Initial figures for the first quarter of 2011 indicate that the UK ran a trade surplus of £9.4 million, reports the Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA).

Horn Cutting Tools, Ringwood, is adding the Graf range of tooling for sliding-head, single spindle and multi-spindle autos to its product portfolio.

The Productivity Centre at Dormer Tools has installed the new hyperMAXX CAM roughing module from Open Mind to enhance the productivity benefits of its tools for customers and is achieving particularly staggering results when machining titanium.

The Centre for Precision Technologies at the University of Huddersfield has secured £8 million for a five-year project that aims to deliver technology that will allow companies to produce parts to higher than ever accuracies.

An ESAB Falcon FXA 3000 cutting system has taken to the seas as part of the equipment on of the world’s largest semi-submersible crane and pipe-laying vessels, the Saipem 7000.

The AMRC was one of 16 companies honoured for distinguished performance in working with Boeing, winning the Supplier of the Year accolade.

Sandvik Coromant is due to boost its global support for the aerospace sector with the imminent opening of a new dedicated Composites Centre in France.

Swedish robotics initiative Robotdalen is inviting researchers, inventors and entrepreneurs with commercially valid robotics solutions to compete for the Robotdalen Innovation Award.

Jemtech (UK) has appointed Craig Wieland to provide the sales and product support for Blaser Swisslube metalworking fluids, WaterHog fluid evaporation system, and Cleanmist mist extraction units in Scotland.

Sir David McMurtry, chairman and chief executive of global engineering company Renishaw plc, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society, the UK’s national academy of science.