News in brief
New Flagship road car revealed by Aston Martin
A new flagship road car with a top speed of 211mph has been unveiled by Aston Martin.
The DBS Superleggera has a twin-turbo 5.2-litre V12 engine and can accelerate from 0-62mph in 3.4 seconds and 0-100mph in 6.4 seconds.
https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/midlands/new-flagship-road-car-revealed-by-aston-martin
Medical imaging company captures counterpart
A Warwick medical imaging company has snapped up a counterpart which has operations in Switzerland, the US and Germany.
Alliance Medical Acquisitionco has bought the entire share capital in Piramal Imaging SA, which has its UK operations in Havant, Hampshire.
https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/midlands/medical-imaging-company-captures-counterpart
Revenue surge at listed investment giant
Revenue has surged at Warwickshire-headquartered investment group Mercia Technologies for its latest financial year, according to new figures.
The listed company has confirmed that its revenue, for the year to 31 March 2018, rose to £10.1m, up from £6.6m in 2017.
https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/midlands/revenue-surge-at-listed-investment-giant
Go Ape in talks to open first Warwickshire Site
The company is in discussions with Coventry City Council over opening a site in Coombe Country Park to the east of the city as early as April 2019.
The move would create about 30 jobs and the nearest site is currently at Cannock Chase in Staffordshire.
https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/midlands/go-ape-in-talks-to-open-first-warwickshire-site
Sports car engine production confirmed for Coleshill
Engines for BMW’s latest electrified model, the i8 Roadster, and the new version of the i8 Coupe are to be exclusively produced at its Hams Hall plant.
The Coleshill site has been producing engines for the hybrid i8 Coupe since 2014.
http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/westmidlands/news/2019152-sports-car-engine-production-confirmed-coleshill
Jobs saved after company sold out of administration
More than 30 jobs have been secured after a Leamington Spa-based electronics business was sold out of administration.
SMT Developments has been bought by electronics manufacturer C-mac Electromag Bvba, which is headquartered in Belgium.
https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/midlands/jobs-saved-after-company-sold-out-of-administration
Online pet food business eyeing £10m turnover target
A Stratford-upon-Avon-based online pet food delivery business has set itself a target of reaching £10m in turnover by 2020 after almost doubling staff levels.
PetshopBowl, which was set up by entrepreneurs Adam and Lexi Taylor in 2010, came about after a period of struggle for the couple following Adam’s redundancy from global financial services firm Lehman Brothers, which collapsed in 2008.
https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/midlands/online-pet-food-business-eyeing-10m-turnover-target
JLR signs European electric car charging deal
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is to supply a charging service for its electric vehicles in selected markets in Europe after signing a new deal with Plugsurfing.
Drivers choosing an all-electric Jaguar I-PACE performance SUV will be given free access to the Jaguar Public Charging app, while Range Rover or Range Rover Sport plug-in petrol-electric hybrid (PHEV) customers can download the Land Rover Public Charging app for free.
https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/midlands/jlr-signs-european-electric-car-charging-deal
Automotive firm announces £5m China plant plans
A Coventry-headquartered manufacturer of industrial automation and tooling systems, which works with the likes of Jaguar Land Rover, Ford and Aston Martin, has announced plans to open a new £5m plant in China which will double the company's size.
Expert Tooling & Automation, which also has a base in Houghton-le-Spring in the North East, has formed a partnership with Chinese company Star Eagle Global and established a new business in Hefei, China.
https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/midlands/automotive-firm-announces-5m-china-plant-plans
£5m part-autonomous aircraft concept revealed by Aston Martin
Aston Martin has unveiled plans to build a £5m part-autonomous aircraft which could fly a speed of up to 200mph.
The luxury car maker has presented its Volante Vision Concept at the bi-annual Farnborough Air Show.
https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/midlands/5m-part-autonomous-aircraft-concept-revealed-by-aston-martin
Half-year success for surveillance tech group
Revenue and profits have risen during the first half of Warwickshire-headquartered surveillance technology group Synectics' financial year, according to new results.
For the six months to 31 May 2018, the listed company achieved a revenue of £37.7m, up from £33.7m during the same period in 2017, while pre-tax profits also increased from £1.3m to £1.5m.
https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/midlands/half-year-success-for-surveillance-tech-group
Carillion employees taken on by Warwick firm
Warwick-based Telent Technology Services has been revealed as one of the companies to have taken on former Carillion employees following the construction and facilities management giant's collapse in January.
The company has taken on 360 employees from Carillion to its infrastructure services division and will be transferring in 145 more by September as a result of the Highways England contract win for NRTS2.
https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/midlands/carillion-employees-taken-on-by-warwick-firm
Sport and wellness hub revealed
A new sport and wellness hub at the University of Warwick, which forms part of a £49m investment, has been revealed for the first time.
The centre, which is being constructed by Willmott Dixon, is due to open to the public in nine months and has just been made watertight for the first time.
https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/midlands/sport-and-wellness-hub-revealed
Green light set for 60-hotel plan in Stratford
A bid to retain a 60-bed hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon has been recommended for approval.
Westbourne Leisure, which owns The Oak in Stratford Road, is also seeking permission to demolish a function room and a three-storey rear extension and expand its restaurant.
https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/midlands/green-light-set-for-60-hotel-plan
Work to begin on Warwickshire commercial site
Work will start soon on the construction of the Maricott Court £3m industrial development in Southam, near Stratford on Avon, the first phase of which should be open by the final quarter of this year.
The three acre development consists of 13 new industrial and warehouse units, ranging from 1,873 sq ft up to 6,268 sq ft, two of which have already been sold off-plan and already under offer.
http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/westmidlands/news/2018829-work-begin-warwickshire-commercial-site