Business News Round Up (02/07/2020)
Yoghurt manufacturer to start work on £500k expansion
Rochdale-based yogurt brand Lancashire Farm Dairies is about to start work on a £500,000 expansion to its main production facility.
The two-storey expansion will include a mezzanine floor and building work is expected to start within a month after receiving planning permission from Rochdale Borough Council.
The company, which was founded in 1984, has recruited an extra 20 staff during the COVID-19 pandemic to help the company meet an increase in demand for its products.
Chief operating officer Sarfaraz Akram said: “It’s really important to press ahead with the investment.”
Innovative Scots turbine blade closer to market
A consortium of engineers and technologists are working on an innovative and more energy-efficient wind turbine blade.
The technology, developed by Edinburgh-based ACT Blade, involves replacing the heavier glass fibre design traditionally used for wind turbine blades with a lighter composite structure, wrapped in a sail-like textile.
It is ultralight and sustainable and capable of producing up to 9% more energy than conventional blades.
The Lightweight Manufacturing Centre (LMC) at the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, is part of the consortium which includes the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre and the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult.
They are supporting ACT Blade to develop the blade and bring it to market.
https://dailybusinessgroup.co.uk/2020/07/innovative-scots-turbine-blade-closer-to-market/
Travel and tourism set to take off after easing of lockdown restrictions
Traffic is ramping up at the region’s two main airports as carriers begin to restart their travel schedules.
Manchester Airport reopened its Terminal Three today (July 1), which will be followed by the reopening of Terminal Two on July 15.
Airport bosses temporarily closed the terminals after airlines grounded their fleets in response to the closing of many international borders around the world as the coronavirus pandemic raged.
However, several airlines remained operational at Manchester, including Air France, KLM, PIA, Qatar Airways, Aer Lingus, Lufthansa, Eurowings and Loganair for purposes such as repatriation or cargo flights and medical access.