November/December 2019

n NEWS THE INDUSTRIAL automation specialist Sewtec is relocating to a 75,000ft 2 (7,000m 2 ) facility in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, as part of a transformation strategy. The new building is more than twice the size of its current site in Dewsbury. The multi-million pound investment will see Sewtec create a state-of-the- art design and manufacturing facility, including r&d and office spaces. All 130 employees will relocate to the new premises, planned to open by March 2020, and more than 70 new jobs are expected to be created at the site over the coming three years. “This is an excellent, modern facility which will transform how Sewtec operates and help us further realise our potential,” says managing director, Mark Cook. “Client demand for our bespoke automation machinery continues to grow at pace, and in many global markets. The investment will provide us with space to meet this demand and increase our manufacturing capability.” In July this year, Sewtec announced that its turnover had more than doubled to £28m, with an EBITDA of £9m, in the year to 30 June. The company is now aiming for a turnover of £50m by 2023. Sewtec designs, manufactures, installs and commissions automation systems for clients including Nestlé, Procter & Gamble, Imperial Tobacco, Tata Global Beverages and Hershey. More than 85% of its sales are exports. The company’s rapid growth follows a management buyout of the business in August 2017. Sewtec will double in size as it moves to Wakefield Sewtec will double in size when it moves to its new premises in Wakefield Phone 01480 408 500 – www.leuze.co.uk SMARTER PRODUCT USABILITY Rolf Brunner, Head of Product Center – Laser Scanners easy handling . GUARDING WAS NEVER THIS GOOD. SAFETY LASER SCANNER RSL 400 With two autonomous protective functions, an operating range of 8.25m and a scanning angle of 270°, the RSL 400 sets new standards in safety sensor technology. A NEW Mansfield-based business, Motion Control Engineering, has acquired the business and assets of Jena Tec Precision, the Nottingham- based manufacturer of linear and rotary motion products that was placed in administration recently, following financial difficulties. Motion Control Engineering has been set up by Chris Truman, who was previously managing director of Kuroda Jena Tec. He says that the rescue of the business“has enabled the continued employment for the team and for the ongoing supply of the full range of products which had been built up over many years. This is a good result for the industry as a whole, and we look forward to an exciting future for all of our stakeholders.” Jena Tec, whose products include ballscrews, spindles and actuators, entered administration in September. According to the joint administrators, BMAdvisory and Finn Associates, this was a result of a slowdown in business and consumer confidence. Joint administrator, Michael Solomons of BM Advisory, says that the sale “preserves all jobs and enables the future trading of the business – a positive outcome for employees and welcome news for the manufacturing sector”. Motion control business rescues Jena Tec from administration