In Brief

• Siemens has appointed HMK as a key partner for standard drives as part of a campaign to double its share of the UK drives market to 20%. The new arrangement builds on a Siemens-HMK partnership of more than eight years in motion controls and high-performance AC drives.

• Entries for the 2005 National Training Awards close on 29 April. UK Skills, the organisation that runs the awards on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills, is running a series of free half-day workshops across the UK to help formulate entries. For details, phone 0800 917 7337 or visit www.nationaltrainingwards.com

• Bromsgrove-based Neu-Servo Repairs, which was formed last year, has been accredited as an authorised repair centre for Siemens servo motors.

• Cegelec has signed a deal with WEG Electric Motors in the UK to provide 24-hour stock and support for WEG`s LV motors and AC drives. The deal follows an earlier partnership under which Cegelec provides servicing, support, installation and commissioning facilities for WEG`s MV and HV machines.

• The measurement and control specialist ACI (Europe) has changed its name to ACI (UK). Its new Web site is www.aciuk.co.uk

• Following last year`s entry of Adwest Engineering into the sub-contracting market, its parent, the Magal Group, has decided that its other subsidiaries (including Western Thomson Controls, Magal Cables and Bowden SAS) should also enter this market. They will offer cable assembly, thread roiling, plastic moulding and other services.