In Brief

• For the first time, the Manufacturing Excellence Awards, run by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, is offering an award for equality. Companies will have to show how they are encouraging gender equality and diversity in their workforce. The award has been developed and sponsored by the UK Resource Centre for Women on Science, Engineering and Technology.

• Actuant Corporation has bought the Morpeth-based bolting equipment specialist, Hedley Purvis Holdings, for an undisclosed sum. Hedley Purvis` products include torque wrenches, tensioners and pumps, and it also offers associated services. It will become part of Actuant`s tools and supplies business, reporting to Enerpac.

• Ashton Seals has bought the Great Yarmouth based gasket manufacturer, Roseal, and is transferring the production facilities to its Barnsley site. Ashton, which distributes O-rings and bonded seals, bought another gasket-maker, Clough (Croydon) in 2003.

• Rochdale-based Holroyd has won its third Queens Award for Enterprise, for its GTG2 gear grinding centre and TG series of thread grinders. The Award, like the earlier successes in 1967 and 1993, is for innovation. The GTG2 is used for one-off or batch production of precision helical, spur and worm gears in sizes up to 350mm diameter. Holroyd`s design engineers were helped by Newcastle University`s Gear Technology Centre. A patented machining method reduces errors when manufacturing precision helical gearing, caused by "helical twist".