The BCMPA – The Association for Contract Manufacturing, Packing, Fulfilment & Logistics, is exhibiting alongside five of its members at this year’s White Label World Expo, helping brand owners find their perfect UK based third-party outsourcing partner.

Business technology solutions provider Brother UK has launched a compact range of mono laser printers for businesses, helping resellers to support customers with downsized offices and decentralised workforces.

By Dan Coleman, freelance writer

Despite the devastation that the coronavirus pandemic has wrought, the need for innovative products has never faltered. Some firms have even been crucial pillars of support in these scenarios.

PredictHQ has announced its Demand Impact Pattern for severe weather events, with data sets to help businesses prepare for major weather events and mitigate overall impact by integrating into machine learning models for demand forecasting.

By Nidhi Gupta, CEO of Portcast.

The manufacturing industry is undergoing a profound transformation in the wake of the post-pandemic era. With volumes stabilising, profit margins narrowing, and rivals multiplying, setting themselves apart in all aspects of business has become paramount for manufacturing companies.

Optimised supply chain management benefits extend well beyond the bottom line. More and more companies across various sectors are turning to Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems to keep up with market demands and maintain a competitive edge.

By Alex Edwards, Head of Communications EU, Protolabs.

It’s fair to say that the past five years have stress-tested the UK manufacturing sector. Not only have manufacturers had to deal with a global pandemic, but they’ve also faced geopolitical uncertainty, a cost of living crisis and the after effects of Brexit.

ECI Software Solutions, provider of business management software and services, has introduced Ridder iQ, the business management software designed to cater to the specific needs of SMEs that are discreet manufacturing companies requiring tighter integration between engineering, R&D and production processes.

DHS Secretary Mayorkas activated the federal employee volunteer force “due to the anticipated frequency and severity of extreme weather this season."

The post DHS activates Surge Capacity Force as Helene batters southeast US first appeared on Federal News Network.

Business technology solutions provider, Brother, claims to have become the first print vendor to remanufacture its inkjet cartridges, as part of a new free service to help users contribute to circular economies.

Descartes Systems Group has released findings from its 2024 Home Delivery Sustainability Report: The Environmentally Conscious Consumer Under Pressure survey, which examined online consumer sentiment of retailers’ sustainability practices around their delivery operations.

A survey by workplace expert Acas has found that 20% of workers in manufacturing believe women do not get paid as much as men at their organisation.

The Great South West Partnership has released its anticipated report on the region’s high value manufacturing sector, positioning the area as a key player in the UK's renewed Industrial Strategy.

Portnox, provider of cloud-native, zero trust access control solutions, today unveiled the results of its latest survey, ‘CISO Perspectives for 2025’, revealing critical insights into the challenges faced by Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) at large enterprises.

Manhattan Associates Inc. has announced that Yusen Logistics Co. Ltd, one of the largest global supply chain logistics companies, has selected Manhattan Active Warehouse Management to be implemented at its new, state-of-the-art distribution centre in the UK.

Former military defense contractor Leonard “Fat Leonard” Francis has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for masterminding a decade-long bribery scheme that swept up dozens of U.S. Navy officers. Federal prosecutors say a judge on Tuesday also ordered Francis to pay $20 million in restitution to the Navy and a $150,000 fine. Prosecutors say the sentence results from Francis’ first guilty plea in 2015 concerning bribery and fraud, his extensive cooperation with the government, and another guilty plea Tuesday for failing to appear for his original sentencing hearing. Shortly before he was due to be sentenced in 2022, Francis cut off a GPS monitor and fled the country. He was later arrested in Venezuela.

The post ‘Fat Leonard,’ Navy contractor behind one of the military’s biggest scandals, sentenced to 15 years first appeared on Federal News Network.

Make UK, the UK organisation for the manufacturing and engineering sector, and the British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA), the trade association for the healthcare and assistive technology sector, have announced their new partnership, aimed at fostering collaboration and growth for UK healthcare manufacturing companies.

Arcserve has released findings from its annual independent global research focusing on the healthcare sector's approach and experience of data protection, recovery, and ransomware readiness.

Almost one in five project management professionals working in the manufacturing sector who consider themselves to be neurodivergent have not told their employer about their condition, according to a new survey by the Association for Project Management (APM), the chartered membership organisation for the project profession.

Drug manufacturer Heel has successfully implemented Werum PAS-X MES 3.3.0, Körber's NextGen MES for pharma, biotech, and cell & gene therapy, at its main plant in Baden-Baden, Germany.

Confusion around digital transformation is risking paralysis among SME manufacturers, says Made Smarter. Donna Edwards, director of the North West adoption programme, says businesses are hesitant to commit to change because they lack the confidence with technology and digital skills among leaders and employees.

By Chris Jacob, Vice President, Threat Intelligence Engineering, ThreatQuotient.

In today’s modern digitised environment, the manufacturing industry faces multiple interwoven challenges that can have a serious impact on their overall performance and sustainability.

Smart machines can provide manufacturers with invaluable real-time insights into shop floor productivity, inventory, and potential quality and maintenance issues.

But buying new machinery to harness the Internet of Things (IoT) can be hard to justify, especially when interest rates remain high.

Three quarters of manufacturing workers in the UK (73%) are unconcerned about their jobs being automated in the future, according to a study undertaken by YouGov and commissioned by global technology company SafetyCulture.

In June 2024, manufacturing accounted for 8.8% of the UK’s total economic output and employed 2.6 million people – representing 7.0% of the workforce.

Confidence in the sector is rising, with a 1.2% output increase in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the previous quarter, its highest level since 2022.

Fen Health Ltd and Zulize Ltd have announced a transaction that will see both companies merge to form and launch, Fen Group Ltd.

New research reveals that 50% of European and US pharmaceutical manufacturing companies know artificial intelligence (AI) can help bring new drugs to market more rapidly and securely, but 96% face challenges with using leading-edge technology to derive value from their data.

The international technology group Körber is driving the integration of supply chain and data orchestration platforms into its Werum PAS-X Manufacturing Execution System (MES).

Jabmo, the provider of Account-Based Marketing (ABM) solutions to the manufacturing, life sciences, and healthcare industries, and Malachi Threadgill, Forrester Principal Analyst, advise B2B marketers to consider their industry-specific needs when selecting an ABM solution.

The current crisis in Europe has led to increasing energy insecurity and shortages of raw materials, which are creating severe pharmaceutical manufacturing supply line disruptions. In some cases, supplier lead times have doubled, prices are no longer certain, and orders are subject to cancellations or delays.  

A UK-backed biotech company has achieved a pioneering biocomputer breakthrough which is accelerating the development and manufacture of cheaper drugs and vaccines.

By Rudrendu Kumar Paul and Bidyut Sarkar

Embracing the Future of Supply Chain Management: An Exploration of AI's Transformative Impact on Demand Forecasting and its Potential to Navigate Global Uncertainties.

Merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in the pharmaceutical contract manufacturing industry declined in 2023 compared to 2021-22. High inflation and interest rates along with an uncertain business environment disincentivized investment.

Emperor penguins huddle together to share warmth and protect each other during the intense winds of the harsh Antarctic storms. Fortunately, it’s not just penguins that can benefit from huddling together. Here, Jonathan Wilkins, marketing director of obsolete industrial parts supplier EU Automation, explains why manufacturers form clusters around the world.

London-based CloudNC has launched what it describes as a new era for CNC machined parts with the opening of the first of several planned UK factories offering aerospace-grade quality at a fraction of the price of existing alternatives.

Manufacturers from varied industries including aerospace, engineering and food and beverage, are set to embrace new digital technologies following a successful Made Smarter event in Blackburn.

Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group (Marshall ADG) will deploy AT&T’s secure IoT capabilities into its overall connected container service model for its end customers, including its recently won global managed container service contract with the Dutch Army.

To ensure visibility and control over mission-critical business processes such as manufacturing and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO), international defence manufacturer and service provider Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group turned to global enterprise applications company IFS for a comprehensive enterprise applications platform.

Manufacturers in the rail, marine, defence and household good sectors can now benefit from more than 25 years of automotive and aerospace quality excellence as G&P is undergoing a proactive diversification drive across adjacent sectors.

A new awards event has been launched to reward excellence in marketing the application of STEM skills in the manufacturing sector. The STEM Marketing Awards will champion the work of organisations operating in STEM-related industries across the UK, with companies working in relevant sectors now invited to enter. 

OMRON, producer of technologically advanced industrial automation products, will showcase the smarter, faster more efficient future of manufacturing at this year’s Packaging Machinery and Manufacturing (PPMA) Show.

At Open World 2024, CONTACT Software will present a comprehensive program for a fast and future-proof digital transformation together with international customers and partners from 12 to 13 November.

Webfleet, Bridgestone’s fleet management solution, is debuting its new AI Assistant at IAA Transportation 2024. Leveraging GenAI technology, the tool is simplifying fleet management by allowing fleet managers to interact with their fleet data intuitively and easily.

Manufacturers now expect logistics suppliers to further integrate with their operating systems DANX Carousel Chief Information Officer, Mohan Palaniandy, has told delegates at a recent supply chain transparency conference.

A-SAFE, the workplace efficiency and safety solutions provider, hosted the final event of the UK Warehousing Association (UKWA) Roadshow on October 3 at its Fathom3 R&D facility in Elland, Yorkshire.

By Mark Clark, VP Sales EMEA North, Onapsis. 

Take a look at your smartphone. Even though you might take it for granted, it’s probably the most important piece of technology you own. Think about how many things you do every day that rely on you owning a smartphone. Now take a moment to think about how it was made.

In recent times, there has been a greater focus on hygiene in the workplace, likely spurred on by the COVID pandemic. While some germs are completely harmless, others can cause unpleasant illnesses.

Featuring a Special Technology Report looking in depth at the latest developments in the world of Transportation Management solutions.

Also included is a ‘Cover Story’: Business leaders have begun the early part of 2024 with an increased level of optimism about their organisation’s future growth compared to 12 months ago....

The June Issue features a Special Technology Report looking in depth at the latest developments in the world of Automatic Identification and Data Capture/Mobile Computing solutions.

Also included is a ‘Cover Story’: Gartner forecasts spending on cloud security to grow 24% in 2024, making it the highest growth of all segments in the global security and risk management market.

An AI image generator tool has predicted what the future of food labelling might look like for consumers and manufacturers. This follows news that the appetite towards a more-carbon-friendly future appears to be turning amongst UK consumers after a recent YouGov survey found more than half of all young adults think they would eat a more carbon-friendly diet should carbon footprint labelling be introduced in the UK.