urged firms to embrace digitalisation, which he argued does not reduce jobs but increases wealth and income.

This was echoed by Mike Wilson, chief automation officer at MTC, who advised that robotic automation in manufacturing can help provide staff with the tools they need to do their jobs efficiently. Delegates were also warned by Victoria Speight, founder of Cyberfit, that businesses needed to have robust procedures in place to combat cyber-attacks. There are currently 23,506 known attacks on UK organisations every day.

"While our Conference highlighted the many challenges that lie ahead, what is clear is that our members have the solutions and innovative thinking to help," said Emma Verkaik, CEO of the BCMPA. "The more dialogue we have in our industry, then the stronger we become and I’d like to thank all our speakers, sponsors and attendees for coming together to be part of the industry conversation and provide practical ideas to enable our sector to grow."

The conference also heard from Esther Carter, chief strategy officer at Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme administrator PackUK. She highlighted that EPR’s initial payments across the four nations totalled £1.4bn. Over time, it’s hoped that modulated fees could remove unrecyclable packaging with the potential to push recycling rates to between 64-84%. 

Louisa Goodfellow, policy manager at Ecosurety, examined the financial and data obligations of EPR. She pointed out that while there is confusion in the market, it’s about understanding the scheme’s nuances. Jude Allan, MD for the OPRL, highlighted the importance of on-pack labelling for citizens to understand where to dispose of packaging waste. However, the government’s plans for mandatory labelling are currently paused as the UK is likely to align with the EU’s proposals.

The afternoon sessions provided practical solutions for delegates in dealing with their own operations. Stefan Casey, commercial and innovation director at Celeritas Solutions, outlined why co-packers are so important to the supply chain with the ability to remove risk for brand owners. Jamie Tinsley, CEO at Touchstone, gave an entertaining presentation which outlined his approach to empowering organisations to transform, engage and thrive, while James Coull, business manager at Wallace Hind, and Vicki Fitzpatrick, founder of The Wellbeing Focus, looked at best practice on retaining and inspiring talent in a business.

Technology was the focus for two other sessions: a panel discussion led by Josephine Coombe, chief commercial officer at Nulogy; and from Wayne Kedward, MD at Autopack, who addressed how businesses should go about selecting machinery and what pitfalls need to be avoided. On energy, Paul Gregory, group commercial director at HSEnergy Group, delivered his well-timed talk explaining how to invest in renewables at a volatile time in the market

The event was made possible by sponsors Nulogy and Packaging Innovations and Empack together with exhibits from Associate Members, Autopack, Barkwith Group, EcoVerify, Fenton Packaging, HSEnergy Group, Olympus Technologies and Quantum Packaging.

"It was encouraging to see so many engaged delegates listening to our highly knowledgeable line-up of speakers," Verkaik continued. "One of the roles of the BCMPA is to flag these important subjects to members, allowing them to be part of the dialogue that is shaping the future of the contract manufacturing, packing and fulfilment industry. We are stronger together and I can see that the members are embracing the positives and the learnings that can be found from industry collaboration."

The BCMPA is continuing to build its membership with potential full and Associate Members invited to find out more about the many benefits online at www.bcmpa.org.uk/join-the-bcmpa. 

The glittering awards night, to be hosted by BBC star Swarzy Shire and held at the Park Plaza, Westminster Bridge, on 1 July, is firmly fixed as a focal point for industry and skills provision.

This strategic collaboration with Babcock brings together two organisations committed to inspiring the next generation of talent, recognising excellence, and driving meaningful change across the industry. 

By joining forces, Enginuity, the former sector skills council and Babcock, aim to elevate the importance of skills development, champion innovation, and create new pathways into engineering and manufacturing careers.

"We are delighted to welcome Babcock as our Headline Partner for the Enginuity Skills Awards," said Ann Watson, CEO of Enginuity. "Closing the skills gap is one of the biggest challenges facing our industry, and it requires collaboration, ambition and action. This partnership reflects a shared belief in the power of skills to transform lives and drive innovation, and together we’re proud to champion the people and organisations leading that change. 

"Through the Enginuity Skills Awards, we’re celebrating the talent shaping the future and inspiring more people to see the opportunities a career in engineering and manufacturing can offer."

Jen McElhinney, Babcock's chief people officer, described partnering with Enginuity as the Headline Sponsor of this year’s Skills Awards as "a reflection of our commitment to developing the engineering talent the UK needs for the future". 

"At Babcock, our work across defence and critical national infrastructure depends on highly skilled people, and we see every day how vital advanced engineering capabilities are to the UK’s security and resilience," she stated. 

"The Enginuity Skills Awards shine a light on the individuals and organisations driving our sector forward, and we’re proud to support a platform that not only celebrates excellence but also inspires the next generation to pursue careers in engineering and manufacturing – areas fundamental to both our national defence and our industrial future."

Swarzy, who presents regularly on BBC Radio 1, 1 Extra and BBC network television, said: "I’m really excited to be hosting the Enginuity Skills Awards this year! It’s my first time, and I can’t wait to celebrate the nominees and shine a light on their stories.

"I’m passionate about social mobility - and skills are among the best tools to make that happen. As someone who wears many hats across different roles, I love to learn and have a real appreciation for the time, resilience and determination it takes to build new skills, overcome challenges and find your voice - often while navigating barriers outside of your control. 

"The journey is everything and spending the night with people who share that mindset means a lot to me. I can’t wait to bring the energy and celebrate everyone in the room."

Event Details:

• Event: Enginuity Skills Awards
• Tickets: Now live
• Location and Date: Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, 1 July 2026.

For more information, ticket purchases, and partnership opportunities, please visit Enginuity Skills Awards 2026

Watch Swarzy and Enginuity events lead Ben Hope, talk to Steph McGovern about the glittering night in store, on the podcast Steph on Skills powered by Enginuity from 14 April: enginuity.org/steph-on-skills-powered-by-enginuity

Big Bear Plastics, which employs 80 people at its factory in Droitwich, has taken just six months to successfully complete its ISO 14001 audit, leveraging a recent £2m investment drive in new equipment and modern ERP system. 

The company now has an Environmental Management System in place that conforms to the highest international standards, helping minimise its impact on the communities it operates in, whilst also opening new opportunities with domestic and global clients.

This includes supplying parts to the off-highway, aerospace and defence sectors, not to mention early inroads into the energy generation/storage market. Together, this will support the firm’s drive to hit £10m annual revenues by 2027.

"Achieving ISO 14001 accreditation for the first time in our 27-year history is a major milestone in our sustainability journey,” explained Daniel Gherghe, quality manager at Big Bear Plastics.

"Gaining the standard is important for winning new business, but bigger than that is the good practice it instils in everyone that works here. Thanks to the comprehensive nature of the audit, we were able to directly identify a host of performance improvements, and this gave us the platform to formalise roles and responsibilities and, importantly, implement a more data-driven system for resource consumption.

"Ethically, it's the right thing to do - it provides a framework to systematically reduce our environmental impact. Strategically, it brings immense business value, enhancing operational consistency and resilience, ensuring environment compliance and mitigates risk," he continued.

"It also strengthens our brand reputation as a responsible and forward-thinking manufacturing partner."

Located in a 75,000 sq ft factory, Big Bear Plastics has evolved from vacuum forming and trimming of plastic parts to offering customers access to high quality compression moulding and waterjet cutting of lightweight interior trim products.

The firm delivers a full-service solution from initial design, development and tooling to the manufacture of medium to high volume moulded parts up to 3.5m x 2.5m.

It works with a wide range of thermoplastic materials, including ABS, PMMA-ABS, HDPE, HIPS, PC and PE in a variety of colours, finishes and thicknesses.

"Modernising our production floor through the installation of two new CNCs, a new robot and waterjet machine really accelerated our push towards the ISO 14001 accreditation," added MD Emma Hockley, who took over from her father Gerald in 2021.

"The £2m investment in new equipment, combined with the ERP system and new LED lighting throughout the site, has made us more efficient. It has also given us real time data to make informed decisions that has reduced our environmental footprint even further.

"Encouragingly, the standard has allowed us to pitch for new work that we weren’t previously eligible for," she stated.

Big Bear Plastics is hoping to use ISO 14001 as a launchpad for future improvements, including exploring on-site renewable energy opportunities turning its attention to achieving ISO 45001, the health and safety quality standard, by the end of 2026.

www.bigbearplastics.com

The Activity Scheduler addresses one of the most persistent challenges in pharma plants: connecting long-range planning from systems such as SAP or OMP with the detailed, hour-by-hour scheduling required on the shop floor. As production complexity increases, manual planning approaches are becoming a growing bottleneck for efficiency, collaboration, and real-time visibility of batch execution. Many teams still rely on Excel files to coordinate staging, CIP/SIP steps, changeovers, and other activities that support batch execution.

"With the Activity Scheduler, we are giving production teams a clear and practical way to coordinate the most important hours of their day," said Andreas Eschbach, founder and CEO of eschbach. "Enterprise systems handle long-term planning well, but it's the daily, shift-level decisions that determine whether a plant stays on schedule. This feature brings structure and transparency to a space that has relied on manual tools for far too long."

The new tool enables planners to build and adjust schedules through a drag-and-drop interface, with dependent tasks automatically rescheduled when delays occur. As schedules evolve, enhanced transparency keeps teams aligned and allows them to respond to deviations in real time, significantly reducing the manual status updates via email, phone, or meetings that often slow decision making.

The software also detects equipment conflicts, supports reassignment to alternate equipment, and provides operators with a clear, task focused view of their shift. Through integration with MES and OT systems, actual start and end times are captured automatically, ensuring accurate execution data without additional manual effort.

The Activity Scheduler includes an administrative area for managing templates and approvals. Templates can contain SOP links, durations, labour times, FTE requirements, triggers, dependencies, and lag times, ensuring consistent planning and controlled deployment across the plant. Managers can also use built-in reporting tools to track delays, cycle times, and performance trends, giving teams deeper insight into delay drivers, lifecycle patterns, and opportunities for continuous improvement based on real execution data.

The Activity Scheduler is available to Shiftconnector cloud customers beginning this month.

www.eschbach.com

Skills charity Enginuity, the former sector skills council dedicated to boosting skills provision in engineering and manufacturing, issued the warning as it released the results of its regular Skills Snapshot, compiled before the outbreak of war, and details of discussions held since.

Government figures issued last week reveal that Under 19 apprenticeship starts have fallen to their lowest level in 5 years and the OECD (The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), has downgraded growth forecasts and suggests that the UK would be worst hit among leading nations, by the economic fallout of the war.

Enginuity is worried that for some sector businesses a crucial ‘tipping point’ may have already been reached, despite recent Government announcements providing additional financial incentives to ease the business burden and guarantee young people employment or training.

The charity has revealed that the true cost of employing an engineering apprentice can be more than £157,000 during the three-year programme. It's Policy Centre for Supply Chain and SMEs, which commissioned the research was established to amplify the voice of smaller companies, crucial to the economy, to senior officials and will feed the stark warning to the Government as a matter of urgency.

Among the key findings:

• 25% of respondents did not employ any apprentices at all
• 84% said that labour costs were the single biggest pressure on having to raise their prices followed by energy & utility costs and raw materials at 61%.
• More than 60% were pessimistic (in January 26) about the year ahead – even before the outbreak of war.
• 60% cited lack of technical qualifications as a challenge to recruitment.
• The importance of SME’s is often hugely underestimated, making up more than 99% of all businesses in the UK and more than 95% of the manufacturing and engineering sector.

Survey respondents, (more than 250 companies), employ a total of 10,000 and generate £1.9bn to the UK economy.

"It is a mixed picture, but for many in the sector the situation was bad to begin with," said Ann Watson, CEO of Enginuity, “but it has got a whole lot worse in recent weeks. The current energy crisis due to war in the Middle East is piling yet more economic pressure.

"Direct contact with many organisations in recent days makes us extremely concerned. With 25% of respondents not employing any apprentices at all, and others telling us that they may stop employing them, this could prove disastrous for the skills system in the UK," she warned. 

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," he added.

www.enginuity.org

 

The project focused on replacing the legacy CARTA automation system (Computer-Aided Rolling Technology Application), with SMS group’s next-generation CARTAneo SRM technology, including updated crop end control (CEC) and wall thickness control (WTC) modules.

This upgrade ensures long-term system availability, improves product quality, and strengthens the plant’s competitiveness thanks to more stable and efficient SRM operation.

CARTAneo SRM is the latest technological platform for automating the complex stretch-reducing process in seamless tube mills. The system uses real-time measurement data to produce tighter tolerances, enhance wall thickness accuracy, and improve yield. It provides operators with more consistent production outcomes and supports high throughput at reliable quality levels.

To address the limitations of legacy hardware and unsupported software components, the new system runs in a virtualised server environment based on SMS’s X Pact real-time technology. This significantly reduces the risk of system failure, eliminates single-point hardware dependencies, and safeguards long-term maintainability with an open source operating system and database components.

The migration to CARTAneo SRM was carried out during Benteler’s scheduled annual shutdown to avoid any unplanned downtimes. During commissioning, SMS performed regular tests, updates, and customer-specific optimisations, while production continued with minimal disruption.

The upgrade also allowed for a redesign of the SRM motor-control strategy. The new approach reduces load peaks on the drives, minimises unnecessary load cycles, improves coordination with the downstream flying saw, and enhances process stability at higher tube speeds.

The CARTAneo SRM system upgrade includes a long-term system service package, including remote maintenance, troubleshooting, software updates, and customer-specific customisations. This ensures the system remains secure, up to date, and ready for future system expansion.

The successful completion of the project reflects the long-standing partnership between BENTELER and SMS. Both companies will continue to collaborate closely on further digitalisation and process optimisation initiatives.

www.sms-group.com

This new service enables companies to transform objects into high-resolution digital files, supporting applications such as prototyping, archiving and on-demand manufacturing.

With a focus on industrial accuracy, efficiency, and flexibility, Sculpteo’s 3D scanning service captures every detail of a part using advanced scanning technologies. Customers can simply send or drop off their objects to the Sculpteo factory near Paris, where they are scanned and converted into ready-to-use 3D mesh files, compatible with a wide range of workflows and software environments. Custom file formats are available, ensuring seamless integration into existing design and production pipelines.

Sculpteo’s scanning process is tailored to the size and complexity of each part. Small components are captured using an automated scanning system, where a rotating platform ensures every angle is recorded. For larger or more complex shapes, a manual scanning approach is used to guarantee precise detail capture and that the whole object will be scanned accurately.

Sculpteo’s new 3D scanning service is designed for multiple applications across various industries:

• Reverse engineering: Recreate accurate CAD models from existing parts when original files are missing or outdated.
• 3D printing: Produce single units or short production runs quickly and cost-effectively.
• Moulding: Generate precise moulds from digitized master parts for consistent reproduction.
• Jigs and fixtures: Design custom tools with perfect alignment to real-world components.
• Replacement parts: Manufacture on-demand spare parts to extend product lifecycles and reduce waste.

By enabling fast and accurate digitisation, Sculpteo helps companies accelerate product development, reduce lead times, and improve operational efficiency. Sculpteo’s 3D scanning service is priced based on part size, complexity, and required resolution. All digital files are professionally edited and ready for use. Optional CAD-ready formats are available for projects requiring editable geometry.

"We are pleased to be able to expand our offering to create a complete end-to-end solution for clients. We can now offer a complete service from scanning objects right through to 3D printing them at scale. With this service our vision of becoming the ultimate destination for all 3D printing needs comes to fruition," said Sculpteo CEO Alexandre d’Orsetti.

www.sculpteo.com

External challenges are mounting, expectations are rising, and organisations increasingly need the right support to stay ahead. That’s why Onsite support from a strategic MRO partner can’t just be present - it must deliver real, measurable value and set the tone with a seamless, professional transition from day one.

In this article, I’ll share the challenges I discuss with customers every day, by not just providing a solution to day-to-day problems, but also exploring the true value-added services an Onsite model can continually deliver.  

A Heady Mix of Challenges

There are many challenges in business, but the biggest is avoiding downtime. When vital parts take time to arrive and be installed, the cost can reach thousands of pounds. Supply chain management is a major factor in operational resilience across industry. It has been a priority since 2020, when supply chains fractured and lead times for globally sourced components stretched dramatically. It created a serious operational risk through unplanned machinery downtime. Another challenge is fewer experienced maintenance and mechanical engineers, as young people are often drawn to software engineering, resulting in a heavy reliance on external expertise. And finally, cost pressures from NI and wage increases mean that businesses must be careful of their full-time employment (FTE) count to balance the books. It’s a heady mix that we understand well at HAYLEY DEXIS. 

We recognise those challenges, and we want to be here to support the industry - it’s probably one of the reasons why our Onsite Solutions team has grown so rapidly. We have added multiple new Onsite locations in 2025, with further implementations scheduled over the next few months.

Ultimately, we want to take some of the weight that those everyday challenges bring by covering everything from stock ownership and procurement to day-to-day store management. So how does HAYLEY DEXIS do this? 

Having worked for several MRO distributors over the years, I have never been prouder to say I have experienced first-hand the true value of a HAYLEY DEXIS Onsite Solution. We offer expert technical advice and know-how to our customers, resulting in lower costs, fewer breakdowns to minimise downtime, and improved inventory performance.

Real Usage and Demand Patterns

One of the ways we support this is by analysing real usage and demand patterns. We help to reduce excess and obsolete inventory by ensuring only stock that is needed is held - freeing up valuable working capital. Through supplier consolidation, we also simplify the procurement processes, reducing purchase orders, invoice handling, and administrative time. Detailed reporting gives customers full visibility of their MRO spend, enabling smarter decisions, product standardisation, and tighter cost control. Crucially, our proactive stock monitoring and replenishment approach ensures critical components are always available, helping to prevent unplanned downtime and the high costs associated with emergency orders or production stoppages.

Local Branch Network 

We believe that combined technical experience is our point of difference. Whether the onsite specialist works at the customer site or from a local branch, they never work in isolation ; they are an integrated member of your team supported by  a branch network. A consultative partner who listens. By attending production and maintenance meetings and building real partnerships with the engineering team, they can spot and solve problems early with this integrated approach.

All of our regional teams are trained in Lean Six Sigma as a standard. Each team member is encouraged to develop productive solutions to manufacturing and production issues, serving as a resource with expertise and practical knowledge. They also have access to a 24/7 repair and reliability service that customers might not have in-house. And they get support from a nearby branch, usually within 30 minutes, giving quick access to not only local stock, but local experts in pneumatics, hydraulics, engineering, bearings and much more. With HAYLEY DEXIS being 50 years old this year, and with most staff having worked for the business between 10 and 30 years, this brings a lot of dedication, knowledge and experience to the table. 

Valued-Added Service in Reality

And all this value-added service starts to add up financially and productively for our customers. The value is very real, evidenced through Track Up. Our very own in-house value-added analysis platform. Track Up demonstrates the value we bring to our customers, and each example shows where we have added value to a customer.  From supply savings to technical benefits – we Track Up real savings that have brought pound note value to the customer. Recent examples include a £50,000 saving achieved in just six months through upgrades such as new sensors, as well as over £100,000 in avoided downtime at a large potato-processing facility. For some customers, these improvements translate into savings worth millions.

Ultimately, the HAYLEY DEXIS Onsite Solution transforms the challenge of managing inventory into a strategic advantage by operating as a fully integrated partner. It provides tangible, value-added benefits, such as freeing up working capital through consigned stock and delivering measurable, project-based savings – all while ensuring that the decision to switch providers is entirely de-risked. 

If you’re serious about reducing costs and improving productivity, we’d be happy to discuss our Onsite Solutions with you.

Matthew Parkes is general onsite manager at HAYLEY DEXIS

For more information: 

hayley-group.co.uk

Tel: 0121 550 2233

Electric motor systems are among the largest consumers of electricity worldwide. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) and Electric Motor Systems Platform (EMSA), they account for approximately 50 to 53% of global electricity consumption, with around 70% of this used in industrial applications alone. Despite this, many motors currently in operation are outdated and inefficient, leading to unnecessary energy waste.

Technidrive’s scrappage scheme has been developed to address this challenge directly. Businesses can now trade in existing motors or drives to receive a scrappage valuation and a tailored upgrade recommendation based on their specific application. Eligible upgrades to new high-efficiency WEG motors, supplied and commissioned by Technidrive, qualify for trade-in credit, making the move to modern technology more cost-effective.

The scheme features a simple assessment and approval process, compliant recycling and disposal of old equipment as part of a wider energy savings plan. By reducing upfront investment, the scrappage allowance can significantly shorten payback periods for businesses upgrading legacy equipment.

Upgrading to IE3, IE4, IE5 or IE6 motors presents an opportunity to reduce lifetime energy use, cut operational expenditure and improve long-term reliability. Technidrive also provides access to the WEG payback tool, enabling customers to compare efficiency classes, forecast energy savings and calculate return on investment. 

Where speed control is possible, the addition of a variable speed drive (VSD) can also offer further savings by matching motor output to real-time demand. The payback tool includes an additional option to include a VSD for centrifugal applications, providing insight into how this can lead to efficiency gains. Technidrive can then also assist with VSD selection and integration.

"Energy efficiency should be a priority for manufacturers and processors facing rising electricity prices and increasing sustainability targets," said David Strain, technical director at Technidrive. "What many businesses don’t realise is how much value may be tied up in the equipment they already own. By combining trade-in credit with a properly engineered upgrade and commissioning service, we’re helping our customers to modernise with confidence and to build a greener, more cost-effective operation."

www.technidrive.co.uk