February 2021

NEWS n p Britishvolt, which is building a large battery manufacturing plant in Blyth, Northumberland, has entered a technology collaboration with Siemens covering automation, electrification and digital twin technologies for the plant. The gigaplant’s production processes will be simulated before construction, speeding up delivery times and helping Britishvolt to produce its first lithium-ion batteries during 2023. The investment will be the largest in North-East England since the 1980s. Construction is due to start this summer. p Samsung Electronics is collaborating with IBM to develop edge computing, 5G and hybrid cloud systems to help manufacturers tomodernise their operations and realise the promise of Industry 4.0. They intend to provide enterprises with mobile edge computing and end-to-end private 5G networks running on an open architecture and using 5G-enabled Samsung Galaxy mobile devices. The companies also plan to explore howmanufacturers can use private 5G or 4G networks and 5Gmobile devices with IIoT systems. p NSK is buying Brüel & Kjær Vibro , a leading specialist in condition monitoring systems (CMS) for rotating machinery, from Spectris for about €169m. NSK wants to evolve from delivering breakdown and life expectancy diagnoses, to providing technical services. The acquisition will accelerate NSK’s CMS business development. B&K Vibro’s portfolio includes vibration sensors and monitors, software and plant monitoring systems. It was formed in 2000 by the merger of the German company Schenck , founded in 1881, and the Danish company Brüel & Kjær , established in 1942. B&K Vibro will operate as autonomously within NSK p The global market for electric motors will expand from $118bn in 2019 to more than $195bn by 2030 – a CAGR of 4.8% – according to a new forecast from P&S Intelligence . Much of the growth will be driven by demand for electric vehicles. The CAGR for 1hp+ motors for industrial and commercial applications will be 6.5% from 2020-2030. www.psmarketresearch.com p Eplan has founded a newpartner network to pool the expertise of its global partners to benefit its customers.The Eplan Partner Network (EPN) defines common goals for boosting integration along the value chain. Users will benefit froman increase in continuity and integration, particularly in the areas of PLM, ERP and PLCs, as well as simulations. It will be easier for them to integrate the large number of systems on themarket. www.eplan-software.com/partner p The Danfoss Group has acquired Artemis Intelligent Power (AIP), a Scottish engineering company specialising in hydraulic systems, for an undisclosed sum. About 60 AIP employees will join Danfoss Power Solutions , and AIP products will now be branded as Danfoss Digital Displacement. The acquisition will allow Danfoss to accelerate the adoption of its Digital Displacement high-efficiency pump technology and to fast-track its commercialisation. In 2018, Danfoss acquired the majority of shares in AIP in a joint venture with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries . AIP is now fully part of Danfoss Power Solutions. p Belden is buying OTN Systems , a Belgian supplier of automation networking infrastructure systems, for about $71m, building on a commercial partnership dating back to 2017. OTN offers reliable, easy-to-use network systems tailored for applications in harsh, mission-critical environments. The acquisition will provide revenues worth $35–40m in the first full year of ownership. p AltraMotio n has formed a strategic partnershipwith the Swedish factory intelligence and software specialist, MTEK . Following Altra’s acquisition of Kollmorgen , Thomson and Portescap , the new alliance supports its move up the technology spectrum to offer more advanced systems. MTEK’s MBrain connects to anymachine or device in the factory, collecting and correlatingmachine data with production parameters and quality measures using drag-and-drop analytics tools. NEWS BRIEFS Fears over the impact of the UK’s new trading relationship with the EU and the attractiveness of the UK for investment and talent are clouding the outlook for manufacturers as they enter 2021, according to a survey conducted by Make UK and PwC. Despite this, 51% of manufacturers believe the opportunities outweigh the risks for their businesses, with 27% feeling the risks are greater. As a result, 44% of companies expect to increase their employee numbers, while 25% are planning to cut jobs. Some 43% say they are planning to offer their employees flexible working environments during 2021. Manufacturers are more confident about the prospects for their own companies than they are for the UK or global economies as a whole. A third of the 206 manufacturers surveyed during November for the 2021 Make UK/PwC Executive Survey fear that the investment prospects for UK businesses will fall after leaving the EU, with just 18% believing they will increase. Just over a quarter of companies (26%) expect exports to the EU to fall, with just 16% believing they will rise. A third also believe the UK’s ability to attract international talent will be hit, with just 11% feeling that the UK will be a more attractive destination outside of the EU. According to Make UK, this potentially puts at risk the ambition of the Government’s new immigration system which is designed to encourage the best talent to come to the UK. Almost half (47%) of the companies surveyed regard customs delays as the biggest risk they face, with national and local lockdowns being the second- biggest (46%). For 39%, the increased costs of regulation are the biggest risk, while 14% feel that their biggest risk is a major customer relocating out of the UK. Despite the concerns over the new trading relationship with the EU, almost 48% of companies expect a significant or moderate improvement for manufacturing during 2021. But 56% expect the UK economy to deteriorate. While controlling costs remains the biggest priority for manufacturers, 57% say they are investing in new product development, with a similar number also planning capital investments. There is a significant commitment to digital technologies, with 28% of manufacturers planning to invest in technologies such as AI for predictive maintenance, with the aim of saving money on repairs and site trips. A quarter of companies are looking to re-shore activities from overseas, while a similar number regard finding new suppliers in the UK as a priority. Of the companies surveyed, 44% say they are committed to training and 37% are investing in apprenticeships. As a result, 54% expect their productivity to rise during 2021. Almost a third of the companies surveyed (30%) are planning to enter new markets in 2021. While they expect exports to the EU to fall, almost 40% are looking to expand sales in non-EU markets, with the US (28%) and Asia (27%) being the main targets. “The transition to new trading arrangements with the EU was always going to be the biggest challenge facing manufacturers this year and the fact we have an agreement in place doesn’t alter that,”says Make UK CEO, Stephen Phipson.“However, just as the sector rose to the challenge of aiding the national effort at the start of the pandemic, it is clearly set to do so again as we rebuild the economy and take advantage of the opportunities from digital technologies. “To ensure we cement the role of industry in the future economy,” Phipson adds, “we need to see a strategic vision from Government for the whole economy across the UK. This must go way beyond short-term tinkering and involve an industrial strategy that takes at least a decade- long horizon.” www.makeuk.org/insights/reports/ex ecutive-survey-2021 Brexit fears cloud outlook for UK manufacturers