A Shropshire barber is offering “pay what you can” haircuts in December, to help people struggling ahead of Christmas.

Marcus Lewis-Roper opened MLR Adonis Barbers in Bridgnorth seven weeks ago, and will work longer hours – from 09:00 to 21:00 GMT – on 22 December, offering the service to those who need it.

“I know that Christmas is quite a tough time for some people, including people that have got children, people that are on their own… people can’t really afford much,” he told the BBC.

“I feel that offering a haircut out actually makes people feel good about themselves, you come into the barber shop and you want to better yourself and make yourself feel better.

“They don’t even have to pay for their haircut if they don’t want to, they can pay a pound, they don’t have to pay anything, or they can pay the full price.”

He said a few long-standing clients had offered to pay for other people’s haircuts on the day too.

“It’s nice to see people from the community coming together to support each other.”

The cuts, done in 30 minute slots, are organised via a booking system, to make the experience more private.

“That time that they book the 30 minute slot will be their time and their time only,” he said.

“They can then go to the box that’ll be put in the window – I’m just happy they’re leaving feeling good about themselves.”

New Delhi: As India’s manufacturing ecosystem accelerates toward greater scale and sophistication, factories are increasingly turning to modern material-handling technologies to stay competitive. Manual load movement once the norm on most shop floors is no longer sufficient for today’s high-volume, fast-paced production demands. Manufacturers are now embracing advanced solutions such as Electric Overhead Travelling (EOT) cranes to save time, improve workflow management, and unlock higher productivity. 

With automation, digital controls, and precision-engineered systems becoming more accessible, these cranes are helping industries streamline operations, reduce downtime, and enhance workplace safety, making them indispensable tools for the next generation of smart factories. EOT cranes, commonly visible in workshops and industrial sheds, play a vital role in lifting and transporting materials with precision. With rising production volumes, tighter delivery schedules and stricter safety norms, industries are adopting these systems to reduce physical strain on workers and streamline day-to-day operations.

A key driver behind this growing adoption is the emergence of Indian manufacturers who design cranes suited to local factory environments. Over the past three decades, companies such as LOADMATE have supplied EOT cranes, electric chain hoists and wire rope hoists to a wide range of sectors, from engineering and fabrication to textiles, chemicals and heavy manufacturing. Their familiarity with local usage conditions has resulted in systems that are robust, economical to maintain and aligned with Indian industrial requirements.

According to Manish Agarwal, CEO of LOADMATE, customization has become an important factor in equipment selection. “Every factory has its own layout, workflow and load-handling needs. When lifting systems are designed around these specific conditions, the result is better efficiency and better safety. Indian manufacturers are able to understand these needs more closely. The availability of service teams and spare parts within the country also gives long-term confidence to plant owners,” he said.

According to experts, imported cranes are often harder to service and more expensive to modify. For MSMEs operating on tight schedules, local manufacturers have filled a crucial gap by offering solutions tailor-made for load capacities, spans, duty cycles and operational environments. This allows factories to upgrade without major alterations to infrastructure, making the transition more cost-effective.

This shift mirrors a larger nationwide trend. As Indian factories adopt leaner processes and modern automation, reliable lifting systems have become integral to improving throughput and reducing downtime. The preference for domestically built cranes has also helped minimize delays related to maintenance and spare parts availability, challenges that previously disrupted production cycles.

Excelsoft Technologies IPO Day 3 Updates: The initial public offering (IPO) of Excelsoft Technologies, a vertical SaaS (software-as-a-service) company focused on the learning and assessment market, has been closed at 5:00 pm today, November 21. The price band of the IPO was fixed in the range of Rs 114 to Rs 120 apiece.

Excelsoft Technologies IPO GMP Today

According to market observers, unlisted shares of Excelsoft Technologies Ltd are currently trading at Rs 127 apiece in the grey market, which is a 5.83% premium or a Rs 7 GMP over the upper IPO price of Rs 120, indicating moderate listing gains for investors.

It is 50% lower than the Rs 14 GMP recorded in the morning. The grey market premium was nearly 25% last week.

The GMP is based on market sentiments and keeps changing. ‘Grey market premium’ indicates investors’ readiness to pay more than the issue price.