Made in Group Backing-Britain 2020

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your guide to backing Britain live Creating virtual history Backing Britain time capsule Lord Mike Whitby best practice events - then & now made in group donates ppe to care sector localisation - protecting British industry Taiwan best practice on covid-19 helping the economy bounce back Made in the Midlands forewords made in the Midlands manufacturing heroes Ian brown foreword made in Yorkshire manufacturing heroes member spotlight stories exhibitors list

Published by Made in Group which includes Made in the Midlands Limited and Yorkshire Forward Limited Printed by Warner Group www.madeingroup.com

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Graeme Hackland - CIO of Williams F1 Janet Mui - Investment Director at Brewin Dolphin Rhys Herbert - Senior Sector Economist for Lloyds Bank Andrew Boothroyd - head of Logistics Engineering & Future Solutions at Mclaren DR Andy Palmer - former CEO of Aston Martin Richard Franklin - UK MD of Airbus Defence and Space Dominic Cartwright - CEO of Gardner Aerospace Stephen Loftus - CCO at Brompton Bikes DR Douglas Dawson - CEO of Liberty House Group

Thank you to our made in group patrons

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Your guide to Backing Britain Live 2020 Starts 17th august - 2 week virtual expo Logging on

Logging on Access the Virtual Expo by logging on to the portal via:

www.backingbritain.com Members will log-in via their normal account details, delegates will be prompted to register.

Main Lobby area

Lobby area

Navigate to:

Select Expo Halls • Seminar Zones Networking Area Click the hotspots to select your route around the expo, visit the halls for exhibitors or attend key note speaker seminars as well as network with other delegates.

Min/Max the menu bar

INFO DESK

Chat to a Made Team Member, view seminar schedules

Explore screen hotspots

The lobby is also your central navigation zone.

From here you can visit the Made in Yorkshire or Made in the Midlands exhibition halls, the seminar areas or grab a coffee and read our Backing Britain book. All the information you need to plan your exhibition visit is in our expo lobby.

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Expo halls Expo

Made in the Midlands

Exhibitors

ABC Cogs

Filters

Sectors

Accreditations

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Buys

DEF Robotics

Sells

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Search Exhibitor Name

ABC Cogs Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim.

Expo Main Page

Switch between Yorkshire and Midlands EXPO Halls

In the Expo Halls Hall Map Lobby Once you’re in the main expo hall, you can navigate to hundreds of exhibitor booths, either via a floor map, viewing the listings, or a direct search using the sophisticated filter function.

There will also be a variety of expo features to discover and interact with.

Exhibitors

Exhibitor booths

Hotspots will launch branded assets, banners, brochures, company information View video greetings & engage with the live chat function

Exhibitor Booths Visitors to your booth will be able to click around the screen hotspots and launch brochures, banners, video and engage with a live chat.

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Your guide to Backing Britain Live 2020 Starts 17th august - 2 week virtual expo Main Lobby area seminars Once logged into the Live Seminars dashboard you can select dates to show planned events and simply click to join the Seminar.

Activities will include panel discussions, Q&A sessions from professional speakers and keynote speakers from the best minds in manufacturing.

Date picker to select from the calendar of planned seminars

access to seminars from some of the best minds in manufacturing.

networking Simply select the open room from the screen hotspot and gain access to the networking zone.

The networking zones are themed rooms that have start times and run for around an hour. These networking sessions are exclusively open to members and visitors to the exhibition Using our zoom integration and breakout rooms, we will be facilitating some great conversations.

Join the conversation in our dedicated Networking Zones

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EVENT seminar schedules Keynote Speaker

Roundtable

AUG 17 // Graeme Hackland CIO of Williams F1

AUG 24 // Virtual Roundtable Smart Factories

by The Made in Group

Roundtable

Keynote Speaker

AUG 18 // Virtual Roundtable Business Growth

by The Made in Group

AUG 24 // Richard Franklin UK MD of Airbus Defence and Space

Keynote Speaker

Roundtable

AUG 18 // Janet Mui Investment Director at Brewin Dolphin

AUG 25 // Virtual Roundtable Green Manufacturing

by The Made in Group

Roundtable

Keynote Speaker

AUG 19 // Virtual Roundtable Manufacturing Finance

by The Made in Group

AUG 25 // Dominic Cartwright CEO of Gardner Aerospace

Keynote Speaker

Roundtable

AUG 19 // Rhys Herbert Senior Sector Economist for Lloyds Bank

AUG 26 // Virtual Roundtable Creation of a British Sovereign investment fund (APMG)

Roundtable

Keynote Speaker

AUG 20 // Virtual Roundtable People and skills by The Made in Group

AUG 26 // Stephen Loftus CCO at Brompton Bikes

Keynote Speaker

Roundtable

AUG 20 // Andrew Boothroyd Head of Logistics Engineering & Future Solutions at Mclaren

AUG 27 // Virtual Roundtable Ethical tariffs to level up global standard (APMG)

Roundtable

Keynote Speaker

AUG 21 // Virtual Roundtable Supply Chain Localisation

by The Made in Group

AUG 27 // DR Douglas Dawson CEO of Liberty House Group

Keynote Speaker AUG 21 // DR Andy Palmer Former CEO of Aston Martin

Virtual Drinks DAILY // Virtual Drinks join our daily virtual happy hour from 3pm-4pm daily, starts Aug 17

Seminar access via: www.backingbritain.com 7

Creating virtual history 8

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he Made in Group (MIG) has developed a virtual exhibition and book with the same name to promote and champion the best of British industry.

Established more than ten years ago, we began the business during the last recession as an editorial campaign, so have a few battle stories from the early days, which were invigorated as we approached this new challenge of a global pandemic.

When the ramifications of the Coronavirus started to hit, we moved quickly to pivot the business to ensure continuity of service and ensure that members and people who had supported us, many since the beginning, still had visible presence and support during this time.

As a business we took a lot of pride in our annual exhibitions, held in Coventry and

Leeds. In 2019 we also celebrated our tenth anniversary.

The news earlier this year that we may not be able to go ahead with our exhibitions was indeed ‘gut-wrenching’. But in business, as many of our members will know ‘acceptance’ is possibly the most powerful tool we have before we can solve a problem. We needed to make a decision early about our next move.

As the Made in Group had already gained considerable experience in developing complex web apps. We decided to build a virtual exhibition within the Made platform that would take elements we already had combined with new features that would not only help create our virtual show but enhance the existing platform for all members.

As with many of our members, we had a choice. Invest in a contraction in business or sit

back and manage decline, as a senior figure within the manufacturing sector, we had to show leadership by committing early and backing ourselves to deliver the goods.

When I first looked into the virtual exhibition concept, I could only find a small number of overseas companies that had built these types of sites; I was not impressed with the way they worked. The Made in Group could do something much better and more importantly, was 100% Made in Britain. It seemed counterintuitive to me that as an organisation that supports and promotes British industry, we would buy an off the peg software license from the USA or India.

The result is we have created a virtual exhibition that replicates much of the experience of an ordinary trade show; you can attend events, participate in networking

and discussions and live chat with visitors to your booth. The virtual exhibition is more timeefficient and reduces expenses for members.

This project would not be possible without the commitment and support from members, sponsors, staff and our fantastic supply chain.

They say self-praise is no recommendation but to turn this project round in less than four months is one of the most remarkable ‘collective efforts’ I’ve seen.

Enjoy the Backing Britain book and the virtual exhibition. It is more important than ever that we support each other, take an interest in what happens locally. Backing Britain showcases all the fantastic stories from some of the nation’s most inspirational companies.

Jason Pitt CEO of the Made in Group

Made in Group executive directors, Charles Addison, Jason Pitt and IloNA Pitt

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The Backing Britain time capsule

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here can be little doubt that 2020 is a significant time in history and we wanted to document it through the lens of ‘Backing Britain’. With our contract publisher withdrawing all external activities for the year, we decided to dust off our boots and set about self-publishing a time capsule of 2020 and how the industry responded to a global pandemic.

The result is more than 100 pages packed full of inspirational stories from members of Made in the Midlands and Made in Yorkshire.

During the early months of the pandemic, the response from the industry was phenomenal, from the companies collaborating to work on the ventilator challenge to manufacturing PPE equipment, charity work and showing resilience and character throughout.

During this time, we ran a series of news stories on the Made platform called ‘Manufacturing Heroes’.

These stories were inspiring and helped lift spirits at a time when many were feeling the pressure.

This Backing Britain book has a readership of more than 15,000 business people, including all members and delegates to the virtual exhibition.

By creating a printed book, we were able to bring a tactile element to our virtual show and tell the story more permanently.

Lord Mike Whitby

Backing Britain with a social yield!

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s global economies grapple with the effects of the coronavirus, it has laid bare the good and not so good in our world.

We have witnessed remarkable innovations and shared stories from members, many of which are within our inaugural edition of the Backing Britain book, which hopefully will inspire you as it has me.

In this article, I will be reflecting on the results of our recent member survey and in that context, discuss a new way of thinking about yield and return on investment.

As the world reflects on economic yields, I think the time is right to talk about the concept of social yield and how that intertwines into good economic policy.

A social yield is a concept of investing that includes the impact on society and social costs. Unfettered capitalism and globalisation can be exploitative if the proper checks and balances are not in place.

Transitory weakness exposes companies to greater risk of being acquired or assetstripped by those with money but little intention or interest in the social ramifications of such investments.

The manufacturing sector is made up of hundreds of thousands of businesses; in many ways, they are one of the more traditional industries and have retained many of the social values that we all admire.

They provide high-value jobs; opportunities for people across the skills spectrum, from academic to more tactile trades.

The manufacturing community has no doubt been under pressure in recent

decades, and it is imperative that we start asking some difficult questions about past decisions and the future direction.

In a survey we asked several probing questions which are being debated at roundtables during the virtual exhibition, one in particular that caught my eye is the introduction of a British Sovereign Investment Fund. This vehicle could step in as equity partners to protect and invest in companies that provide a high social yield. We know for example from listening to members in the survey there was concern regarding the sale of Norton Motorcycles to an overseas investment vehicle at a time when the country is spending £1billion per month on furlough payments.

We are not suggesting this fund is used to prop up poorly run businesses or poor management. But, an alternative to protect against the erosion of our industrial base and support firms that have the potential to add value over time.

Other results that emerged from the survey were surprising, especially when you consider the large number of overseas companies that make up part of the group and the manufacturing sector. The vast majority of members wanted to see at least some measures introduced in regards to a ‘foreign investment act’.

Next was the question of tariffs. As a significant export and importer, the group members overwhelmingly wanted to see a more nuanced approach to tariffs that would ‘level up’ global standards and create a fair playing field. 69% of members wanted to see

ethical tariffs that would only tariff companies that do not meet employee welfare, fair wages, and environmental controls. This more sophisticated approach would help create an antidote to the broad brush general tariffs which would likely receive an equal and opposite retaliation.

The final question of this survey concluded that members wanted the 5G network to be built by a UK developed supply chain.

Members were underlining the broader sentiment to create a balance between free investment and protecting the long term interests and indeed the long term social yield of our nation.

I want to thank you for being part of this unique virtual exhibition and wish you success as you navigate the challenges and optimise the opportunities this pandemic has created.

The Lord Whitby of Harborne, Chairman, Made in Group.

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A look back at MIG best practice events Then & Now T

he COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a number of new ways of working. From remote working, business diversification to meet new demands to making sales using video applications, everyone has had to adapt to something new. The Made in Group have been keeping members safe by holding networking events virtually.

When it comes to technology the Made in Group have always found new ways to innovate and adapt to the changing times.

To help members promote their services, share news and network with like-minded business leaders, the group has created a social media microsite, for example.

However before the pandemic and UK lockdown began in March 2020, the group regularly held Best Practice mornings at members premises where other members could attend to network and share best practices Though it can prove to be more difficult to build rapport with people without making eye contact or being able to shake their hand, the new format of the Made in Group breakfast mornings has managed to solve this issue, to a certain extent, whilst adhering to the original format.

BEST PRACTICE BREAKFAST MORNINGS PRE-PANDEMIC At the physical breakfast mornings, members would begin arriving at the hosting member’s premises at around 9 am, where they would be greeted by a member of the Made team to sign them in and pass them a name badge on a lanyard.

This would then be followed a morning of networking and breakfast refreshments, including the famous bacon sandwich.

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After, members would be welcomed to a presentation by the hosting member from a director of the Made in Group.

This presentation would usually involve the background of the company, where they are now and, not forgetting, some of their best practices.

Finishing off the events, members would have the chance to have a tour around the member’s premises, with an in-depth commentary about the facility.

BEST PRACTICE BREAKFAST MORNINGS POST-PANDEMIC During the pandemic, the group wanted to make sure members still received the same benefits as they would when going to a physical event, such as networking and learning new best practice.

That’s why, whilst there is still a risk of infection, the Made in Group holds these Best Practice events online through a popular video application. Members can sign up to these by accessing the events section of the website and signing up there.

Like before, members join the event and have the chance to introduce themselves and their companies. This is then followed by a presentation from the hosting member alongside a virtual tour of the factory.

To ensure members still receive the same networking opportunities as before, they are then split up into various breakout rooms where they can network in groups of 2-3 people for 15 minutes.

Whilst there is no such thing as a virtual bacon sandwich, the group has adapted and changed to make sure lasting relationships are built within the UK manufacturing community.

The Made in Group donates PPE to the care sector T

he Made in Group, created to challenge the erosion of British Industry, is helping front line staff safeguard themselves against COVID-19, with help from members of the group.

During Lockdown, the group launched the Made Medical campaign commissioning members to produce PPE for the health sector.

An initial order was placed for 5,500 face shields with injection mould specialists and Made in Group member Stephens Gaskets Ltd to increase supply into the care sector and remove purchasing bottlenecks. This vital PPE was donated to those in need and delivered by staff from the Made in Group and members of Made in the Midlands and Made in Yorkshire.

Jason Pitt, CEO of the Made in Group, has called on the government to actively decentralize the purchasing of PPE. Alongside calling to do the same for track and trace once the country emerges from lockdown.

Jason said: “We know from looking at Germany’s highly decentralized system that there is merit in this way of operating.”

Talking about how the idea for the Made Medical campaign came about, Jason added: “Our team has been working hard to source PPE from the membership so we can supply them to our heroes on the frontline” “The care sector and in particular care homes seemed to be experiencing shortages, this is particularly heartbreaking when you consider how they are turning up every day for their community, they are often amongst the lowest-paid workers.”

Stephens Gaskets Ltd produced the face visors, 500 of which they donated to the cause. Piers Bayton, Sales Engineer at the firm said: “As soon as we were contacted we were delighted to get involved and help those who need this vital PPE the most.”

Thanks to donations from Made in Group members and the wider community, the group raised a further £3,000 for the cause and purchased 1,000 face visors from Made in the Midlands member Central Scanning. The visors were then distributed to those in need across the Midlands and Yorkshire region, thanks to the Made in Group members.

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Why it’s time for policymakers to back Britain I voted in favour for delaying 5g to invest in a uk based supplier

of members agree the uk needs a new approach to investment 14

f investing in British industry and protecting local supply chains seems expensive or protectionist, try the alternative: Hoping we never have a significant crisis around the world.

In a wakeup call to policymakers, a member survey conducted by Made in Group reveals a significant shift in sentiment towards localisation and preserving the future of British industry.

The survey asked members their views on ‘funding for British firms’, enhancements to ‘foreign investment regulation’, ‘import tariffs’, as well as member views on the rollout of ‘5G’ across the UK. An overwhelming majority (57%) agreed that the UK needs a new approach to investment; backing the creation of a British Sovereign Investment Fund.

The group was also supportive of enhancements to UK foreign investment regulation. 44% of members agreed that the Government should restrict overseas companies from acquiring more than 50% of UK companies, but only in critical and essential sectors such as manufacturing.

In comparison, 29% of members supported permanently barring overseas companies from taking more than 50% of a UK company.

19% of members supported banning overseas companies from taking more than 50% of UK companies for the next 12 months.

Members also backed the concept of ethical tariffs to level the playing field. For example, tariffs could be applied selectively to overseas companies that do not meet UK standards for employee welfare, meeting minimum wages and environmental standards. An overwhelming number of members, 70%, agreed that we should introduce new ethical import tariffs while 20% thought the UK should add no tariffs at all.

Finally, members voiced concerns around 5G. 82% voted in favour of delaying the rollout and investing in a UK-based supplier instead.

Only 12% wanted to continue with Huawei as the primary provider.

In the comments section of the survey, the frustration was visceral. “The government should seriously question their poor judgement in allowing the continual cheap sell-off of prime British assets and iconic brands like Norton Motorcycles to India for a ridiculous £16m, absolutely disgraceful in light of Brexit and COVID-19.” said one member.

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Gain access to the UK’s fastest growing Manufacturing Network for FREE Play your part in uniting British Industry. The Made in Group works with some of the largest OEMs and tier-one suppliers and many of the Midlands and Yorkshire SME base. Why not take advantage of our Fantastic ‘FREEMIUM’ offer, access some of our key features and join the #MiGFamily today.

Visit madeinthemidlands.com or madeinyorkshire.com for more details #MIGFAMILY

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Taiwan best practice on reducing risk of COVID-19

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o discover new ways of combating COVID-19, The Made in Group has looked to other countries who had fewer cases to find out protocols they had, and may still have, in place.

Taiwan has been highly recognised for its best practices in fighting the spread of Coronavirus. The Made in Group spoke to Freddie Höglund, CEO of the European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan (ECCT), to identify these practices first hand, and get insight as to how businesses could best handle this.

The European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan exists to provide a platform for members to engage with advocacy towards the Taiwan Government and authorities.

The ECCT represents European and British companies in Taiwan.

SARS EPIDEMIC 2003 Talking about how Taiwan dealt with the outbreak, Freddie mentioned the SARS epidemic in 2003 which affected the country to a high extent. Learning from previous experiences, Taiwan dealt with the outbreak as early as January 2020. He continued: “Taiwan was at the forefront of the battle when it came to SARS in 2003. During that time, the country was badly affected by the outbreak. The medical sector was not ready to handle the crisis, and therefore had a huge impact on society at that time.

When COVID-19 became known outside of China, the Taiwanese authorities were one of the first to take action. This included stopping direct flights from China and Hong Kong.”

TEMPERATURE CHECKS With previous experience from SARS, Taiwan airports have since introduced

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thermal scanners to carry out temperature checks on individuals coming into the country. On top of this, every individual is permitted to go through immigration at airports. Around 1 million people from Taiwan currently live in China for business and therefore those returning would be rescreened to take extra precautions.

“When the outbreak started, there was a massive influx of people coming in from China so Taiwan authorities were on top of their game in trying to control this in close detail with quarantining.

I think the reason we have been able to deal with the outbreak so well is because of the swift response and the lack of questioning by the general public because of the experience in 2003.”

MASK WEARING In terms of culture, the far east people tend to wear masks when they are feeling ill in general to contain the spread of any germs.

Therefore face masks are not frowned upon in the society in general, and when the outbreak started residents naturally began to wear the masks.

14-DAY QUARANTINE AND THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY In addition to this, Taiwan implemented the “14-day quarantine” early on in the outbreak if people had the virus, and if individuals had relatives who have it, the majority of people followed the Government’s advice, however those who didn’t, would be issued a fine. In a recent scenario, someone who had the virus left their home and was issued a fine worth £28,000. People are fined depending on how many hours they have left their home for.

In order to identify these people who are

supposed to be in quarantine, technology is heavily used such as using mobile phones.

However authorities only track those who are subject to staying at home. This is also due to the mass infrastructure of cameras in Taiwan and ID numbers.

THERMAL CAMERAS Likewise to the UK, another precaution the country has been seen to have in place are the number of thermal cameras when entering a building.

PREVENTION AND BUSINESS As the outbreak began in China, this seemed to have had a massive impact on the supply chain globally. Since 2003 the demand for goods from China has increased significantly and is now four times bigger. As a global pandemic, the chamber can only share best practice and offer advice to those who stress concern.

Talking about how companies can try to combat the spread within a business format, Freddie said: “Try to conduct business as usual, but do it under Government guidelines in terms of sanitation and the number of people etc. In order to reduce panic, follow the guidelines set by the CDC (Centre for Disease Control), this will allow us to function at some level of normality. This is what I have implemented here at the Chamber.”

Manufacturing will help the economy bounce back

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midlands manufacturing to grow by 11.3% in 2021

ith many manufacturers back in the workshop, there is no doubt that the economy is slowly building back up. However, in a survey, predictions show that Yorkshire is set to see 9.9 per cent growth in 2021, with the West Midlands likely to rise by 11.3 per cent due to the numerous manufacturing firms in the regions.

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen many businesses close shop in the UK, having a massive effect on the economy. Not only have many retail shops been closed for a record amount of time, but numerous manufacturers had to stop production due to Government guidelines.

Before the pandemic, in a survey by Ernst & Young it was originally predicted that UK GDP growth would rise by 1.2%, however, has been predicted to plummet by 6.8% for 2020 due to the pandemic.

Nonetheless, with restrictions relaxed in July 2020, surveys suggest that the economy will bounce back for 2021.

In a survey analysed by Instant Offices, commercial property specialists, the report shows that the West Midlands GVA is set to see growth by 11.3% in 2021, with the East Midlands not far behind with 10.0%. This is due to the Midlands tremendous automotive sector. In 2020, as predicted, GVA in both regions is set to reduce by around 10.0% Though forecasts predict that the Yorkshire economy will decline in 2020 by 9%, likewise in other regions mentioned, the GVA in Yorkshire is expected to increase by 9.9% in 2021 now that the majority of manufacturers are back to work.

John Williams, head of marketing at The Instant Group, said in a report from The Yorkshire Post: “Economic losses during the Covid-19 lockdown are largely due to Yorkshire’s large manufacturing sector, which contributes to 14.3 per cent of the local economy. The impact has been seen in every level of the supply chain.

Predictions show the scale of recovery could mirror the scale of contraction in each region due to sectoral make-up.

Therefore, with Yorkshire’s manufacturing sector being hard hit, this area could drive growth as demand starts to return.”

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jim crosbie

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aving spent the vast majority of my career working in the Midlands, it is a pleasure to write the foreword for this special book to highlight the strengths of our region. The COVID-19 crisis has sadly been a traumatic period for many people.

However, at the same time, despite the significant impact it has had on business and manufacturing, we have seen the best of what the UK and specifically the Midlands has to offer.

Numerous companies answered the call to change their businesses in response to the demand for PPE and many switched their production lines completely to produce critically needed equipment and supplies.

Toyota offered support in the form of PPE and also its technical expertise to various organisations - a testament to the well-established links we have with our communities. This resulted in our members being involved in projects as diverse as studying the reuse of vehicle ventilation components in a protective hood for frontline care workers to delivering Easter eggs to hospitals around the region.

Our maintenance teams worked at the local NHS Trust, assembling and testing medical equipment to ensure it was ready when required in theatre or on the ward. Our workforce and the wider supply chain have

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repeatedly demonstrated their ingenuity and flexibility to changing circumstances. All of which highlights the importance of having a robust, domestic manufacturing base as continuously promoted by the Made in Group.

Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK has been building cars in Burnaston, Derbyshire and engines in our Deeside plant in North Wales since 1992. We have over 3,100 direct employees and support more than 12,000 indirect jobs, manufacturing the Toyota Corolla, of which almost 90% are exported and 95% are self-charging hybrids. We hope to play our part, alongside the rest of the UK industrial sector, in being a major contributor to the economic recovery that will need to happen after the COVID-19 crisis.

Whilst we have faced various challenges, by continually developing and coaching our members, we have been able to adapt to unforeseen events. It is in times of crisis that you see the true capabilities of your employees and I am proud to say that Toyota members and their manufacturing colleagues across the country have stepped up to the plate and answered the call to support the local and national effort throughout these times.

I can’t be sure of all the long term changes that the current COVID-19 crisis may have on our industries however what I do know

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is that manufacturing will be ready to face them with confidence and the knowledge of having adapted many times to a changing landscape. The examples in this book, such as reshoring, diversification and investment, show beyond doubt that no matter what happens, British industry, with its positive, never give up spirit will survive and thrive.

My best wishes go to each of your companies as they embark on their new post corona virus journeys.

Jim Crosbie, Managing Director, Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK

DR Andy Palmer

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rom the age of 20, I wanted to be the CEO of a car company. For the last 6 years I was able to realise that dream as President and Group CEO of Aston Martin Lagonda.

Before beginning my journey with the Aston Martin brand, I served “my apprenticeship” with Automotive Products (from 1979), Austin Rover and 23 years with Nissan Motor Company. At Nissan, I ultimately reached Chief Operating Officer after 13 years living in Japan and China.

When I arrived at Aston Martin back in 2014, it was a company in trouble and a perennially loss-maker. Whilst this may have repelled others from this position, I wanted to play a part in helping the British manufacturer to rejuvenate and reinvent itself with new products both in its traditional segments, but also in new ones. I hope my legacy will be of this diversification into SUV and Mid-Engine segments as well as re-establishing the brand with outstanding quality, in its traditional GT and sports car segments. I wanted to ensure that Aston Martin would have a chance to survive as the last truly British car company.

The Made in Group, consisting of Made in the Midlands and Made in Yorkshire and established in 2009, also had a similar dream - ‘To challenge the erosion of British industry’.

Ensuring that the sector is connected

and informed, the trade association has connected hundreds of like-minded manufacturers, like Aston Martin, to share best practice and build lasting relationships.

The Made in Group offers not only a platform to connect manufacturers and businesses but also offers continuous support in sharing the sector’s positive news stories, lobbying government for the industry and offering businesses a microsite to promote the UK’s manufacturing capability.

This year, whilst many exhibitions have been pushed back to 2021, the Body will hold a virtual exhibition - Backing Britain Live – with all of the benefits of a physical exhibition minus the risk. Further proving their commitment to unite the industry and showcasing the resilience of the sector.

That’s why the message of Backing Britain is critical now more than ever. Whilst COVID-19 has caused great devastation across the globe, our manufacturing sector has proven strength and resilience throughout.

From manufacturers producing vital PPE for front line workers to those working around the clock to produce components for ventilators, the UK manufacturing sector has helped in many aspects when it comes to the battle against the virus. For this, the group has labelled these firms “manufacturing heroes”,

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emphasising the massive contribution they have made during this time.

This publication is proof of all of the hard work, positivity, and courage that the UK manufacturing sector has shown during the pandemic and beyond. It is proof that no matter what happens, British industry WILL survive and thrive. With stories of reshoring, diversification and investment, this book highlights the positive British spirit.

Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the manufacturing sector, but also to remind you that when things seem uncertain, remember this difficult time. Remember what we learnt and how we adapted to the situation and kept going. This book is a permanent reminder of that, let it be your textbook. Rest assured, I am positive that we will see the other side of this pandemic and return stronger.

DR Andrew Palmer, CEO of Aston Martin (2014-2020)

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Manufacturing hero

Manufacturing essential parts for ventilators T

his proactive, well-established, Midlands manufacturer “stepped up to the plate” and quickly accepted the Ventilator Challenge. Working round the clock, Rowan Precision produced key components for the extremely critical ventilators during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Rowan Precision, who holds the highly accredited AS9100D & ISO 9001:2015 for the Aerospace Sector Accreditation Scheme, has been designing and manufacturing the highest quality CNC Machined parts for over 30 years.

During this period Rowan has established a robust reputation for quality and service, supplying both national and international customers who operate in a diverse range of business sectors; these include aerospace, medical, safety, defense, lighting, automotive, electronics, and telecommunications to name a few.

The Birmingham based manufacturer was delighted to accept the Ventilator Challenge when an enquiry was received from one of its customers. Within just 24 hours of receiving the order from Smiths Medical, the whole team at Rowan began producing the vital components required for the urgent production of ventilators.

As is the ‘norm’ at Rowan, the team pulled together, working round the clock, over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend to guarantee the first batch of production was delivered on time.

Martin Barker, Managing Director at Rowan Precision, said “The two components

SCAN ME TO VISIT OUR MICROSITE

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we were asked to produce for the Smiths Medical approved ventilator were challenging and complicated and although, initially, we did experience some difficulty in sourcing the appropriate tooling we did manage to locate the necessary external sub-contract support to meet this challenge, head on!

To date, Rowan has completed the entire 12,000 components required for the initial order and all of these will have been assembled into critically required ventilators for nationwide distribution.

Martin added “I feel extremely proud to be part of a nationwide initiative to save lives. Additionally, this work has enabled us to keep the company fully operational during the uncertain times, thereby enabling the team to be working together, for which we are very appreciative and grateful” Another customer, Multirole Development Engineering, has also placed a new order for vital ventilator components. Once again Rowan was pleased to accept the challenge and delivered on time.

These particular components are used to measure the flow of gas to the patient, be that air or oxygen-enriched air. The information recorded by the sensor is also used to chart the precise amount of volumes consumed within specific periods of time.

During the fulfillment of these orders, and whilst continuing to meet all other customer requirements, the company has ensured that the correct social distancing and cleanliness guidelines have been rigorously observed, with more than adequate supplies of PPE and hand sanitizer being readily available and appropriately used.

‘Rowan Precision Ltd has been manufacturing high-quality precision machined components and turned parts for over 30 years’

Manufacturing hero

Ventilator challenge increases company’s capabilities M

idlands-based manufacturer, All British Precision have been producing components for ventilators.

The Precision engineering specialists, based in Derby, were asked to join the ventilator challenge after being recommended to Rolls-Royce by Steve Totty, Managing Director of Sliding Head machine supplier, Star Micronics. Producing four different components for the ventilators, this includes manifold blocks, poppets and valve covers.

These parts are for the Smiths ParaPAC Plus™ machine, used to aid the breathing of those suffering from Covid-19. All British Precision has completely re-organised its facility to meet the demand of the components required.

Alongside this, they have also been producing two aluminium components to be rubber moulded at a local company.

Talking about how it felt to be part of the ventilator challenge, helping those who need it most, Richard Allen, Managing

Director at All British Precision said: “I felt delighted on many fronts, the ventilator challenge has not only helped the company keep going, but it feels good to know we are doing our bit to help the country during these difficult times.”

“I would like to thank the team and those within the supply chain in particular Mansfield Anodising for going above and beyond to achieve this.”

All British Precision have increased their capabilities to meet these demands. The firm is known for specialising in metals mainly, however, the components they produced for the ventilators are plastic.

This requires micro deburring to ensure no plastic debris gets into the ventilator system. Richard added: “The components we have produced are plastic. However, we were determined to meet demands and ensure these parts are right for the ventilators.”

Offering manufacturers advice during this difficult time, Richard concluded: “It’s important that the sector keeps

calm and carries on, to keep the wheels of industry rolling. The rest of the world will need us soon and we need to be here for when that happens.

Moving away from the COVID-19 crisis, it is important for the UK to realise that UK manufacturing can re-shore business from the far east by investing in and utilising automation technologies. These technologies are now better understood and more accessible.”

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Manufacturing hero

MCS help produce ventilators parts W

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ith the shortage of ventilators in the UK, Machined Component Systems (MCS) joined the help to produce more. Alongside producing the vital components for ventilators, the company has also been helping the Assisted Living Technology sector by manufacturing components for stairlifts and patient hoists, enabling the NHS to reduce the demand for beds at hospitals.

Machined Component Systems client recommended MCS to another organisation who approached the company with the challenge. The Blue Chip company designed the ventilators and have assigned other firms to manufacture key components.

Managing Director of MCS, Warren Gray, said: “We felt humbled and proud that we have been selected to produce components for ventilators. It has been a hard few weeks after furloughing staff and this has given us a mind shift to something positive, as we will be contributing to a great cause.”

However, on top of producing these important products, the company is still supporting major clients who are also in need of critical components to fight the virus. MCS supplies parts to a stairlift manufacturer who have noticed a demand for more stairlifts from local authorities

and hospitals. Warren said: “The production of stairlifts is also important, during this time especially, because hospitals are looking to free as many beds as possible. Therefore discharged patients who need assistance getting upstairs are able to take a stairlift home to get around.”

Ventilator components produced in 2 weeks

Manufacturing hero

Helping those fighting COVID-19 M

idlands-based manufacturer Boneham & Turner has produced essential components needed for the assembly of ventilators, after being requested by Rolls-Royce.

Boneham & Turner Ltd is a leading manufacturer and supplier of tooling components and precision engineered components in the UK. In order to fulfil the order for thousands of plastic and metal components for the central ventilator challenge, Boneham and Turner ran two shifts per day for a week.

Charles Boneham, Managing Director of Boneham & Turner, told The Made in Group how the work came about: “I received a Linkedin message early afternoon Saturday 28th March, where I was asked to telephone Shaun Higginbotham at Rolls Royce, he explained that 8,000 ventilators had to be manufactured urgently and they desperately needed engineering companies to assist, without hesitation I agreed to help any way I could.

Within the hour on that Saturday afternoon drawings were sent through and we looked at the vast number of parts which needed machining within the week.

That Sunday morning we had assembled a team to programme the drawings on to

the machines, to get the parts estimated and to put a quotation for Rolls Royce. Rolls Royce gave us the go-ahead and the parts were ready to go for the first batch Sunday evening” The parts produced by Boneham will be used to assemble the ventilators at GKN in the Isle of White and Bristol, which will then be used in major hospitals up and down the country. Talking about how it felt to be part of the central effort to produce ventilators, Charles said: “At the end of it all, we all had a fantastic sense of achievement and great teamwork.

I would like to offer my Thanks to the team at Rolls Royce for involving us and who worked tirelessly, putting in long hours on the challenging project for weeks.”

Other than the work for ventilators, Boneham is still open to supporting new and existing customers. They are also wanting to diversify their business into new markets such as medical and are looking at investing in new machinery to do this.

Ventilators needing to be manufactured

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Manufacturing hero

New management appointments and investment in fleet helps Corbetts celebrate 160 years in business

Providing galvanizing services to NHS S

trengthening its management team and completing a £120,000 modernisation of its 13-strong fleet is helping one of the UK’s oldest hot dip galvanisers emerge from lockdown with ambitious growth plans for the of the year.

The company, which has kept more than 50% of its workforce operational, is now planning to ramp up volumes in line with Government guidance on social distancing and increased activity within its other customer markets, including leisure, automotive and trailer manufacturing.

“It has been a challenging period, but I’m very proud of our outstanding workforce who has enabled us to support existing and new customers supplying services and parts to the frontline,” explained Sophie Williams, Finance Director and General Manager at Corbett’s the Galvanizers.

“We wanted to keep as much capacity

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as we feasibly could open, so decided to shut Plant A, whilst moving over some staff to Plant B. This gave us 24-hour coverage, seven days per week and meant we could respond quickly to urgent orders, such as the ones we completed for the NHS.” She continued: “Sales in several core markets dropped off the cliff in April after a pretty strong March and, like many firms, we had to react accordingly…using the Government’s furlough scheme to protect some of our workers.

“We are expecting some of these markets to return and volumes to gradually pick-up again, albeit slowly. As this happens, we will look to bring more of our staff back and potentially explore reopening Plant A.” 2020 marks 160 years of Corbetts the Galvanizers supplying world-class hot-dip galvanizing to thousands of customers across the UK and Europe.

However, today’s site on Halesfield, their base since 1999, will be barely recognisable to those that started all those years ago, with a new water recovery system in place, state-of-the-art kettles installed and a 13-strong fleet of vehicles

Years of supplying Europe with hotdip galvanizing

in the yard acting as the distribution nerve centre for serving its client base.

With Covid-19 causing drops in volume, the firm decided to use some of the downtime to focus on implementing several new operational efficiencies, securing an average weight per boom increase of 80% and introducing a new process for yard management to speed up workflow.

Sophie continued: “At Corbett’s, we want to ensure our key workers, who are committed to producing galvanised steel for critical infrastructure and the transport sectors, are safe.

“We have increased the levels of deep cleaning in high traffic areas and altered the way we do internal meetings so there are no longer large gatherings in smaller offices. We have PPE in place, but have had to order face masks from China as we are unable to get any stock from the UK.” She concluded: “We are open for business and looking to support our existing and new customers as they safely return to work and start to get the economy moving again.”

Manufacturing hero

Laser process joins the ventilator challenge

L Respirators required to combat the virus at its peak

aser Process has been working hard to help answer the government’s call for additional ventilators in response to the COVID-19 crisis the contribution is a joint effort from across the manufacturing sector of the UK industry. Joining as part of the team of component manufacturers for ventilators, which are based upon on existing technologies.

Laser Process staff worked extended shifts over the Easter Bank Holiday producing parts that are urgently required to fulfil the expected gap in respirator numbers Experts believe the NHS will need at least 30,000 of the devices when the outbreak is at its height.

Laser Process is also involved in further projects including emergency racking

destined for Temporary Hospitals and other Temporary facilities set up across the UK and again staff were in and working during the Bank Holiday in a rush to get parts to other manufacturers.

LP Managing Director Jonathan Horne said: “Firstly I’d like to thank my staff for all their efforts during a very difficult period and further to say we are proud to support and we will continue as long as we are required to with positive contributions tackling the COVID 19 pandemic in support of the National Health Service, alongside other UK Manufacturing businesses.”

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Manufacturing hero

Producing face visors for frontline workers C

entral Scanning offers a variety of 3D Scanning and 3D Printing Services and are UK resellers for all 3D Scanning products offered by Artec 3D and Zeiss.

Located in the Midlands, they are able to offer product demonstrations and services across the UK and Ireland.

Bromsgrove based manufacturer, Central Scanning, has used their 3D printing and injection mold capabilities to produce vital PPE for those working on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic. Injection molding has allowed them to produce 6,000 visors within two to three weeks, with 500 from their 3D printer.

Another MIM member Stephens Gaskets helped produce the visors by providing Central Scanning with the clear plastic for the visors.

Nick Godfrey, Managing Director at Central Scanning, decided to invest in the injection moulding tool to produce visors more quickly. Talking about how the work came about, Nick said: “We realised there was a need for visors very quickly and started producing for our local doctors and a few care homes.

We were then contacted by Tri-Tech 3D who were trying to source manufacturers for visors and we wanted to help out.

We started working on them straight away to enable the joint volume to be increased significantly whilst we had the injection moulding made too” The firm plans to continue to produce the visors for as long as there is demand. Nick added: “People have been really pleased with the visors and how they work, especially as some of the care homes we delivered to had very limited PPE provided.

Once we have recovered from the cost of the visor tooling, we plan to donate more.”

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Injection moulded visors produced in 2-3 weeks

Manufacturing hero

Raising thousands for COVID-19 patients B

irmingham based door manufacturer Warrior Doors has bid to raise £10,000 for COVID patients who are isolated and have little contact from people. The funds will be used to purchase radios, computer tablets and more to help those in need.

Brett Barratt, Managing Director at Warrior Doors, decided to support patients at Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital in Birmingham after his daughter Esther stressed her concern of the lack of interaction COVID patients were receiving.

Esther has worked on the respiratory ward at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham for the past 8 years, and due to the virus, can only visit patients for a short amount of time. This goes for all doctors and nurses who were only allowed to visit to provide essential care.

Therefore patients who do not have contact with their families, are often left on their own without any interaction. This especially concerns older patients who have almost no contact with anyone and aren’t able to use modern mobiles.

Talking about how the idea came about, Brett said: “I received the following message from my daughter and was eager to help...”

“Dad, do you think people at your church or any other people you know would want to make little care packages for the patients on my ward?

At the moment it’s really lonely for them, there’s no TVs in the rooms so they have nothing to do, some of them don’t have family bringing things up for them.. so they are literally just in a room on their own with nothing at all to do.. I’ve been down to the shop on most of my shifts to buy either the paper or crossword books for people to do things.. I don’t know if you’re able to get the word out a bit and if people want to donate anything that would be great.”

Brett added: “It’s the little things that mean so much to people. The nurses would just like to make the patients more comfortable. It is totally selfless.”

For those wanting to donate goods, Warrior Doors are accepting donations at

their facility to be delivered to the hospital.

In a thank you letter to the firm and to those who had donated the goods, a patient on the ward wrote: “I deeply appreciate the donation of books. They have helped me mentally, spiritually. Thank you. It is much appreciated.”

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Manufacturing hero

Proving UK manufacturing strength T ipton based manufacturing Group TWP Manufacturing has designed a ball and socket head to manufacture in house. This new design will be part of their Paterson Photographic range, which were previously imported from China. Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, it has proven difficult for many manufacturers to get goods in from the country.

Therefore Phil Stanley, Managing Director at the TWP Group, took matters into his own hands and designed a ball and socket head so customers can still purchase the products they require.

Phil confirmed that 10 prototypes have already been manufactured and TWP are now in full production with their first batch. He continued: “We have the ability now to restore some of our business by producing these and have managed to create a high-quality product at a lower price than we would have bought them from China. It is also helping the environment by not getting these goods imported.

Due to their recent six figure investment in CNC machines, now totalling 8, TWP Manufacturing has enabled itself to design and manufacture not only the Ball and Socket heads but also re-shore approximately 250,000 parts previously imported from the far east.

This further diversification of its manufacturing services is in addition to capabilities in Presswork , Injection Moulding , Fabrication and Welding and General assembly work and allows TWP to control both its stock levels and its quality.

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six figure investment in 8 new cnc machines

parts reshored originally imported from the far east

Manufacturing hero

Supporting customers through COVID-19 pandemic N

uneaton based manufacturer Lanemark Combustion Engineering stayed open during lockdown to support customers and deal with new enquiries. They have also taken extra precautions regarding social distancing by splitting their staff across two facilities.

Lanemark Combustion Engineering Ltd design, manufacture, supply and install heating burner systems, which maximise process plant thermal efficiency and minimise both operating cost and impact on the environment.

The Midlands manufacturer decided to keep their production running to support the manufacturing sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many other businesses, Lanemark’s office staff worked remotely to support customers whilst production staff worked at the facility to fulfil orders.

In order to do this, the firm has

implemented social distance measures for production staff.

Adrian Cadman, Sales Manager at Lanemark, told the Made in Group why they decided to keep production operating. He said: “To maintain customer service, production is still required. As many of our customers are OEMs, supporting frontline sectors, we are still needed to service customers machinery. However we are making sure to keep up with social distancing measures.”

The company has recently invested in a new production unit, close to their original facility in Nuneaton. This enabled the company to move certain capabilities to the new premises, whilst still adhering to Government advice. Jeff Foster, Sales Director at Lanemark said: “We have been able to locate a range of fabrication operations, such as machining and welding, to the new facility which has

sufficient space available to enable us to maintain appropriate distances between workstations.”

“The role now being played by the extended premises may not be exactly as originally foreseen, but it is helping us and our customers maintain a degree of manufacturing and processing operations during these challenging times.”

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Manufacturing hero

MOTIVATIONAL TIME HAS UNITED MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY I

n the opinion of Citizen Machinery UK’s managing director Edward James, the Covid-19 pandemic has united the whole of the manufacturing sector to an extent never seen before in terms of the levels of selfless application by huge numbers of people to boost production of muchneeded medical equipment. In this article he describes how the company he runs, a turning solution provider, is contributing in the battle to deliver more ventilators to the front line in hospitals.

Citizen became involved early on when it was contacted by the UK government’s consortium for ventilator production, which became known as Ventilator Challenge UK. The committee included representatives from the AMRC (Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre) and Renishaw, who identified Citizen as the largest supplier of bar automatics in the UK and Ireland. This type of machine tool, especially the slidinghead variety with turn-milling capability, is critical to the rapid, efficient manufacture of components in very high volumes for making the extra ventilators needed by the NHS, 30,000 being the current target.

Accordingly, Citizen was given critical supplier status for the medical as well as the aerospace and defence sectors, although priority is being given to medical applications and is the only one being serviced at the moment. Mr James commented, “At the outset, the government was considering building a factory to make

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ventilators parts and assemble them.

However, we and others advising them suggested that the best route would be to enlist the help of the existing pool of first-class manufacturers and their supply chains already using our lathes and production equipment from other leading machine tool suppliers. I gave them a list of about 50 companies that use Citizen turning centres, choosing firms that operate sufficient numbers of machines, hold ISO accreditation and have the right level of expertise and metrology capability.

We knew many of them already make ventilator parts as well as similar types of medical and non-medical parts out of both normal materials and special alloys.

We had told all of our customers via social media that Citizen Machinery UK was still open for business and continuing to operate under government guidelines to support customers and prioritise any request for help in producing medical components.”

Nearly all of the recommended contacts were approached by multinational firms, including Rolls-Royce, GKN and BAE, appointed by Ventilator Challenge UK to oversee supply chain management from purchasing through to ventilator assembly.

The manufacturers were asked to change over their production to machining medical components and they immediately agreed to do so. As many of the firms recognised that additional capacity would be needed, it triggered multiple orders for new Citizen bar automatics from several companies and from additional manufacturers that became involved in the initiative through word-ofmouth recommendation.

In just over three weeks to mid-April 2020, 17 machines were prepared and

Edward James, MD

‘Citizen was given critical supplier status for the medical as well as the aerospace and defence sectors’ delivered from stock, all of which are devoted to the production of medical parts.

Transport is provided by Citizen’s dedicated team, J Parrish & Son, and for the rest of April sliding-head lathe deliveries are running at one per day. Extraordinarily, each is commissioned and operating on a customer’s shop floor in approximately 36 hours from receipt of the order, such is the urgency. Overlaid on this already hectic workload is a significant amount of repurposing of existing turn-mill centres in the field to manufacture medical equipment.

There are examples of Citizen lathes having been reconfigured for making metal parts that are normally produced from stampings, forgings and castings.

By far the largest proportion of resetting, however, has involved writing programs and providing tooling packages for turn-milling large quantities of plastic components from bar that are normally injection moulded, such as tubing connectors for ventilators.

Often they are supplied from overseas, including China, but deliveries may have either stopped or the numbers available are insufficient.

Manufacturing hero

Exactaform invest £1 Million into Technology Centre C

oventry based manufacturer Exactaform has invested a large sum of money into a technology centre to be used for research and development. The investment has enabled customers to not compromise on production and has allowed Exactaform to test cutting edge technology.

However Exactaform’s investment is nothing out of the ordinary, the company invests around £1 Million to £1.5 million a year which has led to a 20 to 30% growth year on year. The investment is in addition to the sum of money that already goes into the business each year for increasing manufacturing and production capacity.

Exactaform’s Jamie White said: “As the business grows, the investment grows with it.”

In their bid to grow the company, the business has invested in a Tech Centre, where they can take customer parts, program them on a machine and test them without affecting the customer’s production Talking about why the company decided to invest in the Tech centre, Jamie said: “We already sell ourselves as a solutions provider, we manufacture cutting tools but we do not sell the cutting tools as an individual item. We try to solve a customer’s problem with what we are selling. When aerospace customers are extremely busy and up against deadlines, they are not keen on turning off their production to run trials.”

To demonstrate cutting edge technology, the equipment and facility that Exactaform uses are vital. There are numerous

reasons why the Tech centre is a great investment, including the production and measuring equipment needed to simulate the customer’s environment and discover the technology that is out there. However it is important to recognise that the service is not for profit, Jamie added: “We are a production environment, all we make is cutting tools and we have invested in a tech centre and its purpose is to provide offline programming for customers.”

The company has already had a smaller version of this facility for a number of years, however, this is a major upgrade to what was already in place. The new facility will include machineries such as a DMG 3-axis machining centre, optical measuring equipment, Alicnoa inspection equipment and CAD-CAM software. On top of this investment, the company is continuously upgrading machinery and capacity enhancements.

Exactaform pride themselves as being specialists in diamond tooling manufacture.

Their vision is to be the brand of choice for high-quality PCD tooling solutions.

With their headquarters in the heart of England, they provide quality tooling to both large and small companies. They operate locally and globally, being able to deliver exceptional tooling with their personal touch is their mission.

Supplying tooling ranging from PCD countersinks to drills, milling tools and reamers, they are driven by three simple values. Get things done, take pride in every detail and most of all stay down to earth.

Their values enable them to be a reliable,

capable solutions provider with consistently high quality. But at the same time allows them to be flexible to offer rapid response to the demands of the industry.

Invested per year into research & development

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Manufacturing hero

Helping firms get back to work C

oventry based manufacturer Harry Burrows Fabrications has designed and is producing social distancing dividers so businesses can get back to work safely.

“Harry Burrows Fabrications are well known for top quality steel fabrication and sheet metal work. Products range from bespoke items to high volume production, but always with guaranteed outstanding customer service and on-time product delivery.”

The firm has been producing dividing screens for businesses to implement social distancing measures more effectively.

The dividers produced can be used in offices, factories, vehicles and more.

The innovative screens can be made from UPVC clear plastic, Steel Sheet, Aluminium, or any other material which is easy to clean, accompanied by a metal frame.

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Kevin Brayne, Sales and Business Development Manager, said: “The design of the screen is very adaptable, therefore we can meet customer requirements easily in most cases.

The screens will allow businesses, especially those who have to work in close proximity, to work in a safe environment and will allow those working with a skeleton staff to bring more staff back.”

“We were eager to get back to work after following Government guidelines and when we did we had lots of enquiries of people wanting to reshore their business to the UK, which is a great thing for manufacturers like ourselves.”

Talking about why it is important to be a member of the Made in Group, Kevin concluded: “I think a lot of people have been looking to bring work back to the UK.

‘Harry Burrows Fabrications are well known for top quality steel fabrication and sheet metal work.’

Founded in 1993

By being a member of MIM it helps us promote our business and create connections with like-minded manufacturers.”

Manufacturing hero

Electro E Discharge invest to stay ahead

lectro Discharge now have a 5 Axis Laser Cutting and Profiling machine, 29 Wire Erosion, 11 Spark Erosion and 2 Fast Hole Drilling machines.

Electro Discharge is just one example of the number of manufacturers investing into their business for continuous development and staying ahead of the game. Investing in the latest technology, the company now has a 5 Axis Laser cutting and profiling machine, with over 29 Wire erosion, 11 Spark erosion and two Fast Hole Drilling machines, increasing the capacity and capabilities the company has.

All of these machines are accredited to ISO, AS9100 and Nadcap specifications, proving the company is a trusted and global accredited manufacturer of complex parts made for the aerospace, automotive and commercial industry.

More Recently, they have invested in a Trumpf 7040 fibre laser system. This

EDM machines that run day and night for a fast and efficient turn around

allows the company to produce two- and three-dimensional components and tubes.

The modular set of the machine enables them to optimally customise the TruLaser Cell Series 7040 to a modified production environment and to react to changing customer requirements with flexibility.

On top of that, with 40 EDM machines and two shifts that run day and night, Electro Discharge has the capacity for a fast and efficient turn around.

Electro Discharge Ltd was founded in 1980 to provide a specialist sub-contract Wire and Spark Erosion service to the engineering industry. The company is well placed to meet any demand from present and new customers, ensuring complete satisfaction.

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Manufacturing hero

Rapid Diversification to Support the Ventilator Challenge A s the spread of Covid-19 rose in the UK during late March, like a lot of businesses, Gardner Aerospace were surprised by how quickly it affected its ability to operate with any degree of normality. The site in Derby was forced to close for a two-week period whilst they made the facility ‘Covid Safe’, and also tried to work out a short-term plan conscious of the impact both on customers and also its own internal and external supply chains.

On 8th April Gardner Aerospace received an enquiry to supply ventilator casings to Smith & Nephew, based in the NorthEast. After seeing other manufacturing organizations joining the since dubbed ‘ventilator challenge’, Gardner Aerospace wanted to do it’s bit to support the national effort.

The three Gardner sites to support the manufacture of the casings would be Derby, Basildon and Broughton.

The company returned from the shut-down

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and deployed a small team of Machinists and Manufacturing Engineers in order to rapidly industrialize the parts.

In less than 4 days from receiving the order Gardner Aerospace were supplying casings at full rate into Smith & Nephew.

It was an excellent team effort, fuelled by the fact that employees were working on such a worthy project, and clearly demonstrated Gardner’s agility and ability to bring new products to market at a rapid pace.

The experience gained from this project, and subsequent impact on the Aerospace supply chain has given Gardner Aerospace Derby the appetite and the necessity to diversify not only into new areas of their existing sector but also to consider targeted diversification outside of Aerospace.

Gardner Aerospace has since started to produce detailed parts for Seamers, a local manufacturer of hand crafted bespoke joinery solutions.

The Company employs more than 2,200 people worldwide

Manufacturing hero

Utilising Expertise to aid the Region M

IM member Rutland Plastics has joined forces with Oakham School to produce face shields for frontline workers. To date, they have produced thousands of face shields which have been distributed throughout the region to NHS and community care workers.

Rutland Plastics is a custom plastic injection moulder of bespoke products for a diverse customer base across a wide variety of industries. Throughout the company’s development, they have retained a steadfast dedication to building strong partnerships with both customers and suppliers, while consciously investing in areas such as their design department and tool room to add real value to those relationships.

Initially, the headbands were 3D printed by members of Oakham Schools Design Technology department. Rutland Plastics took the initiative to fully utilise their expertise as a manufacturer and developed, very quickly, a two-impression mould tool so that the company could injection mould the headband for the visors at a rate of 8,000 per day.

“Ramping up the production has required increased resource from everyone involved right across the community, it has been a huge collaborative effort and I am only too pleased we could donate to the cause and assist by leveraging the skills of our teams and facilities”, said Steve Ayre, Managing Director at Rutland Plastics.

There is a vast body of volunteers working daily on assembling the visors, as well as delivering them to those who have requested them – which includes hospitals in Peterborough, Leicester, Lincoln, and Kettering. Visors will also continue to be provided to staff at Rutland Memorial, Melton and Market Harborough hospitals along with numerous care homes and doctors’ surgeries across Rutland including further afield into Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and London.

Meantime, Rutland Plastics are fully operational supporting the supply chain; moulding both medical and non-medical parts for their customers who are involved in the supply of items and services vital to the fight against COVID 19.

Steve Ayre added, “The collaboration has been a really positive experience and not least a welcome boost to staff morale allowing us to focus our efforts on people outside of our usual channels and to make a contribution to the collective movement to aid the supply of PPE.” Many organisations have made donations not least Biesterfeld Petroplas, as the company kindly made a 1-tonne contribution of material, and so with supply on a not for profit basis this capacity can be accessed.

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Manufacturing hero

Pulling Together and Moving Forward O

nly launching in August 2019 the UK subsidiary had a new team, new facilities and new systems, in fact everything was new! So when the Covid-19 pandemic hit early on in 2020, and very early on in this new teams journey it forced them in to home working immediately.

Hoffmann Group UK quickly and efficiently got all members of staff set up comfortably at home and has remained

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open and trading throughout the pandemic, albeit from different locations. The team quickly adapted and improvised to overcome any issues. Members of the team were pushed out of their comfort zones but the can-do attitude and rolling up of sleeves ultimately pulled the team together and both accelerated and solidified the young relationships.

A virtual consulting service was also launched quite early on into lockdown in order to continue to support existing and new customers alike. Hoffmann Group UK representatives were still able to get up close and personal with jobs, offer expertise and provide effective solutions by embracing and utilising technology.

A lot was learnt during the lockdown

period, about customers, about technology, about products and services, and about each other and how they operated as a new subsidiary. To further align with the UK market the Hoffmann Group UK has reorganised to put the customer at the heart of the business with a dedicated focus on their needs.

The team at Hoffmann Group UK are very proud to have been able to support and enable UK manufacturing at the exact time it was so importantly required to support the ventilator challenge and actively assist in the fight against Covid-19.

With team spirit in abundance Hoffmann Group UK are now very much looking forward to the future and what lies beyond 2020.

Manufacturing hero

‘Skills Pledge’ to protect pipeline of apprentices O

ne of the UK’s leading training providers has developed a new way of making sure apprentices are able to continue their learning during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In-Comm Training, which operates three technical academies in Aldridge, Bridgnorth and Shrewsbury, will be delivering all courses via a virtual platform, ensuring its 750 learners still have access to industry experienced trainers and assessors when they need them most.

The ambition is to make it ‘business as usual’ where the firm can, with individuals able to complete tasks online using Google Classrooms or Microsoft Teams.

“Our first concern has always been the safety of our learners, staff and the employers we work with, so we have had to cancel all on-site training at our technical academies until further notice,” explained Bekki Phillips, Managing Director at InComm Training.

“The good news is that learning can happen in many forms and we are still 100% committed to supporting learners in developing their skills and, importantly, achieving their qualifications.”

She continued: “Virtual platforms like Google Classrooms and Microsoft Teams are perfect for supporting apprentices on their journeys and we can also use the technology to deliver some commercial upskilling courses.

“We feel it is important for learners to still keep that face-to-face contact via video links as it can be the difference between understanding content, being able to ask questions and, in some ways, keeping up morale.

“The technology will also be used be to complete assessments, removing the need for our assessors to make on-site visits.”

In-Comm Training recognises the impact Covid-19 is having on mental health and will also be enhancing its pastoral case for all learners during this difficult time.

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Manufacturing hero

Reaping benefits of sourcing within the UK

A

s the company sees a significant rise in the number of enquiries it is receiving, Midtherm Laser believes that having a strong relationship with local suppliers has proved to be invaluable in a time when materials have been in short supply. The company’s goal has been to support its customers who were still manufacturing and supplying into the NHS.

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Midtherm Laser supply into a wide market sector, many of these companies restructured manufacturing processes overnight to meet the needs of the NHS. Sue Fenn, Sales Engineer for Midtherm Laser said “We as a company feel very proud to have been approached by ERIKS UK, who sought to bring like-minded companies together who wanted to support the NHS by offering their manufacturing facilities on a non-profit basis”.

Many of the products Midtherm Laser manufactured were destined for the Nightingale hospital at the NEC. In just a few days, and with a skeleton staff, Midtherm Laser started to supply medical waste bins, hand sanitising stations along

with ventilators, isolators, respirators, and face visors.

As a company decided not to close our doors and with the support of its customers, of which many are new.

Sue continued “Over the past few weeks, we have seen a significant rise in demand which has led to a need for extra capacity.

To meet this shortfall, we are now able to bring back our twilight shift, enabling us taking further staff off Furlough.”

Midtherm Laser will embrace the challenges that lie ahead, looking for new innovative ways to ensure Midtherm laser continues to be a market leader in the laser cutting industry.

Manufacturing hero

MTC provides PPE to front line workers T

he Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) has rapidly reacted to a demand for protective visors for healthcare staff in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. Following the ongoing success with the Intubation Shield for NHS workers, the MTC has now prototyped and developed a face visor that utilizes laser cutting technology, which is available as a free open source download.

With a recent peak in Coronavirus cases, the safety of healthcare professionals has never been so important, and personal protective equipment (PPE) plays a vital role. The MTC has been working hard to design, concept, prototype, and test the laser cut protective visors with the aim to

protect the eyes and face of healthcare workers. A technical specification for the visors has also been created as a result of the research.

Starting with an initial open-source concept created by Nottingham Hackspace, the design was modified to meet userspecific requirements and reduce the typical time it would take to manufacture.

Using the MTC’s state-of-the-art facility and the latest manufacturing technologies, the visor has been laser cut to ensure safety and comfortability and is built using a polypropylene frame and a clear plastic screen. The visor is suitably designed for quick hand-assembly, with build instructions provided within the technical pack.

Preliminary trials at Leicester Royal Infirmary have proven to be successful and hailed positive feedback, launching the MTC into the production of the first 2,000 units for hospitals around the UK. Supply chains and manufacturers are welcomed to continue the production of the visors using the open-source technical packs and documentation available for free download.

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Manufacturing hero

Building Strength with UK manufacturing S

ince the lockdown began QM systems have evolved to comply with government working practices whilst still continuing to trade. In the engineering sector that QM work within, most product manufacturing companies get numerous iterations of designs to perfect its products, but the very nature of QM Systems business means they do not get that luxury. QM Systems need to design, manufacture, test and commission a production, inspection or handling cell and get it right the first time.

That is why of all the companies in the engineering world QM Systems are

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one of the most adaptive and innovative companies in the market. During the lockdown several competitors based abroad have not been able to fulfil contracts due to border closures, QM have provided support to ensure any mutual client’s requirements are still met. This is not something that the company would traditionally support, however it helps provide some stability for the company and its clients until there is a return to normality in the manufacturing and capital plant industries.

In conversation with the manufacturing firm, they said “There is no better time to invest in automation. Covid-19 has highlighted that there is a need to control our own destiny and that linked with Brexit means that more manufacturing in the UK is what is needed and if products are manufactured using automation there

will be a cost reduction, making the UK extremely competitive on the global stage.

It’s been a testing time for everyone, manufacturers need to re-ignite this economy and one method for all product manufacturing companies is to invest in automation and invest in UK companies.

The innovative use of automation is the future.”

Manufacturing hero

Pentangle receives ÂŁ1M ROBOTIC WELDING PROJECT P

rior to the Covid-19 outbreak and after about a year of trials, Pentangle Engineering (based in Grantham Lincolnshire) were awarded a ÂŁ1M contract to design and manufacture multiple robotic machines and tooling to produce a fully welded, stainless steel, car fuel tank.

As the official U.K Distributor for OTC Daihen, it is a great opportunity to showcase their robot range and fully integrated welding equipment.

The fuel tank is fully welded around the seam in one pass and uses the very latest Wellbee P500L weld set and Synchrofeed system.

The tooling (pictured) has been a major part of this project for the final welding operation and again Pentangle have formed a good working relationship with MW Designs (who also designed the press tools for the project) and Cube Precision for the expert manufacturing.

Previous operations of the project require the spot welding of brackets to the fuel tank internal and external faces, so Pentangle were able to design a turnkey solution using the Obara X-Type spot guns.

Again these have been fully integrated into the OTC robots, with great technical assistance from both sides, to give them a strong solution to move forward with and beyond this project.

Although the restrictions around Covid-19 have caused certain issues with regards to deliveries of items to Pentangle, the firm has been able to continue to work right through and complete a major part of the project.

As a Company, Pentangle Engineering are available to assist you with all types of Robotic, special purpose and Automation enquiries leading to full turnkey solutions.

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Manufacturing hero

Backing Britain by supporting the NHS

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he Covid-19 pandemic has created a whole new set of uncertainties, disrupting factory operations, supply chains and customer demand. British manufacturers have done what they do best, bringing resourcefulness and ingenuity to the collective fight.

It has been nothing short of humbling to see how UK manufacturing and engineering companies have united to help support and develop the much-needed PPE, ventilation systems and test kits in response to the Coronavirus outbreak as well as supplying essential equipment for the temporary Nightingale hospitals.

These are difficult times, but Thorlux is well placed to see through the challenges Coronavirus presents. The manufacturing facility is operating at a reduced level and strict social distancing measures are being enforced. Many office staff are working

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from home, ensuring support services are still fully operational. Flexibility is the key with the potential need for shift working and changes to the working hours policy together with ongoing consultation, feedback and thinking outside the box.

Thorlux prides itself on being a responsible corporate employer and is focused on supporting the national effort.

This has been done by continuing to provide goods and services where they are needed, such as work with the NHS, but also by enabling the government to target its remaining funds to those areas where they are required the most. Thorlux has therefore decided not to apply for compensation for furloughed employees during this initial period of lockdown, and will continue to offer all employees normal pay whilst they are not working.

As the country pulls together in unity and starts to plan economic recovery, the sector is seeing businesses and people working to support one another on a whole new level, in order to keep this country going through this challenging time.

Manufacturing hero

TotalControlPro™ collaborate with John Lewis Manufacturing R

eturning staff to work whilst adhering to social distancing measures may result in the disruption of usual business and production processes. This may be exacerbated by some employees still working remotely.

Now more than ever, manufacturers need a way to communicate and manage people, products and processes safely and effectively, whilst recovering profit loss and boosting productivity.

An inspiring case for TotalControlPro has been working with John Lewis Manufacturing. Facing restrictive communication challenges, the company reached out to TotalControlPro to provide the solution to facilitate getting its employees back to work quickly and safely.

Social Distancing Measures impacting manufacturers: • Staggered shift patterns • Preventing face-to-face working • Remote working • New cleaning processes Like all of TotalControlPro’s customers, John Lewis Manufacturing has access to the on-screen Job Notes function which allows them to send; targeted, team, department or even company-wide messages. This removes the need for long face-to-face debriefs; keeping its employees safe.

Improved communications allow workers to

increase productivity by saving an average of 30 minutes per operation, per day!

TotalControlPro’s Cloud-based system has enabled those who are still working remotely to stay updated quickly while effectively communicating with other on-site team members. If a production manager is off-site, they can send and receive messages both to and from the shop floor. Similarly, sales or customer service teams can remotely access job information tracking and provide real-time information to customers, including the job status and production stage.

Stephen’s Catering has been a further success story during this time, who reached out to TotalControlPro with the need of updating it’s system to track workstation cleaning processes. Now Stephen’s Catering can track cleaning workflows and boost confidence within it’s workforce that the company is maintaining staff safety.

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Manufacturing hero

Putting country before profit during COVID-19 F rom a business point of view, we’ve made no profit from printing PPE. For us, the ability to make a profit from the current situation doesn’t seem fair when key workers are struggling to get crucial protection” That’s how Midlands member Tri-Tech 3D and the Group Director, Adrian Painter are handling their companies Coronavirus outbreak response.

Using their industry knowledge and range of 3D Printers, the company has been playing a vital role in advising others and producing PPE themselves for some key

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workers, as well as making it as accessible as possible for anyone to join the cause.

Supported by Stratasys, the company have been taking the proactive step of Backing Britain by offering a 50 per cent discount available to their Stratasys client base who needed to purchase material for products that would be used as part of medical donations, such as PPE. But for Tri-Tech 3D, despite a rise in firms able to produce higher quantities, there is still a demand and desire to support the nation. Speaking, Adrian said, “I think we realized ourselves as the additive manufacturing community that we were only ever bridging the gap until the large manufacturers could meet demand once more. That gap was probably no more than three to four weeks.

We’ve reached the point now where that big push from our 3D print community

is pretty much gone and it’s been taken over by manufacturing companies that can traditionally produce tens of thousands of PPE visors via injection mould, in the time we could print hundreds. There is still potential for use of Additive Manufacturing however in other areas, where more bespoke and lower volume, such as ventilator parts or jigs & fixings, end-armtooling, to help make customized products.”

Yet, despite having some staff at home, employees of Tri-Tech 3D are turning their job, and for many, a hobby into a productive drive for the country, “Many of our employees, who are keen 3D enthusiasts themselves, are still 3D printing on their machines at home, at their own cost and donating them to care homes and key workers.”

Manufacturing hero

More than a printer a partner W

ith over 80 years of manufacturing experience, Ricoh 3D are the trusted experts in end-to-end 3D printing services and manufacturing solutions.

Ricoh 3D are proud to have played a part in the battle against Covid-19 by jumping into action to produce 40,000 face shields a week for NHS and essential workers, especially designed to improve comfort and offer a re-usable solution to cut long term costs.

Mark Dickin, Additive Manufacturing & Moulding Specialist, said: “Our site is uniquely set up to take a product from concept to prototype to serial production, and that is exactly what we have done here. The true power of 3D printing here was the supply chain – with manufacturers like Ricoh 3D able to switch up production overnight as the pandemic unfolded.”

“After seeing reports of nurses’ faces

being cut and bruised by their existing protective equipment, in just 24 hours the team had the head support 3D-printed and remaining components sourced and assembled. This really is testimony to the strength of our supplier relations and the cross-functional team who made it happen so quickly. Local legend Steve Bull even stepped in to help us transport the masks to the hospital frontline the same day!”

It’s unique 3D printing polypropylene material was ideally suited for the job with its flexible, lightweight and fatigue-resistant nature. The components are also fully watertight and meet WRAS regulations without any secondary processing.

With additive manufacturing key for short term demand of emergency equipment, Ricoh quickly recognised that long term supply called for the cost efficiencies of injection moulding. Two weeks into the pandemic, investments were made

in injection mould tooling to deliver the ongoing high volumes required.

Ricoh 3D’s site really is a true endto-end facility; from design and reverse engineering services, to their suite of SLS, MJF and FDM technologies, through to the 828m2 injection moulding facility.

The site already produces over 5 million mouldings each month for the company’s toner operation, with capacity available at a moment’s notice.

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Manufacturing hero

De-Met look to the future T

wo new LVD EasyForm press brakes are helping Dudleybased subcontractor De-Met dramatically reduce the time from design to part. The machines are also fitted with programmable sheet supports that allow it to form large thin sheets without them being damaged by buckling or creasing.

This has allowed one of its customers to offer an enhanced product range on industrial metal doors.

The company was founded in 1998 and acquired by GIL Investments six years ago. It is now a direct subsidiary of one of GIL’s businesses, Davicon, a specialist in mezzanine floors and associated

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equipment for applications such as automated warehouses.

Lee Kempson, Operations Director and one of the original owners of the business, explains: “Davicon relies on us to make many of their smaller items.

That has introduced a whole range of new products including staircases, step-overs for automated conveyors, workstations, sorting benches and so on. That is on top of all the subcontract work we have traditionally done, which ranges from steel partitioning to garden patio heaters and items for kit cars and the automotive aftermarket.”

He says that everything De-Met produces is subcontract work and that it sets itself apart from other sheet metal and laser cutting companies by offering a complete service from start to finish.

This stretches from helping customers develop their designs using the latest Inventor 3D design software through to punching or laser cutting, bending, fabricating, finishing and shipping directly to the final customer on-site. Powder coating is carried out by their onsite sister company De-Met Colourcoat.

“Since being taken over the business has more than doubled its turnover. We have put on a second shift and we are really looking to push and expand the business.”

De-Met Ltd and Demet Colourcoat are ISO9001 2015 and CE mark accredited, ensuring quality from start to finish.

16 years experience in supplying quality products to a wide variety of areas throughout industry

Manufacturing hero

Local firm supports those fighting COVID-19 M

idlands manufacturer Birmingham Prototypes Ltd (BPL) joins the ventilator challenge, supporting those who need it most, by producing vital components for the construction of ventilators.

BPL offers a unique range of services to the prototype and production sectors. The firm is well known for delivering complex body-in-white products, particularly pressings and bracketry.

Their range of capabilities include; Design and Simulation, Tool-Making, Press Work, Laser (including 5-axis),

Machining, Fabrication Assembly, and Inspection.

BPL was approached by brand giant Rolls-Royce to produce various components for ventilators, critical for the health sector.

The manufacturing company was tasked with producing three variants of high tolerance bracketry for the internal housing of the components. Matt Adams, Operations Director at BPL, said: “The work involves a combination of our in-house sheet metal work capabilities including; Laser, Pressing, Machining, nut insertion and inspection.”

“It’s a proud moment to be working with the UK’s finest manufacturing establishments to support our society in a time of need.”

BPL has used engineering solutions to ensure staff safety such as fabricating partition screens to create modular bays for production staff. With a large manufacturing facility, machines have been separated to achieve social distancing measures.

Offering advice to manufacturers during these uncertain times, Matt said: “Any manufacturer that’s open, is owing to their loyal and hard-working teams who are pulling together. Ensure that safety in the workplace is top of the agenda and keep the morale up”

“These are hard times and Made in the Midlands not only has its obvious networking advantages, but there is also the community aspect, allowing everyone’s diverse skillset to come together to achieve great products for our economy to be rebuilt.”

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Manufacturing hero

Getting Businesses Back to Work I

n response to the government’s guidelines around returning to work during the current Covid-19 pandemic, cleaning solutions provider, Rozone Ltd, has created a suite of sanitising packages to help businesses comply.

Each package contains the necessary sanitising and antibacterial products, screening equipment and PPE to get any business up and running again and give peace of mind that staff and customers are protected. Rozone have taken away the headache of having to source multiple products from numerous suppliers – saving both time and money and all their chemicals are designed, formulated and manufactured at their UK plant.

Covering Retail environments, Workshops, Offices and Kitchens, each specially created package contains 28 products dedicated to that specific industry sector; from disinfectant spray and hand sanitising gel to perspex screening and social distancing tape. All items are available to purchase separately and should you wish to build a bespoke box for your business,

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Rozone will happily advise.

The manufacturer knows that all businesses are reducing the number of visitors to their sites for the foreseeable future and it is important to consider reducing contractor visits where possible.

Rozone’s solution to parts and component cleaning is their “Made in the UK” ROwasher which uses an environmentally friendly cleaning process called bioremediation. This clever technology requires no monthly service contract or contractor regularly visiting site, unlike the leading solvent and aqueous based parts washers.

Solvent Free, non-hazardous, heated to 42°C, so more pleasant for the user, the ROwasher provides the best possible cleaning performance. With a built-in energy saving mode and reduced waste fluid generation, Rozone`s ROwasher has clear environmental and cost saving benefits whilst the user’s health and safety is always at the forefront of their innovation.

Rozone specialises in high-performing, innovative cleaning solutions, replacing

potentially hazardous chemical products with water-based or safer solvent-based solutions.

Each specially created package contains 28 products dedicated to a specific industry sector

Manufacturing hero

B.B. PRICE RELEASE PLANS TO MOVE INTO NEW HEAD Office A

fter extensive preparation works, B.B. Price are pleased to be in a position to relocate into their new head office.

The original move date had been scheduled for the end of March. However, due to the Government imposed lockdown, this had to be postponed. Now, with restrictions gradually being eased, B.B. Price now find themselves able to revisit plans for the transition.

The Black Country based firm specialise in steel forgings and fabrications.

Investment in the new premises shows a firm commitment by management to enhance the business’ future operations. Machinery has also been acquired to supplement the 50,000 square footage increase to their manufacturing capacity.

Obtaining the extra floor space encouraged the company to review their production processes. Despite increased capacity making it easier to accommodate existing operations, they were keen to use the opportunity to improve their efficiencies throughout.

As a result, ‘automation’ became a key area of focus.

Due to the nature of the business, cranes or forklifts are often required to transport WIP between machines. This naturally adds time and costs to production.

Two revolutionary machines have been procured by the company. With capabilities to self-load, crop, stamp, punch, drill, and self-offload, production time can be slashed with the ensuing reduction of manual labour.

A further enhancement to the in-house offering was the addition of a laser cutter. These services had previously been outsourced but by adding in-house capabilities, the company has greater control over the process from start to finish and enhanced assurances over the quality procedures throughout the production chain.

The developments are further evidence of their commitment to adding value to customers for generations to come.

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Manufacturing hero

Supporting NHS with innovative solutions B

ott Ltd are UK manufacturers & world-leading suppliers of efficient workspace solutions. This year, the Bott Group celebrated 90 years of industry experience - nine decades of helping customers to create smart and effective working environments.

From workplace storage and vehicle conversions to assembly and mobility solutions, Bott are trusted partners to businesses in many sectors – offering high-quality products, services & solutions.

In response to the recent Coronavirus outbreak, Bott Ltd quickly turned its design & manufacturing expertise towards innovating new solutions; helping other businesses to comply with the evolving Health & Safety guidelines for the

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workplace. Bott’s flexible manufacturing approach, combined with a wealth of knowledge and skill, enabled Bott to confidently develop a new Care product range. Delivering real value for customers, the range promotes best hygiene and social distancing practices for warehouses, factories, hospitals and schools.

With a strong reputation for service excellence, the company was also well placed to quickly respond to the needs of the NHS and vital impact sectors, supplying a variety of bespoke vehicle conversions and storage solutions.

Having to temporarily close the UK facilities at the beginning of lockdown in March, Bott ltd utilised this time to review their own processes, implementing new ways of working for a safe and controlled resumption of operations. With flexibility and commitment, Bott Ltd employees have been remarkable in adapting to these new ways of working. From helping to create robust safety measures across all sites, to keeping connected with customers &

suppliers through the means of digital technology.

At Bott, exhibitions have always been an important way to link with partners, suppliers and customers. As meeting in person isn’t possible right now, Bott is looking forward to connecting at Backing Britain Live 2020 - it’s the first ever virtual event’.

‘The range promotes best hygiene and social distancing practices for warehouses, factories, hospitals and schools’

Manufacturing hero

Giving British Manufacturing a Competitive Edge

P

roduction software solutions from Hexagon have long been recognised as an integral part of the backbone of British industry – giving manufacturers a competitive edge over foreign competitors on their Smart Factory journey.

In addition to this Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence stepped up its support for the British supply chain, by providing free offline licensing and remote access options during the COVID-19 lockdown, meaning that customers could remain productive while working from home.

In normal times, the state-of-the-art software is synonymous with supporting British companies, enabling them to compete with cheap foreign imports, safeguarding British jobs. And it’s not just one industry sector: Hexagon’s wide

range of software packages are valued by companies, both large and small, in aerospace, medical, automotive, motorsport, electronics, power and energy, heavy industry, and general manufacturing businesses, to name but a few.

Software such as EDGECAM, VISI, RADAN, WORKNC, NCSIMUL and FASYS are used by British manufacturers across the production machining, mould and die, and sheet metal industries to design their products, and then optimise the production processes of nesting and creating toolpaths. This means they can stay strong and lean, manufacturing top quality components and finished products on extremely quick turn-around times, competing cost-effectively against foreign imports.

When companies followed the British Prime Minister’s advice about employees working from home during the Coronavirus crisis, Hexagon offered learning and remote working solutions to both current customers and non-customers who could benefit from

the technology.

During the crisis Hexagon also granted a number of free licences for companies to specifically produce PPE and medical equipment. For example, a free temporary licence from VISI enabled XL Precision Technologies to increase capacity by up to 40 per cent, dedicated to manufacturing parts for ventilators and respirators.

ALPHACAM granted a free evaluation licence for Codem Composites to fully commission an acquired Blackman & White CNC machine to specifically cut the full range of parts and sizes for scrubs for NHS frontline workers.

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Manufacturing hero

Supporting the UK Ventilator Challenge

#inthistogether

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S

CHMOLZ + BICKENBACH Group is one of the world’s leading providers in specialty steel long products. The UK Group supply Tool Steel, Engineering Steel and Stainless Steel into a variety of industries in round bars, forgings, rings, blocks and many more specialised products.

The group also offer from their in-house specialist technical team: Ultrasonic testing, MPI testing, extra testing, Heat treatment, NonDestructive testing and 3.2 Third Party Witness. The SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH Group are the third largest producer of Stainless Steel long products in the world, second largest producer of Tool Steel in the world and third largest producer of Engineering Steel in Europe.

Utilising 2,500 tonnes of stock in their Oldbury head office as well as access to stock in Germany and France, they were able to support British manufacturers with high quality material during the recent push to support the UK’s fight against Coronavirus.

An example of how SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH accommodated the UK Ventilator Challenge was by offering stock priority and quick lead times. This was demonstrated when a customer placed a large order for material at 3PM, and was picked and delivered before 9AM the next day. Due to a flexible and co-operative workforce, they can deliver anywhere in the UK within 2 days, offering same day and next day services.

As well as competitive prices and quick lead times, S+B UK are proud to offer a unique service. By drawing from expert technical knowledge, the SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH Group can supply material and make sure that you are running at the correct speeds and feeds to get the highest productivity from their material, known for its unrivalled machining quality.

Utilising 2,500 tonnes of stock from oldbury to support British manufacturers

Ian Brown

‘Times Like This, The power of the Made in Yorkshire network has never been more valuable.’

Made in yorkshire President, Ian Brown

A

s president of the Made in Yorkshire membership region, I am proud and honoured to be writing this forward.

It’s a personal opportunity to reflect on the unprecedented events of this year (so far) and the way in which, as I expected, Yorkshire companies have risen to the occasion, again and again.

In the next pages, we will be sharing the inspiring stories of 40 Made in Yorkshire family members, companies, who have gone above and beyond. From producing medical components for ventilators to masks, visors and other PPE, to those who have been making further investments in their businesses, All, by their actions, backing not just Yorkshire but Backing Britain.

I encourage you to be as inspired by the stories as I have been and as hopeful for the future of Yorkshire and British manufacturing.

You can see and feel the determination and innovation, which has been taking place.

The cross-company and cross-boundary collaboration of over 150 Yorkshire-based manufacturers.

In terms of innovation. It has not been restricted to only the members. Our Made in Yorkshire and Made in the Midlands have also innovated. The pandemic has stopped “networking” at “breakfast mornings” and other activities. Yet we have created a range

www.madeinyorkshire.com

of virtual Breakfast Mornings, Roundtables, Mastermind Groups and Q&A sessions.

Carrying this forward into the new normal.

We emerge stronger and more closely knit.

There are quite a lot of examples of our members with more work than before the lockdown.

We have work to do. In the usual Yorkshire way, we roll up our sleeves and get on with it but let us take a minute to hear, and be proud of, not just our 40 examples, from Backing Britain Live 2020, but all the network.

Sincerely, Ian Brown Technologies Director of Teconnex Ltd. President of Made in Yorkshire.

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Manufacturing hero

Helping K the frontline in a time of need SCAN ME TO VISIT OUR MICROSITE

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adant Paal Limited are extremely proud of their approach and actions in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Due to the nature of Kadant Paal’s business i.e. recycling and waste handling, and it’s customer base also largely supporting key activities such as food retail and health, Kadant Paal staff were designated as key workers.

It would have been easy therefore to keep all activities operational, but they recognised that there had to be a balance.

Kadant Paal’s field service teams remained active in providing a response where required and to meet the waste handling and recycling needs of the Health Service, Supermarkets, Food Processing and the Prison Service to name a few.

At the same time, the company decided to dramatically reduce their production activities with the focus being on supporting the service teams in terms of spare parts and assemblies.

The Managerial, Sales and Admin functions were asked to work from home.

Although there has been an impact to the business, the company is content that

those decisions had to be made under its Corporate Social Responsibility.

Going forward though Kadant Paal have prepared for the “new normal” and have implemented various measures so that their manufacturing operations are up and running again.

The business will look back on these times as challenging but innovative.

Kadant Paal Limited design, manufacture and maintain recycling and waste handling equipment that can greatly benefit your company in the following ways: • Saving money • Provide an income by recycling cardboard and plastics • Improving Health & Safety on disposal practices • Reduction in carbon footprint • Save space/reduction in waste compound footprint • Adoption of environmentally friendly working practices.

• Easy to operate the equipment.

Manufacturing hero

‘STAUFF UK’s tube manipulation facilities have responded to assist in the emergency production of components to manufacture hospital beds’

Dealing with the challenges of COVID-19 2

020 has been one of the biggest challenges for many years, not just for manufacturing, but health care, government, emergency services and many other sectors.

As a company, planning future scenarios and expectations has been reduced from years to days in response to the ravage of a pandemic, but past experience has taught the STAUFF UK management team to react quickly, responsibly and review regularly.

STAUFF UK has been able to draw on resources and relationships with both suppliers and customers to assist and ease supply chain issues, not only in raw materials and product but also to fulfil requirements of PPE to ensure staff and visitors are safe.

For example, one of their suppliers (a local distillery who last year supplied promotional bottles of gin for Christmas) reacted to the government’s call to switch their processing to make hand sanitiser and not only supplied STAUFF UK but the local NHS community as well.

STAUFF UK’s tube manipulation facilities have responded to assist in the emergency production of components to manufacture hospital beds and have actively encouraged diversity with their business partners.

The government’s furlough scheme was adopted very early by the company and has managed to assist in the safeguarding of jobs, the flexibility introduced at a later

date has allowed STAUFF UK to rotate staff and not only ensure that they have the correct people to undertake the work, but also offer respite to those struggling with the enforced isolation at home.

STAUFF UK’s staff have shown commitment, humility, respect and understanding of the decisions made.

Those remaining within their facilities have readily adopted and more importantly contributed to the new work process and movements around the premises. Many of those furloughed have turned their talents to helping the community with such projects as manufacturing face masks for local medical staff, but above all protecting themselves from the virus threat.

STAUFF UK say: “As we begin to see the grassroots of change there is actually still a long way to go and many challenges to face, preparation for the continued growth of STAUFF in the UK goes on … now hand in hand with actions to defend against the unexpected and unthinkable.”

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Manufacturing hero

Responding to the challenges of COVID-19 G

SM Valtech has continued to operate throughout the current Covid-19 pandemic situation, supplying to many key industries including those in the medical supply chain.

The company, which continues to monitor the ‘new norm’ and implement changes to the working practices based on the latest advice from the Government, including maintaining social distancing in all departments, spoke about the challenges they face.

Talking to Andrew Burrows, the External Business Development Manager, he spoke about how the company has responded to the Covid-19 situation, “We have seen an increase in the number of new customers as existing suppliers to them have closed for a period. As a company, we welcome all new enquiries for the supply of sheet metal work, assemblies, and anything on the bill of materials associated with the sheet metal component supply.”

He went on to say, “Some companies have limited capacity currently in their buying departments and we are therefore offering our help where we can.”

Yet despite the economic downturn, GSM Valtech is continuing with its programme of investment. Andrew went on to say, “Our philosophy is to continually develop and invest in all aspects of our company, including people, plant, and machinery.

This approach, together with our sales and marketing strategy will enable us to maintain our momentum during these difficult times.

The recent purchase of a new CNC stud welding machine with the capability to attach a wide range of studs and a

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new high-powered spot-welding machine has further enhanced product quality and repeatability. As well as offering the opportunity to further reduce manufacturing lead-times.”

Andrew went on to talk about why the company is getting behind ‘Backing Britain.’ “Given the current situation, we are ‘Backing Britain’ to enable us to reach out to companies in the UK who are unsure of whether to ‘reshore’ or not. Let us not forget that ‘Brexit’ is still festering in the background and we want to help companies make the right decisions in their supply chain going forward.”

‘GSM Valtech Industries Ltd is part of the GSM Group of companies.

Originally operating as Valtech Industries, it was purchased by GSM in 1979.’

Manufacturing hero

Supporting Yorkshire during COVID-19 F

ounded in 1992, Airmaster air conditioning has always resided in South Yorkshire. Airmaster has grown into a 35-employee team with £9m annual turnover, they have always stayed true to their core values. These values centre around how they can help both customers and the community.

Airmaster have responded and adapted to the COVID-19 situation by providing extra support for existing customers. This includes additional cleaning, disinfection and maintenance to ensure the safety of ventilation and air circulation systems in their premises. They’re also working hard to service critical areas including hospitals, supermarkets, data centres and petrol stations to ensure their safety and continuation.

James Dawson, a design engineer, developed a fast response by turning around a technically illustrated risk

35 employee team with £9m annual turnover

‘Airmaster responded and adapted to the COVID-19 situation by providing extra support for existing customers’

assessment methods to help solve previous barriers posing a safety risk during this pandemic. Senior staff, Gareth Campell and Ian Fisher, played an important role in reaching out to key sectors responsible for keeping Britain going to offer support.

Lisa Pogson, Airmaster MD, has been leading by example and sponsoring face shields across the local area, focusing on care homes to protect the most vulnerable. She has journeyed as far as Leeds to donate dozens of visors to Martin House Hospice, who support young people with life-limiting conditions.

Engineers that are not working in critical areas have also been donating Airmaster face shields to care homes and testing facilities around Rotherham and Swallownest.

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Manufacturing hero

CBE+ makes a difference C

BE+ is a specialist sub-contractor operating from modern, purpose-built facilities in Chesterfield specialising in capabilities across the group in CNC machining, Electroless Nickel Plating, Gears and Metal Testing services. The group was amalgamated by Cooper Brown Enterprises who invested in four separate businesses with the vision of bringing integrated supply chains to diverse global markets including Aerospace, rail, automotive and Oil and Gas. The business recently achieved AS9100 certification across the business and as a result has been sponsored by Leonardo Helicopters in working towards obtaining SC21 accreditation.

The company recently undertook the challenge to machine critical components for ventilators, a new product in an extremely short timeframe to support the UK NHS throughout the COVID 19 pandemic.

Fabio Cosenza, Group Business Development Manager said: “We were honoured to have received a request to help the national effort by producing these parts: I knew we had to make it happen. We created additional capacity to machine these components on time, we are conscious of how important they are to the nation and the team worked around the clock 7 days a week to help keeping up with demand. I salute the flexibility and commitment of our staff who have dedicating days, nights and weekends to this project.”

Joe Scamp, Lead Machinist on the #VentilatorChallengeUK project, said: “Everyone sees the news and knows the demand for ventilators right now, and the repercussions of the NHS not having enough. What we have been doing will effectively help save lives now and, in the future.”

Despite pressures from this busy period, such as increased demand and travel restrictions imposed by the Government, on June 1st CBE+ successfully implemented a new Group-wide ERP system, EFACS E/8 written by Nottingham-based Exel Computing Systems Plc. The new system is a key component of the Group’s strategy of continuous investment and consolidation of internal supply chains.

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Manufacturing hero

C

2020 set to be best year on record

ambridgeHOK is an East Yorkshire based SME who despite the turmoil of Covid-19 are set to have their best year on record. Founded in 1955, and purchased by the current owners John Holland, Steve Hinch and Ross Hibbs in 2004, the company has gone from strength to strength in the horticultural industry, whilst now also stepping out into the energy market.

CambridgeHOK has stayed ahead of the curve utilising forward-thinking technology.

In 2010 they built the largest glasshouse in the UK at that time, before diversifying into Vertical Farming and building the UK’s first vertical farm in 2016. CambridgeHOK also has a sister company Cambridge Construction, which, as a group, enables the company to deliver full turnkey horticultural construction and engineering solutions, as well as delivering a certain number of construction only projects, namely in the warehousing and factory sector.

Skip forward to 2020 and the CambridgeHOK have been able to keep all of their projects running smoothly throughout lockdown, including their largest contract to date, a 6 hectare strawberry growing facility with packhouse, integrated

into a pre-existing sustainable energy facility.

Moving all non-site based staff to home working, and employing a strict 2m social distancing rule across sites CambridgeHOK have been able to remain fully functional, even taking on new employees to join the design and operations teams during the lockdown. Steve Hinch Finance Director comments “it’s a strange time to be inducting people into the business and trying to teach them our systems via video conferencing but it’s just great to have the demand to be able to take staff on when so many people are losing their jobs”.

Moving past Covid-19 CambridgeHOK are looking to expand the energy part of the business out of horticulture, whilst also exploring more sustainable materials and processes for use in glasshouses and vertical farming.

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Manufacturing hero

Improving water quality for the NHS I

n their role as water treatment specialists, Excel Water improves the safety and efficiency of everyday functions for a range of organisations, from manufacturers to healthcare facilities. Pure water is essential for processes within sterile environments and the production of certain goods.

An NHS trust in the Midlands approached Excel Water to assess their reverse osmosis (RO) plants. They needed a consistent supply of pure water due to the silica levels present in the mains water supply.

The tank on site was causing the ROs to start and stop frequently. As a result, the ROs have been struggling to cope with demand.

The RO units send 25% water to drain during run cycles, meaning lots of water was being wasted due to the system’s inefficiency. The aim is to increase the flow rate and reduce water to drain.

The project involves upgrading their 10-year-old RO unit, converting it to double pass from single and putting in 2 x 1.5m3 per hour to run duty/standby. The units will be fitted with an inverter driven pump that is IE5 rated, reducing energy consumption.

Once installed, the new system will be tested and monitored by Excel Water’s team to ensure the trust is supplied with the right quality of water at the required frequency. To ensure the trust has a reserve of water, Excel installed additional tanks.

RO units send 25% water to drain during run cycles

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The outcome of this project will ensure the Midlands NHS trust has improved water quality for the vital work they do. Moving to a constant flow will save energy costs, reduce wasted water, and avoid the hassle caused by the old system.

Helping British organisations operate more efficiently and save water is what drives the team at Excel. The right water treatment system can transform daily operations.

high-quality service for the past 27 years

Manufacturing hero

Supporting essential businesses A

PS UK Ltd specialise in the design and installation of materials handling and dust extraction systems. They also do full aftercare, with their own certified engineers for servicing and testing of LEV (Local Exhaust Ventilation) systems, and provide spare/ replacement parts for systems.

As Britain went into lockdown to help reduce the spread and impact of Covid-19, certain critical businesses remained open to manufacture vital products. APS UK are proud to have been able to support those businesses by helping supply spare parts, maintain extraction systems, and install dust extraction systems to essential businesses, which when complete will provide

protection to the system operators.

With the safety of their employees and customers a priority, these installs were an extra challenge to ensure the system could be installed as safely as possibly. In order to achieve this it is vital APS had good communication with the customer, followed the Covid-19 Risk and Method Statement, and ensured correct usage of PPE whilst adhering to social distancing and hygiene measures.

Each dust extraction system removes airborne dust that is created during the manufacturing process. This therefore protects the operators and other personnel, but also protects the machinery from premature breakdowns and provides a

cleaner working environment.

APS’ installations were carried out with minimal impact on the current processes of their customers in order to ensure that they could continue manufacturing to their maximum capability.

LEV systems are important for the health of employees. Throughout lockdown critical businesses remained open with careful controls in place, with more businesses reopening, Government instructions are that LEV must continue to be used, kept in effective condition, and that statutory inspection of dust and fume extraction equipment has not been suspended. As such APS are still going to sites to help keep them properly maintained and tested.

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Manufacturing hero

Diversifying to new markets M

any businesses have diversified into new markets due to the COVID-19 pandemic in order to meet the latest demands. Hazel 4D, packaging supplier, have adapted quickly to the current environment by producing critical PPE and sanitizing solutions.

Hazel 4D provides innovative packaging products and services that help you save time, money and the planet. They understand that the packaging process isn’t simply about the supply of materials, it also relies on the correct equipment and training to ensure the packaging is applied in the most efficient manner.

That’s why Hazel 4D offer completely unique services where they partner with customers to improve business performance and profitability. For example, the Intelligent Load Stability system combines expertise, nano-tech film and the latest generation wrapping machines to optimise pallet wrapping and improve load stability.

During May, after an existing customer asked if they could help supply them with PPE, as they were having difficulty with procurement. A trusting relationship with Hazel 4D, meant that they could

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reliably supply a range of products from antibacterial wipes, face masks, gloves and public safety signage. These products are essential for customers, especially for working environments where social distancing is challenging.

Hazel 4D have managed to source highvolumes of these products at a time when they are extremely difficult to procure. This means they have been able to supply large quantities “quickly and reliably.”

The company has helped multiple businesses by supplying these products and has even taken on new customers as a result of this. Successfully pulling through a difficult time, ‘Hazel 4D achieved a record month in May, resulting in bringing almost all staff off furlough and back to full time work.’

Hazel 4D continues to be a key supplier to the UK Healthcare sector, communications and food industries.

They have donated cardboard boxes and tape free of charge to support Burberry’s local factory with making medical gowns, and helped small businesses supply scrub bags to frontline workers by donating poly bags.

‘Hazel 4D provides innovative packaging solutions that help you save time, money and the planet’

Manufacturing hero

Manufacturer helps those fighting COVID-19 G

SM Graphic Arts have gained opportunities to contribute towards the Ventilator Challenge with the supply of identification labels, serial labels, graphic overlays and control panels to both existing and new customers alike.

Following initial enquiries from several companies involved in the Ventilator Challenge UK project GSM was able to quote, manufacture and dispatch the initial batches of labels and overlays within a 24-hour time frame. This enabled the labels to be assembled onto products in time for the approval testing to be completed.

The comprehensive manufacturing capability, based in Thirsk, has enabled them to produce plastic product labels and graphic overlays utilising a polyester film which has antimicrobial protection embedded within the textured hard coat to prevent the growth and spread of bacteria.

The polyester is then screen printed on the reverse side to offer a durable, protected finish within which they can offer

translucent display windows, led windows and embossed switch pads.

In order to meet the required specifications GSM has also been able to offer finishes which withstand the autoclave sterilisation processes used, this will ensure that the labelling remains legible and in place throughout the life of the product.

These materials include Polycarbonate film and anodised aluminium, both of which they can digitally print to offer unique identification details, serial numbers and barcodes.

GSM’s in-house design studio, digital print and laser cutting capabilities ensure that they are well placed to respond to urgent label requirements as well as full production requirements.

‘GSM was able to quote, manufacture and dispatch the initial batches of labels and overlays within a 24-hour time frame’

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Manufacturing hero

Serving The World with Record Output Y

orkshire-based sub-contract electronics manufacturer Contract Production, have enjoyed a recordbreaking month after fulfilling one of their biggest-ever orders in record time, securing their growth and development at a time of global uncertainty amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The firm, whose base of operations is in Pickering, manufactured 24/7 noise measurement instrument kits, each made up of a scientific sound level meter alongside an acoustic calibrator, to fulfil a large order obtained by one of their key accounts, Cirrus Research plc. The fullyassembled acoustic measurement kits were delivered in-full and on-time to the police force in Delhi, India, to help officers enforce noise level regulations on the roads, and at public events and private gatherings such as parties and weddings.

The order, which was also a recordbreaker for Cirrus Research, was turned around in just four weeks as opposed to the originally-anticipated timescale of eight to nine weeks.

Newly-appointed Operations Manager Andy Chiles said: “I’m incredibly proud of the whole team for their hard work in getting this order fulfilled on-time and in-full.

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This is one of our largest single orders, so it required some changes and adaptations to ensure we provided both Cirrus Research and the Delhi police force, with the instruments they needed”.

He went on to say: ‘The order came through just as the COVID-19 crisis caused many of our suppliers in China to shut down. The fact that we were able to complete this order is testament to the flexibility and adaptability of Contract Production as a business, as well as our team’ Contract Production managed the whole manufacturing process of the order, from sourcing and assembly, right through to calibration, testing and packing. Many members of the Contract Production team were upskilled, and additional shifts were put on to ensure that the tight deadline was met.

This recent success follows a long and steady period of significant growth for the North Yorkshire manufacturer, with record levels of investment from its shareholders demonstrating the confidence they have in the firm moving forward.

Managing Director Simon Norris said: “This is yet another example of how British business, and more specifically Yorkshire business, are supporting the rest of the world with market-leading manufacturing services of the highest quality.

“In addition to this large order for India, we have seen an uplift in the amount of work we have taken on for overseas

projects, as well as continuing to support British manufacturing and engineering projects. The confidence we inspire in our shareholders allows us to continue expanding our capacity to meet the needs of businesses in the UK and abroad.

“As a business, we have invested over £750,000 in our infrastructure and manufacturing capability over the last two years to ensure that we can continue to deliver for our varied and increasing customer base”.

Contract Production manufactures a range of sub-contract electronic products and printed circuit board assemblies for a wide variety of industries. Last year saw the shareholders make a significant investment in new machinery, including an AM100 Panasonic, Pick and Place line and a brand new reflow oven, enabling the company to increase its output by up to 400%.

The whole production line populates printed circuit boards and can place up to 30,000 components per hour – another key advantage that has allowed the business to compete for the larger contracts.

As well as larger orders, Contract Production also produces one-off prototypes, or low-rate production runs for clients that are often made by hand, for new products that are yet to go to market. These can be anything that requires circuit boards, from GPS tracking devices and fire safety equipment to cameras and measurement instrumentation for the oil and gas industry.

Manufacturing hero

Offering training to furloughed workers R

ichard Parks, from Cadspec explains how the Made in Yorkshire member continues to support its workforce and develop a new way of working during the Coronavirus outbreak.

Speaking about how the Yorkshire-based company has responded to the situation, Richard said, “During the ongoing situation, our first response was to maintain own business and make it sustainable during these trying times. Doing this we recognised that a new way of working was emerging, and we knew how we could help other businesses get through it.”

Richard went on to say how supporting their workforce to work-from-home, was a key challenge the company faced, saying, “We quickly saw that remote working was key and so we set up a number of free tutorials, webinars and technical support calls enabling our customers to keep their own organisations going. Supported by our partners Autodesk we helped get dozens of companies working from living rooms, dining rooms and kitchens.”

“Once we’d assisted in the setup of remote working the next phase was to ensure that companies with limited staff could still design and manufacture key

products not just supporting the NHS but manufacturing as a whole. Our technical team helped with design validation, managing BOM (bills of materials) and FEA analysis, maintaining a steady stream of vital parts going through manufacturing and production facilities.”

Yet despite furloughing some staff, Cadspec has used the time to invest in training. Speaking Richard said, “We’ve also set up a training program for furloughed workers to attend free remote CAD/CAM training courses to ensure they maintain and develop their skillsets while on furlough. This ensures that upon returning to work UK Engineers are more knowledgeable and productive.

Our aim is now to continue supporting the UK’s manufacturing industry and Backing Britain to evolve our way of working and ensure we continue to deliver world class manufactured products.”

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Manufacturing hero

Businesses merge to form Yorkshire’s biggest security company O

ne of the UK’s largest safe distributors, Burton Safes, has completed a merger with Safe & Vault Company Ltd, to form Yorkshire’s largest specialist security company.

The merger was completed in January 2020, with ownership of the new group shared between the existing management teams. Former Burton Safes Managing Director Ben Lewis has become Group MD, with Safe & Vault’s Adam Greenaway as Group Director.

The new group has ambitious goals for future expansion and development, as Ben Lewis, Group Managing Director, explains: “We’re delighted with the new partnership – we’ve brought together two of the industry’s leading names to create a complete physical security company. It puts us in a strong position to challenge the market leaders, with the increased capacity and enhanced capability providing an excellent foundation to develop the business and drive growth.

“For our customers, it’s going to mean higher quality, more efficient support and

increased innovation, as we continue to deliver innovative, market-leading security systems for a full range of applications.”

Following the merger, the companies will maintain independent brands and premises, while working together in a strategic partnership. Burton Safes will act as the main distribution arm of the group, with Safe & Vault providing engineering, design, product development, installation and servicing.

The new group will benefit from Burton Safe’s expansive sales and logistics network, with Safe & Vault’s experienced team of safe engineers and installers.

The group will also utilise Safe & Vault’s specialist design team to expand the development of new security solutions.

Adam Greenaway, Group Director, said: “Having access to Burton’s sales team and infrastructure opens up huge opportunities for in-house development and expansion. It provides a strong route to market for our innovative security solutions for the domestic, commercial and ATM markets – in the UK and overseas.”

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The new group now employs around 60 people, and will continue to operate from its existing premises in Holmfirth and Leeds.

Burton Safes is one of the UK’s leading suppliers of physical security solutions.

In addition to safes for the domestic and commercial markets, the company also supplies security doors, panic rooms and strong rooms to customers across the UK and overseas.

Safe and Vault Company Ltd provides a wide range of security solutions, product development support, engineering and installation services to clients worldwide. In addition, the company specialises in ATM security and safety deposit boxes, working with banks and safe deposit centres across the UK and overseas. ATM security products include the multi-award-winning GP-X ATM Gas Protection system designed to protect ATM safes against explosions, fire and cash loss.

Manufacturing hero

Continued success sees investment in office expansion W

hilst the story of Dura-ID dates back over 84 years, the company continues to invest in the country and company, and in the latest investment, the company has announced a new purpose-built facility on the Enterprise 36 development at Tankersley. This development will keep Dura-ID at the forefront of label manufacturing and help them to provide the latest technology for in-house printing.

Speaking about the growth, Managing Director, Shaun Higgins said, “Our new head office will be at the George Falmouth Innovation Centre in Tankersley with excellent links to the M1.

We are confident that these new premises will allow us to improve efficiencies and continue to offer excellent customer service.

The new site will triple business space, allowing us to host events and showcase innovative solutions across key sectors.�

At the core of this investment is the desire to streamline their operations, as well as affording a better working environment for their employees. The new site will allow the

company to benefit from extra warehousing space, allowing them to stock more raw materials, as well as giving them vital extra production space, including space for future expansion.

Thanks to innovative solutions, DuraID now has the capability to solve complex identification problems where other providers have failed. Innovation, continuous improvement, and industry expertise has allowed the company to remain at the forefront of high-performance branding or full product traceability.

As a result of their unique products, technical thinking and impartial advice, which is delivered through a network of Dura-ID staff, distributors and overseas partners the company has become a staple of Backing Britain as it now successfully supplies to over 40+ countries across the globe.

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Manufacturing hero

Diversifying to meet challenges of COVID-19 I

ST Metz GmbH, an internationally active medium-sized mechanical engineering company with headquarters in Nürtingen, in Southern Germany, and more than 500 employees worldwide.

With subsidiaries in the UK, Skipton, North Yorkshire and 9 other countries the company supplies and supports a wide range of sectors including industrial applications such as healthcare, medical, adhesives, paints for example as well as the graphic arts sector, printing, commercial,

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packaging and labels as well as digital and ink-jet printing.

For more than 40 years the company has been producing equipment for curing print and coating by means of UV light. The UV systems cure inks, varnishes, silicones, adhesives, resins and other materials in fractions of a second.

The IST Metz group of companies offers its customers the world’s largest product portfolio of high-performance UV lamp and UV LED systems. The range is complemented by warm air infrared drying systems and excimer technology. IST Metz was elected as Global Market Leader for UV Curing Systems in 2018.

In recent times IST are also actively involved in the supply of UV for air

disinfection. Using Steritube, a UV system which eliminates pathogens, moulds and virus treatment such as Coronavirus. The air is purified using portable or semi-permanent filtration units which enable clean air for use in the populated areas like waiting rooms, surgery rooms, offices, hotels and many other locations.

‘For more than 40 years the company has been producing equipment for curing print and coating by means of UV light’

Manufacturing hero

Supporting local food banks when its needed most V

isual Group design are a manufacturer of branded company signage and have recently been supporting a local food bank with social distancing signage.

As social distancing becomes top of everyone’s mind during this pandemic, the group has seen how larger retailers are rolling out social distancing signage schemes, but for charities who are still providing vital goods and services, such as Doncaster Foodbank; who are serving the community to provide much-needed

‘First impressions count, that’s why the Visual Group is here to make sure your signage is the best it can be.’

food packages, they don’t have the funds available to them.

As part of their Community at Heart charity scheme, the Visual Group has donated social distancing signage to the Doncaster Foodbank. One of the problems that the foodbank faced, was that they do not have their premises and they organised the food parcels for the public from the Doncaster Christ Church, meaning they could not install a permanent in place.

Visual Group manufactured one of their pavement A Board menu signs, which

featured Social Distancing advice to stay 2m apart, per government advice.

This provided a portable sign, something easy for the volunteers to take around and position where they needed it.

The Doncaster Foodbank team, which were delighted with the signage, has now allowed them to inform those visiting the foodbank to follow this advice to keep both themselves and volunteers safe as can be.

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Manufacturing hero

Providing compressors for NHS Nightingale Hospitals T he recent Coronavirus pandemic has meant that hard times have fallen on almost all industry sectors with some establishments such as hospitals and supermarkets being under strain to meet the huge demand.

Since the commencement of lockdown, The ACE Group and Cool & Heat have been continuing to provide a service to their customers, many of whom are considered key industries and who have been essential in keeping fellow Britons fed and cared for.

One such project that ACE has been involved in is providing compressors for breathing air plants in use at the temporary Coronavirus hospitals set up at the ExCel, London and in other parts of the country. ACE delivered the first compressors on the 1st of April and even appeared on the News having been filmed unloading the machines.

Breathing air has been essential in the care of Coronavirus patients with one of the symptoms being breathing difficulties.

ACE are proud to have supported NHS Nightingale along with other temporary hospitals up and down the country.

The Cool & Heat team have also provided service continuity to their customers. The team provides essential air conditioning to a prominent television station who have been at the forefront of providing news and information to the public as the pandemic has developed. Cool and Heat have remained busy throughout the lockdown ensuring that their customers receive the same high level of service with added adherence to current health and safety guidance.

Their Parts team have also continued to support Service Departments and supply vital parts to customers all over the UK. The ACE Group and Cool & Heat are proud to have weathered the storm so far and will continue to provide the highest level of service to their customers.

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Manufacturing hero

Investment into UK site sees reshoring from abroad Y

orkshire Profiles Ltd carried out it’s latest business expansion during April 2020 as part of its on-going plans to support the manufacturing community in Britain. The latest expansion provides a larger laser cutting capacity allowing the company to reduce its prices and offer shorter lead-times without compromising on quality.

The machine allows the company to process a wider range of metal thicknesses at a quality unachievable by most fibre laser cutting companies in the market. This is due to the Amada patented “Locus Beam Control”.

“We carefully selected the Amada Ventis laser for its ability to cut quickly and to provide an edge quality like no other fibre laser on the market. This allows the beam to be manipulated into a variety of cutting shapes rather than the traditional straight line.” Says Managing Director, Matthew Halliwell.

“Our main priority was to source a Fibre laser which could consistently cut with a high edge quality, which all other lasers seemed to struggle with until the Ventis came along.”

The machine has a relatively high level of automation. It uses a single lens, has a 16 station automatic nozzle changer and a scrap conveyor. There is also a material automation tower for large bulk orders on the Ensis fibre laser for processing very high volumes of thinner components.

The company aims to position itself to allow many other UK businesses to re-shore from China, the EU and the USA by being price competitive whilst still providing the quality you’d expect from a UK enterprise.

Yorkshire Profiles provides high quality metal cutting and fabrication services nationwide from 0.9mm to 25mm material thicknesses.

‘As the Company has a passion for being ahead of the curve, investments in Industry 4.0 technologies are already taking place.’

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Manufacturing hero

W

Supplying critical service to the medical sector

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akefield based manufacturing company Crompton Controls have been supporting the medical sector with Building Management Systems (BMS). Installed into hospitals, these systems allow users to control heating, electricity and water more easily.

Crompton Controls is a 100% privately owned British Company that manufactures and supplies high quality electrical equipment including standard motor starters, components and fully customised complex control solutions to a wide range of industries and market sectors.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Crompton Controls has seen a rise in orders for BMS within the medical sector. BMS is implemented into panels which are then added to the infrastructure of buildings, in order to use controls within the building more efficiently.

However due to the level of hospitals in need of BMS, non-critical orders for hospitals have been held back whilst others have been completed quickly. Dave Chappell, Sales Director at Crompton Controls, said: “So far we have completed work for Epsom Hospital, through our partners, and Sancta Maria in Wales. However,

others have been pushed back as noncritical due to the volume of enquiries we have received.”

Many of these enquiries have been made to refurbish the hospitals or used when the facility is being extended.

The firm has also been supporting other critical sectors during the pandemic, by supplying control panels and equipment to the Water, Oil, and Gas industry. Talking about how this feels to be able to support the community during difficult times, Dave added: “There is a great feeling of pride, being able to help during such difficult times when even being out of the house is a risk.

We are enabling life saving facilities to be open and running quickly, all whilst doing it on a reduced crew and still meeting demands.”

Crompton Controls have stayed open during the pandemic to support these sectors, whilst sticking to the Government’s guidelines on social distancing. The UK manufacturing firm is able to offer bespoke manufacturing solutions for almost every motor control system.

Manufacturing hero

Providing vital components for the medical sector F

125 machine hours to produce 1 million mouthpiece springs

rom springs that go into the mouthpieces for ventilators to catheter clips to syringe drivers, patient beds and trolley systems, instrumentation and numerous electrical components for medical technologies including defibrillators, European Springs & Pressings is proud to play a key part in the supply chain for a number of medical equipment manufacturers.

Stuart McSheehy, Managing Director of the Beckenham factory says: “We have developed tooling and manufactured medical components for the healthcare sector for decades but today’s climate and subsequent increase in demand has highlighted the market share with which we and our customers operate in.

We manufacture springs, pressings and gas struts for engineering companies and subcontractors across a broad spectrum of the healthcare industry. Requests for rapid turnaround times has made us see the fuller picture and resulted in us operating new production schedules to meet demand.”

With 1 million mouthpiece springs taking approximately 125 machine hours to manufacture and other product lines in the tens of thousands, the advanced design, engineering and manufacturing capabilities across European Springs & Pressings factories, from London to Cornwall, are working together to help combat today’s public health emergency.

McSheehy concludes: “We manufacture the largest range of springs and pressings in the UK and have some of the most advanced high-volume machinery available. At peak, our machines can manufacture 5 million springs an hour and we have repurposed and upscaled specific production lines to manage orders.

Normally validation as a new supplier takes months of trials before volume production but in this very abnormal period we’ve been fast-tracking processes to suit our customers and are beyond proud to be able to play a supportive role in today’s climate.”

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Manufacturing hero

Providing hospitals with safe & reliable breathing air B

OGE is meeting the needs of hospitals and its patients thanks to their innovative range of air compressors.

There are numerous uses for medical gas within the health services, from artificial respiration to powering surgical instruments. Where consumed by patients, only a highly reliable source of absolutely pure breathing air is suitable – and BOGE’s compressors are delivering exactly that.

BOGE has an extensive portfolio of medical compressed air systems that deliver the high quality compressed air required for use by patients as breathing air. Installed and certified by reputable hospital equippers and medical device manufacturers, BOGE’s range of medical air compressors comply with all the relevant industry standards and requirements, including: Medical Devices Directive 93/42/ EC; DIN EN ISO 7396-1; DIN EN ISO 9001/13485; and HTM 02-01.

The range features a wide selection of screw, piston and scroll compressors, all of which operate an effective, seven-stage filtration process. With this range of models, and with the support of their network of experienced engineers, a tailor-made medical compressed air system can be configured to satisfy any hospital’s requirements.

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One of the most popular compressor systems is its PO series.

These modular, oil-free piston compressors, which cover the power rating spectrum of 2.2 to 5.5kW for 10 and 15 bar, are extremely economical in use and offer numerous options for adapting to specific applications.

They have a compact design, are absolutely oil-free, provide the highest degree of reliability, and are designed for simple and quick servicing and maintenance.

The EO series features integrated compressed air treatment, supplies Class 0 absolutely oil-free compressed air and includes variable speed technology to systematically match compressor use to demand – keeping energy usage to a minimum without compromising on air quality or supply.

“There is no room for error when it comes to producing compressed air for artificial respiration. It can be a complex process for hospitals, but by working with the right supplier and selecting the correct system it can be kept simple and the safety of patients can be safeguarded,” said Mark Whitmore, General Manager at BOGE Compressors UK. He went on to say, “We’ve developed our portfolio of compressed air systems to reliably deliver the consistent supply of regulationcompliant compressed air that hospitals and their patients require.

Furthermore, they’re also extremely easy to manage, energy efficient and cost effective.”

Manufacturing hero

How is Balmoral Tanks Backing Britain?

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Of investment in new facilities and software

ith over £20 million of investment in new facilities and software, South Yorkshire-based Balmoral Tanks, and its Managing Director, Allan Joyce, believes that Backing Britain is all about investment in facilities, staff and, ultimately, a strong product.

In terms of a robust market offering, the company introduced two new product lines: “We design and manufacture highly specialist products at our Thurnscoe facility. The first is Balmoral epoxy coated tanks and the second Balmoral glass fused to steel (GFS) tanks.” Allan explained that the glass product line is expected to move into full production by the end of May. Yet the investment doesn’t just include operational facilities, but also the ability of all Balmoral Tanks’ employees with the company encouraging its staff to learn new skills. Speaking, Allan said: “At the heart of all of this will be a strong leadership team in our succession plan which is tangible and visible, and so we continue with the investment in our Leadership Academy.”

“The final piece of the jigsaw, launched in March, is ‘BALANCE’. A competency-based online training system which links everyone in the business across our five UK locations. The Leadership Academy team came up with the name which stands for (Balmoral Academy for Learning And Nurturing Continual Excellence). We love it. Everybody can log in, and we’re starting with what we call compliance competency; safety, quality, and environmental. Everybody’s got to complete at least two modules by the end of May with the ultimate objective to make sure that every job we have in this company will have a competency-based assessment on what their job role is all about.

We are preparing and positioning the company for an exciting future,” Mr Joyce concluded.

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Manufacturing hero

Continuous investment with SMC UK S MC are recognised as the world leaders in pneumatics and are experts in industrial automation.

Established in Japan in 1959, the SMC Corporation continues to pursue its strategy of global growth and currently has a sales presence in 82 countries, with 51 subsidiaries at key locations around the world.

SMC Pneumatics Ltd opened its UK office in 1978, and following the purchase of a 14 acre site in Milton Keynes in 1998, has occupied a purpose-built production, logistics and administration facility.

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The UK office is co-located with one of SMC’s two European Technical Centres, where around 70 R&D engineers offer specialist technical support to customers in the UK. Working in the automotive, electronics, life science and food processing and packaging sectors, SMC’s standard product range exceeds 12,000 items which includes pneumatic, electropneumatic, electrical drives, electronics, vacuum, process and temperature control equipment.

Each year SMC launches between 30-40 new or improved products and this investment in product development is a key factor in driving the business forward.

Prior to Covid-19, SMC substantially increased its UK stockholding of both complete products, component parts and raw materials to ensure continued availability following the Brexit vote. In addition, UK customers can also benefit

from quicker delivery and customised product options where required because many SMC products are finished or assembled by the UK production teams in the Milton Keynes facility.

SMC have recently signed a contract to update their global ERP system.

This multi-million pound investment will help deliver the best possible service to all UK customers.

SMC UK has continued to invest in the business, and in the next few weeks it will unveil a new specialist test room in addition to starting the extension and refurbishment of their existing state-of-the-art showroom.

These investment total hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Manufacturing hero

Continuous improvement at Greyhound Box G Helping the frontline in a time of need K

reyhound Box is an ISO accredited Corrugated Box manufacturer based in Leeds, West Yorkshire.

Their journey started back in 1991 with strong values in quality and customer service, today they continue to practice these same values along with their commitment to the environment, staff wellbeing and a continuous improvement ethic.

As corrugated box manufacturers, Greyhound Box service a vast range of industries so if it’s a transit box, a die-cut bespoke box or you would like to discuss a concept they would be more than happy to help by sharing their wealth of experience and knowledge to bring your product to market.

Continuous improvement at the adant Paal Limited areis extremely forefront of their success, ranging from their proud of our approach and actions in wholerelation team undertaking a 12-month NVQ to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Business Improvement Techniques Due to the nature of our business training i.e. programme towaste machinery investments. recycling and handling and our Further base investments have supporting seen the key customer also largely purchasesuch of environmentally cleaner activities as food retail and health, Eurostaff 6 wagons, electric forklift trucks to our were designated as key workers. their commitment Itreduce wouldemissions have beenand easy therefore to

to theall environment continues as they keep our activities operational, but we work towards ‘Zero tohad Landfi FSC recognised that there to ll’ beand a balance. accreditations.

Our field service teams remained active Box recognises in Greyhound providing a response wherethe required and importance of supporting local to meet the waste handling andcharities recycling with regular donations.

More needs of the monetary Health Service, Supermarkets, recently during COVID-19 Greyhound Box Food Processing and the Prison Service to were proud name a few.to support local schools and businesses making personal At the same time, essential we took the decision protective equipment donating boxes to to dramatically reduceby our production ensure the safe to fantastic NHS activities with thedelivery focus being on supporting teams.

Greyhound hasofhelped with the service teams inBox terms spare parts further donations of boxes to local food and assemblies. banks working tirelessly supply The Managerial, Sales to and Adminfood to the vulnerable communities. functions were asked to work from home.

Although there has been an impact to our business, we are content that those decisions had to be made under our Corporate Social Responsibility.

Going forward though we have prepared for the “new normal” and implemented GREYHOUND BOX LTD IShave PROVEN FOR various measures so that our manufacturing BEING HIGHLY RELIABLE AND PROVIDING operations are up and running again.

A COMPREHENSIVE MANAGED We will look back on these times as PACKAGINGbut PROGRAM INCLUDING challenging innovative.

PACKAGING DESIGN, Kadant Paal Limited MANUFACTURING design, manufacture and recycling and waste handling ANDmaintain CONSULTANCY.

equipment can greatly benefit your company in the following ways: • Saving money • Provide an income by recycling cardboard and plastics • Improving Health & Safety on disposal practices • Reduction in carbon footprint • Save space/reduction in waste compound footprint • Adoption of environmentally friendly working practices.

• Easy to operate the equipment.

We would welcome the chance to discuss your ongoing or future recycling and waste handling requirements.

OVER 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN MANUFACTURING CORRUGATED BOXES

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Manufacturing hero

Seeking a future with localized sourcing opportunities R

HEINTACHO UK, the UK subsidiary of the German RHEINTACHO Group, is a manufacturer of instruments and tachometers for measuring rotational speed and linear movement. Their portfolio is complimented by the products of the group which they trade worldwide as well as within the UK and Ireland. These are mainly stroboscopes and sensors.

During the COVID-19 crisis, RHEINTACHO UK has remained fully operational, i.e. they have been able to supply our customers all over the world with the products they require as reliably as before.

Our staff was trained in precautionary measures to keep safe during the difficult times and internal safety precautions were implemented.

During the course of the pandemic, the manufacturing firm hasn’t stopped thinking about their future. On the contrary, they are pushing a revolutionary, unique development of a product which will become the first and only of its kind worldwide. This new product will become a pillar of the future of RHEINTACHO UK. It will be produced in Micklefield, Leeds.

Another project they are working on, is the search for suppliers within the UK and Europe to better deal with such a crisis in the future and to optimize and simplify our supply chain. They were challenged in finding companies with competitive prices, but in many cases, they have not only been successful in doing so, but have also found companies offering the top quality they require.

RHEINTACHO UK will emerge from this crisis stronger than before and by using more local sourcing opportunities, they will be backing Britain without forgetting that our friends in the EU and especially in Germany, are neither far away, but ready to support them as well.

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Manufacturing hero

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Securing our partners’ success”

FS UK manufactures systems that fix, fasten and protect buildings.

Their products range from high performance fasteners, rivets and hinges, to patented fall protection systems and rainscreen subframe assemblies for supply into the construction industry Many of SFS’ products are developed in partnership with their diverse customers from across the globe. It is this partnering element of what they do that sculpts the way SFS does business.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, SFS have continued to work with customers to help keep the construction industry active and to supply customer needs in a safe and effective way.

As a UK manufacturer with a large site, supported by a global manufacturing organisation, SFS were able to hold significant stocks, greatly reducing the impact of stock shortages on their customers.

However, having the right products available is only part of the challenge.

The manufacturer’s highest priority was

their employee safety and this required a new remote working arrangement with their customer-facing employees.

To help get products where they need to be, SFS developed a colour coded labelling system to enable their customers to identify which fasteners went to which part of the installation. This system enabled the customer to quickly identify and install the right product in the right phase of the build.

Fasteners have been manufactured at the SFS intec site in Leeds for over 120 years.

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Manufacturing hero

‘Keeping calm and carrying on’ S

iddall & Hilton Products Ltd is the UK’s leading manufacturer of welded wire mesh, with its Brighouse roots going back as far as 1895.

Siddall & Hilton tell the Made in Group: “We reluctantly decided to close the business following the lock-down announcement to protect the health and wellbeing of our employees and furloughed the majority of staff. We agreed to continue paying everyone 100% of their normal pay to prevent unnecessary hardship and to try to help keep the local economy going.”

Siddall & Hilton returned to business in a cautious and limited way after a month and have spent weeks investing in their office space to adapt it to permit appropriate social distancing measures. This has generated work for local builders, decorators, carpet fitters and glass partition manufacturers.

During this time, Siddall & Hilton have also managed their cash resources very carefully to ensure that their business suppliers were all paid on time and in full, to support their valued suppliers through the crisis.

Working closely with primary lenders Siddall & Hilton have successfully refinanced the business and are now in a position to consider the resumption of their ambitious investment plans for new machinery and site development. They believe that the best way to counter the economic downturn is through investing in their business to be prepared for the upturn when it eventually begins. This will provide further work for the UK and locally based contractors.

Siddall & Hilton believes they’ve done their bit to save lives, protect the NHS and help to keep the local economy ticking over by ‘Keeping calm and carrying on.’

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of pay paid to furloughed employees to prevent hardship and to keep local economy going

Manufacturing hero

Backing British manufacturers A

s the UK and Ireland subsidiary of the global leader in high performance lubricants and support services, Klüber Lubrication Great Britain have enviable experience in exceeding customer needs through programmes and products that deliver real benefits and value.

“If anything, the COVID-19 crisis reminded Klüber how important local support and strong local engineering ‘know how’ is”, says Stefano Bortoletto of Klüber Lubrication Great Britain. With many of their customers operating in essential industries, Klüber Lubrication Great Britain were determined early on to support their customer base with their recognised products and expertise, whilst maintaining their high standards and ensuring the health and safety of the firm’s valued employees.

Having maintained their customeroriented consulting and stable supply chain, Klüber remained fully functional throughout the crisis, and looks to the future with the same attitude and drive to accelerate their interaction with customers.

‘Klüber Lubrication offers a comprehensive range of speciality lubricants, comprising high-performance oils and greases as well as special pastes, waxes, bonded coatings, release agents and lubricant dispensers.’

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Member Spotlight

T Law firm helps manufacturers bounce back SCAN ME TO VISIT OUR MICROSITE

he manufacturing sector is undoubtedly experiencing one of the most turbulent periods in its history.

The on-going effect of the coronavirus pandemic, Brexit uncertainty and the possibility of leaving Europe without a deal have left businesses facing many challenges to emerge unscathed from this era.

And with businesses looking to restructure supply chains, innovate and diversify or seek new international markets, FBC Manby Bowdler’s manufacturing specialists are here to help.

The law firm, which has offices in the West Midlands, Shropshire, and Worcestershire, has a team of experts dedicated to supporting manufacturers on every aspect of their business from employment law to commercial litigation, mergers and acquisitions, property transactions and more.

James Sage, lead partner in the firm’s corporate department, said its collective experience had a proven track record in helping manufacturers survive and thrive.

“Businesses are facing a sustained period of uncertainty and manufacturers need to be flexible and adaptable to ensure they can

C Data Driven Influence

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hris Barlow, Partner at MHA, told the Made in Group how data can have a great impact on businesses when working towards a goal. Much like how the government has done with ‘Risk’ surrounding COVID-19, Chris said: “The Curve took a complex issue and made it visual….

The government has done an excellent job in distilling its goals and aims against COVID -19 into something visual and measurable that the population understands.

Through constant messaging, referencing and examples, ‘The Curve’ was born.

We knew it would rise, hoped it would peak quickly and longed to be on the other side. ‘The Curve’ made a complex issue visual, people could see progress, they could see the impact of their actions and they could see change. Passing the peak and protecting the NHS was the key focus.

Then we had “R”. We can use our understanding of the Curve to illustrate what impact R, or Risk, will have, and even if we don’t fully understand exactly how R

get through this. But we have been advising manufacturers and engineering firms for more than almost 200 years - we know the challenges they face and how we can help them respond in this extraordinary time.

“The breadth of service we offer allows us to tailor the advice and support we give to our clients whether it is an international organisation with a multi million pound turnover or a small manufacturer in the West Midlands.

“We listen, we learn, and then respond with the specialist legal solutions that will help a business achieve its business objectives and goals. Now, more than ever, we are proud to be playing a key role in helping our region’s manufacturers build a stronger future.”

is calculated, its impact was clear. If R is greater than 1 the curve rises, if it is 1 the curve will flatten and less than 1 we will see the curve drop.

With R, we had a measure by which we could quickly identify if the steps we are taking work or if we needed to adjust the strategy.

Imagine if your business could find a way to visually engage staff toward a unified goal, influence behaviours and give a measure to track progression in a simple form. What Covid-19 has shown, is with the right data, and the right measures, the impact can be significant.

An example of a relevant business ‘Curve’ is Cash, with R being daily cash movement. We have actively worked with businesses to help them assess their ‘Cash Curve’, visually demonstrating the impact that Covid-19 has had on their R value and helping to find ways to assess their strategy in coping with change.”

Member Spotlight

W First-Class Stainless Steel Fabrication Service SCAN ME TO VISIT OUR MICROSITE

ith a reputation for experience, flexibility and quality within several diverse industries, CH Barnett specialises in the manufacture of high quality, bespoke stainless steel fabrications.

Operating from a modern 27,000 sq ft factory with a highly skilled workforce of over 60 employees, the team supports its customers in developing their products to meet ever increasing quality and functional requirements whilst reducing costs and lead times.

Bespoke Stainless Steel Fabrications for the Pharmaceutical, Food and Environmental Industries.

By only working with stainless steel and aluminium, CH Barnett can guarantee that there will be no cross-contamination with any ferrous metals such as mild steel, ensuring that the equipment manufactured for the food and pharmaceutical industries meets the high standards set regarding corrosion resistance and hygienic and sanitary finishes for all machinery.

B Proud to be standing strong at BBLive SCAN ME TO VISIT OUR MICROSITE

irmingham-based engineering firm, Rochford Engineering, has been leading the metal fabrication field for 40 years.

And it’s this unrivalled expertise and ability to innovate and adapt, that’s enabled it to retain this position for so long, as well as operate and respond to the challenges presented by the current Covid-19 crisis.

While the company’s team members are continuously undergoing training to stay one step ahead of industry developments, the company is constantly investing in the latest equipment to meet evolving customer demand.

Among the key equipment investments is Rochford’s laser cutting machine – a 1kw Fibre Laser that enables the team to cut up to 10mm material.

Tracy Rushton, Commercial Director at Rochford Engineering, explains: “Our ability to adapt to planned and, more recently, unforeseen change has been central to our continued success. We also have our

A Comprehensive Service to Take a Fabrication from Design to Assembly.

CH Barnett is pleased to offer its customers a comprehensive fabrication service which includes, but is not limited to: • Laser cutting - stainless steel sheets up to 3m x 1.5m and to 15mm thickness • Welding – MIG, TIG and spot welding available • CNC bending, drilling and rolling • Polishing/bead blasting to pharmaceutical standards • Assembly – complete machine build if required • Prototyping and product development – testing products and components are fit for purpose before going to full production Quality is always of critical importance, CH Barnett works to strict quality control processes accredited to BS EN ISO 9001: 2015, from raw material processing through to finishing and on to delivery.

dedicated workforce and quality standards to thank too.

“Our team has helped hone and streamline our processes over the years while still managing to retain their exceptional eye for detail. On top of that, our unfaltering commitment to quality, which is underpinned by our ISO-accredited quality management system, helps ensure everything we produce is of the highest standard and in line with the latest industry regulations.”

Rochford Engineering works with a broad range of customers across different sectors, it’s longest-standing customer being JCB. The company provides services ranging from wire-forming and fabrication, to thread rolling and presswork. From its 5 to 40-tonne presses, Hurco CNC TM6i lathe and MIG, TIG welding and brazing, to threading single or doubleended materials, ranging from 3mm to 10mm in diameter, the company’s set up to deliver on most standard and bespoke briefs.

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Member Spotlight

Supporting businesses with cross-border payments

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stablished in 2005, RationalFX has handled over $10billion international payments in over 50 currencies across the globe. The company has rapidly grown into one of the top Forex and international payments providers in Europe.

Rational FX’s highly skilled team has been developing financial products to cater to various types of businesses and multiple industries. They can support one-off international trades to regular cross-border payments, such as settling invoices and managing payroll.

Their range of products also includes platform integrations – which allow businesses to add value to their offering without their customers needing to source a payment solution themselves.

The Covid-19 crisis has emphasised the need for businesses to adopt a proactive approach to currency risk management.

A well planned and executed currency risk strategy could mitigate the impact of currency market risk on your finances, by allowing your business to secure exchange rates now and in the future - saving you both time and money.

There’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach to protecting your business’ finances from currency market risk, so consider working with a foreign exchange specialist, such as RationalFX, to develop an FX currency strategy that is tailored to your business’ risks and requirements. As well as providing accurate insight into changing market conditions, they can help you deploy agile solutions that reduce risk and shield your international payments from unexpected fluctuations in exchange rates.

Considering the unprecedented times, it has never been so important to focus on mitigating the risk posed by adverse exchange rate fluctuations.

A Bright Future For UK Manufacturing

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here is little doubt that the effects of the pandemic will continue to influence our manufacturing industry for some time to come. The COVID-19 pandemic has seen the automotive industry hit badly, with many OEM plants all but mothballed, yet the medical sector and those producing personal protective equipment, together with the supply chain feeding into these sectors, have been working flat out to meet demand.

Moving forward, there will no doubt be some re-balancing as the once dominant automotive sector once again resumes production. However, the types of vehicles being favoured by customers, and their production volumes, may be quite different from what was the norm. The anticipated growth in electromobility will certainly open up new opportunities for TLM Laser and other technology suppliers, as new manufacturing facilities are put in place to support increasing

demand. Overall though, UK manufacturers should take this opportunity to look closely at their production methods and technologies to ensure that when demand increases, as it surely will, that they are able to respond in an agile manner to support their customers.

Sadly, over the years, the UK has failed to keep pace with other manufacturing economies in our uptake of robotics, automation and other advanced manufacturing technologies. The traditional British adage of “Make do and Mend”, which may have served us well in the past, will not be enough if the UK is to recover from the current crisis and drive forward in the brave new world that will be upon us in 2021.

As a business TLM Laser will remain a dynamic and pro-active partner to the UK’s manufacturing sectors and we look forward to playing our part in enhancing productivity, quality and profitability for our customers.

- by Andy Toms, Director at TLM Laser

Member Spotlight

Making IT happen - even at home

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his year has highlighted many factors within modern society, not only the sheer resilience of the British manufacturing industry in their monumental efforts to support the NHS, but also the true sense of community within industries.

Minster believes that businesses have begun to realize the importance of a strong IT support provider and are proud to be a key element in supporting their customer’s transition to a remote working model; including the set-up of remote servers and VPNs. Their continued efforts throughout the pandemic have proved vital to clients who have had no choice but to close their business premises and ensure that all their employees can access software and data from their homes.

In addition to this, Minster has been providing customers with Microsoft packages that have enabled them to utilize software such as Microsoft Teams; this software has allowed a multitude of companies to keep up high levels of communication amongst

colleagues, as well as customers, in order for them to continue to run their business efficiently.

Minster tells the Made in group; “another issue that needs to be addressed within the technical side of a business is the ability to back up and secure company data. Many businesses have been using ‘old fashioned’ methods of physical data backups, however many have not been able to do so due to premise closure.” The company has also been helping various organizations to switch over to online cloud backups; ensuring that all of their data is secure and protected.

None of this would have been possible without the dedication of all Minster staff; who embody the ‘Minster values’ of commitment, verve, respect, integrity, and teamwork.

Their perseverance, combined with the heartwarming support of customers, has allowed them to continue to deliver their gold standard of support throughout the pandemic

Local focus with global outreach

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espite the national and international economic and health challenges that COVID-19 has brought to many businesses, Illston & Robson’s focus remains to keep quality engineering and manufacturing in the UK. “Our products are proudly made in the UK, and the vast majority of our suppliers are local to the Midlands. We believe that investing in and supporting local businesses is not only good sense in terms of costs and environmental impact, but is also beneficial to social and economic factors locally”. – Claire Reid, Director at Illston & Robson.

Illston and Robson are setting the example that localised sourcing and manufacturing does not mean limited outreach.

The company’s outreach is global, with their expertise for quality, customised ball-joint and linkage parts, as well as industry leading air break couplings been sought from customers across Europe, South America, Africa,

Northern America, and Asia. With “Approved Exporter Status” accreditation, the company is able to export their goods globally, massively widening its market.

Focusing much closer to home, Illston and Robson have invested in tackling mental health in the work-place by training members of staff to become mental health first aiders. The training was supplied by St John Ambulance and covered a wide range of response and assist in a mental health crisis.

The vital training included signs of Depression and Anxiety all the way through to Psychosis.

“Mental health in the workplace is more important than ever with the changes and challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought. We are very pleased that we have the skills and expertise on-site to help our employees with their own Mental health care, both now and long term”. – Mark Reid, Managing Director at Illston & Robson.

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Member Spotlight

WORLD-CLASS COMPONENTS

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uantamatic has the capacity to assist customers with product development to the highest levels of manufacturing excellence, at an affordable price. High productivity, efficiency and fast component turnaround are fundamental to their lean-price policy.

The company specialises in the manufacture of small precision turned parts in high volume, using fully automated Swiss coil fed Escomatic and Star CNC machines.

They are now one of the largest companies specialising in the use of Escomatic machines in the Midlands and the fastest growing producer of quality small turned parts in the country, with a capacity of up to 20mm outside diameter, now exporting to the EEC, USA and the Far East.

All of their processes are aligned with their BS EN ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System. They are able to provide product documentation in line with the ISO/TS 16949

(PPAP) Quality Management standard, as per customer specific requirements.

Quantamatic’s team of highly skilled and Apprentice served Production and Maintenance Technicians, together with a dedicated Quality Department and semiskilled auxiliaries, provide an unrivalled level of experience and expertise.

Right First Time Samples are provided by their priority CAM facility. This service improves quality and saves time, resulting in overall Savings.

The manufacturers technicians monitor key dimensions, using optical projectors, toolmakers microscopes and digital measuring devices. The team is supported by computerised production and logistical control systems. And, their Inspection department is equipped with accurate measuring, gauging and electronic test equipment calibrated by an independent accredited laboratory ensuring the highest standards are maintained.

Malcolm returns to its local roots

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stablished in 1946, John Malcolm began the business by painting cycle and motorcycle frames. In 2015 Metokote Corp took over the organisation and later PPG industries in 2016. Malcolm’s was then bought by Lee Stanaway in September 2019.

Lee Stanaway, former MD of Malcolm, was asked to take the business back in 2019 by PPG to offset the threat of closure.

This would have resulted in numerous staff losing their jobs, including those who had worked there for more than 35 years.

Lee began working for the business when he was 17 years old, working his way up to be Managing Director and a shareholder before leaving after the business was sold in 2015 and coming back as the owner of the company. When asked why it is important that Malcolm’s is back under local ownership, he said: “Our industry is about contact links

and being honest with staff, customers and suppliers. I have known some of Malcolm’s customers for over 35 years and it was important that someone who knows the business and its customers came back into the business and assist the management team, some who have been with the company for 35 years.”

“Being part of Made in the Midlands is important for this reason also. I think it is vital that local companies work together to make a strong unit. MIM represents everything that we represent, almost every company we deal with is a customer of Made in the Midlands.”

Malcolm’s ACP specialises in the application of surface coatings including electro coat, powder coating. At the forefront of outwork metal finishing for over 60 years, they have an unrivalled reputation for flexibility, fast turnarounds, quality, innovation and competitive prices.

Member Spotlight

The benefits of machine learning

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I employs the use of machine learning, which promises a new era in manufacturing, a disruption reaping many benefits, enhancing efficiencies and productivity. While machine learning is perhaps at the early phase of the adoption curve, it is dramatically transforming manufacturing and shaping the factories of the future. Gathering data has become a normal function in any automated factory but making sense of it without the support of analytics and AI is not possible.

Data from automation systems such as PLCs, DCS and SCADA is now getting the attention it deserves, as the data gathered is categorised and used to enhance efficiencies and optimise output using AI. At Siemens Digital Industries they are seeing an upsurge of this in FMCG production with a much higher uptake in the chemicals, Food and Beverage and the logistics industries.

They say, “Manufacturers will see strategic

shifts with machine learning from user interaction, allocation, and management of resources to viewing the entire production process holistically. Both IT and OT domains in manufacturing will converge and investment in AI and related technologies will increase.

To remain robust, the aim will be to have measurable goals with shorter implementation cycles to deliver greater end results in a much shorter time.

The benefits of machine learning are far-reaching and manufacturing as a sector is only currently scratching the surface. AI helps drive production processes at all levels including to create new business models.

Realistically manufacturers cannot employ data scientists and machine learning specialists so Siemens Digital Industries with its expertise is helping clients to invest in the right technologies to optimise output.

Machine learning will quickly move from a ‘nice to have’ solution for the future to an absolute necessity.”

Supporting UK Manufacturing

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OM UK, a company of the ZEISS Group, specializes in industrial 3D coordinate measuring technology, 3D computed tomography and 3D testing. From product development to production and worldwide distribution, GOM offers machines and systems for manual and automated 3D digitizing, evaluation software, training and professional support from a single source.

In industries such as automotive, aerospace, energy and consumer goods, more than 17,000 GOM system installations are in use internationally.

At more than 60 locations and with more than 1,200 metrology specialists, GOM UK guarantees profound advice and first-class service. Since mid-2019, the company has been a part of the ZEISS Group and has formed the Centre of Excellence for optical metrology. With more than 31,000 employees in 50 countries, ZEISS is an internationally leading technology enterprise operating in the fields of optics and optoelectronics.

From their HQ in Coventry, GOM UK

serves customers in the UK and Ireland with the main aim to offer an ‘all under one roof’ solution with sales, service, application support and training provided. Because their solutions involve both hardware and software, customers can expect a smooth and easy support process throughout the life of the product.

Supporting all manufacturing sectors, GOM UK works with some of the biggest manufacturers in the world to ensure their metrology processes take as little time and effort as possible while achieving the highest quality results.

Within the group portfolio they can offer non-contact measuring solutions to tackle any application and budget, ranging from entry level manual and handheld systems through to fully automated systems with every option in-between to fit exactly with the customers needs.

Parts ranging from several millimetres in size through to complete aircraft can be inspected with high accuracy and relative ease.

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Member Spotlight

A Supporting Industry throughout COVID-19

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rco, the UK’s leading safety company has made a significant contribution to support the UK supply chain for critical equipment across industry. With a deep understanding of workplace safety and an expertise in product sourcing, Arco is helping the manufacturing industry to navigate the COVID-19 crisis in a number of different ways.

be recommended in situations where social distancing is not possible so choosing the right mask is critical. Arco recommends Type II medical face masks. Type II masks are an effective means of preventing the spread of the virus and will offer some protection to the wearer. Type IIR face masks however, should be reserved for use by the NHS and frontline responders.

Expert advice and support: Whether opening after lockdown or managing ongoing operations, businesses need to identify the new risks this virus presents in their workplace and mitigate them.

To help businesses Arco has published a series of freely available expert advice sheets starting with risk management and covering the necessary safety measures; social distancing, hand washing, sanitising cleaning, disinfecting and PPE. The practical advice also features a downloadable sample risk assessment, step by step guides, infographics and checklists.

In order to meet the Government guidelines many businesses will be purchasing products for the first time. Face masks may

Exposing non-compliant products: Arco is concerned about the large quantity of non-compliant products that are entering the UK market which do not meet UK safety standards, some of which also have fake test certification. With its own independently accredited product assurance lab, Arco is uniquely positioned to advise on noncompliant products that are finding their way into the marketplace. Arco has also been using its deep technical knowledge on product quality and conformity to assist the OPSS and Trading Standards in their effort to keep noncompliant products out of the supply chain.

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IBERTY Engineering Group (LEG) is a group of companies offering engineering and manufacturing solutions to a range of market sectors, proudly supplying numerous customers including prestigious OEM’s. Part of the global GFG Alliance, LEG is proud to have manufacturing business that are key to the UK supply chain; the businesses include a pressing and stamping business, high pressure die-casting and machining business, a tubular component business and technology developers and manufactures such as the Shiftec and Clydesdale Jones brands.

LIBERTY Pressing Solutions Coventry is a leading Tier 1 & Tier 2 supplier of pressed and welded assemblies for both automotive and other applications with a reputation for quality and reliability. The experienced team utilise continuous improvement activities and world class manufacturing systems whilst offering substantial capabilities in the design and manufacture of automotive steel and aluminium pressings, body-in-white (BIW) and welded assemblies. As for manufacturing capabilities, the factory has a footprint of 77,500 m2 housing Transfer (800 – 2,500T),

Progression (350 – 1,250T) & manual presses supported by in-house processes which include machining and welding, robotic welding and assembly facilities and the additional benefit of an in-house powder coating facility.

LIBERTY Aluminium Technologies is a renowned supplier of machined and assembled die-cast aluminium components that are predominantly used in vehicles, powertrains and battery technology. The business has 3 sites including 2 foundries with over 25 machines (400 – 2700T) complemented by 100+ CNC machines and assembly units.

LIBERTY Tubular Solutions are a fully integrated producer and distributor of steel tubes with downstream manipulation capability. Production lines manufacture simple and complex tubular-assemblies, for low to high volume applications in a variety of material specifications. Key markets include automotive, aerospace, off-highway and agricultural. Skilled teams with decades of experience offer engineering, design and development to the most demanding industry sectors.

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The University for Birmingham and the Region Regional businesses participating in support programmes (16/17 – 18/19)

Hours expert assistance for regional businesses (16/17 – 18/19)

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SUPPLYING INDUSTRY FOR 47 YEARS SCAN ME TO VISIT OUR MICROSITE

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irmingham City University (BCU) is a dynamic, business-engaged Institution with over 24,000 students from 80 countries.

The University has a dual mission of enabling personal transformation, and to be the University for Birmingham and the region.

This includes the delivery of practice-based research and knowledge transfer; business growth expertise and support activities; provision of a highly-skilled, work-ready graduate workforce; and interdisciplinary academic and industry collaborations.

Two-thirds of students are drawn from Birmingham and the West Midlands with over half from BAME backgrounds reflecting the University’s commitment to inclusivity.

The University’s academic experts and specialist staff work with hundreds of businesses and organisations regionally, nationally and internationally to create leading, practice-based research and new knowledge that delivers business impact.

BCU have extensive sector linkages driving research, collaboration and innovation around priority areas such as smart specialisation, creative and digital, engineering, advanced

manufacturing and health-related life sciences.

They are also a partner in the region’s Institute of Technology for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering, developing new courses (including degree apprenticeships in embedded systems and control engineering, and manufacturing engineering) to support the training of a new workforce, as well as the upskilling of the existing workforce across the manufacturing and engineering sector.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, BCU has been committed to supporting the city and region. This included assistance to access financial support, and free business webinars to support resilience and recovery. They have also been a driver of innovation, such as the Business School’s Coronavirus Clearance Certificate (CCC) based on blockchain technology which will enable companies to manage against risk of the virus within their supply chain; whilst BCU have also produced an AI tool to speed up COVID-19 diagnosis.

CTR manufacturing group has been supplying carbide and steel tooling since 1973.

Specialising in the manufacture of extrusion tooling and complete die sets for the fastener industry.

CTR today also supplies other sectors worldwide including aerospace, medical, defence, construction and wind energy.

They offer a comprehensive machining capability with wire EDM and 5 axis essential in today’s market as customers require a wide range of complex tooling.

Customer support is also provided with quick turnaround tooling, though to a Cad/ autocad/3d modelling tooling and die design consultancy.

CTR Manufacturing Group holds accreditation BS EN9001 AND AS EN 9100 aerospace standards.

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Planning for recovery with Ainscough

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or all businesses, the COVID-19 pandemic has been a commercial curveball that has required some major re-thinking of operational norms. In the manufacturing and logistics sectors, many companies have had to adjust quickly, with measures such as PPE, daily health checks, split shifts and changes to capacity.

It’s clear that the world will not be going back to ‘business as-usual’ as we once knew it any time soon, so AIS Vanguard is helping companies across a diverse range of manufacturing, production, packing and logistics sectors to implement alternative strategies.

By considering the floorplan, equipment and workflow requirements of a facility, AIS Vanguard can help organisations plan changes that optimise operational efficiencies,

while allowing the team to adhere to social distancing guidelines. The company’s experience of manufacturing environments means that it can advise customers and work collaboratively with them to understand their needs. The AIS Vanguard team can then create a critical path to implement the new layout, phasing the movement of equipment before beginning the process of decommissioning, moving and re-installing machinery.

‘With over 40 years’ experience in machinery installation and relocation, equipment moving, technical and heavy lifting, AIS remains one of the UK’s largest privately owned industrial moving companies.’

Hexagon supports British Manufacturing

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exagon believes that quality drives productivity. This has been amplified recently with the COVID 19 challenge as timelines from concept design to volume production have never been so critical in saving lives.

Hexagon is here to provide a portfolio of hardware and software that optimize this timeline or productivity while ensuring customers do not compromise on quality and ensure profitability. They achieve this by enabling customers to make informed decisions as quickly as possible and with confidence using virtual or real tools and more importantly making it right the first time and making it repeatable.

In the new environment, “Productivity” in British Manufacturing will become a critical success factor combined with Hexagon’s Worldwide reputation for Engineering Innovation. Hexagon sees themselves as

enablers for UK Manufacturing businesses to stay competitive and successful.

Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence is a global, highly profitable, business with a turnover of €2.0 billion and 8,000 employees. The British footprint, established in 1976, now has multiple sites and competence with more than 200 employees and £80m turn-over.

Hexagon offers a range of solutions including measurement technology, virtual software tools, automation solutions and support services for SMART, forward-thinking manufacturers.

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The importance of Brand Awareness

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ince the outbreak of COVID-19, businesses have had all of their efforts directed towards the health and safety of their staff and customers. However, with these changes hitting demand for many businesses. Brand identity and awareness is more key than ever.

All interactions that customers have with a brand, be they physical or virtual, cause those customers to develop opinions about that certain company, and staff are very much part of this.

Untidy staff, who seem to have no link to a company, could immediately put customers off, so it’s important to get it right. With staff working from home, or many staff on business premises having to wear PPE, it’s now even easier to lose brand identity but MyWorkwear are available to help.

With the individual on the Zoom call, or the mask at the customer service desk, becoming the new face of businesses, MyWorkwear

S PROCESS CONTROL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT SCAN ME TO VISIT OUR MICROSITE

orion’s guided assembly and electronic product development solutions are helping manufacturers to deliver a quality assured product, on time and on budget.

The Guided Assembly System developed

by Sorion Electronics has been designed to maximise quality and prevent mistakes in manual parts picking and assembly tasks.

At the heart of the system is Sorion’s Sextans process control software, which makes multi-variant assembly tasks significantly easier thanks to interactive step-by-step work instructions.

The system helps reduce errors and improve quality by ensuring that the appropriate processes are performed in the correct sequence on the right parts. Using the system, clients can detect errors as they occur in production, before they become bigger issues down the line.

Speaking to Steve Hayes, Commercial Director at Sorion, “We also integrate with factory equipment, DC tools, pick to light systems, test equipment to reduce human error and increase quality. Our systems

can advise on the best ways to update and improve customers’ workwear going forward.

Virtual appointments allow these customers to gain advice, see products and ensure they have the right workwear to increase brand awareness.

So, what are MyWorkwear’s key tips for staff clothing in 2020?

• “Avoid mixed messages • Create an integrated appearance - even with remote communication • Don’t hide your branding because of new regulations • Be creative….. PPE can be on-brand too” MyWorkWear has a long history of supporting Made in the Midlands, with around 100 members having used their services, including Salop Design, Bauromat and ThreeWayPressings.

capture data from operators and machines so clients can prove that all components meet specification and easily create quality reports.”

Process data from each operation is stored in Sorion’s Orion database, where it becomes accessible as part of a consolidated birth history record for each assembly on the line. This is mandatory in the automotive and aerospace industries to meet regulatory requirements.

Sorion has installed guided assembly stations across the country including at Grupo Antolin, KAB Seating, and at fellow Made in the Midlands member Gardner Denver.

For Gardner Denver, this installation allowed them to achieve an IATF (International Automotive Task Force) 16949 certification.

The Sorion team also offer electronic product design and development.

Their services cover the full electronic development process, including printed circuit board design and embedded firmware design and coding. Sorion’s engineers work with the customer to develop initial concepts through to a fully engineered solution.

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A global spirit, a local presence

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omau UK, formed in 1991, employs close to 90 people across 2 sites; Rugby in the West Midlands and Gateshead near Sunderland. With a full range of competencies from concept engineering design to full-line integration, Comau UK provides flexible, tailored and value-added solutions to all clients from automotive to general industry.

Comau UK offers products, processes and services from body joining and assembly, powertrain and robotics. Combining competencies from working with the automotive sector, they have been able to grow into new industries with the help and support of their own virtual commissioning team and highly flexible workforce.

They are also helping established and emerging companies begin and evolve their electrification journeys thanks to the company’s significant experience in the electrification market. From battery production through to electric vehicles and energy generation projects, Comau UK is supported

by a global team dedicated to advancing the state of technology to serve this important market.

The site in Gateshead strategically puts them in an excellent position to meet the needs of the North East regions of the UK and provide all of the products and services Comau already offers globally in a local setting. Comau actively works with several blue chip companies to develop special purpose solutions in logistics and packaging, food and beverage and other general industry applications.

This success can be credited to the great alliances with local education/training providers in both of the company’s sites where they aim to support the UK government’s focus on bridging the skills gap in the manufacturing industry. Comau’s globally replicated values are strong in the UK, which has led to proven success in communities and with stakeholders; they will continue to push boundaries and exceed expectations wherever possible throughout their activities.

Helping businesses find the right finance

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iquidity Club are a consultative finance broker based in Birmingham, working alongside businesses to find the right finance package for their plans and aspirations.

Their approach is simple, they are driven by what’s right for the client, choosing to work with a small selection of lenders that they know well and trust.

Their aim is not to flood deals into the market, rather they identify the one funder that’s most suited to their clients requirements. In a recent statement from Liquidity club they said: “We really get to understand what our funders are about and then when we are talking to our client, who requires the finance, we know exactly what they are getting into.

Therefore, the client experience should be better all-round.”

Many businesses’ revenue has been affected by the current climate around

COVID-19. Therefore, their aim now is to find finance linked to the client’s strengths and to their potential, alongside using Government support where applicable.

Due to the pandemic, many companies are looking to Government schemes such as the business interruption loan schemes. However, Liquidity Club is currently helping businesses via an online application process that pulls together all of the information they need from a client to approach the right lenders saving our clients time.

Talking about the COVID-19 pandemic David Totney, Managing Director at Liquidity, said: “Working together we will make it to the other side of this unprecedented tough time in 2019 we brokered a deal for a fellow member of Made in the Midlands, they went on to post a record six months trading figures. We look forward to continuing to support Made in the Midlands members and the Manufacturing sector.”

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By the side of business

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ounded in the Midlands by two industrialists, Lloyds Bank has been by the side of British manufacturers since 1765.

Strategic sector support: Lloyds Bank has a range of strategic partnerships to support customers and provide a joined up approach to meeting clients unique banking needs. They are proud to continue to be National Patrons of the Made in Group, as well as their 10-year, £10 million investment into the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry.

Their partnership with Be the Business supports growth and ambition, sharing best practice, providing mentors and using research and tools to improve productivity.

Customers can also access advice on how best to achieve their ambitions from Warwick Manufacturing Group’s accredited relationship managers.

Lloyds Bank also lent £18 billion to UK businesses as part of their 2020 plan.

Recently, they collaborated with The Walsall Wheelbarrow Company, helping the business more than double their capacity with £450,000 of hire purchase funding. When the coronavirus crisis hit, the business was able to protect staff, increase immediate cash flow and plan to capitalise on its recent growth thanks to a capital repayment holiday secured with the bank. Read the full story: https://resources. lloydsbank.com/casestudies/walsallwheelbarrow-company/ David Atkinson, UK Head of Manufacturing for Lloyds Bank SME & Mid Corporates, says: “We support our customers through good times and bad, and our experienced teams are working closely to support clients with funding – some £7 billion lent under Government schemes – alongside capital repayment holidays and other funding needs.”

Managing the peaks & troughs of demand

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s lockdown measures begin to ease, it’s clear that the way we live and work is likely to have changed for good. Businesses have had to find new ways of adapting to the circumstances to keep supply chains running. In particular, essential industries such as grocery retailers and pharmaceutical organisations have had to cope with massive surges in demand while also ensuring the safety of their employees during the pandemic.

Businesses must modify the way they operate to maintain continuity of service and revenue, and not just in the short term.

The future is unclear, and it is vital that companies prepare for, and mitigate against, the possibility of additional interruption.

The flexibility offered through forklift truck rental can support businesses in sustainably managing peaks and troughs as the situation evolves.

Flexibility and cost management Organisations have sought ways to respond to the challenges of a 24x7 marketplace for some time, brought about by rising customer expectations. Rental, along with used forklift trucks, is a compelling solution – providing both short-term cover to manage volatility and supplementing fleets to satisfy long-term core requirements.

Short-term rental provides flexibility and enables business more significant control over costs during times of uncertainty and reduced activity. Utilising rental means production can be ramped up quickly in line with demand.

Output-driven solution One key innovation within the warehouse and logistics market is a rental model predicated on truck usage. Instead of fixedterm agreements, this ‘pay per use’ model leverages telematics data. For a business that has scaled back operations, trucks remain onsite with a standby fee charged at a fraction of what they would typically pay.

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Bending The Impossible Aluminium Bending With decades of aluminium bending experience in the team and a proven record of successfully completed projects, Alubend promise to deliver high-quality aluminium bending work. Custom-made components to the clients exact specifications and requirements.

• Processing for all size orders, single bends to weekly batches.

• In-house heat treatment.

• Machining, cutting and surface treatment services.

• Single curves or complex multi arc shapes.

• Extrusions from 6mm x 6mm up to 600 mm x 400mm formed.

• Most shapes curved

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3D Bending Specialists If you have been looking for a 3D aluminium bending service provider, then you have just found your new partner. With several years of experience and a proven record of numerous successfully completed projects, Alubend promise to deliver high-quality bending work that is 100% custom-made to your specifications and requirements. One thing is for sure: Alubend settles for nothing less than perfect.

• Bends in 2 planes • Controlled twisting • Multiple radii on each axis • Repeatable

‘THE BEST FULL SERVICE ALUMINIUM BENDING COMPANY IN THE WORLD’

Improving British manufacturing productivity

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he Sempre Group has developed the IACC approach to help manufacturers take their first steps towards digitalisation. The company demonstrates the concept using a Universal collaborative robot, feeding an optical co-ordinate measurement machine (CMM), with data being collected by High QA, a quality management system (QMS) with a reporting function.

“British manufacturing productivity was already lagging behind major competitors, and the pandemic means it has gone from bad to worse,” explained Mike John, Managing Director of The Sempre Group. “Following a record low in April, it is vital that the industry bounces back and to do so, it requires a change in culture. To drive the future of productivity, we can take a data-driven, digitalised approach to improve output, yield

and productivity.”

Visitors to the virtual stand, at Backing Britain Live 2020, will also be able to learn about the company’s new metrology products and how they can contribute to productivity.

For example, the Novacam bore inspection system, a product for full internal inspection of bores down to 1 mm diameter and up to 260 mm diameter. It can solve difficult measurement problems by acquiring surfaces point by point at 2.1 kHz or 100 kHz using LowCoherence Interferometry.

Other products include the Opticline T3D, for the measurement of axial run-out, grooves and bores for shaft-based parts with machined features, the Sensofar 3D profiler with 5 axis system and GelSight, an innovative new mould product, with applications in aerospace manufacturing.

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Adding Value from Beginning to end

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uring the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us have had the opportunity to consider what is important and assess what we value in life. In many ways, lockdown may have provided space for us to review personal circumstances and consider those retirement plans in more detail.

There is no escaping the fact that COVID-19 has been an extreme challenge. Those who run and own businesses in the Made in the Midlands family will have undoubtedly been focusing on their business and protecting staff as much as possible.

Brewin Dolphin have had plenty of experience in looking after those that own and run businesses, and understand that even thinking about significant changes that may affect you, or the business, can be daunting and may not come naturally.

Whether you’re looking to plan the next stage in your life, considering retirement or, if you’re involved in running a company,

O A world of steel

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vako develops high-tech steel solutions for, and in cooperation with, its customers in the bearing, transport and manufacturing industries. Our production is based on recycled scrap and includes steel in the form of bar, tube, ring and pre-components.

Sustainability is a fundamental element of Ovako’s business that enables its steel products to have a carbon footprint 80 % lower than the global average.

2019’s Sustainability Report highlights the continued progress in Ovako’s sustainability efforts, including an intermediate target to reduce the ‘cradle-to-gate’ carbon footprint of its finished hot rolled steel products by 30 percent per metric ton.

As part of this sustainability, together with Linde Gas AB, Ovako has conducted a fullscale trial using hydrogen to heat steel before rolling. This historic development for the steel industry proves that carbon dioxide emissions from rolling can be eliminated.

Whilst this world first continues development, Ovako has already established a family of branded products.

BQ-Steel® range with its improved fatigue

perhaps even simply considering the future of the business, they can offer support and advice.

Brewin Dolphin’s role is to help you work out: 1. What your individual goals are; 2. How much these goals cost; 3. Your timeline for achieving these goals; 4. And ultimately, if these goals are already in reach, or if not, the strategy needed to get you there.

Not having a clear strategy for both you or, if applicable, the business now or in the future, can cause an understandable amount of anxiety. Brewin Dolphin can help you identify and evidence your options using their bespoke cashflow modelling tool. They can also show you how you can achieve your ambitions in a practical way with a plan for the future.

strength , has a long and proven track record and used in many applications where high mechanical strength is critical.

IQ- Steel® offering an additional performance level in fatigue strength for components loaded multi-axially, fatigue performance is equally good in all directions.

M-Steel provides an optimum solution for improved machinability. They also display good multi-axial fatigue performance, not on the level of BQ/IQ but significantly better than corresponding standard steels.

WR-Steel used in applications where high wear resistance is extra critical.

SZ-Steels are applied when a combination of high strength and high impact toughness is needed, primarily at low temperatures.

Hybrid Steel is a new development that combines properties of engineering steel with those of maraging, tool and even stainless steel.

Explore our steel families and speak with our UK personnel. It might just give your business an edge.

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A brief look at Acoustafoam

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n today’s noisy world, everyone is looking for a more peaceful experience. Whether that be the office space, the vehicle they get to work or their home environment.

Peace in the ears results in peace of mind.

Since 1979, Acoustafoam Ltd has been supplying quality Anti-vibration, Acoustic and Thermal insulations products into a broad range of sectors. From humble roots in the Midlands, Acoustafoam started with Mick Tranter travelling around the UK installing acoustic cab insulation into tractors and off-road vehicles. Acoustafoam Ltd has transformed into one of the UK’s leading Anti-vibration, Acoustic and Thermal insulation specialists. They are supporting a vast range of Industries including, Off-road Vehicles, Power Generation, Marine, Military, Automotive and Agricultural.

Now in the hands of Mike’s son, Carl Tranter Acoustafoam is as ambitious as ever. With a wealth of knowledge at the shop floor level as

well as all management levels. They are very proud of the fact that 50%of the workforce has a minimum of 15-20 years service.

Acoustafoam ltd offers unparalleled service with the latest technologies and materials.

Their ambitions, Services and quality products have led to long-lasting client relationships.

‘We specialise in the manufacturing of foam, rubber and plastic components for a wide variety of sectors’

How Tax Relief Is Backing Britain

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uring this time of uncertainty, cash flow and cash management have become more critical than ever. Throughout the initial phase of the pandemic, businesses were utilising some of the support provided by the government, including the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme and the furlough scheme.

However, as the situation develops, businesses are beginning to consider longterm financial strategies to support their cash-flow. One of the lesser-known cash flow alternatives is tax relief, with businesses being entitled to more than they realise.

Catax is proud to be Made in the Midlands’ exclusive patron for Research & Development Tax Relief. Catax are on a mission to make sure that all UK businesses are accessing the relief they’re entitled to, and since the beginning of March, when the UK went into

lockdown, Catax has delivered over £15million back to businesses at a time it was needed most.

Catax is determined to support businesses and support the UK economy as the nation starts to grapple with the economic impact of COVID-19.

The business also specialise in Capital Allowances Tax Relief, Patent Box and Remediation of Contaminated Land Tax Relief.

Many companies don’t realise they qualify for specialist forms of tax relief, but they cover many more industries than you might think, and the reality is that most UK businesses will be able to take advantage of at least one of them. The manufacturing sector is one of the worst-hit by the global pandemic, but the good news is tax relief opportunities are rife in this industry.

With 100% of staff successfully working from home, Catax here and fully operational.

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Keeping British industry compliant since 1818

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or over 200 years Avery Weigh-Tronix has played a pivotal role in keeping British industry compliant by servicing and maintaining critical weighing equipment.

With its people and customers at the core of everything Avery Weigh-Tronix do, the company strives to continuously evolve to meet new customer demands and deliver on the promise of ensuring compliance, traceability and equipment accuracy.

A recent customer-driven innovation has involved widening its weighing services to offer calibrations on torque, pressure, temperature, force and electrical equipment.

Calibration Select now provides a ‘one-stopshop’ for customers, allowing the company to service all their metrology equipment needs while they benefit from a trusted, single-source supplier.

One of the company’s 150 nationally trained technicians provides service and support on customer sites or in their Birmingham-based laboratory and calibrations are traceable to both UKAS and national standards.

Their guaranteed 5-day turnaround on lab calibrations ensures maximum equipment uptime and certificates will be available within

C Backing manufacturers with softwarebased solutions SCAN ME TO VISIT OUR MICROSITE

astAlum specializes in complex cast shapes & precision machining, assisting with design & development as well as giving full Project Management.

CastAlum employs casting simulation packages to ensure the design is both feasible and efficient.

In making a final offer to prospective customers, CastAlum uses in-house facilities in concert with external expertise to offer customers a robust and objective solution package at the point of RFQ. CastAlum is heavily involved in the use of additive printing material to achieve a quality supply proposition that is class leading.

80% of all production is for export, with components going into various markets. Over the past 5 years the company has invested heavily in the development of new products.

To augment skills and stay abreast of changes within their industry, CastAlum embraces a “constant development” ethos for all employees. This is supported by an active Apprenticeship Programme to produce the “best in class” employees of the future.

In line with the principles of their ISO 14001 Certification, they have continually looked to

just four hours of calibration.

Equipment calibrations play a critical role in the quality process of UK manufacturers and although a small part of the overall process, it can be costly if overlooked, thanks to the penalties involved in missing calibrations.

Manufacturers can easily have hundreds of pieces of equipment on-site requiring calibrations and it can be a struggle to keep on top of all the deadlines, documentation and suppliers involved in the process.

A core feature of its new service is the Calibration Hub. The online portal increases customer efficiency and ensures compliance and traceability in metrology equipment by storing asset history, including all the associated manuals, certificates and inspection reports, under a single asset ID. Avery Weigh-Tronix are proud of their industrial heritage and continued innovations that keep British industry efficient, profitable and most importantly, compliant.

improve their Carbon Footprint in all areas of the business.

One of the key focuses is CastAlum’s purchase strategy for raw material. They currently purchase filtered ENAC46000 Ingot from a UK supply base who use “Exclusively Automotive Recycled” Aluminium, which effectively “completes the circle” for this alloy’s usage.

There has also been an effective and profitable drive towards energy reduction & working environment improvement within the facility, which has included: • Voltage Optimisation Units to reduce electricity consumption • New LED lighting to reduce electricity consumption • Energy on demand systems • New extraction to create a cleaner work environment & reduce emissions.

Coupled with an effective 5S program there is an ongoing “future focus” within CastAlum when it comes to environmental policy decisions.

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D Protecting your plant from Corrosion

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uring the COVID-19 lockdown, companies have been experiencing plant and component corrosion caused by ambient oxygen and water vapour which has led to expensive maintenance or complete breakdown of inactive machinery.

Lake Engineering Solutions unique highperformance Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor (VCI), is a proven technology that simplifies corrosion protection and is ideal for keeping enclosed void spaces (e.g., packages, equipment internals, or structural metal cavities) and components corrosion-free.

VCI technology works to create a protective environment within each package or enclosure where it is applied. VCIs delivered from liquids, powders, or packaging materials travel through the air to form an invisible protective shield on metal surfaces in the enclosed space. This VCI shield does not alter metal properties. Instead, it blocks the ability of oxygen, moisture, and other corrosive elements to attack the metal surface and make it corrode. After the metal part is taken out of the package or enclosed space, the VCIs dissipate harmlessly into the surrounding environment, and the metal components,

machinery, or products are ready for immediate use, no cleaning or degreasing required.

Lake Engineering understands many industrial process companies worldwide are being affected by COVID-19 and is ready to help ease the strain by providing immediate solutions to preserve waiting inventory.

Lake Engineering’s services include: • Audit of the manufacturing environment with respect to corrosion control • Recommendation of the most appropriate corrosion protection packaging and liquids for the protection and preservation of assets and components • Guidance and best practice advice on the application of these products • Delivery of 121 online and phone support

Compressor care in times of crisis

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uring unprecedented times, it’s important to consider production equipment health, which will be vital in our recovery back to full productivity.

As stated by The Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, manufacturing is a critical part of our economy and manufacturers are contributing to the resilience of our nation by providing essential services and materials.

The role of compressed air supply as the 4th utility for industry is well established. No matter what capacity production is running, keeping compressor systems in peak condition eliminates the costs of excessive energy consumption and the risk to output from potential mechanical breakdown.

To ensure care is taken with compressed air equipment, preventative maintenance - such as servicing - must be invested in to ensure uptime is improved. At this time of remote

working, remote connectivity could help users know the status of their equipment, enabling them to detect and propose an action plan to prevent any critical situations or downtime in the compressed air supply. Stopping and re-starting air compressors is not just a simple matter of flicking a switch, as specific rules that apply to a range of compressor types must be followed. If production is to be stopped, compressors should be turned off manually, even if they are integrated in a central controller.

Atlas Copco Compressors is working hard to continue availability of products and spare parts, to ensure supply for hospitals and crucial sectors. Service engineers are working hard and following site rules, and government rules, stringently. Together we are keeping everyone safe and compressed air equipment health maintained for optimum performance; both now and in the future.

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An American Brand with a Midlands Mindset

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n today’s modern manufacturing world, precision matters most: precision in partnering with renowned industrial brands, precision in products and quality control, and precision in the vision to succeed.

Since 1980, FARO has been a leader for 3D Metrology, dedicating itself to achieving measurement and imaging solutions for the manufacturing industry. Like many who call the Midlands home, FARO’s roots are humble too. What began as a partnership between two students working on their PhD’s, FARO has matured into a global brand, committed to supporting key UK industries including Aerospace, Automotive, Ship Building, Construction and Digital Design.

For the UK, FARO has supported the country’s robust manufacturing economy for over 20 years. From its first offices in Coventry to the company’s Service & Calibration Centre located in Rugby. The systems and

metrology solutions provided by FARO play a key role in ensuring the highest quality of goods manufactured and produced in the UK, with many of those goods being produced right in the heart of the Midlands, home to the country’s proud industrial core.

By providing cutting edge 3D digitisation technology across a host of industries, many of the Made in the Midlands association members already benefit from using FARO systems to improve their manufacturing processes and quality.

It is this long-standing partnership that FARO is excited to support. Considering the company’s impressive history of technological expertise, and its UK home headquarters in the Midlands, FARO is proud to be backing British manufacturers and developing lasting relationships with the Made in the Midlands members, demonstrating the power and ingenuity of what it means to be “Made in the UK.”

Offering daily departures to Benelux region

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wente Express are recognised as a market leader for express services to and from the Benelux region – developing a brand that stands for reliability, quality and customer care, with a “yes we can” ethos.

Supporting West Midlands manufacturing has made Twente Express what it is today and through service, excellence offers an unrivalled daily departure service to and from the Benelux region - Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg. Specialists in 24 and 48 hours door-to-door delivery of parcels and pallets, they also provide pallet, groupage and full load solutions across Europe and Internationally. Operating modern specialised Mega-Box trailers to accommodate all freight types, ensures secure transit with high cube capacity for a competitive service - enabling agile and flexible cost solutions to meet any priority inbound or customer delivery requirement.

The true success of the business is down to its highly experienced and skilled team, many of whom have been with the company for over 20 years and have a detailed knowledge of the products shipped and customer requirements – It is always more than a “brown box or pallet” to us, it is our customers’ business we represent every time. Thanks to the tremendous efforts of our drivers, warehouse personnel and office teams who care every kilometre of the way, it is great to be part of the transport industry, recognised as an essential service provider in “Backing Britain”!

Whether a business is just starting up, facing new market challenges or ready to think differently in all things supply chain, Twente Express are open to supporting your needs when it comes to arranging both export and import shipments.

“As they say at Twente Express, you couldn’t express it better!”

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S Backing British Industry Since 1976

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Making the UK an Automation Powerhouse

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ince opening in the heart of the industrial Black Country in 1976, Hayley Group has worked tirelessly to support British industry. The company has grown an awful lot since its early days, expanding to over 50 sites nationwide, and changing with the needs of customers.

Hayley Group is proud to provide a diverse Stock of leading-brand engineering components and consumables to its customers, however, the company’s mantra also includes Service and People.

It’s through their Services and People, where Hayley Group has been truly able to support British manufacturing and engineering, even in times of adversity. Thanks to the vast experience and specialist expertise of its staff, the company has been able to deliver a range of services and solutions capable of having a positive and long-lasting impact.

It’s always important for businesses to find ways to save money, but it’s even more pertinent in challenging economic times.

Whether they are working to increase reliability, reduce energy consumption, improve operational efficiency, reduce expenditure or maximise the use of resources,

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he United Kingdom is the only G7 nation with robotic density figures below the global average, according to figures published in 2019. In fact, the UK is not even in the top 20, 8 below the global average of 99 (robots per 10,000 manufacturing employees), and behind countries such as Austria, Slovenia, and Slovakia.

For a nation that prides itself on its innovation, global leadership and history as a manufacturing driving force, it can make for grim reading, particularly taking in the current pandemic, automation is a great solution to ensure work can continue while staff are socially distant and protected. Without it, the UK could fall behind even further.

As a provider of robotic and automation solutions, Bauromat is working to change that.

The Telford-based company are encouraging companies to see automation in a positive light by guiding them to the correct solution for their processes.

“It’s a mindset thing,” says Bauromat Managing Director John D’Angelillo “Companies are happy with the way things have been done and always think ‘we’ve

Hayley Group strives to provide both valuable and quantifiable benefits.

Hayley Group’s field-based experts work with clients on a daily basis to identify areas on machinery, processes, and procedures that could be improved. This can mean implementing anything from condition-based monitoring systems, stores & inventory management, industrial vending solutions through to energy-efficient technologies.

By working smarter through it’s Services and People, Hayley Group enables customers across British industry to be leaner, more profitable and sustainable. Maintaining national and global competitiveness is absolutely vital to the success of British industry, and the company is incredibly proud that they’re able to continue to play their part in supporting that.

done it this way for so long, why change?’.

But there are new ways into automation, with government grants and finance options available.”

Bauromat is trying to change that mindset and highlight that the negative press surrounding automation is not true. Robots don’t bring doom, gloom and unemployment, but instead help improve efficiency, productivity and consistency.

To get this message across, Bauromat regularly presents to a range of lobbying groups, politicians and manufacturing bodies, students, graduates, and industry professionals about the benefits of automation and why the UK finds itself so far behind.

Bauromat say: “Only by driving the message home can we begin to see a real change in the industry and use automation to push the UK economy forward again.

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N Flexi ACiON VNA truck leads the market

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arrow Aisle Ltd has announced the introduction of new digital electric motor technology across its Flexi range of battery-powered VNA warehouse reach trucks.

With all drive, hydraulic and power-steering functions controlled digitally, the trucks in the Flexi ACiON battery power collection are described as a ‘tour de force’ in articulated lift truck technology.

“The development of digital multiplex control systems for our battery powered trucks’ key functions delivers a more integrated performance, and results in greater reliability and higher productivity combined with significantly reduced operating and maintenance costs,” says Narrow Aisle Ltd.’s managing director, John Maguire.

Full digital control means that all models are ultra-energy efficient: regenerative energy produced every time the truck’s mast is raised or lowered, as well as during forward and reverse travel and by the movement of the steering wheel, feeds back to the battery to maximise the time the truck can perform for between battery changes or charges.

But it is not just ‘under the bonnet’ where

E The benefits of a compressed air system

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stablished for over 25 years, Direct Air & Pipework deliver bespoke compressed air solutions and maintenance.

Based in the Midlands and South West, Direct Air have the experience and knowledge to deliver an efficient, safe and complete solution. The company is committed to providing the most energy-efficient and costeffective solutions.

Direct Air are proud Made in the Midlands Gold members and support Backing Britain.

Reliable, robust and quality are words that come to mind when you think of British manufacturing. And equally, they are how Direct Air expect a compressed air system to operate.

It is time to consider the total lifetime cost of a compressed air system. Servicing and maintenance should be in line with initial buying decisions. Effective maintenance strategies can save money, reduce downtime, and increase efficiency.

Direct Air are authorised distributors for CompAir, Hydrovane, Champion, BOGE, Teseo, BEKO Technologies and Elmo Rietschle.

The compressed air company offers

enhancements have been made: when developing the new Flexi ACiON electric range, Narrow Aisle’s design team sought to produce the ultimate ‘easy to drive’ driverfriendly articulated reach truck on the market.

Models in Narrow Aisle’s Flexi ACiON range can operate safely and efficiently in aisles measuring from just 1.6 metres wide and can lift loads weighing up to 2.5 kg to heights of over 14 metres.

John Maguire says: “The electric drive technology at the heart of our Flexi ACiON range builds on the design strengths that have established the Flexi as the world’s best-selling articulated forklift truck for nearly 30 years. But, we believe, we have taken the Flexi range to a new level of performance and efficiency that is unsurpassed in our sector.”

the following products and services: supply, design, installation and servicing of compressed air plant equipment; air quality testing; breathing air testing; nitrogen generation packages; vacuum and blowers; energy reduction audits; leak detection; and written schemes of examination.

Direct Air & Pipework are members of the British Compressed Air Society (BCAS) and hold the following accreditations and certifications: ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 45001:2018, Achillies, SafeContractor, CHAS, and Constructionline.

Don’t just take their word for it: “Direct Air is one of the best supplier contracts I have ever signed. They have taken away all the previous worries, hassles and problems.”

- Royal Mail “We have a great working relationship.

The Walsall Wheelbarrow Co rely on good suppliers like Direct Air to maintain our manufacturing in a pressurised and fast environment.” – The Walsall Wheelbarrow Co “The installation and changeover of machines were meticulously planned; the execution was complex but made to look straightforward.” – Accord Healthcare

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Supporting customers through difficult times

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erving Midlands based Manufacturing business from its offices in Birmingham town centre, Gallagher is a proud Patron of Made in The Midlands.

TThe importance of British based manufacturing may be vital to the revival of the UK economy and Gallagher is committed to the part it can play in that process.

There are many varied challenges that face British manufacturers in ‘normal’ times but, during a pandemic, there is a quick realisation of which parts of your supply chain have stood up to the test and been there when it has been needed the most.

Gallagher are proud to have received several testimonials thanking the firm for the way in which they have supported its customers to respond to these unpredicted financial traumas. This has been achieved this through a range of mechanisms; making

A Plans to support UK manufacturing

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ctOn Finishing is expanding its range of products and services with a series of product launches in 2020, to support the UK’s manufacturing sector.

As the UK’s leading expert in the design and development of machinery, consumables & subcontract surface finishing solutions, ActOn remains the only manufacturer of such equipment in the UK. This includes solutions for vibratory finishing, high energy finishing, shot blasting & waste water treatment. All the equipment is suitable for a range of applications such as deburring, descaling, polishing, cleaning, mirror finishing, radiusing, smoothing and drying.

“We are the only manufacturers in the UK of this type of equipment and we very much focus on process development, which is tailored to our customer needs. Moreover, all materials and machinery are subjected to extensive testing at our laboratory, ensuring the efficiency of our process is continually improving.”, says Sid Gulati, Operations Director at ActOn. ActOn’s first product launch of the year came in March, when we announced that ActOn is launching a new partnership with

premium cost savings at a vital time when savings are needed to be made against a backdrop of COVID-19 and a hardening insurer market, offering advice on furlough and how it impacts commercial insurance programmes, providing COVID-19 ‘back to work’ risk assessment validations, obtaining credit insurance cover to help safeguard the debt book of anxious businesses, agreeing to interest-free terms with insurers and a crosssection of other practical and meaningful initiatives.

a high-profile Spanish industrial company, GPAINNOVA. The partnership has enabled ActOn to supply the DLyte surface finishing technology to the manufacturing sector, including the healthcare, aerospace, automotive, 3D printing and motorsport industries.

The DLyte machine combines grinding and polishing in a one-step process to produce a smooth, shiny and superior surface finish on metal parts.

A new automated vibratory finishing system is set to be launched in June. The SPU-1 technology is an economical finishing option ideally suited for small batch works and delicate components and it is perfect for deburring, descaling, cleaning, smoothing, radiusing, polishing and drying.

In addition, we will showcase at the Back in Britain expo our CHE finishing range a technology which can be 15-20 times faster and produces superior finishes.

MANUFACTURER OF SENSORS, MEASURING DEVICES AND ACCESSORIES

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Backing Britain by nurturing talent

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itherbest is pleased to endorse the Made In Group’s Backing Britain campaign, having first-hand experience of the wealth of engineering expertise that Britain has to offer. Britain has a rich innovation heritage and contains some of the world’s most dynamic companies and universities, whose collective research and development activities result in a constant stream of new products entering the global market. Hitherbest strives to be the fabricator of choice for these organisations and is currently working with a number of exciting start-up companies, and two Midlands-based universities, on bespoke projects.

Hitherbest is proud to have been able to support its many loyal customers throughout the coronavirus pandemic of 2019/20, keeping its doors open and maintaining production.

In addition, the company had the privilege of assisting in efforts to mitigate and manage the COVID emergency by working with its customers to bring new products to the market designed to encourage social distancing and support responsible employers.

For Hitherbest the future looks bright.

The company received a record number of enquiries in 2019 and successfully entered a number of new sectors, including those that will be at the forefront as Britain transitions to a greener more sustainable economy. Contact us today to find out why Hitherbest should be your manufacturer of choice.

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what is quality Compressed Air?

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n many production facilities, compressed air comes directly or indirectly into contact with production lines, products or packaging materials. Contamination through residual oil content, micro-organisms and germs then has significant consequences for product quality, consumer safety and market reputation.

In a recent article, BCAS (British Compressed Air Society) commented that their technical helpline is receiving an increasing number of enquiries during the Coronavirus pandemic from end-users concerned that their compressed air supply is adequately protected and seeking advice to ensure that there can be no risk from air-bourne contaminants.

At BEKO Technologies, compressed air treatment is our business, With innovative technology from BEKO TECHNOLOGIES for measuring the quality of compressed

A Alchemie streamlines production operation

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lchemie Ltd is a privately owned U.K company with over 33 years of manufacturing experience in the Polymer Resin industry. The core business is the formulation, manufacture and supply of Epoxy and Polyurethane Resin products.

Alchemie exports to over 50 different countries, and its products are used across a diverse selection of industry sectors which includes; Automotive, Aerospace, Composites, Film & TV, Rapid prototyping, Formula 1, Rail, Oil & Gas, Pattern-making, Foundry and Modelmaking.

Having its own in-house Research and Development facility enables Alchemie to offer customers bespoke resin solutions to meet specific product requirements. The company also has chemists available to discuss technical enquiries directly with the customer.

Some of Alchiemie’s most recent product developments include; A water clear, UV stable, high temperature resistant polyurethane resin specifically for the Vacuum casting/prototyping market.

A high impact resistant, high temperature

air, your system will become more secure.

BEKO TECHNOLOGIES offer a service that enables you to measure all the parameters in real time, without having to purchase all the instrumentation necessary to measure air quality to the ISO 8573 standards. We are compressed air treatment specialists and we have the ability to carry out air quality testing in line with BPG102 for compressed air purity, adhering to social distancing guidance at all times.

BCAS’s free guides can be downloaded from the website at www.bcas.org.uk, including BPG102 for compressed air purity and BPG104 for best practice advice on the filtration and drying of compressed air.

resistant polyurethane RIM material for low pressure moulding within the automotive market.

To optimise manufacturing capacity, Alchemie also operates a Toll manufacturing service for companies looking to outsource their product manufacture. They can provide manufacturing for low-viscosity products as well as thick filled paste materials.

Alchemie are currently embarking on a large expansion of their manufacturing facility which will see the company doubling its manufacturing and warehousing facility.

The total project is targeting completion by December 2020.

The expansion will enable the company to streamline its production operation, with further investment in capital mixing equipment to help reduce product lead times and improve its competitiveness within the market.

There are also environmental issues to consider and with the investment in PV panels, LED lighting and energy efficient mixing equipment, Alchemie will reduce its carbon footprint into the future.

Member Spotlight

65 Years of Superite Tools

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uperite Tools was founded in 1955 by the late Alan Collins, Alan had an engineering background having completed his apprenticeship with Crabtree’s engineering in Walsall, he then went on to become a petty officer in the Royal Navy.

Family has always been the centre and driving force of Superite Tools, Alan’s sons Mike and Martin worked side by side to run it until Mike’s well-deserved retirement in 2014.

Today Superite Tools celebrate 65 years of family business with Martin as director, with his daughter Jessica and his son William both now working alongside him.

Martin is very proud of his father before him, his brother beside him and the fantastic team of staff behind him. He credits his dedicated managers, Steve Taylor (who has been with Superite Tools for 55 years, who started as a shop floor apprentice aged 16, and Craig Dingle, general manager who also started on the tools 27 years ago, also Adrian Brown,

L Enhancing production with Industry 4.0

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ean Transition Solutions (LTS), have helped many of its customers to foresee their business growth and prepare them to adopt the manufacturing technology strategy.

The collaboration of lean and Industry 4.0 brings forth the “factory of the future” allowing companies to increase business opportunity value proposition for their customers and provide enhanced customer experience.

Industry 4.0 gives businesses a smarter insight into the manufacturing process, supply chains, business performance, quality, safety and ease of doing business.

LTS has a wide range of smart factory solutions that will help businesses to apply a “Bite-Size” approach to Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing.

• Janus Data Capture is an Automated ShopFloor Data Capture System that accelerates business processes, reduces errors and improves outputs, thereby saves cost. It will ensure that the organisation reaps the benefits of data capture without risking potential hazards. Using all types of sensors fitted to production equipment generating real-time data signals and transferred into easy to understand Data & Charts.

technical manager, who has been with them 4 years.

When asked about the success of Superite Tools Martin said “it hasn’t all been smooth sailing, but we’ve never given up, in times where we could have bemoaned to the pressures of globalisation, we’ve adapted.

“As a team we didn’t want to just survive, we wanted to thrive so that’s our common goal and what we all work for. Rather than being pushed out of the market by China we moulded ourselves around them.

“We decided that we could find our new niche in modification and repairs. There were too many tears and too much blood & sweat that had gone into Superite Tools to close the book, we just had to start a new chapter.

“We can’t change the world we can only choose how we respond to it.”

• TITAN CMMS is a Computerised Maintenance Management System that enhances work order management, increases the life of equipment through scheduled preventive maintenance and generates custom reports. It enables the organisation to achieve Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) goals as well as Overall Equipment Efficiency (OEE).

• T-Card is an integrated production planning and execution software which provides solutions for production planning, employee scheduling and production execution.

• Maximus ERP System is a cloud-based unified platform (Business System), made specifically for small and medium businesses. It combines all data-driven processes into a single interface and improves business insights and efficiency.

• Data Point is more than a dynamic Balanced Scorecard software. It enables organisations to monitor and manage performance metrics (KPI’s) and strategy implementation to achieve future strategic goals.

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CNC machining of aluminium extrusions

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ith over 20 years’ experience in the field, £1 Million pounds worth of investment, and a range of CNC machines, Neville Precision Engineering is continuing to specialise in providing a leading and complete solution for aluminium extruded products.

The company manufacturers parts from 50mm up to 8000+mm, with their main area of expertise being the 4 & 5 Axis CNC machining of parts over 1000mm in one operation without the need to re-index the material. At the core, Neville’s is committed to new technology, with the company investing in its technology infrastructure every year.

In fact, currently, the company uses a fully integrated production control system in addition to the latest 3D CAD/CAM software.

This technology allows the use of 3D printing to make sample extrusions for our customers and the manufacture of complex jigs for our

CNC machines.

Yet, to empower this continued success the company continues to invest, having invested well over £1M in new machinery allowing them to make quantities from 1 off to 1,000’s off using their 10 CNC milling machines and 2 CNC double mitre saws.

Among other investments, the company has also recently invested another £160k in a new MECAL 8Mt 4-Axis CNC machining centre, which will complement their existing 6 MECAL machines, bringing the total investment to over £1M in the past 5 years.

As a company, Neville Precision Engineering works both as a subcontractor on free issue material or source material directly on behalf of our customers to help with any requirements you may have for aluminium extruded products.

Meet growth demand with flexible building solutions

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ritish manufacturer Portakabin has developed and delivered exceptional buildings for more than 60 years. In the last 3 years alone, it has provided more than 75,000m2 of flexible workspace to UK manufacturers.

Covering every manufacturing space requirement from production areas to management offices, modular buildings from Portakabin allow manufacturers to efficiently grow to meet demand. Whether you need a single person office or an entire site, Portakabin offers free buildings growth plans to assist with site optimisation.

From more than 70 UK locations, Portakabin delivers interim buildings within weeks, drawing from an extensive range of stock for hire. It’s also possible to have a permanent modular building from Portakabin on site and ready for use up to 70% faster than an equivalent traditionally constructed building.

And with an unrivalled 99.7% of buildings

delivered on time and on budget, Portakabin outstrips the construction industry as a whole which only achieves an average of just 63% and 66% on budget respectively.

Companies like Fuel Cell Systems, Syngenta, Smurfitt Kappa, Wooha Brewery, Totally Wicked and Jaguar Land Rover have taken delivery of Portakabin buildings ranging from storage and training facilities to a purpose-designed, modern and centralised office complex as well as a bespoke Security and Emergency Operations building.

It takes expertise, resources and dedication to provide the precision-engineered buildings required by Britain’s manufacturers and when you choose a Portakabin building, you will benefit from the very best in engineering, design and innovation from the modular building market leaders.

Member Spotlight

Technology-based solutions for manufacturers

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airfield develops technology-based solutions to increase manufacturing and supply chain competitiveness.

The company have found that in the last few years and more specifically in the last twelve months, there is an increasing focus on cost and service competitiveness, especially as more organisations are looking to bring operations on-shore. Can costs be saved by increased efficiency in inventory management, tracking bins of components around the manufacturing site and giving organisations real-time information as to which manufacturing stage products are at? Can efficiencies be made in the supply chain using faster track and trace solutions?

Fairfield offer bespoke solutions using RFID and Real-time Location Systems (RTLS) which can offer significant advantages over traditional inventory and product track and trace operations, ultimately increasing

B Built better for longer

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evan Group is the UKs industry leading commercial vehicle body builders.

The company began its journey in 1976, with one site it met the demands of the ever-growing freight transport industry.

Bevan Group built a customer base with the ethos ‘Built better for longer’ at the centre of their operation ’. The quality of Bevan Group manufacturing speaks for itself and has always given a competitive edge in the industry.

With business soaring, it was only right for the company to start expanding. This move entrusted Bevan Group’s customers with the knowledge that they will always make the journey from start to finish, as smooth as possible.

Throughout the years, Bevan Group have broken down barriers by bringing innovation to the forefront of the business. Crossing the knowledge and expertise of engineering, production and sales departments to produce a breakthrough in vehicle innovation, giving customers a fuel efficient and aerodynamic vehicle – The Bevan21.

Delivering on the promise to make the journey as smooth as possible, Bevan

competitiveness and contributing to cost reductions. For example, some of the benefits of RFID are: 1. Doesn’t need line of sight – tagged products within a box can be accurately read quickly without opening the box.

2. Many tags can be read at the same time – up to hundreds of tags per second.

3. If used in a manufacturing line environment or logistics operation, tags can have new data re-written to them automatically as they go through their cycle, both in manufacturing and throughout the supply chain to the end-customer.

Fairfield are seen as a specialist within the RFID and Track & Trace sectors and in assisting a diverse range of organisations in managing cost and efficiency through use of technology.

And labels? Fairfield still make lots of labels to support an equally diverse customer base!

continued to add more divisions to the Group.

Giving customers the benefits of an in-house livery, glass carriers and accident repair shop.

Besides innovation and expansion, Bevan Group has won its fair share of awards. The popular safety system for Dropside Bodies Safe-T-Drop, won an innovation award for Saint-Gobain in Paris. And their latest Bodybuilder of the Year 2017 award saw them win the prestigious award, from the Commercial Motor Awards.

44 years later, Bevan Group has five sites and are in the exclusive position to offer a one-stop-shop service that customers proudly benefit from.

Today, Bevan Group services compromise of: • Aftercare Response • A&R • En-Veco • Graphics Depot • P2VQ • Supertrucks

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Bigger is better for Vertex!

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ack at the MACH 2018 show at the NEC in Birmingham, Vertex Engineering Solutions in Birmingham signed on the dotted line and ordered the enormous and very impressive DMGMori DMF260|11 travelling column 5-axis vertical machining centre, and a CTX 3-axis turning centre to aid with its growing order book. Before taking delivery in 2019, Vertex expanded into the adjoining unit to house the new machines, bringing the size of the site in Birmingham to over 1000sqm. New huge roller shutter doors were installed and concrete bases for the new machines were laid before finally knocking through into the existing facility.

The DMF260|11 VMC has a centre partition for pendulum loading, to keep the spindle working flat out 24/7! It also hosts a massive 3.2m long table with integrated rotary table, and a huge Y-axis travel of 1.1m.

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ho is Ashcom Technologies?

Ashcom Technologies are specialists at delivering total maintenance management software solutions. They have a 35 year track record of contributing to the growth and success of companies around the world by helping them harness the power of technology and promote maintenance excellence within their operation.

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What is MaintiMizer™?

A best in class, maintenance management software solution that can be deployed as a plug n’ play unit, in the cloud, or as a hosted solution. Trusted by over 13,000 users around the world, it has become a vital component in many company’s maintenance management strategy. Packed with functionality, highly configurable and scalable to suit the changing needs of your business. MaintiMizer™ is the perfect solution when you want to take control of your equipment, your team, your data and your costs.

Why should I choose MaintiMizer™ by Ashcom Technologies?

MaintiMizer™ was conceived and developed by Maintenance professionals

The versatility of the machine means that Vertex can now machine large tombstone fixtures faster and more accurately than ever before, and also quickly change over to machine complex prototype and lowvolume production components.

In addition to the machining centre, the DMGMori CTX CNC turning centre adds a new dimension to the capabilities at Vertex, with its driven tool turret for both 2- and 3-axis turning.

Vertex Engineering Solutions is part of the Autocraft Solutions Group, headquartered in Grantham, Lincolnshire. Vertex specialises in fixture design and manufacture, prototype machining from solid and castings, low volume and complex machined components, 5-axis machining of large and wide components, 3-axis CNC turning, manufacture of Moulds and Dies and Spark Erosion (EDM).

with Maintenance professionals in mind. It has been further shaped by multiple deployments, with a wide variety of users around the world.

It provides users with access to unparalleled levels of maintenance intelligence empowering informed decision making and promoting better outcomes.

What sort of businesses invest in MaintiMizer™?

By choosing MaintiMizer™ you are making the first step towards taking control of your Maintenance Operation, whether you are looking for incremental improvements or are adopting a complete new way of working MaintiMizer™ has all the functionality you need to take back control, deliver operational efficiency and reduce costs.

What can you do with MaintiMizer™?

MaintiMizer™ will promote best practice and best performance. It will provide a platform for your team to achieve their fullest potential and maximise their capacity by taking responsibility for the mundane or repetitive aspects of maintenance management.

Member Spotlight

G Gleeson Receives Times Top 100 Award

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leeson Recruitment Group celebrated a massive milestone in 2020, being named as 19th “Best Small Company to Work For in the UK” by the Sunday Times Top 100.

Set up in 2011 by three directors, Jason Granger, Jason Blakey and Tony Gleeson, Gleeson has grown from five employees to over 80 and has seen rapid growth over this time thanks to its strategy of investment and focus on employee engagement.

Several factors were considered in the rankings, but Gleeson was particularly commended for its employee reward, community initiatives and environmental initiatives.

Gleeson offers all staff a 4.5 day working week, with full flexibility to work from home reducing emissions and perhaps more importantly, the amount of time staff spend in traffic on the way to the office. In addition to this wellbeing and environmental initiative, the office is powered by 100% renewable energy, with motion censored lights and a filtered water system to eliminate the use of bottled water.

The recruitment firm choose a charity every two years that they fundraise for collectively;

for 2019/2020 the chosen charity is Macmillan, which they have raised over £11,000 for so far.

As well as these environmental and community initiatives, the company prides itself on continuously improving the quality of working life for employees, with a vast range of perks including an onsite gym, weekly yoga sessions, fortnightly massage appointments and quarterly social events.

The Top 100 ranking marks the end of a strong all-round year for Gleeson, with the firm seeing a turnover of £17.3 million and achieving year-on-year growth of 42%. This continued success has resulted in further inward investment, designed to facilitate further job creation in both Birmingham and Reading.

Jason Blakey, director at Gleeson, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have been listed in the Sunday Times rankings. We’ve worked hard to ensure our team love coming to work every day and to implement staff suggestions on how to make this the best workplace possible. Our employees are what make our company, so we’re very proud to receive this award and be recognised for our commitment to our people.”

Systems Integrators to industry

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CS Control Systems Ltd, was formed in 1975 to provide quality system integration solutions to a wide range of industries and utilities.

No matter the industry sector, almost all share a common objective; to achieve greater productivity at a lower cost, whilst improving quality, maintaining safety, and maximising energy efficiency. This is where technology plays a significant role. With a team of 100+ experienced staff, MCS offers Industrial Automation & Control Solutions and Business Systems Integration capabilities to meet clients Production, Maintenance & Reliability, Machine & Equipment Safety and Energy Management requirements.

As one the UK’s leading independent system integrators MCS takes pride in offering an unbiased view on the type of technology businesses should take on, preferring to focus on what the individual manufacturer needs.

At the forefront of applying technology to manufacturing improvement projects, MCS

brings solutions to customers by partnering with world-leading automation and software technology companies. Coupled with a strong research and development focus, MCS builds on the firm’s innovation capabilities to provide solutions to meet demanding application requirements.

To help Manufacturers maximise business performance MCS provides consulting, design, and implementation services to deliver business improvement projects through the effective selection of ‘Sensor to Cloud’ Digital Transformation Technologies, Software and Solutions.

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Member Spotlight

B Providing crossworkplace solutions

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1 Solutions is a digital transformation consultancy and a dedicated SAP Business One Partner, in the UK. Their main goal is to help manufacturers grow and become more profitable.

The use of multi-platform technology is a key approach to how manufacturing is working right now, and in the future with it allowing users to easily access data anywhere and at any time, bringing an old complicated process into a simplified digital business, connecting department and platforms.

Speaking about how their company is Backing Britain, B1 Solutions spoke about how, “We’re experts in empowering aspiring businesses to work more productively, increase business insight, improve ways of working and exploit emerging opportunities.”

But with workforces split between the plant and home, these systems also provide End-toend process, a 360 view, track, and trace, with real-time visibility, allowing manufacturers to improve communication with customers and departments with an ability to access crossfunctional department reports.

But how can improved systems help support your manufacturing business? With a modern

system, designed to work for you and your company, you’re able to engage in: 1. Better production planning: anticipate changes in demand, and supply and manufacturing capacities.

2. Gain better insight and understanding of the business: efficiency and cost savings.

3. Streamline and automate production processes: use and share information with vendors and suppliers.

4. Improve the utilisation of stock and resources: reduce stock holding and improve customer service.

5. Track stock through the manufacturing process including inventory control 6. Control operational costs: make smarter buying decisions.

7. Better manage regulatory and governmental compliance.

Success firmly rooted in the UK

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ulsar Instruments Plc is a wellknown global supplier of UK-made noise measurement solutions and it celebrated its 50th birthday last year. Since moving its operation to the UK in the 1970s, it has had its feet firmly planted in Yorkshire soil and is proud to employ a team of highly skilled and talented individuals who are committed and hard-working.

Pulsar has changed the way Occupational Noise is currently monitored, helping to protect workers’ hearing and improving the quality of their environment with technology that Health and Safety professionals rely on around the globe.

“Our innovative technology and strong desire to expand our business globally have certainly been key factors but the real foundation of our success lies in the long-term relationships we have established with Health and Safety professionals, Safety Consultants and Company owners”, said Simon Rehill, General Manager for Pulsar Instruments plc.

“From the start, we have always worked closely with customers and listened to their needs. And, to this day, we have remained faithful to our original commitment to them which was to produce easy to use, durable and reliable instrumentation”.

Having established an ecommerce route to market last year, Pulsar is in a strong competitive position to adapt further and take advantage of the increased willingness of businesses to buy online. Pulsar has always had a strong global presence, Simon adds, “We have always shipped our products to selected countries through a network of distribution agents, but a shift towards online purchasing means our global reach now extends even further.”

Pulsar is still growing, innovating and capturing sales worldwide despite the current uncertainty so it has many good reasons to be excited about the future and to look forward to the next 50 years.

Member Spotlight

Supporting Manufacturing in Yorkshire

E

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3 Recruitment (E3R) is at the forefront of manufacturing and engineering recruitment in Yorkshire and the UK, offering both clients and candidates a wealth of knowledge and dedicated industry experience.

Over 90% of the manufacturing businesses E3R works with are British owned, and they are proud to support British industry by sourcing and delivering world-class talent for their clients, via their range of talent management solutions.

E3R have seen more clients than ever utilising their on-line candidate screening and onboarding software, to maintain candidate engagement whilst providing a positive, yet rigorous experience for all.

E3R’s examples of support include, but are

S The future is Smart Manufacturing

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chneider Electric understands the importance of smart manufacturing and the impact smart practices and technologies can have on factory production – it’s because of this that continual investment is being made within their own factories worldwide.

Since 2018 Schneider has invested in their UK manufacturing facilities in Flint, Leeds and Telford to transform them into smart manufacturing plants. Globally they have 80+ smart factories with 4 WEF Lighthouse recognised sites, leading the way for smart manufacturing.

Their site in Flint is a British manufacturing facility, producing PVC pellets onsite before transforming them into innovative cable management systems that are used in multiple applications. This site has seen 10% year on year reduction in electricity consumption and a significant reduction of up to £200,000 in maintenance costs, as a result of introducing Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure architecture, making the factory more efficient, productive, sustainable, and safer.

By implementing technologies such as

not limited to, overseeing the recruitment of INEOS’s new hand sanitiser plants, supporting Morrisons manufacturing sites to feed the nation and sourcing power supply companies across the UK for the Nightingale hospital projects.

They have also brought manufacturers together by hosting several Furlough/Job Retention Scheme virtual meetings, with other topics including mental health, what the future looks like, and how to plan and lead teams effectively whilst working remotely.

E3R’s passion extends to addressing the UK skills gap, where for the past 8 years they have played an instrumental role in promoting the industry and STEM subjects to young people, advising them on the opportunities and careers that are open to them by delivering engaging school assemblies, and working collaboratively with manufacturers.

The changing employment landscape will present challenges and opportunities for everyone, but E3R will work in partnership with manufacturing and engineering businesses to help them stay agile and provide the talent solutions needed to help build further confidence in British Manufacturing.

EcoStruxure Augmented Operator Advisor and LDS screens, Schneider put real time information at the forefront of decisionmaking to increase efficiencies and decrease costs through instant diagnosis and contactless maintenance. Aveva software and asset monitoring onsite ensures predictive maintenance and round the clock monitoring.

Delivered by EcoStruxure, Schneider Electric’s open, interoperable, IoT-enabled system architecture and platform, they have created additional value that specifically focuses on safety, reliability, efficiency, sustainability, and connectivity. By leveraging advancements in IoT, mobility, sensing, cloud, analytics, and cybersecurity, they’ve delivered Innovation at every level incorporating Connected Products, Edge Control, and Apps, Analytics & Services.

To demonstrate this technology, Schneider invites clients to their custom built Innovation Hub in Coventry which features the latest IIoT enabled technology, industrial robotic solutions and cutting edge software solutions – helping realise the potential of smart technology.

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Member Spotlight

Backing Britain’s manufacturers

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W

ith substantial experience across this diverse sector, Clarion bring sound legal advice, commercial sense and know-how to help their clients plan for, and protect their businesses.

They assist clients across the sector with: • Mergers and acquisitions • Supply chain agreements/issues • Employment and HR • Regulatory advice • Manufacturing site acquisitions • Financial management and funding • Intellectual property management • Dispute resolution and litigation • Restructuring and insolvency • Business strategy • Family and private client matters They work not only with manufacturing businesses but have also developed their networks with industry bodies and associations to inform their ongoing understanding of the change dynamics in the sector.

Clarion connect manufacturers to their peers via a wide range of events including in-depth roundtable discussions and large, sector-focused seminars. Topics have included

C More than just another accountancy practice

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112

ulture and employee engagement have been very important to BHP for many years. In the good times, it has been key to attracting and retaining the best talent. In the current climate having a team who are passionate about what they do, want to go the extra mile and do things the right way, is more valuable than ever, according to the accountancy firm.

BHP have a regionally based wideranging team of experts which consists of over 350 staff, including 37 partners, based across 5 offices making them the largest accountancy firm that is made in Yorkshire.

Their global reach touches nearly every corner of the world via their membership of Kreston International, the 12th largest global accountancy network, which is made up of over 25,000 employees in over 125 countries.

Quality is at the heart of all the services they provide, and this is shown in the awards they have gained, including being a Sunday Times Top 100 employer by attracting and retaining the best talent

robotics/automation, blockchain, skills, innovation and internationalisation.

They also provide insight into the manufacturing sector and the relevant legal issues, including thought leadership pieces and blogs.

Clarion support manufacturers in more than just their legal needs, linking them to various partners across their ecosystem and giving them strategic support and advice.

Collaboration, business strategy and innovation continue to be at the heart of the conversations they are having in their network.

Many businesses are adapting their models and through their network, they can help their clients make the right connections.

For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, they have been able to put clients in contact with those that can help them access the NHS supply chain, using their products, innovation and resources to support those in need.

is critical to ensuring the quality of their services.

A National Audit firm of the year winner at the British Accountancy Awards for investment and adoption of market-leading data analytics software Info into their audit processes has been a key part of BHP’s success. They are continually evolving their approach to identify new ways to enhance the quality of their audits.

BHP are allowing firms to invest in Britain by employing a team of over 50 tax advisor specialists, covering the full range of business and personal taxes, including R&D experts who have saved their clients over £17.5m in the past 2 years.

BHP are a Mid-tier firm and Employer of the Year at the Yorkshire Accountancy Awards, and a multi-award-winning Corporate Finance team.

MAKING OUR MARK

Introducing two new game changing products for 2020 NEW

EASYLINE EDGE ®

Line marking made easy

Patented airflow system for marking sharp, long-lasting lines You’re in control - instant line marking for small to medium areas Reduces downtime - dries in 10 mins and traffic ready in 30mins Reduces costs - no need to employ contractors Quick to assemble and simple to use - no experience or tools needed Use indoors and outdoors for marking car parks, warehouses and stores, factory floors, playgrounds and sports courts and any other hard flat surfaces Extra versatility, Now paints curved lines

NEW

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ULTRACUT 370 EP

®

Possibly the world’s highest diluting metalworking fluid!

Up to 75:1 dilution. Each barrel makes up to 15,200 litres.

Use one fluid for cutting and grinding operations Chlorine free extreme pressure semi-synthetic fluid.

For more information visit: www.rocol.com/easyline

For more information visit: www.rocol.com/products/ultracut--370-ep

113

Member Spotlight

Speciality Soap Bases and Natural ingredients

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S

tephenson, one of the world’s leading innovators and manufacturers of soap bases and natural ingredients for the personal care and cosmetics industry.

Working with some of the biggest industry names and having won two queens awards to industry, their reputation for excellence throughout every stage of the process is exceptional.

From their dedicated, state of the art facility in Horsforth, West Yorkshire, Stephenson manages their R&D, manufacturing, sales/ customer marketing and distribution services, ensuring complete control and continuity of their products and services.

Over the last four years, Stephenson has invested close to £2 million in improving their production methods and operating systems, including the installation of a large, automated reactor and the overhaul of their enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.

A key driving force behind Stephenson’s year on year growth has been a focus on natural ingredients, to meet an everdemanding market for healthy, natural, ethically made and chemical-free personal care products.

A Helping manufacturers to reduce production costs

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114

s pressure is put on manufacturers to reduce production costs, Cimlogic now offer a solution to reduce giveaway on fixed weight products, improve yield and achieve better scheduling.

Cimlogic help answer questions such as; • How much product is being given away?

• How is this impacting production costs (and profit)?

UK food manufacturers typically adopt ‘overfill’ to ensure compliance with Average Weight Legislation, but the financial impacts of this can be significant. The potential savings to be achieved from eg a 1% reduction in overfill can run into £1,000,000s for large manufacturing companies.

Normally £3,000, Cimlogic’s Giveaway Analysis is offered free of charge, with terms and conditions, to FMCG manufacturers during 2020. This study examines manufacturers’ fill volumes and processes and identifies where tangible savings can be made. The analysis provides real insights for those in technical, quality or operations management roles in manufacturing: 1. DISCOVERY – overview of the methodology and areas of study 2. COLLECTION – collation of product

They pride themselves on their strong connection with their customers and play an integral role in supporting their R&D and business development.

Operating in over 60 countries, Stephenson offers ingredients that can be enhanced by the customer, be it through the addition of fragrance, colour or other ingredients.

A supplier to well-known retailers such as The Body Shop and Holland & Barrett, their success has been built on a balancing act that deftly merges their core family values with the company’s position as an industry leader.

At Stephenson, they are proud of their heritage, but equally in their commitment to the future, through continued motivation, investment, team support and a culture to strive to do better. This means their team can work with customers not just on solving their product challenges but in providing new market opportunities and solutions.

fill weights using Cimlogic’s unique data collection and reporting tools 3. ANALYSIS – identification of opportunities (ensuring compliance with latest regulations) based on client data 4. REPORT – a valuable insight report into the client’s product(s) with achievable financial savings and recommended next steps.

CImlogic’s giveaway solution uses the output from the analysis to help reduce overproduction on manufacturing lines and ensure compliance with legislation: • Collate production data for real-time analysis • Analyse trends quickly via dashboard software reports • Set weight standards and/or giveaway rate targets to be quickly informed of anomalies • Take advantage of TrakSYS™ tools for realtime giveaway Cimlogic support blue-chip companies worldwide to maximise production capacity, improve quality and drive profit through innovative IIoT solutions. Cimlogic offer complete manufacturing improvement solutions and support to improve efficiency and maximise productivity, ensuring optimum performance and fast ROI.

Member Spotlight

Sharing Best Practice adviCe on Brexit

T

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udor International Freight has warned businesses not to under-estimate the impact that Brexit will have on the movement of goods come 1 January 2021, when, at the time of writing, the UK’s transition period ends.

With supply chains focussing on the current global lockdown of economies resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic; it could be easy to overlook the impact of substantial changes to the flow of goods between the UK and EU member countries from next year.

The Brexit transition period is, at the time of writing, due to end on 31 December 2020 with the UK government indicating it does not want an extension.

As of August 2019, there were approximately 240,000 exporting businesses trading only with the EU and who will be completing customs declarations for the first time from the start of next year. In addition,

Making your mark in a digital world

W

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hile many manufacturers may not sell their products online, that’s where the buying process starts for a lot of people. An effective digital marketing strategy, presence and profile will help make sure your business is visible when people begin their search for your products and services, and will help position you as a respected market leader and expert in your field.

Here’s The Partners Group’s advice to get you started: • Establish your starting point: What are people searching for in your industry, right now? And is your website ranking for those keywords? If not, there’s work to be done to make sure you are appearing in the right searches, and not losing out to competitors.

Get to grips with Google Analytics: it can tell

HMRC have indicated that they expect the number of customs declarations to increase from 65 million a year to 300 million a year once the UK leaves the Customs Union.

Traders in the UK are able to complete Customs declarations themselves, however they will require a lot of information and knowledge to do so. Customs brokers will likely to be overwhelmed with the increase in numbers and this has led to some businesses in the UK signing agreements with a Customs broker to ensure that their goods do not experience delays when transiting to or from the EU. It is imperative that businesses do not forget about Brexit and that they continue to make plans for the UK’s eventual exit from the EU.

you so much about what people are looking for and how your website shapes up.

• Keep up: If you pivoted production and started to manufacture new products during Covid-19, does your website show that?

Making the products is one thing; getting them in front of potential buyers is another.

Your website and wider digital footprint – social media, email marketing, online PR, SEO – will all help you gain visibility and attract enquiries, provided you’re using them well.

• Don’t ignore social media: Make sure your sales team is comfortable using LinkedIn, and put a good content strategy in place to give them useful and relevant information to share. How to guides, new contract wins, advice and case studies will all help keep current customers engaged and draw prospective customers closer.

The Partners Group is a Yorkshire PR and digital agency, with over 30 years’ experience of supporting manufacturers across the UK and beyond in the food processing, building products, construction and industrial products sectors.

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Member Spotlight

T Supporting British manufacturing during challenging times SCAN ME TO VISIT OUR MICROSITE

o keep the country moving, there are some industries that simply can’t stop production. It’s vital that the supply chain for these key manufacturing businesses in sectors such as food and drink manufacturing can support continued operation.

That’s why ROCOL has taken steps to ensure that they can maintain production of all bearing greases, chain fluids, cutting fluids, maintenance and cleaning aerosols at their UK manufacturing site.

Taking care of the Team The health and safety of employees remains as ROCOL’S number one priority and they are committed to providing, maintaining and promoting safe working conditions for everyone in the business.

As such, their office-based teams are all working remotely and continue to provide the same high levels of technical and customer support. The company’s manufacturing and distribution facilities are fully operational and following Public Health England and WHO recommendations to make sure they

can serve customers whilst guaranteeing their team’s health and safety. They are also closely following the relevant guidelines to ensure the continued safety of everyone on site.

A track record you can trust ROCOL are no strangers to supporting manufacturers through challenging times.

From their roots as the Ragosine Oil Company in 1882 through to supporting World War II aviation manufacturing and innovation, ROCOL products are widely used and trusted across a huge range of applications and operations in a variety of industries, from food and drink to marine and offshore, industrial, metalworking and aerospace.

Here to help ROCOL’s Technical and customer service teams are here to help with any customer queries, and their production teams are fully operational to maintain supply of the products required to keep important manufacturing and processing equipment working safely and efficiently.

Current market trends and identifying needs

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ESIPA UK looks to exploit current market trends and identify needs within fastening technology with the introduction of new products.

GESIPA offers the complete fastening solution - fasteners, tools, process control and automation. With their technical teams working directly with the customers, this allows them to understand the want for new and innovative products in order to fulfil customer demands.

Innovation and new products has been the key development at GESIPA by looking internally at the trends of the market, for example the introduction of the lightweight fastener. The introduction of the new blind rivet nut light weight is the next evolutionary step within blind riveting technology. This blind rivet nut focuses and supports the trends of all industry sectors, which consists

of the demand for weight reduction and saving of resources whilst still maintaining the mechanical properties.

GESIPA’S employees are highly skilled, and this ensures that they can support their customers with sample designs. They also offer technical advice directly to all customers and are constantly improving the way they are able to communicate to new and existing ones.

The hope for GESIPA over the next few years is that the UK fastener industry will start to home shore and buy British or European fasteners more due to the benefits that come with it - the quick support and the ability to react very quickly to the demand of the market.

Member Spotlight

Continuous growth in 2020

B

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ar Products & Services Ltd finished 2019 with increased sales for Strand Preform Heads and the growth has continued into 2020 with several major orders being received to boost the New Year into China and India.

The Strand Preform Heads are manufactured to the customers specific rope size requirements in order to give the best possible production results for a high-quality finished rope. The new Strand Preform Heads will be shipped early February and further orders are expected for the first quarter.

January also saw a substantial increase for Drawing Die orders from China following recent production trials with several companies. In order to produce high quality wire at good production speeds, the die materials, internal geometry and die production techniques have to be perfect to meet ever increasing finished wire quality demands. Together with the use of good lubricants, the quality of the drawing die can be the difference between uninterrupted

production times, and start/stop delays on the drawing machines.

Strand Compaction Rollers and other tooling for the wire rope industry in China are also on the increase. Furthered by the adoption of Roller Compaction for high-quality wire strand, demand for rollers has been growing for the past few years and Bar Products & Services have regular shipments to every part of the world to service their own Strand Compaction Machines as well as other styles of machines.

The Wire Strand Roller Compaction Units are now used in many of the world’s major wire strand and rope manufacturers, with repeat orders being a measure of the success of the machine.

Bar Products & Services Ltd, began supplying drawing dies over 25 years ago, and now manufacture tooling, wear parts and precision engineered products to the Wire, Tube, Cable and Rope industries around the world, from Europe to China, from India to Mexico, USA to Russia.

Supplying self-serve gravity systems in the UK & Ireland

A

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s the world becomes more aware of the impact single use packaging has on the environment, bulk foods are becoming an ever increasing and popular option as a merchandising solution for many retail suppliers and consumers.

The challenging nature of displaying bulk food and products means gravity and scoop dispensers offer a cost effective and innovative solution to Eco-friendly merchandising.

Due to the ongoing efforts to reduce waste, Concept Data Display Ltd are proud to announce an agreement as sole distributor of industry leading dispensers by Trade Fixtures in the UK & Ireland.

Trade Fixtures have been manufacturing self-serve merchandising dispensers for over 30 years - revolutionising the way consumer shop. Self-serve dispensers are a user friendly,

clean and efficient method to display goods in an attractive and eye catching manner.

Concept Data Display Ltd are a market leader in the retail display and solutions sector, they are always looking to evolve and reduce environmental impact, as well as offer solutions to customers. Having recently introduced the Enviro 2 – Eco friendly ticket rail to the market, Concept are pleased to offer this new way of shopping into the retail sector, be it Supermarkets, Organic Food stores, Tea & Coffee shops, Pet Food stores or the food Service sector.

Concept Data Display Ltd now offer a complete range of gravity & scoop dispensers for dispensing bulk food products or other loose non-food products. From a single dispenser to full store installation service.

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Exhibitor List

118

ACE GROUP

ALWAYSE ENGINEERING LTD

BAR PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Web: www.acegroup.org.uk Email: info@acegroup.org.uk

Web: www.alwayse.co.uk Email: sales@alwayse.co.uk

Web: www.barproductsandservices.com Email: info@barproductsandservices.com

ACOUSTAFOAM

ANGLIA METAL

BAUROMAT (UK) LTD

Web: www.acoustafoam.com Email: info@acoustafoam.com

Web: www.angliametal.com Email: sales@angliametal.com

Web: www.bauromat.com Email: info@bauromat.co.uk

ACTIONPLAS

ANOCHROME

BB PRICE

Web: www.actionplas.com Email: sales@actionplas.co.uk

Web: www.anochrome.com Email: sales@wepltd.co.uk

Web: www.bbprice.co.uk Email: info@bbprice.co.uk

ACTON FINISHING

APPRIS MANAGEMENT LIMITED

BEKO TECHNOLOGIES LTD

Web: www.acton-finishing.co.uk Email: enquiries@acton-finishing.co.uk

Web: www.appris.co.uk Email: info@appris.co.uk

Web: www.beko-technologies.com Email: info@beko-technologies.co.uk

ADI GROUP

APS UK LIMITED

BEVAN GROUP

Web: www.adiltd.co.uk Email: info@adiltd.co.uk

Web: www.apsukltd.co.uk Email: sales@apsukltd.co.uk

Web: www.bevangroup.com Email: info@bevangroup.com

ADI TREATMENTS

ARCO LTD

BHP ACCOUNTANTS

Web: www.aditreatments.com Email: arron.rimmer@aditreatments.com

Web: www.arco.co.uk Email: sales@support.arco.co.uk

Web: www.bhp.co.uk Email: info@bhp.co.uk

ADT FLEXIBLES UK

ASHCOM TECHNOLOGIES

BIRMINGHAM CITY UNIVERSITY

Web: Tel:

Web: Tel:

Web: Tel:

www.adtflex.co.uk 01132 535569

www.ashcomtech.com 08003 660793

www.bcuadvantage.co.uk 01216 041000

AINSCOUGH INDUSTRIAL SERVICES

ATLAS COPCO

BIRMINGHAM PROTOTYPES

Web: www.ainscoughindustrial.co.uk Email: businesssupport@ainscoughindustrial.co.uk

Web: www.atlascopco.com Email: uk.enquiries@uk.atlascopco.com

Web: www.birminghamprototypes.co.uk Email: info@birminghamprototypes.co.uk

AIRMASTER AIR CONDITIONING LTD

AVERY WEIGH TRONIX

BLUM-NOVOTEST LTD

Web: www.airmaster.uk.com Email: team@airmaster.uk.com

Web: www.averyweigh-tronix.com Email: webinfo@awtxglobal.com

Web: www.blum-novotest.com Email: info@blum-novotest.co.uk

AJG BIRMINGHAM - GALLAGHER

B & P FABRICATIONS LTD

BONEHAM AND TURNER

Web: Tel:

Web: www.bpfabs.co.uk Email: info@bpfabs.co.uk

Web: www.boneham.co.uk Email: sales@boneham.co.uk

ALCHEMIE LTD

B1 SOLUTIONS

BOTT LTD

Web: www.alchemie.com Email: sales@alchemie.com

Web: www.b1sol.com Email: sales@b1sol.co.uk

Web: www.bottltd.co.uk Email: info@bottltd.co.uk

ALL BRITISH PRECISION LTD

BALMORAL TANKS

BREWIN DOLPHIN

Web: www.allbritishprecision.com Email: sales@allbritishprecision.com

Web: www.bpfabs.co.uk Email: info@bpfabs.co.uk

Web: Tel:

www.ajg.com 08000 622340

www.brewin.co.uk 02032 013900

Visit all the Backing Britain Live Exhibitors by logging on to www.backingbritain.com

C.H. BARNETT LIMITED

COMAU UK

ELECTRO-DISCHARGE LTD

Web: www.chbarnett.co.uk Email: sales@chbarnett.co.uk

Web: Tel:

Web: www.electro-discharge.com Email: info@electro-discharge.co.uk

CADSPEC

CONCEPT GROUP

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY GROUP

Web: www.cadspec.co.uk Email: info@cadspec.co.uk

Web: www.concept-data.com Email: sales@concept-data.com

Web: Tel:

CAMBRIDGE HOK

CONTRACT PRODUCTION

EUROPEAN SPRINGS & PRESSINGS

Web: www.cambridgehok.co.uk Email: info@cambridgehok.co.uk

Web: www.contract-production.co.uk Email: sales@contract-production.co.uk

Web: www.europeansprings.com Email: info.bec@europeansprings.com

CARRS TOOLSTEEL

CONTROL ENERGY COST

EXACTAFORM CUTTING TOOLS

Web: www.carrs-tool.co.uk Email: sales@carrs-tool.co.uk

Web: www.cec.uk.com Email: info@cec.uk.com

Web: www.exactaform.com Email: sales@exactaform.co.uk

CATAX GROUP

CROMPTON CONTROLS

EXCEL WATER

Web: www.catax.com Email: enquiries@catax.com

Web: www.cromptoncontrols.co.uk Email: sales@cromptoncontrols.co.uk

Web: www.excelwater.co.uk Email: sales@excelwater.co.uk

CBE LTD (COOPER BROWN ENTERPRISES)

CTR-CARBIDE DIES LTD

FAIRFIELD GROUP

Web: Tel:

Web: Tel:

Web: www.fairfieldgroup.com Email: info@fairfieldgroup.com

www.cbeplus.com 01246 529014

www.comau.com 01788 554500

www.ctr-uk.com 01217 720817

www.engtechgroup.com 07875 027438

CENTRAL SCANNING

DE-MET LIMITED

FARO TECHNOLOGIES UK LTD

Web: www.central-scanning.co.uk Email: info@central-scanning.co.uk

Web: www.demetcolourcoat.co.uk Email: enquiries@demetcolourcoat.co.uk

Web: Tel:

CIMLOGIC

DIRECT AIR & PIPEWORK

FBC MANBY BOWDLER LLP

Web: www.cimlogic.co.uk Email: enquiries@cimlogic.co.uk

Web: www.directair.co.uk Email: enquiries@directair.co.uk

Web: www.fbcmb.co.uk Email: info@fbcmb.co.uk

CITIZEN MACHINERY

DOOSAN INDUSTRIAL VEHICLE UK

FC LASER LTD

Web: www.citizenmachinery.co.uk Email: sales@citizenmachinery.co.uk

Web: www.doosan.com Email: salesadmin@doosan.com

Web: www.fclaser.co.uk Email: sales@fclaser.co.uk

CLARION SOLICITORS LIMITED

DUDLEY ADVANCE/DUDLEY COLLEGE

FLEXI NARROW AISLE

Web: Tel:

Web: Tel:

Web: www.flexi.co.uk Email: info@flexi.co.uk

www.clarionsolicitors.com 01132 460622

www.dudleycol.ac.uk 01384 363000

www.faro.com 00800 32767253

COBA PLASTICS LTD

DURA ID

FLOWDRILL (UK) LTD

Web: www.cobaplastics.com Email: sales@cobaplasticsmoulding.com

Web: www.dura-id.com Email: info@dura-id.com

Web: www.flowdrill.com Email: info@flowdrill.co.uk

CODEL SOLUTIONS

E3 RECRUITMENT

FREDERICK COOPER

Web: www.codelsolutions.co.uk Email: info@codelsolutions.co.uk

Web: www.e3recruitment.com Email: wyorks@e3recruitment.com

Web: www.frederickcooper.co.uk Email: sales@frederickcooper.co.uk

119

Exhibitor List

120

FUTABA MANUFACTURING U.K. LIMITED

HALLMARK SHEETMETAL CO LTD

INDUCTAFLEX/ALUBEND

Web: www.fmuk.ltd Email: sales@futabaindustrialuk.co.uk

Web: www.hmark.co.uk Email: sales@hmark.co.uk

Web: www.inductaflex.com Email: sales@inductaflex.com

GARDNER AEROSPACE

HARRIS (STEELS) LTD

IST (UK) LIMITED

Web: www.gardner-aerospace.com Email: info@gardner-aerospace.com

Web: www.harrissteels.co.uk Email: sales@harrissteels.co.uk

Web: www.ist-uv.com Email: info@uk.ist-uv.com

GEHRING TECHNOLOGIES

HARRY BURROWS FABRICATIONS

JUNGHEINRICH

Web: www.gehring-group.com Email: bill.smith@gehring.de

Web: www.harryburrows.co.uk Email: admin@harryburrows.co.uk

Web: Tel:

GEMINI RAIL

HAYLEY GROUP

KADANT PAAL LIMITED (DICOM LTD)

Web: www.geminirailgroup.co.uk Email: info@geminirg.co.uk

Web: www.hayley-group.co.uk Email: enquiries@hayley-group.co.uk

Web: Tel:

GESIPA

HAZEL 4D

KILBY PACKAGING

Web: www.gesipa.co.uk Email: info.uk@gesipa.com

Web: www.hazel4d.com Email: wecare@hazel4d.com

Web: www.kilby.co.uk Email: sales@kilby.co.uk

GLEESON RECRUITMENT GROUP

HEXAGON METROLOGY

KLUBER LUBRICATION

Web: www.workwithglee.com Email: info@gleeson-rg.com

Web: Tel:

Web: Tel:

GLOBAL PRECISION GROUP

HITHERBEST

L F E ENGINEERING LTD

Web: www.globalmanufacturing.co.uk Email: enquiries@global-precision-inc.com

Web: www.hitherbest.co.uk Email: sales@hitherbest.co.uk

Web: www.lfeeng.co.uk Email: sales@lfeeng.co.uk

GOM UK LTD

HLS

LAKE CHEMICALS AND MINERALS LIMITED/LAKE ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS

Web: www.gom.com Email: info-uk@gom.com

Web: www.hls.co Email: hello@hls.co

Web: www.lakeengineeringsolutions.co.uk Email: sales@lakecm.co.uk

GOPRINT3D

HOFFMAN GROUP

LANEMARK COMBUSTION ENGINEERING LTD

Web: www.goprint3d.co.uk Email: web@goprint3d.co.uk

Web: www.hoffmann-group.com Email: ab.uk@hoffmann-group.com

Web: www.lanemark.com Email: info@lanemark.com

GREYHOUND BOX LTD

ILLSTON AND ROBSON

LASER PROCESS LIMITED

Web: www.greyhoundbox.co.uk Email: sales@greyhoundbox.co.uk

Web: www.illstonandrobson.com Email: info@illstonandrobson.com

Web: www.laserprocess.co.uk Email: sales@laserprocess.co.uk

GSM GRAPHIC ARTS

IMPACTING BUSINESS BY DESIGN DE MONTFORD UNIVERSITY

LASERSHAPE

Web: www.gsmgraphicarts.com Email: webenquiry@gsmgraphicarts.com

Web: www.ibbdesign.co.uk Email: info@ibbdesign.co.uk

Web: Tel:

GSM VALTECH

IN-COMM TRAINING & BUSINESS SERVICES LTD

LEAN ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING ACADEMY (LEMA)

Web: www.gsmvaltech.co.uk Email: sheetmetal@gsmvaltech.co.uk

Web: Tel:

Web: Tel:

www.hexagonmi.com 08704 462667

www.in-comm.co.uk 01922 457686

www.jungheinrich.co.uk 01212 065514

www.dicom.madeinthemidlands.com 01773 520565

www.klueber.com 01422 205 115

www.lasershape.com 01159 729921

www.lemacademy.co.uk 01213 590242

Visit all the Backing Britain Live Exhibitors by logging on to www.backingbritain.com

LEAN TRANSITION SOLUTIONS

MCS CONTROL SYSTEMS

PEGLER

Web: www.leantransitionsolutions.com Email: info@leantransitionsolutions.co.uk

Web: Tel:

Web: www.pegleryorkshire.co.uk Email: uk.sales@aalberts-ips.com

LIBERTY PRESSINGS

MFH CONTRACT ENGINEERING SERVICES LTD

PENNINE LUBRICANTS

Web: Tel:

Web: www.mfhcontractengineering.co.uk Email: enq@mfhgroup.co.uk

Web: www.penninelubricants.co.uk Email: info@penninelubricants.co.uk

LIQUIDITY CLUB

MHA MACINTYRE HUDSON

PENTANGLE ENGINEERING LIMITED

Web: Tel:

Web: www.macintyrehudson.co.uk Email: Chris.barlow@mhllp.co.uk

Web: www.pentangle-eng.co.uk Email: sales@pentangle-eng.co.uk

LLOYDS BANK PLC

MIDTHERM LASER LTD

PLASTIC COATINGS

Web: Tel:

Web: www.midthermlaser.co.uk Email: sales@midthermlaser.co.uk

Web: www.plasticcoatings.co.uk Email: enquiries@plastic-coatings.com

MACHINED COMPONENT SYSTEMS PLC

MINSTER MICRO COMPUTERS

PORTAKABIN

Web: www.machinedcomponent.com Email: sales@machinedcomponent.com

Web: Tel:

Web: Tel:

MAGIBOARDS LTD

MSC INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY

PRESSMARK PRESSINGS LIMITED

Web: www.magiboards.com Email: sales@magiboards.com

Web: Tel:

Web: www.pressmark.co.uk Email: hello@pressmark.co.uk

MALCOLM ACP LTD

MYWORKWEAR

PROCURE GROUP

Web: Tel:

Web: www.myworkwear.co.uk Email: sales@myworkwear.co.uk

Web: Tel:

MANKIEWICZ UK

NETWORK PACKAGING LTD

PULSAR INSTRUMENTS

Web: www.mankiewicz.com Email: info@mankiewicz.com

Web: www.networkpack.co.uk Email: contact@networkpack.co.uk

Web: www.pulsarinstruments.com Email: sales@pulsarinstruments.com

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY CENTRE

NEVILLE PRECISION ENGINEERING LTD

QFS TECHNOLOGIES

Web: www.the-mtc.org Email: training@the-mtc.org

Web: www.nevilles.co.uk Email: sales@nevilles.co.uk

Web: Tel:

MARCEGAGLIA (UK) LTD

NUFAST LIMITED

QI PERFORMANCE

Web: www.marcegaglia.co.uk Email: uk@marcegaglia.com

Web: www.nufast.co.uk Email: info@nufast.co.uk

Web: www.qiperformance.co.uk Email: hello@qiperformance.co.uk

MASON METALS LTD

OE ELECTRICS

QM SYSTEMS LIMITED

Web: www.masonmetals.co.uk Email: info@masonmetals.co.uk

Web: www.oeelectrics.co.uk Email: sales@oeelectrics.co.uk

Web: Tel:

MASTERMOVER LTD

OVAKO LTD

QUANTAMATIC

Web: www.mastermover.com Email: sales@mastermover.com

Web: www.ovako.com Email: sales.uk@ovako.com

Web: www.quantamatic.co.uk Email: info@quantamatic.co.uk

www.libertyhousegroup.com 02476 691000

www.liquidityclub.co.uk 01213 090444

www.lloydsbank.com 03453 000000

www.corporate.ppg.com 01215 057474

www.mcscontrolsystems.co.uk 02476 36021

www.minstermicro.co.uk 01562 68211

www.mscdirect.co.uk 08006 63355

www.portakabin.com 03333 638931

www.procuregroup.madeinthemidlands.com 01952 250800

www.qfs.uk.com 01217 701200

www.qm-systems.com 01905 621882

121

Exhibitor List

122

RATIONALFX

SARGENT ELECTRICAL SERVICES LTD

SSC LASER CUTTING

Web: www.rationalfx.com Email: jaspaul.bains@rationalfx.com

Web: www.sargentltd.co.uk Email: support@sargentltd.co.uk

Web: www.ssclaser.co.uk Email: sales@ssclaser.co.uk

RHEINTACHO UK LTD

SCHMOLZ & BICKENBACH

STAUFF

Web: www.rheintacho.com Email: info-web@rheintacho.de

Web: www.schmolz-bickenbach.co.uk Email: W.Bagnall@schmolz-bickenbach.com

Web: www.stauff.co.uk Email: sales@stauff.co.uk

RICOH UK LTD

SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC

STEPHENSON GROUP LTD

Web: Tel:

Web: Tel:

Web: www.stephensonpersonalcare.com Email: hello@stephensongroup.co.uk

www.ricoh-europe.com 01952 212666

www.se.com 08706 088608

RMIG AUTOMOTIVE LTD

SD PRODUCTS LIMITED

SUBCON LASER CUTTING LTD

Web: www.rmig.com Email: info.uk@rmig.com

Web: www.sdproducts.co.uk Email: sales@sdproducts.co.uk

Web: www.subconlaser.co.uk Email: info@subconlaser.co.uk

ROCHFORD ENGINEERING

SFS GROUP FASTENING TECHNOLOGY LTD

SUPERITE TOOLS

Web: www.rochfordengineering.co.uk Email: sales@rochfordengineering.co.uk

Web: www.sfsintec.co.uk Email: uk.info@sfsintec.biz

Web: www.superite.co.uk Email: enquiries@superite.co.uk

ROCOL

SHEA GLOBAL LIMITED

TANTEC UK LTD

Web: www.rocol.com Email: customer.service@rocol.com

Web: www.sheaglobal.com Email: info@shea.ca

Web: Tel:

ROWAN PRECISION

SIEMENS

TECHNETICS GROUP UK

Web: www.rowanprecision.co.uk Email: sales@rowanprecision.co.uk

Web: Tel:

Web: Tel:

ROZONE LIMITED

SMC PNEUMATICS (U.K.) LTD

TESA UK LTD

Web: www.rozone.co.uk Email: info@rozone.co.uk

Web: www.smc.eu Email: sales@smc.uk

Web: Tel:

RSD PRESSINGS LTD

SMITHS METAL CENTRES

THE DERITEND GROUP LIMITED

Web: www.rsdpressings.co.uk Email: sales@rsdpressings.co.uk

Web: www.smithmetal.com Email: info@smithmetal.com

Web: www.deritend.co.uk Email: wolverhampton@deritend.co.uk

RUTLAND PLASTICS

SORION

THE HARBORO RUBBER CO LTD

Web: www.rutlandplastics.co.uk Email: enquiry@rutlandplastics.co.uk

Web: www.sorion-group.com Email: sales@sorion.co.uk

Web: www.harboro.co.uk Email: help@harboro.co.uk

SAFE AND VAULT COMPANY

SPECIALISED LASER PRODUCTS LTD

THE PARTNERS GROUP

Web: www.safeandvaultcompany.co.uk Email: sales@safeandvaultcompany.co.uk

Web: www.slp-ltd.co.uk Email: sales@slp-ltd.co.uk

Web: Tel:

SAMUEL TAYLOR LTD

SPECTRUM INDUSTRIAL

THE SEMPRE GROUP

Web: www.samueltaylor.co.uk Email: sales@samueltaylor.co.uk

Web: www.spectrum-industrial.co.uk Email: sales@spectrum-industrial.co.uk

Web: www.thesempregroup.com Email: sales@thesempregroup.com

www.new.siemens.com 08458 507600

www.tantec-uk.com 01527 304004

www.technetics.com 01162 727411

www.tesa.com 01908 211333

www.partners-group.co.uk 01904 610077

Visit all the Backing Britain Live Exhibitors by logging on to www.backingbritain.com

THORLUX LIGHTING

WARRIOR DOORS

Web: www.thorlux.co.uk Email: thorlux@thorlux.co.uk

Web: Tel:

TLM LASER

WINMAN

Web: www.tlm-laser.com Email: info@tlm-laser.com

Web: Tel:

TOTAL CONTROL PRO

WKW PRECISION ENGINEERING

Web: Tel:

Web: www.wkw-eng.co.uk Email: info@wkw-eng.co.uk

www.totalcontrolpro.com 03456 804045

www.warriordoors.co.uk 01217 068400

www.winman.com 01217 498050

TRI-TECH 3D

WMG, UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK

Web: www.tritech3d.co.uk Email: info@tritech3d.co.uk

Web: Tel:

TUDOR INTERNATIONAL FREIGHT

WREKIN SHEETMETAL LTD

Web: www.tudorfreight.com Email: mail@tudorfreight.com

Web: www.wrekinsheetmetal.co.uk Email: sales@wrekinsheetmetal.co.uk

TWENTE EXPRESS LIMITED

YORKSHIRE PROFILES LTD

Web: www.twente.co.uk Email: sales@twente.co.uk

Web: www.yorkshireprofiles.co.uk Email: sales@yorkshireprofiles.co.uk

TWP GROUP (THREEWAY PRESSINGS)

ZIMMER GROUP UK

Web: Tel:

Web: Tel:

www.threewaypressings.co.uk 01215 202345

www.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wmg 02476 574299

www.zimmer-group.com 01283 542103

VARLOWE INDUSTRIAL SERVICES LTD Web: www.varlowe.co.uk Email: info@varlowe.co.uk VERDER LTD Web: www.verderliquids.com Email: info@verder.co.uk VERO SOFTWARE (HEXAGON PRODUCTION SOFTWARE) Web: Tel:

www.hexagonmi.com 01242 542040

Visit all the

VERTEX (AUTOCRAFT SOLUTIONS GROUP) Web: www.vertex-eng.co.uk Email: enquiries@vertex-eng.co.uk VICTOR MANUFACTURING Web: www.victoronline.co.uk Email: email@victormanufacturing.co.uk

MADE IN THE MIDLANDS MEMBER MADE IN YORKSHIRE MEMBER MADE IN THE MIDLANDS & YORKSHIRE MEMBER

Exhibitors during our two week Virtual Expo, starting August 17th

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