Methods Machine Tools Incorporated has recently expanded its Southern California operation, increasing the number of sales/application engineering and service personnel by eight, and offering a full range of machine tool solutions from all the company’s partner brands. In addition, Robert Serrano has been added to the leadership team as Sales Manager, bringing his 25 years of machine tool experience to the region.

Boeing, the Lufthansa Group and Swiss International Air Lines (Swiss) have finalised an order for three additional 777-300ER (Extended Range) airplanes, valued at US$990 million at current list prices.

Xiris Automation announced recently that it has signed NDT Technologies Limited as its exclusive Distributor of Xiris products for the Tube and Pipe and welding industries in India.

Avianca has signed a purchase agreement for 100 A320neo Family aircraft, the largest single order ever made in Latin America’s aviation history. The agreement, which includes A319neo, A320neo and A321neo aircraft, will allow Avianca to maintain one of the youngest fleets in the region as the airline aims to replace airplanes currently operating from their Bogota, Lima and San Salvador hubs.

Rolls-Royce plans to sell its Michell Bearings subsidiary to British Engines Limited for an estimated US$19.6 million, according to a statement by the aerospace and diesel engine manufacturer. The sale would be completed during the third quarter of this year, pending resolution of certain license agreements.

New orders for machine tools fell 8 percent year-over-year during the first quarter of 2015 for Germany’s manufacturers, with demand from domestic customers showing particular weakness, while export orders also declined less markedly. The results were reported by VDW, the German Machine Tool Builders’ Association.

Renishaw was awarded a Queen’s Award for Enterprise 2015 in the Innovation category for the development and manufacture of its RESOLUTE family of non-contact, optical position feedback devices. With the position encoder, it is now possible to tailor the performance of motion control systems used in manufacturing and other environments. This award is the company’s 18th Queen’s Award in the 50th anniversary year of this prestigious awards scheme.

The total value of machine tool orders in March was 147.38 billion yen (US$1.23 billion). This was an increase of 12.1 percent compared to February and marked the second consecutive month of growth.

Volkswagen AG has announced Dr Louise Kiesling and Julia Kuhn- Piëch are newly appointed members of the company’s Supervisory Board by Braunschweig Local Court with immediate effect.

Alstom T&D India has been selected to lead the smart grid pilot project by Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited.