GTMA News Issue 1 2011

newstoolmaking l precision machining l metrology l tooling technologies l rpd

inside...

Bringing it Back to Britain Roadshow

Medical Business Zone

Tooling Census launch

Engineering a 1000 mph supersonic car…

ISSUE 1 2011

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:09 Page 1

Reduce your gauging costs

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The unique new Renishaw Equator™ is a versatile alternative

to custom gauging, offering inspection of an unprecedented

variety of manufactured parts. Developed and proven on the

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Thermal stability through simple re-mastering

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Renishaw plc New Mills, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, GL12 8JR United KingdomT +44 (0)1453 524111 F +44 (0)1453 542901 E [email protected]

www.renishaw.com

Renishaw Equator Advert GTMA April 2011 EN.indd 1R i h E t Ad t GTMA A il 2011 EN i dd 1 18/04/2011 14:33:2218/04/2011 14 33 22

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:09 Page 2

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Contact GTMAIn order to receive a copy of this GTMA News please phone, fax or emailyour request to GTMA. We do not accept responsibility for omissions orerrors. Please note the views expressed in articles by contributors andadvertisements included in this edition do not necessarily represent thoseof the GTMA.

issue 1 2011

Published by: Gauge & Toolmakers AssociationThe National Metalforming Centre,47 Birmingham Road, West Bromwich, B70 6PY

Tel: 0121 601 6350 Fax: 0121 601 6378Email: [email protected] Web: www.gtma.co.uk

This publication has been produced for the GTMA by Channel Publications Ltd, 14 John Slessor Court, Camden Row, Bath BA1 5LDTel: 07800 962 473 Email: [email protected] Website: www.channelpublications.co.uk and was printed by Buxton Press.

CONTENTS

GTMA CEO Forward 3

News 4-5

New Members 6-8

News 9

EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES 10-14

News 15-17

BRINGING IT BACK TO BRITAIN 19-27

Manufacturing fights back 20

The 1000 mph supersonic car 22-23

Pitfalls of China 22

A-Z of Exhibitors 23

Case Studies 24-27

News 28

MEDICAL UPDATE

Supply Chain opportunities 29

Business Zone 30-36

News 37

Press Releases 38

Events 39-40

Toolmaking Census Form 41

Cover image courtesy BLOODHOUND, the project aiming tolaunch a 1000mph supersonic car.. See 'Bringing it Back toBritain', pages 19-27

3

The drive for more business

This issue is published to tie in with the GTMA's first everBringing it Back to Britain Roadshow – an event to highlight howbuyers who moved some of their manufacturing overseas areincreasingly returning to the UK.

It comes at a time when a new report from the joint industry/governmentAutomotive Council shows that many automotive companies in the UKare actively seeking UK suppliers across a range of components.

This is good news for our industry and our members, many of whomare already active in the sector and in a position to benefit from a revivalin the UK automotive sector as global vehicle manufacturers increasetheir local component sourcing.

Promoting UK-based manufacturers and technologies, strengtheningthe supply chain and positioning the UK as a leading global player arekey issues for the GTMA.

So, we are pleased to have Ian Harnett, Purchasing Director of JaguarLand Rover, opening and speaking at our ‘Bringing it Back to Britain’event on May 11 (See pages 19-27).

The Automotive Council report says the UK sector has a strong futureand is at the heart of the low carbon agenda, investing in R&D that willdeliver ever cleaner, safer and more fuel efficient vehicles.

More than 40 companies manufacture vehicles in the UK, ranging fromglobal volume car, van, truck and bus builders to specialist niche mak-ers. The UK automotive industry generates £52 billion of turnover andadds £10 billion to the UK economy.

The Automotive Council report sets out for the first time details of themanufacturing parts and products that car makers want to source fromthe UK, but are not currently buying here. It identifies some of the rea-sons for this, where purchasing decisions are made and where the UKhas the potential capability to meet this currently untapped demand.

Although companies in the UK are already winning more than £7 billionof work annually from vehicle makers, there are clear opportunities togrow this business. Using data collected from vehicle manufacturersand supply chain companies, the report identifies the opportunities witha new purchasing wish list of interior and exterior vehicle parts frommanufacturers.

Our next issue will look more closely at the opportunities and I wouldappeal to GTMA members to let us know of your successes inAutomotive so we can let the wider world know.

Julia Moore GTMA CEO

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:09 Page 3

pretty well invisible at themoment. This is because activi-ties like the manufacture ofcomponent prototypes or thetools used to make them do notfall neatly into any of the SICclassifications used byGovernment,”

The census questionaire is limit-ed to one page so that it takesup minimal time; and is aimedat companies in any of thesecategories:

• Sub-contract toolmaker – onlyengaged in toolmaking

• Main activity is toolmaking –but there is a subsidiary partof the business such asmoulding, die casting, orstamping

• Main activity is traditional tool-making, but company alsomanufactures prototypes orrapid tooling

• Main activity is rapid proto-

types or rapid tooling

• Main activity is production,but there is also a subsidiarytoolmaking department.

Key questions cover numbersof people employed in toolmak-ing directly or in hands-on sup-port activities (eg Design,Machine tool programming etc),turnover etc.

The 2001 census results, on asimilar sized sample as the newcensus, estimated total turnoverthen of sub-contract toolmakersat £263 million; main acitivitytoolmakers at £248m; tradition-al toolmakers also doing proto-types at £172m; and produc-tion as main activity with sub-sidiary toolmaking at £219m(toolmaking element only). Mainactivity rapid prototypes orrapid tooling was £16m.

Over the five types of toolmakingthe total number of toolmakersand support staff was 17,390.

If your company fits into any ofthe five categories (see left)please let GTMA know (mem-bers will automatically be con-tacted) by calling 0121 6016350 or email:[email protected]

www.gtma.co.uk

in the news... in the news... in the news... in the news...

4

Toolmaking Census 2011to raise profile of sectorGTMA is about to carry outthe first UK-wide census intoToolmaking for 10 years.Over 2,400 companies in thesector will be contacted overthe next few months to helpput together a complete pic-ture of the size and shape ofthe toolmaking industry.

It is the first census since 2001which also involved GTMA andwas part-funded by the then DTI(Department of Trade &Industry).

GTMA CEO Julia Moore saidthe data to be collected will helpthe organisation's efforts tounderline the needs of toolmak-ing and its importance withinBritain's manufacturing base. ”Itwill help raise our profile andbecause the questions are thesame as in 2001 will mean wecan show how the industry hasdeveloped.

“One of the difficulties we haveis that a lot of toolmaker data is

Get your CensusForms here

Census forms will be sent outwithin the next two weeks. If your company is involved inany aspect of toolmakingyour views will be welcome.

For the census form justemail [email protected] Subject 'Census' andyou will be put on the distri-bution list. Returned formswill be analysed with resultsplanned to be ready by theend of the year. All partici-pants will receive an emailedreport.

Delcam customerTower Tools has recentlycompleted its largest projectwith its Delcam manufactur-ing software, the tooling forthe cargo-door seal for thefreight version of the Boeing777.

The seal is three by threemetres square, and has a smalland variable cross-section.Like many of the company’sprojects, the moulds and theassociated checking fixturewere supplied to Meggitt

Polymers and Composites.

"When the Boeing representa-tive visited us, he seemed a littlenervous about having a relative-ly small company responsiblefor the tooling for such a criticalcomponent,” said Myles Ball,Managing Director at TowerTools.

“He was a lot happier when thefirst seal was delivered in 18weeks, six weeks earlier thanthe norm for a seal of that size.The seal fitted perfectly and

worked first time.” Tower Toolsspecialises in moulds for rubberproducts, in particular for aero-

space seals, and as well asMeggitt, other major customersare GKN and Trelleborg. It alsoworks in other transport sectorsand medical.

Tower first invested in Delcamsoftware in 1998 and todaywidely uses the PowerSHAPEdesign software.

"The flexibility of the software isimportant to us,” said Mr. Ball.“For some projects, we aresupplied with a fully-detailedCAD design of the seal so we

Delcam customer seals Boeing success

The seal mould for the Boeing 777 - itwas the largest produced by Tower Toolswith its Delcam software.

>>>

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:09 Page 4

3D measurement specialist Physical Digitalhelped to bring technologyto young minds recently,when it sponsored a visit byOlympic sled designers,Bromley Technology, to ajunior school in Surrey.

Children at Bushy Hill JuniorSchool in Guildford experiencedBromley’s Formula 1 IceRoadshow which spent the dayshowing enthusiastic Year 6pupils how important engineer-ing is to a complex sport likethe skeleton bob.

“To be able to bring the virtual

skeleton system to Guildford isa real coup,” said owner TimRapley of Physical Digital, whichsponsored the event. “I am verykeen on promoting engineeringas a career option and this isone of the reasons I wanted tobecome involved,” he said.

The children at Bushy Hill expe-rienced the skeleton bob at firsthand, using a unique simulatorthat allows them to lie on a sledand control its speed and direc-tion down a bobsled course.

For more information contactTim at Physical Digital on 07880703010.

...

5

in the news...

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Physical Digital promotes engineering

use PowerSHAPE just to createthe mould.

"At the other extreme, we canbe sent drawings of two adja-cent parts and are told to cre-ate something to fill the gapbetween them so we need todesign the seal from scratch.PowerSHAPE makes it veryeasy to make checking fixturesfrom the tool designs.

"The PowerMILL CAM systemalso gives us many benefits,not least the ability to machineundercuts in three-axis by usingspecial cutters,” he said. “The

flexibility of rubber meansundercuts are far more com-mon in rubber moulds than inthose for plastics.”

Delcam's support and helpdesk are also important, as arethe regular training days withup-dates on new developmentsand the latest design andmachining techniques.

More information from PeterDickin, Marketing Manager, on0121 683 1081 or Email: [email protected]

www.delcam.com

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:09 Page 5

Mastercam services: 4DEngineering has been trad-ing since 1990 and pridesitself on being solely dedi-cated to UK Mastercam dis-tribution, associated prod-ucts, sales and support.

Mastercam is the largest CAMsystem worldwide with over150,000 seats installed. It offerssolutions for designers and NCprogrammers across industry,including milling, turning, wireEDM, router programming,plasma cutting, lasers, and 3Ddesign and drafting.

Lately 4D has had great suc-cess with the new Mastercamintegrated Robotmaster 6 axisCAM system for robotic CNCmachining. Unlike other sys-tems which are generally ‘postprocessor only’ type robot CAMsystems, Robotmaster includesfull optimisation, with user con-trol over singularities, wrist flipsetc plus full simulation andclash detection. It is alreadyused with all the major manu-facturers including ABB,FANUC, KUKA, MOTOMAN,STAUBLI etc.

In addition, the integratedVerisurf product for inspection,measurement, verification etc., isgaining considerable interest as

one of the most powerful prod-ucts on the market at its price.

www.mastercam.co.uk

6

new members spotlight... new members spotlight...

4D Engineering / Mastercam

Premier Mould Services Phase VisionCompetitive Tooling: PremierMould Services (PMS) pro-vides high quality competi-tively priced tooling for theplastics industry, includingthe medical, automotive,defence, food and whitegoods sectors.

It achieves this through:

• Advanced ManufacturingTechnology

• Flexibility• Quality service and backup• Accuracy and reliability.

PMS Tooling’s design and tool-ing capabilities embrace in-house 3D design, project man-agement, product development,Stereo-lithography (SLA), tooltrial facility, and an experiencedCAD / CAM team.

Strong investment has beenmade for customer benefitincluding in its Hurco VMX 84-40T high speed milling machinewhich allows machining of largeplates and billets up to 2.1M x

1M x 1M using 3D data direct-ly from the CAD system. Thisincreases accuracy and elimi-nates program error. At thesame time the 4 axis AGIE sinkEDM, with 5 station toolchange, reduces lead timesand labour costs. It can run 24hours a day.

PMS provides tooling up to 15ton and offers single impressionPrototypes through to fullyhardened multi cavity hot run-ner production tooling.

www.stocktonmachine.co.uk

Unique benefits: Originallydeveloped for the mostdemanding conditions in theaerospace sector, PhaseVision pioneered the devel-opment of white-light 3Dscanners for the shopfloor,aircraft hangar, or dockyard.

The company’s products are 3Dmeasurement systems using anon-contact structured lightingtechnique and they bring sever-al unique advantages includingmeasurement of very largeobjects and 360° measurementof complex objects, at produc-tion line speeds.

The metrology industry has neg-lected the needs of larger free-form objects. Aeroplanes, cars,and energy turbines are all large– yet freeform metrology suppli-ers concentrated on small scan-ners. Not anymore. Quartzscanners have vast light outputand sophisticated algorithms topower larger measurement vol-umes, bringing breakthroughs inperformance and accuracy.

Newly launched for 2011, therotary table can be pro-grammed to turn through a setnumber of degrees betweenscans, enabling a complete all-round scan of the object to betaken in just a few minutes.

www.phasevision.com

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:09 Page 6

EDM Quality: Erodex (UK)Limited has for many yearsbeen at the forefront of theEDM industry with a policyof producing products of thehighest quality allied to firstclass service.

Its success is underlined by thequality of its graphites (it hasbeen the sole official stockistand distributor of Poco GraphiteInc and Toyo Tanso Limitedsince 1974) along with the

excellence of its "state-of-the-art" machine shop; with staff /operator training a priority.

The Erodex product and servic-es range includes EDM rawmaterial sales and a finished

electrode manufacturing serv-ice; metallurgical applicationssuch as con-cast dies and sin-tering tools; semi-conductortooling in both purified graphitesand silicon carbide; a first classcarbon brush manufacturingservice; a complete "mechani-cal" carbon service for bearings,seals, vanes and other productsand vacuum furnace carbonfibre insulation and furniture.

www.erodex.com

7


Erodex (UK) Limited

Casting Support Systems Ltd

High Gain Technology

Central Scanning Clear Currency Formation Prototypes Genisis Automation

New Members

Flexible Solutions: CastingSupport Systems Ltd aretoolmakers and injectionmoulders with a reputationin creating flexible solutions.

Formed to design and manu-facture tooling, on a sub-con-tract basis, for the investmentcasting and gas turbine indus-tries, it now designs and manu-factures tooling for its ownproduct range as well as for itsgrowing customer base.

CSS serves the Aerospace sec-tor amongst others and hasISO9001 and AS100 accredita-tion. Its services cover:

• Product Design• Tooling• Manufacture

It also has a full design service,from conceptual analysis to fin-ished product, with close work-ing relationships with leadinginternational companies. It isoften involved in design on dayone of a project, with its input

on tooling specification helpingto save volumes of work later.

Its investment in two highspeed VMC's and secondCAD/CAM suite in its tool roomhas reduced lead times andcosts while maintaining quality.CSS manufactures new, modi-fies and repairs tools for plasticinjection moulding, investmentcasting dies and compositetooling.

www.cssltd.info

Quality solutions: High GainTechnology is a leading sup-plier of high speed machin-ing solutions for internation-al metal cutting industries.

Founded in 1993, the compa-ny's success is based ondesigning, installing, servicingand maintaining a wide range ofproducts including high fre-quency spindles, minimalcoolant systems, roboticmachining, CNC rotary tables.It also offers a spindle recondi-tioning service.

High Gain focuses strongly oncustomer service with anapproach which understandsthat every busness is unique. Itclaims its and service is unri-valled in the UK and alwaysmakes the effort to visit cus-tomers to understand their pre-cise needs. The company offersa free site evaluation of compa-ny requirements.

More than 300 companies havebenefited from this innovativeapproach, cutting edge expert-ise and exemplary standards of

service, right across the indus-try spectrum from automotiveand plastics to toolmakers andaerospace.

www.highgaintechnology.co.uk

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:09 Page 7

Electrochemical machining:ECM Developments Ltd pro-vides a specialist electro-chemical machining capabil-ity to sectors including aero-space, automotive, defence,nuclear, oil and gas, andmedical.

Electrochemical Machining is arapid, cost-effective processthat eliminates heat andmechanical stress duringmachining. The ECM tool (cath-ode) is positioned close to the

work piece (anode) and a low-voltage, high-amperage directcurrent is passed between themvia an electrolyte flowingthrough the anode-cathodegap.

Material is removed by anodicdissolution. Two dimensionaltolerances can be held to±0.025 mm and three dimen-sional to ±0.050 mm. Surfacefinishes of 0.2 to 0.4 micronscan be produced in a singlepass.

Electrochemical machining canbe used as a metal removal orde-burring process on virtuallyany metal.

ECM Developments offers con-tract electrochemical machiningand manufacturing partner-ships, process innovation anddevelopment, application engi-neering and design and manu-facture of tooling and machiningsystems.

www.ecmdevelopments.co.uk

8


Tier 1 expertise: GtiCorporation is a Tier 1 sup-plier with a customer baseranging from nuclear appli-cations to off-highway vehi-cles and high performancecars. This gives it extensiveexperience in the qualityexpectations of differingindustrial sectors:

In the automotive industry itsexpertise embraces not onlytool design and manufacture,but also the design and manu-facture of complete

EPDM sealing systems.

Originally founded in 1967 as atool making specialist for themanufacture of rubber sealing, ithas grown organically to becomeone of the UK's best knowncompanies in its chosen field.

Its team of experienced anddedicated CAD/CAM designersand tool makers work with thelatest technologies to meet cus-tomer needs, and it has suc-cessfully completed major proj-ects for many 'blue chips'

including Aston Martin, AlfaRomeo, Bentley and Lotus aswell as numerous other manu-facturers.

Other services include productand tooling design, and proto-

typing of new products availablewithin 48 hours of receivingCAD data (see www.gtisyntec.com ).

www.gtiltd.com

ECM Developments

Gti Corporation

DE-STA-CO

Global solutions: DE-STA-COis a global provider of work-holding and automationproducts and services.

Innovations, quality, and acqui-sitions have made DE-STA-COthe world leader in the innova-tion, design, manufacture andsupport of clamping, gripping,transferring and robotic toolingsolutions for workplace and

flexible automation needs.

DE-STA-CO is committed tobeing a lean resource for itsglobal customers. In addition, itprovides ways to eliminate bot-tlenecks in manufacturingprocesses. Its application casestudies, which can be seen onits website, detail ways its prod-ucts and solutions have enabledits customers to be more pro-

ductive in the areas of assem-bly, machining, metal formingand stamping, moulding, weld-ing and woodworking.

Its products embrace clamps,indexers, hydraulic workholding,grippers, linear motion, electricdevices, robotic tooling, endeffector systems and vacuum.

Originally a Dover company, it

was founded in 1915, and by1936 had designed, patented,and manufactured the first man-ual toggle clamp. Its UK HQ isnow in Wolverhampton.

www.destaco.com

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:09 Page 8

A software-drivengauging system from GTMAmember Renishaw is offer-ing potential massive sav-ings to Cincinnati-basedaero-engine componentmanufacturer Meyer Tool onthe hard gauges it uses

Meyer was offered a pre-launchtrial by Renishaw on its newEquator system, a software-driven comparative gauge, andjust one system has eliminatedat least four costly hard gaugesin a new work cell. Hard gaugescan cost up to $20,000 each todesign, build and maintain, saidMeyer Tool's Quality ManagerBeau Easton.

With well over 100 hard gaugescosting $10-20,000 eachthroughout its facilities for in-process measurement, MeyerTool recognises the potentialcost advantages of a flexible,software-driven gauging system.

"We are still expanding ourknowledge and capabilities withthe Equator system, but havehigh expectations it will ulti-mately alleviate a large part ofour cost burden for hardgauges," said Easton.

For in-process dimensionalmeasurement, the companyprincipally relies on work-cell-based point-to-point contactgauges, using pneumatic digitalprobes. Hard gauges in themachining cell give very fastfeedback but are expensive.

Meyer's SPC Manager BridgetNolan said they immediately

recognised the potential ofRenishaw's Equator compara-tive gauge. "We got involvedwith Renishaw's introduction ofthe system and provided parts.Renishaw programmed them,and the results matched ourCoordinate Measuring Machine(CMM) results," says Nolan.

Though its appearance isunusual, the Equator systemuses the comparison method ofmastering and measuring famil-iar to anyone who uses dedicat-ed gauging systems. A mastercomponent with features ofknown dimensions is used to"zero" the system, with all sub-sequent measurements com-pared to this part.

The key to Equator is a highlyrepeatable and radically differentmetrology mechanism based ona parallel kinematic structure.This mechanism is lightweight,allowing rapid motion, yet verystiff and repeatable. The systemuses Renishaw touch and scan-ning probes, styli and stylus

change racks, and MODUSEquator programming software.

Cost-wise, three to five hardgauges in a Meyer Tool workcell can all be replaced by oneEquator – and the Equator canbe used for multiple parts,switching between them in sec-onds, as well as reprogrammedfor many other parts over its life.

The Equator system is currentlyassigned to a lean machiningcell in Meyer Tool's shop.Demonstrating its adaptability, itintegrates with Meyer's OrionSPC system.

The parts must meet tolerancesof ±0.001 to ±0.003 inches.Inspection time varies with thepart but typically takes two tosix minutes, well within theTAKT time of the cell so thesystem easily keeps pace withmachining operations.

"We already gauge five partnumbers for two differentengine programs, so we have

multiple fixturing tiles for theEquator setup and qualified,"Nolan said.

The Equator measurements atMeyer Tool are correlated withthose from a CMM, using aCMM-calibrated master part."The master part sets the val-ues the Equator expects to findinside its measuring envelopewhile the software automaticallyapplies the compensation val-ues from nominal taken by theCMM. It must check within 10percent of allowable tolerancefrom nominal," Nolan explains.

There is no need to re-masteron every part change, Meyerhave decided to re-master on a3-hour schedule to compensatefor changes in the plant's tem-perature. "The Equator systemmemorizes the master partsand validation scores, so wecan switch parts as many timesas needed during the 3-hourwindow, and not have to re-master," Nolan says.

Meyer Tool is a leading U.S.-based producer of hot-sectionjet engine components for aero-space OEMs, employing morethan 1000 at ten locations. With nearly 500 fast-hole EDMdrillers, Meyer Tool is the NorthAmerica’s largest EDM-basedmanufacturer. These machinesare supplemented by 45 grind-ing stations, 300 plus conven-tional ram EDMs, plus CNC 3-and 5-axis machining. Thecompany EDM-drills more than1.75 million holes a day.

www.renishaw/gauging

9


Aero company trials Renishaw's new system Major cost savings with “soft” solution

>>>

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:13 Page 9

Carbon footprinting isbecoming increasinglyimportant in manufacturing,with more and more OEMsnow charging suppliers withthe task of footprinting thecomponents they supply andidentifying areas forimprovement.

Among major presentatations atthe event was that of Dr PhilReeves, MD of Econolyst, aspecialist company operating inthe area. This report highlightedthe importance of the initial

product design in meetingtoday's low carbon needs.

Econolyst is three years into theAtkins Project, a 4-year rapidmanufacturing, low carbon foot-print initiative to evaluate howdesign, manufacturing processchoice and supply chain config-uration impact on life-cycle sustainability.

Also in the £3.9 million projectare Delphi, Boeing, MCPTooling Technologies, Alcon,Virgin Atlantic, Bentley and

Loughborough University.Dr Reeves told the EmergingTechnologies delegates thatcarbon footprints and widermeasures of sustainability areintrinsically linked to cost acrossthe supply chain and beyond.

One example he used was theuse of Additive LayerManufacturing to reduce weightin components. This can have amassive knock-on effect onCO2 emissions – particularly insectors such as aerospace.Here a saving of 1kg in the

10

technology... technology... technology... technology...

GTMA members again showed they are embracing the cru-cial part new and emerging technologies plays in all industrysectors at the 2011 Emerging Technologies event held atDelcam's Birmingham premises.

More than 100 delegates and participants were there to hear aseries of presentations and to have the opportunity to meet face toface with member companies manning technology Hot Desks, andto quiz them on future opportunities and trends.

The presentations were an outstanding feature of the day – and theline-up was a mixture of GTMA companies and external specialists,many with global credentials.

They included updates on key topics of the era including reallyrapid manufacturing for composites (Ajay Kapadia from TWI) andon the importance of actions to reduce carbon footprints in wholeproduct life-cycles (Dr Phil Reeves from Econolyst). Mark Limage ofMunro Associates covered 'Techniques to Enhance Profitability'.

GTMA member presentations were by Alicona (optical measure-ment of micro-manufactured parts) CRDM and EOL (ALMadvances in injection mould tooling), Huntsman Advanced Materials(composites and other innovative materials for the 'U-Box' electricalconcept car) and Roemheld (The future of workholding). RogerOnions, GTMA Business Development Director, gave an update on

the Flexform EU-funded project on incremental sheet metal forming.

GTMA CEO Julia Moore welcomed the diversity of the presenta-tions and the Hot Desks. “One of the things that really pleased mewas that the event underlined one of the reasons why so many inindustry are now coming back to Britain for their tooling.

“We have our Roadshow event (see page 17) in May which under-lines how many companies who once went to the Far Eastbecause of a perceived price advantage are now Bringing it Backto Britain. The way British companies are often in the vanguard ofnew and emerging technologies is hugely important in convincingcompanies to use UK-based suppliers.

“Our emerging technology presentations and Hot Desks showed arange of very important developments being pursued by our mem-bers – either in the products or services they are offering or in thetechnologies they are using in production.”

www.gtma.co.uk [email protected]

How to meet buyer demands on carbon…Product design - one of the keys to winning

Technologies that back Britain

How to save $13.5 million

EADS, the aerospace giantthat owns Airbus, has saidthat each 1kg weight reduc-tion saves $3000 in fuel ayear, which equates to$90,000 over the aircraft's30-year lifespan.

If 1,000 components aremade 0.15 kg lighter it cantake 150kg off the weight ofeach aircraft, bringing $13.5million in fuel savings.

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 4/5/11 09:20 Page 10

weight of a component cansave $3000 of fuel a year, or$90,000 over the 30-year lifespan of a plane (see panel).

The bottom line is that environ-mental sustainability leads toeconomic sustainability.

The carbon impact can beanalysed by looking in detail atthe whole life-cycle of a productand component. In consumergoods this means looking atRaw Materials, Manufacture,Distribution/Retail, ConsumerUse, Disposal/Recycling.

Design engineers have a key roleto play in keeping the carbonfootprint down. “Design changeshave a huge impact on whole lifecarbon footprint,” he said.

To underline the point he usedthe example of a brass buckleon a leather briefcase, showingthat even using brass (ie copper+ zinc + lead) was generatingCO2 – with three lots of materi-als processing and transporta-tion emissions.

Supply chains, he said, arecomplex beasts – for the brief-case there was involved materi-als including brass, steel, wood,hide, chemicals, tanning, leathercutting, buckle assembly, bagassembly, distribution etc etc.“But what if I make a designchange?” he asked. In hisexample he showed:

Brass buckle – Materials:wood, leather, brass; Source:multiple, global; Manufacture:

Manual assembly; Raw materialweight: 10kg; Product weight:5kg.

Non-brass – Material:Polypropylene; Source: Single;Manufacture: Rotational mould-ing; Raw material weight: 2.2g;Product weight: 2kg.

Design decisions impact in twoways. First it affects our materi-al, process and supplies choice;second it affects our productsand their lifetime application.

“We need to know the impact ifwe are to drive down carbon anddrive down cost. You can'timprove what you can't measure.”

The Atkins project has led to an'enlighten-toolkit' now being

commercialised. This is a web-based software applicationwhich, among other things,analyses raw material con-sumption, calculates embodiedenergy and carbon footprint,evaluates supply chain trans-portation and part impact onapplication life-cycle, and analy-sises of waste and recycling.

His presentation also coveredthe use of ALM – additive layermanufacturing – in the produc-tion of a monitor arm used in anaircraft. ALM builds up objectsby melting powdered plastic ormetal together in a series of lay-ers. The end product can be upto 65% lighter than one madeby traditional methods.

The weight saving was 0.5kgper arm giving life span savingsof $6.5-9,000 fuel savings.

• The Enlighten team are seek-ing potential users to help testits functionality. These includedesigners, engineers, supplychain and sustainability profes-sionals.

If you would like to take partplease register your interest atwww.enlighten-toolkit.co.uk oremail [email protected]

11


Supply chains can be complex beasts,the Emerging Technology delegates weretold. This illustration, left, shows theimpact of using a brass buckle on aleather briefcase – starting with eight dif-ferent raw materials, and the consequen-tial knock on effects of transportationsand processing.

All of this adds to the carbon footprint ofthe product and much of it could havebeen designed out during initial productdesign.

Analysing what happens throughout prod-uct life-cycle, right through to disposal, isthe way to meet carbon targets being setincreasingly by OEMs.

Our other illustration shows the impactmanufacturing processes can have onproduct weight and, ultimately, on thecost of transportation.

Raw materials Manufacture Distribution/retail Consumer use Disposal/recycling

Process Part Weight Raw Materials Manufacture Distribution Usage Life cyclekg kg CO2 kg CO2 kg CO2 kg CO2 kg CO2

Original machined part 2.32 748 7 23 127,368 128,147

Optimised structure for SLM 1.41 126 35 8 77,438 77,607

Latticed structure for SLM 0.80 72 20 5 43,954 44,051

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:13 Page 11

12


Brian Kyte, Director, Alicona UK Ltd

Brian’s presentation at theEmerging Technologies eventlooked at the ongoing miniaturi-sation of components inresearch and industry whichrequires new 3D-measurement

technologies to verify dimen-sional accuracy of producedparts. Traditional methods alloweither only the measurement ofsingle surface profiles (tactiledevices), the measurement ofrather flat samples (white lightinterferometry) or the measure-ment of either roughness or

form. Brian's paper prsented anew technology for the com-plete 3D-measurement of com-plex micro components at highresolution allowing both formand roughness measurements.By using an optional rotationunit the system can measuresurfaces not only from one

direction but around 360°. Thesystem capabilitieswere shown on different appli-cations including form androughness measurements oftooth implants.

www.alicona.com

Optical Measurement of Micro Manufactured Parts

The presentations: from composite applications to True Design®

The Future of Workholding is hereBill Neal, MD, Roemheld UK Ltd

The future and innovations for2011 were outlined in this pres-entation with regards to work-holding including magneticclamping, green innovationsand some case studies. Bill,who moved to Roemheld 15

years ago as Sales & MarketingManager and became MD in1998, covered areas includingnew flexible clamping elements,with generous tolerances andsystems that can easily handlethermal expansion up to +-1,5mm through to the greentechnology of a new electricswing clamp which has high

clamping forces and low volt-age (24v). Delegates heardabout up-to-date 5-Axis ViceTechnology, including a new selfcentring vice whose featuresinclude aluminium base, alu-minium soft jaws, steel bedrails, capacity 100mm openingper jaw, fully sealed lead screwand is light weight; as well as

the new KC 100 5 axis vicewhich is suitable for machinedand unmachined parts and issuitable for Zero point systemsand has capacity of 6 to 204mm.

www.roemheld.co.uk

Really Rapid Manufacturing for Composites – An Introduction to Project ADCOMPAjay Kapadia, TWI Ltd and ProgrammeDirector of the NationalComposites Network

Ajay's presentation covered thevision of ADCOMP which is tocreate a cluster of excellence in

the West Midlands to developand sell world-class thermo-plastic composite parts. Thisdemonstrator project forms thefirst step, with primary targetsectors of aerospace and trans-port but also significant rele-vance to construction, rail and

medical. The project will devel-op new and optimised process-es for the affordable and rapidforming of high performancethermoplastic composites. Itwill enable manufacturers toselect appropriate materials,define optimised processing

conditions, and provide CADpackages, which together willallow the development of com-petitive sub-assemblies.

www.twi.co.ukwww.ncn-uk.co.uk

Pictures, from (left to right) courtesy of Roemheld, Alicona UK and Huntsman – the three GTMA companies

highlighted different breakthroughs in their papers.

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:13 Page 12

Stewart Thompson, Huntsman Advanced Materials

Huntsman Advanced Materialsdecided to involve its technicalcapabilities in an innovativeproject that showcases thepossibilities of building an elec-trical concept car – the ‘U-Box’- using environmentally sustain-able components or processes.While using advanced materialsfrom its Araldite® branded port-folio, Huntsman also researched

and developed new, sustainableproducts to use wherever pos-sible during construction of the‘U-Box’. Stewart's presenta-tion was a journey through theU-Box’s birth story, coveringhow innovative materials werepresent all along the differentsteps of the U-Box, includingthe preparation of the mouldswith Seamless Modelling pastesor boards. Also see page 37.

www.huntsman.com

13


Techniques to Enhance ProfitabilityMark Limage, MD, Munro Associates (UK) Ltd

With more than 15 years ofhands-on automotive pro-gramme management and vehi-cle engineering experience, thefocus of Mark's presentation

was on how to maximise profiton every sale. The process, hesaid, starts at the design stagewhere innovative thinking will goa long way.

The profit is in the design! Hecovered some of the techniques

and tools for success andstressed the importance ofidentifying waste during designto minimise costs and raiseprofitability. True LeanManufacture cannot happenwithout a True Design ® . Thisall starts with changing the

mindset of the engineer – see-ing and thinking differentlyabout the outcome of the prod-uct design process is theessential key to success.

www.leandesign.com

Incremental Sheet Metal FormingRoger Onions, GTMA Business DevelopmentDirector

Roger's presentation includedan overview of the 3-year EU-funded Flexform project whichresulted in breakthroughs inincremental sheet metal form-ing, which are already beingviewed with great interest byOEMs and Tier 1s in aerospace,automotive and other sectors.Flexform involved partners fromSpain, Germany, Slovenia,

France and the UK, and wascompleted in December 2009.Its aims were to change existingrigid and manual manufacturingprocess to a flexible process bydeveloping an automated andcomputer aided processdesign; and to open new mar-kets to stamping tool manufac-turers by offering improvedservices such as prototypeparts in a very early stage of aproject.

www.gtma.co.uk

Composite Applications - the “U-Box” Electrical Concept car

HOT DESKS

These GTMA membersmanned hot desks at Delcamwith advice on new andemerging technologies:

Blum Novotest Limited Delcam UK Europac 3Dimensional Electro Optical Systems

ES Technology Faro UK Foregone Solutions Mastercam / Verisurf Nikon Metrology Phase Vision Ltd Prospec Systems Limited Roemheld UK Limited SGS Carbide Tool (UK) Ltd Solartron Metrology Ltd

Also in the line-up....

There were also presentations on ways of reducing product carbonfootprints (see page 10) and on the Advantages of Using AdditiveLayer Manufactured Inserts, which is included in the Bringing itBack to Britain feature starting on Page 19. This was by GrahamBennett of GTMA members CRDM and Stuart Jackson of EOS.

Stainless Steels and Titanium are both prone to galling and seizing. WS2 is a very low friction dry lubricant surface treatment,developed by NASA for use in deep space, and has been shown toprovide a very cost effective solution preventing both problems onthreads and other sliding surfaces. WS2 works well from -273° to450° C and down to 10-14 Torr. WS2 has also been applied to bearings and gears to extend life.

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:13 Page 13

14


High Speed Machining for Machines and Robots

Complete robotic machining

systems for styling and

sculpturing studios supplied

by QDesign from Pisa

and High Gain Technology

Peron Speed spindle

running at 24000 rpm for cutting steel

or aluminium mould tools on an

Anayak CNC. One of many UK

applications with complete

system supply by High Gain Technology

For all your High Speed and Robotic Machining needs contact

High Gain TechnologyE: [email protected]

M: 07861 233930Web: www.highgaintechnology.co.uk

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:13 Page 14

Verisurf has launchedthe 5th generation of itsVerisurf X software which itdemonstrated at the Controlinternational trade fair inStuttgart in May.

With Model-Based GD&TInspection technology at itscore, the all-new computer-aided inspection and reverseengineering software inspectsparts faster and more accurate-ly without any need for 2Ddrawings.

Verisurf Model-Based GD&Tdata can be:

• Imported from or created onvirtually any 3D CAD/CAMmodel

• Inspected manually or as

part of an automated inspection process

• Reported on in a variety ofindustry formats.

“The new X5 is loaded withinnovative features that greatlyexpand the capability of metrol-ogy devices, yet this is just thetip of the iceberg,” said VerisurfPresident, Ernie Husted.

“No other inspection softwareimplements GD&T inspectiontechnology to our level.

“It lets engineers say goodbyeto 2D drawings and all of theadditional time, money andinconsistencies that go withthem.”

www.verisurf.com

The latest GTMAExecutive Briefing coveringManufacturing Sectors'Automotive, Rail andMarine' was published earli-er this year.

This quality 60-page publicationcarries up-to-date informationon the three sectors – collec-tively known as the ARM sec-tors – including supply chainneeds and actions being takenby GTMA and its members tomeet those needs.

The popular Business Zonearea covers 15 pages and aswell as comprehensive informa-tion and contacts on auto, railand marine has, for the firsttime, a dedicated MetrologyZone where measurementissues impacting across indus-try are covered. There is also a

full A-Z of GTMA metrologymembers with tel, email, web-sites and services/products.

The ARM Briefing is the third inthe series. The others coveredAerospace and Medical. Thenext will cover Energy, includingrenewables, nuclear, wind etc.

For free copies please email:[email protected]

15


Agentdraw supportsyoung British designers

GTMA memberAgentdraw has created aplatform for young Britishdesign talent to demonstratetheir skill and innovation.

It has set up the AgentdrawYoung Product Designer Awardto be presented at the PlasticsIndustry Awards at London'sPark Lane Hilton Hotel inOctober.

Open to anyone up to 25 years(students, employees or unem-ployed) the winner couldsee theirproduct made and marketed.

The entrants need to have theskills to complete the full designprocess including conceptdesign, market research, designdevelopment, CAD design,technical design, material speci-fication, and production readymanufacturing data.

The object is to design a useful,original, non-electronic productwhich must be no bigger than400mm x 400mm x 400mm. Itmust be commercial and have amass market in the retail orindustrial sectors. The product,ideally but not exclusively,

should use plastic parts.

The judging panel will includehigh profile designers andAgentdraw management who willselect designs to go on a specificcompetition page of Agentdraw'swebsite where the public canvote for the best designs.

The three product finalists in2010 were the Orana, a smallhandheld device for peelingoranges and bananas; theDynamic Chair, with a mouldeddesign that eases back pain; andVegetool, a garden multi-tool.

Agentdraw is an injection moul-der “and much more”. Thecompany recently launched anew fixed price CAD designpackage to help small busi-nesses.

www.agentdraw.co.uk

>>>

>>>>>>

ARM Briefingis published

New Verisurf software eliminatesneed for 2D Drawings

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:13 Page 15

GTMA memberBowers Metrology is supply-ing measurement equipmentwhich is being used in theproduction of the 2011Formula 1 Team LotusRacing car.

Team Lotus production and raceteams are housed in an impres-sive 50,000 square foot, high-tech facility in Hingham, Norfolk. Among other features it has:

• A machine shop withadvanced CNC mills andlathes, machining centres andsupport equipment.

• An advanced compositesfunction with two modernautoclaves, one large enoughto accommodate the largestof F1 carbon components

• A large pattern shop, includ-ing 5-axis router, and animpressive clean room for

laminating key car parts. In addition, a modern qualityand inspection departmentcomprehensively equipped withhi-tech inspection and testingequipment opens out onto therace shop where cars are built,re-built and prepared for racing.

Formula 1 is an industry wherethe accuracy of machined partscan translate into the milli-seconds that can mean the dif-ference between success andfailure.

It was for this critical area of the

operation that Team LotusQuality Manager, JeremyGalimore, purchased a range ofUltima bore gauges fromBowers Metrology. He neededan ultra precise range of boregauges to enable the scrupu-lous dimensional inspection ofthe crucial bores located onvital Team Lotus components.

The class-leading Ultima rangeis able to very accurately meas-ure bore sizes from 1 – 300mm, with a choice of resolu-tions up to 0.0001 mm. It isBowers’ most accurate bore

gauging system with a simplelever operation and a constantmeasuring force. Now in regular use in the busyTeam Lotus Inspection depart-ment, they have been highlypraised. Jeremy Galimore saidthat while high quality physicalmeasuring instruments arereadily available for very accu-rate external measuring tasks,

”the choice of very preciseinternal measuring devices,capable of bore diameter meas-urement, is somewhat limited.

“The Bowers instruments havebeen able to match our accura-cy needs, thanks largely to their use of advanced transduc-er technology. Although wegenerally use the gauges in amicron display mode, occasionally we also make useof their sub-micron capability,”he said.

www.bowers.co.uk


16

>>>

Bowers Metrology wins vote of confidence

Advertise the fact: Proto Labs delivers...Telford based Proto

Labs is the manufacturingbrains behind an unseen rev-olution in the outdoor adver-tising industry. The compa-ny’s two rapid prototypingoperations, Protomold andFirstcut, helped Londonbased Urban Storm todesign and manufacture afaster, easier and moresecure system for hangingand securing large-scalegraphics, outdoors.

The technology has trans-formed the traditional paper andpaste billboards – even to thepoint of eliminating the need forladders, to meet new healthand safety rules.

Urban Force is one of the lead-ing UK operators in the sector,founded by MD Sam Cook in2000 to develop and manufac-ture such systems. “Anythingbigger than a bus shelter dis-play and it can probably be heldin place by an Urban Stormsystem,” he says.

Proto Labs was called in bySam when he needed proto-types of the new system afterinitial design, which requires acam-like clip to provide the nec-essary grip. He was impressedboth by Proto Labs speed (hehad anticipated waiting weeks,not days) for the prototype andthe fact they used actual pro-duction materials.

To meet minimum UK wind reg-ulations each clip had to with-stand a force of 90kg. “We’dtest a prototype clip for loadingand if it didn’t meet the stan-dard, we’d adjust the designand have Firstcut make another.

”We were able to develop ourideas at such a rapid rate! Thewhole process of getting thefinal system prototype only tookabout 2 months from start tofinish.”

Proto Labs’ sister service,Protomold, were used for theinjection-moulded productionversion of the clip. “We need-ed 35,000 of each of two, sep-arate parts. And, we needed

them quickly.” Protomold deliv-ered as required.

The result of Sam's work withFirstcut and Protomold gavebirth to a whole new posterhanging system calledStormflex™, part of theEcoStorm™ range now beingused across the UK.

www.protolabs.co.uk

>>>

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:13 Page 16

Roemheld is offeringcustomers who buy from its5-Axis vices or Zero PointMounting ranges cutting toolvouchers worth up to £500.

The GTMA member joined forceswith major cutting tool brands,including Iscar and Seco, to offerthis workholding promotion. Thevalue of the vouchers available toend users will depend on thetotal order value.

Bill Neal, Roemheld (UK) LtdMD, said the vouchers are aneasy way for customers to addtools they need to their machin-ing centres – and there is no

rush for end users to decide onthe tooling required at the timeof purchase as the vouchers arevalid until the end of the year.

The vouchers are available ontwo of the most popularRoemheld workholding ranges:the advanced Hilma 5-Axis vicesystems can hold rigidly andsafely on just 3mm while per-forming to tight tolerances andhigh repeatability; and the StarkZero Point Mounting range revolutionises set-up times andkeeps downtime to a minimum.

Call 0121 453 1414 for moreinformation on the offer and

Roemheld's range of workhold-ing solutions or visit the website.

17

in the news... in the news... in the news... in the news......

>>>

Roemheld's £500 cutting tools offer

www.roemheld.co.uk/vouchers

FARO Technologies,Inc. (NASDAQ: FARO), theworld’s leading provider ofportable measurement andimaging solutions, haslaunched the FARO Edge,the most advanced, state-of-the-art FaroArm ever pro-duced.

The FARO Edge is a portablemeasurement arm that allowsmanufacturers to easily verifytheir product quality by per-forming inspections, tool certifi-cations, CAD-to-part analysis,and reverse engineering.

Faro says this latest generationof the FaroArm product linecontinues to eclipse competi-tive models in every category. Itimproves production, quality,and reverse engineeringprocesses by rapidly verifying orscanning parts with confidenceand accuracy. The new arm also simplifies the

user experience with improvedperformance, portability, reliabil-ity and features that includethe first ever integrated person-al measurement assistant. Withits built-in touchscreen and on-board operating system, theEdge revolutionises portablemetrology by providing stand-alone basic measurementcapability.

A laptop is no longer needed toperform quick and simpledimensional checks, or to opti-mise system performance withit’s on board diagnostic rou-tines.

Additional industry-leadingareas of improvement andcapability include:

• Enhanced Connectivity –Bluetooth, WiFi, USB, andEthernet ready. Multipledevice management throughnetworking.

• Smart Sensor Technology –Improved sensors warnagainst excessive externalloads, detect thermal varia-tions and possible setupproblems.

• Ergonomics – Improvedweight distribution and bal-ance for reduced strain andease-of-use.

• Multi-Function Handle Port– Seamless and interchange-

able accessory integration,Quick-change handle,Expandable capability.

“Everything about the Edgewas designed from the groundup to boost productivity anddeliver the best performance ina portable arm CMM,” saidOrlando Perez, ProductManager, FaroArm. More i

http://measuring-arms.faro.com.

Introducing the FARO Edge – A new dimensionto measurement arms>>>

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:25 Page 17

For more details please contact,

Dr Richard Wylde Managing [email protected]

Michael Clack Works [email protected]

Trevor Walker Scientific Instrumentation [email protected]

Simon Duke Technical [email protected]

Station MillsBillingshurstWest SussexRH14 9SH

01403 782045 Phone01403 785464 Faxwww.terahertz.co.uk

The origins of Thomas Keating go back to the 1780swhen the company was set up to produce flea powderand cough lozenges. It has re-invented itself a numberof times during the last 230 years. In the recent past itmade checking gauges for Hurricanes, press tools formechanical telephone exchanges and Timex watchparts as well as high volume injection moulds foraerosol valves.

In 2009 £1.5M was spent replacing a 1920’s building with amodern structure, providing lower energy consumption,

improved ceiling height, Gigabite wiring for data transfer andan excellent working environment for the 35 staff employed.

This purpose built structure maintains the businesses obses-sion with accuracy by providing, two purpose built tempera-ture controlled rooms containing 3 CNC and 3 ManualMoore jig grinders, an AGIE wire, 3 AGIE CNC and 2 manual sink erosion machines as well as housing a calibrat-ed Hexagon Co-ordinate measuring machine.

The new building has not stopped a continuous wave ofinvestment in the business: In 2010 a Moore 1050 jiggrinder was upgraded with new drives and a Fanuc controller plus a Doosan Puma 2600Y 4 axis lathe was purchased from Mills CNC. Currently underway in the US isthe rebuilding of an 8400 Moore jig grinder with Fagor con-troller and Z axis control to allow contouring in Z or standardreciprocation. In parallel with this – and equally important –the business maintains a continuous effort to update itscomputing infrastructure. The use of Pro/Engineer CAD andEdgeCAM software allows the efficient importation andmachining of Customer’s components.

The ISO 9001-2008 Part 1 approved business is proud tooffer a full press tool and mould-making package fromreceipt of component drawing through tool design, manufacture and tool trialing. Our customers – both UKand overseas – include businesses which make medicaldevices, aerosol valves, stem and actuator tooling, paintand rigid food containers, hearing aids as well as aero-space parts. In addition to the full toolmaking service the company also offers sub-contract jig grinding, milling,turning and grinding.

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:25 Page 18

19

British manufacturers

fight back 21

Open book on 1000mph

supersonic car 22-23

Pitfalls in China 22

A-Z of GTMA expertise 23

Vericut upgrades 24-25

Bropel adds advantage 25

Thomas Keating's strength 25


helps take it OUT 26

CRDM/EOS do it

with technologies 26

Inside Bringing it Back to Britain

Bringing it Back to Britain

ExcellenceBringing it Back to Britain is a

roadshow initiative by the GTMA

which celebrates UK manufactur-

ing excellence.

ReliabilityIt underlines how buyers are

returning to UK suppliers after

finding some overseas suppliers

badly lacking.

TrustThe message is that technological

excellence, lower carbon foot-

prints, better materials, reliability in

quality and, above all else, Trust

are again winning for Britain.

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:25 Page 19

Coordinate Measuring MachineSERVICE and CALIBRATION

che Coordinate Metrology offer GTMA members full support when existing CMM controllers or software need upgrading

The latest range of controllers fitted byche ensures that for the fist time the end user has freedom of choice whenconsidering software and service

The controller software can also be usedto create an electronic error map to finetune small positioning errors.

Full range of services offered:

Complete repair and re-piping service where parts are still available

Calibration to ISO 10360-2 standard with UKAS Calibration Certificate

Wide range of 2nd user machines, plus latest CNC or Manual software

Carl Zeiss approved for retrofits/upgrades on non-Zeiss CMM'sRenishaw approved distributor for CMM products

For further information contact che Coordinate Metrologyon 01527 558255 or email: [email protected]

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:25 Page 20

The first ever 'Bringing it Back toBritain' Roadshow is an event whichcelebrates UK manufacturing prowessand marks another important fightback against the loss of manufacturingoverseas.

Organised by the GTMA and being held aswe go to Press, the Roadshow could notcome at a better time – with a trend overthe last year being for large OEMs toreconsider their policies with regards tooutsourcing.

Companies have reported work returning tothe UK which previously would have beenplaced in low cost economies.

This exciting reversal of business strategy isin the wake of the cost implications of proj-ect managing overseas production and thebenefits of British engineering expertise.

The reality is that many companies whohad been attracted by headline figureswhich indicated they could make substan-tial cost savings by placing tooling (andother manufacturing processes) overseashave been hard hit by a string of hiddencosts, poor quality, delivery delays, pay-ment problems and other issues.

Now, companies in the supply chains ofOEMs and Tier 1s are facing tough ques-tions about the carbon footprints of thecomponents they supply, and of all thesuppliers in the supply chain.

Long transportation routes from the FarEast to the UK, with their inevitable addedCO2 emissions, are only part of the equa-tion – so too are the environmental prac-tices of companies being used in China orother Far East nations.

This issue of Carbon footprints was cov-ered in detail at the GTMA's EmergingTechnologies event in March (see pages

10-13) which was told how a supply chainis like a beast and where an analysis ofproduct life-cycles shows the impact ofusing suppliers in far off places. It alsounderlined how new manufacturing tech-niques which reduce weight in componentsis another way of impacting on carbon andhow clever design engineering at the prod-uct design stage is absolutely critical.

“No-one needs telling that the UK hassome of the most talented design engi-neers on the planet,” says GTMA CEO JuliaMoore. “But they are just a part of the total

package of reasons to use UK-based man-ufacturers and suppliers.

“The Bringing it Back to Britain event is thefirst real opportunity there has been for thesector to really shout about the benefits ofmaking it in the UK. We are not just sayinguse us because we are here; we are sayinguse us because in many many areas anddisciplines we are the best.”

www.gtma.co.ukEmail: [email protected]

21

Bringing it Back to Britain... Bringing it Back to Britain...

British manufacturing fights backOverseas suppliers are more expensive than you think

The impressive venue for the event isthe Mazak Worcester plant (above) –one of the most complete and up todate machine tool manufacturingplants in Europe, and from whereover 85% of tproduction is exportedinto continental Europe

It is not just an assembly plant but acomplete machine tool manufacturingplant operating just-in-time and flexibleoutput techniques necessary in today’scompetitive global marketplace

The new European Technical Centre ofGTMA member Yamazaki Mazak is on thesame Worcester site and , with the latestinnovations in high performance machin-ing technology on display together underone roof, Mazak is able to help Europeanand UK manufacturers achieve significantproductivity and profitability increases.

A tour of the facility was being offered todelegates and attendees at the event.

www.mazak.eu

Mazak venue is European leader

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:25 Page 21

With an eye on the future one of theheadline speakers at the Bringing itBack to Britain event is Tony Parraman,Head of Sponsor Liaison on theBLOODHOUND project, an internation-al initiative focussed around a 1,000mph World Land Speed Recordattempt.

Project Leader for the attempt is RichardNoble OBE, who was propelled to worldacclaim in 2000 when he became the firstto ever break the sound barrier on land inThrust SSC (supersonic car), at 763.035mph.

The core aim of BLOODHOUND is to inspireyoung people to pursue careers in Science,Technology, Engineering and Mathematics(STEM subjects) by showcasing these sub-jects in the most exciting way possible.Cutting-edge high technology projects of this

calibre are usually shrouded in secrecy, but akey aspect of the BLOODHOUND mission isthe aim of sharing the adventure – and data– with the biggest audience possible.

In the UK that has meant the design draw-

ings being distributed to over 4,500schools and colleges across the UK, wherethey can be accessed by over 1.5m stu-dents. They have also gone to fans andenthusiasts in the 207 countries around theworld. They are also available on-line

22


Open book on the Bloodhound1000 mph supersonic car Downloadable design drawings available on-line

The Financial Times, in an article on China suppliers, hashighlighted a string of potential problems and difficultiesfaced by companies who place sourcing there. GTMA isgrateful to the FT for permission to reproduce the list.

Hidden costs While Chinese prices may appear lower, there areextra costs such as shipping, management time and additionalwork needed in the UK.

Rising prices Labour costs for skilled staff are increasing in China.

Length of supply chain Delivery of heavier items from Chinatakes weeks, reducing flexibility and requiring larger stocks to beheld in the UK.

Climate change Customers increasingly want components

with lower carbon footprints than products made in China and shipped to Europe.

Quality control Bad workmanship and the poor quality of materials used to make mould tools in China require remedialwork in the UK.

Order size Chinese companies no longer interested in smallerorders as their costs rise.

Payment Chinese companies require payment before tools aredelivered and tested – UK toolmakers will only expect paymentafter testing, and sometimes after production has started.

This article originally appeared in 2008, and since then manycompanies have moved back to Britain having found out the hardway of the realities.

Pitfalls of manufacturing tools in China

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 4/5/11 09:28 Page 22

through the Bloodhound link below.Many are calling the project the greatestever, land-based engineering challenge andBloodhound SSC will be driven by the cur-rent World Land Speed Record holder,Andy Green OBE. The 1000 mph attemptis scheduled for the summer.A complex combination of jet, rocket andpiston-engined power is employed in the12.8m, 6,400kg Bloodhound SSC in thequest for the ultimate goal.

The heart of the hybrid vehicle combines acomposite monocoque driver cell, mated toa rear space frame, into which is installed thepetrol, jet and rocket motors, with fully-auto-mated self-levelling suspension and solid,900mm diameter wheels, front and rear.

“Bloodhound is the ultimate environment inwhich to share R&D and knowledge at thevery pinnacle of technology. I have no doubtit will significantly benefit the future develop-ment of our products and, as a conse-quence, those of our existing and future cus-tomers and beyond,” says Richard Noble.

The downloadable 3D design drawings, thatmake up the car’s genetics, are the result ofan incredible 30 man-years of cutting-edgeresearch and world-beating design work.Comprised of 4,000 individually-designed

components, you can deconstruct the CADmodel layer by layer, rotate on all axes andzoom in and out, using professional engi-neering software from Siemens.

The drawings allow viewers to explore theremarkable engineering that allowsBLOODHOUND SSC to accelerate from 0 -1050 mph and back in just 100 secondsand safely handle the phenomenal forcesand loads acting upon it.

These include the 47,000 lbs thrust (equiv-

23


Pictured, opposite, the Cosworth CA2010F1 race engine alongside the full sizeBLOODHOUND SSC Show Car, and (left)the front view of the supersonic car which isset to attempt a record-breaking 1000 mphland speed record this summer. Image origi-nation, including those on Page 17 and FrontCover, courtesy Curventa and Siemens.

alent to 133,000 thp) generated by its jetand rocket engines; 30 tonne suspensionloadings; air pressures on the bodywork ofup to 10 tonnes per square metre; the airbrakes each exert 2.2 tonnes as they open;solid aluminium wheels alone weigh 90 kgeach and will be spinning at 10,200 rpm,generating 50,000 radial g at the rim.

The prime objective of the Project is to cre-ate an unprecedented education andengagement programme, led by a dedicat-ed team of teachers and education special-ists. From innovative, curriculum-based les-son plans covering subjects ranging fromgeography to citizenship, as well as sci-ence, technology, engineering and mathe-matics, to a schools visitor centre featuringthe ‘classroom of the future’ at the team’sHQ in Filton, Bristol, the aim is to makeBLOODHOUND SSC accessible to all agesfrom 5 – 19 and beyond.

www.bloodhoundssc.com

4D Engineering (Mastercam) www.mastercam.co.ukATS UKwww.atsuk.comBauromatwww.bauromat.co.ukBK Toolingwww.bktooling.co.ukBlum Novotestwww.blum-novotest.comBWP Technical Serviceswww.bwptech.co.ukCentral Scanningwww.central-scanning.co.ukCGTechwww.cgtech.co.ukCraftsman Toolswww.craftsmantools.co.ukDelcam UK (Tooling Services Division)www.delcam.com Faro UKwww.faro.com/uk

Expertise backs Britain...More than 140 delegates from leading OEMs and Tier 1s have registered to attend Bringing it Back to Britain where a widerange of expertise will be on show from GTMA members. Here are the confirmed exhibitors as we went to Press:

Hexagon Metrologywww.hexagonmetrology.com High Gain Technologywww.highgaintechnology.co.uk Thomas Keatingwww.terahertz.co.uk Moorland Toolmakerswww.moorlandtools.com MRCwww.manufacturingresourcecentre.co.uk Paragon Rapid Technologieswww.paragon-rt.comPhase Visionwww.phasevision.com Renishawwww.renishaw.com Roemheldwww.roemheld.co.uk SGS Toolwww.sgstool.co.ukS & S Plasticswww.ssplastics.co.uk

Superite Toolswww.superite.co.uk Tokai Carbon Europewww.tokaicarboneurope.com Toolritewww.toolrite.co.uk Wenzel UKwww.wenzel-cmm.co.ukWH Smith & Sons (Tools) www.whs-tools.comWNT UK Toolwww.wntuk.com

JAGUAR STOP PRESSAs we were going to Press we heard confirmation that Ian Harnett, who wasappointed Director of Purchasing, JaguarLand Rover in August 2009, has agreed toopen Bringing it Back to Britain. He will alsomake one of the presentations.

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:25 Page 23

CGTech is now shipping the next majorversion of VERICUT CNC machine sim-ulation and optimisation software.

VERICUT 7.1 features significant enhance-ments to reduce the time required for man-ufacturing engineers to easily develop,analyse, inspect and document the CNCprogramming and machining process.

Along with proactively adding new features,CGTech developers and engineers focusedon addressing hundreds of customer-drivenenhancements.

“VERICUT 7.1 builds on CGTech’s highlysuccessful VERICUT 7.0 release, that con-

tained over 700 customer requests deliv-ered throughout 2010,” said CGTech Ltdmanaging Director, John Reed.

“Version 7.1 contains over 400 customerrequests and further improvements toVERICUT’s user interaction, simulationcapabilities & analysis, cutting tool creation,and CAD/CAM integration.”

VERICUT is CNC machine simulation, verifi-cation and optimisation software thatenables users to eliminate the process ofmanually proving-out NC programs. Itreduces scrap loss and rework. The pro-gram also optimises NC programs in order

to both save time and produce higher qual-ity surface finish.

VERICUT simulates all types of CNCmachine tools, including those from leadingmanufacturers such as Mazak, and can beintegrated with leading CAM systems such

24


Hundreds of customers help Vericut upgrade

tool & die ltd

•Design and manufacture ofplastic injection and die cast tools

•High precision, intricate tools

•Insert mould tools

•Tool trial facilities

•On line project management

•ISO 9001:2000

•Hot runner systems

•Prototyping andpre-hardened tools.

Telephone 01952 587 060email [email protected] visit www.sprinttoolanddie.co.uk

Quick Tools Limited provides engineered tooling solutions for industry. Whether youneed project and supplies management,computer aided design, reverse engineer-ing, manufacture and installation orthrough life support: We are here to meetall your toolimg needs.

With over 60 years of experience we pride ourselves on our speed ofresponse, quality service and on-time delivery.

Please visit our website atwww.quicktoolsltd.co.uk or call for more information

tel: 02392 375718

Quick Tools Limited

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:25 Page 24

as MasterCAM, EdgeCAM and DelcamPowerMill.

Updates areas include the Tool Managerwhere users can create a VERICUT toollibrary, with CAD solid models of insertsand holders being imported into VERICUT.The feature added displays the CADGeometry window that allows easy identifi-cation of which parts of the CAD model filecorresponds with holders, cutters, orinserts. CATIA and STEP models are sup-ported. It is now possible to create and dis-play coordinate systems in the ToolManager. These coordinate systems canthen be used to align tool components.

A new feature, Assembly, in the Openmodel file selection window enables theuser to extract all individual components ofa CAD assembly file and store them in theirown model definitions. There are a range ofother upgrades covering areas including

Vericut Reviewer, Cutting conditions, CNCProcess Documentation, Collision check-ing, Project tree enhancements, Support ofback spot-facing tools, as well as supportfor a full range of six-axis robots to simulatemachining, waterjet trimming, fibre-place-ment, drilling and fastener insertion.

www.cgtech.com

25


Strength in depth in the UK is typifiedby GTMA member Thomas Keatingwhich has been toolmakers for 60years and has a reputation for accura-cy and attention to detail.

TK designs and manufactures mould toolsfor technical parts across industries includ-ing manufacture of medical, hearing aid,aerosol and spray dispensers, microswitch, valves, gears and rigid plastic con-tainers for food and DIY products. Smalland high cavity tools up 2 ton in weight arenot uncommon.

Other active areas include sub-contract jiggrinding of vital helicopter parts; and designand manufacture of jigs and fixtures in theaerospace and fiber optic industries.

In its two year old purpose built factory inSussex, TK has a full complement of CNCmachines, including Moore CNC jig grinders,Agie CNC sink and wire erosion, all housedin a temperature controlled environment.

Recent machinery investments include aMatsuura machining centre, and DoosanPuma 2600Y CNC turning centre. With asolid balance sheet (the business carries nodebt), an IS9001 Part 1 QA system andsignificant investment in CAD/CAM (Pro/Eand EdgeCAM) TK is well suited to providean efficient and sustainable service to bothcurrent and new clients – from simple sin-gle impression to complex multi-cavitytools.

More details from: MD Richard Wylde,[email protected]; Works Director Michael Clack, [email protected]; Scientific Instrumentation Director Trevor Walker, [email protected] ; Technical Manager Simon Duke,[email protected]

For plant list and more information pleasevisit the website.

www.terahertz.co.uk

TK brings strength in depthacross many sectors

Bropel specialistsadd to UK advantageSpecialist companies like BropelTechnical Welding Services - ‘Thenew name in specialist welding’ -are the backbone of UK manufac-turing. They bring a confidence tobuyers not possible in many over-seas locations.

Bropel offers a specialist welding serv-ice for the precision welding of plasticinjection, pressure die casting andpress tools.

Its wealth of experience specialising inrectifying design faults, tool modificationand breakdown repairs, is combinedwith excellent service and competitiveprices. Its fast turnaround can be 'whileyou wait, or next day.'

Bropel offers: • Laser and Tig welding

On-site welding • Collection and delivery up to 500kg

within 25 miles of its Aldridge, W. Midlands site

• Reliable courier service • Welding of all too steels, aluminium,

stainless steel, and cast iron• Handling capacity 10 tonnes• IS0 9001:2008 Quality.

For assistance please contact: Darren Cook or Sue Lloyd 01922745745 or Neil Baggott (On site welding) 07866 611235. Email: [email protected]

www.bropel.co.uk

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:35 Page 25

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:35 Page 26

GTMA member High Gain Technologyis the UK distributor for a company itbelieves underlines the message of notonly Bringing it Back to Britain – but oftaking it out of Britain also.

High Gain specialises in designing,installing, servicing and maintaining a widerange of products including high frequencyspindles and robotic machining.

Among these products are Peron Speedspindles for high speed milling of mouldtools, and it is the manufacturer of theinverter used to drive the spindle - InvertekDrives of Welshpool - which has soimpressed Dick Langley of High Gain.

“Invertek was launched only 12 years agoand they are now a global operation. Thecontrols and drives they supply are worldclass,” he said. “This rings well with the

current theme of bringing manufacturingback to Britain.”

High Gain has worked with Invertek ondeveloping their drives for machine tools.The drives used in the Peron spindles aredesigned and manufactured in Intertek'sUK operation and have been speciallydeveloped for running high frequencymilling spindles with up to 2000 hz andspeeds up to 120000 rpm.

Invertek Drives is dedicated to the design,manufacture and marketing a range ofelectronic variable speed drives for control-ling electric motors, and its state of the artUK headquarters houses specialist facilitiesfor R&D, manufacture and global market-ing. The Peron product offers customersnot only fast production but exceptionalsurface finishing quality for mould andpress tools.

www.highgaintechnology.co.uk

27


Pictured: Robot milling – another example of thelatest technology on offer from High GainTechnology where low cost complete roboticmachining solutions are being supplied for3dimensional parts typically found in sculpturingworkshops and styling studios for automotive,aerospace and artistic concepts.

And now a company taking it OUT of Britain...

Britain's early uptake of new andemerging technologies is another rea-son so many companies are comingback for manufacturing services.

GTMA's emerging Technologies event earlierthis year (see pages 10-13) underlined thepoint – and one of the presentations theredealt with an area which is likely to be increas-ingly used in manufacturing tooling inserts –the use of Additive Layer Manufacturing.

At the event two GTMA members who areworking closely together showed delegatesthe advantages of the process and howcycle times can be reduced by 40-60% overtraditional tools when pulsed cooling is used.CRDM is currently running several projectsmanufacturing and evaluating tools withconformal tooling and is seeking manufac-turing partners who could benefit from con-formal tooling, which when used with

pulsed temperature cooling is useful forpolycarbonate style materials, precisionparts, where more than 10,000 parts a yearare needed, and for highly glossed cosmet-ic parts – eg Large flat panel TV surroundsin 'piano black'.

CRDM works closely with EOS which sup-plies all its Metal Sintering machinery andhas expertise in methods of manufacturingconformally cooled tools and supportsCRDM in developing expertise in tool simu-lation technologies. EOS has a programmeof continuous technology development.Direct Metal Laser Sintering is an AdditiveLayer Manufacturing technology to manu-facture tool inserts in layers and was devel-oped by EOS. Recent developments byEOS now allow production of tooling insertsin hardened steel (52 – 54 Rockwell C), andDMLS tooling inserts can have any desiredinternal and external geometry.

Tools using Direct Metal Laser sinteredinserts cost more than traditional tools butoffer overall cost savings, reduced cycletimes (fewer cavities and more componentsproduced per hour), lower reject rates (bet-ter production).

DMLS can be used to produce productionstandard tooling inserts which include con-formal cooling channels, and tools usingthese inserts can offer up to 60% savingson component costs as well as greatercomponent quality.

The presentation at the GTMA event wasjointly prepared by CRDM ManagingDirector Graham Bennett and EOS RegionalManager Stuart Jackson.

www.crdm.co.uk www.eos.info

New Technologies back Britain

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:35 Page 27

Finding readily adapt-able ‘off-the-shelf’ produc-tion management softwarefor special machine buildingand jig and tool manufactureis not easy. Brown andHolmes (B&H) of Tamworth,however, became the first jigand tool company to use thePSL DataTrack system,which provided well-supported production con-trol modules for the complexoperation. Many years laterthe DataTrack system is stilla major part of its success-ful operation.

The company produces cus-tomised work holding fixtures,builds special productionmachinery and is the UK agentfor Forkardt precision chuckingsystems. Under joint ManagingDirectors Carl Baker and KevinWard B & H today has about 48employees and a £3.5 millionturnover.

Off-the-shelf systemProduction control software wasintroduced early when a local ITconsultant developed in-housecomputer software to replace agood paper-based system.When the consultant changedcareer B&H began looking atoff-the-shelf systems.

This was in 2002, and the shortlist of three included PSLDataTrack. ”We could see apromise of flexibility and tailor-ing,” said Carl Baker. “We knewthe system could be easily andreadily tailored to our needs.We also noted that the software

undergoes constant improve-ments and was competitive inprice.”

Key criteria was for the produc-tion control software to be user-friendly and easy-to-learn, andthat would not stop day-to-daybusiness in the learning period.

“Our operation was too big foran excel based system and wefelt it would take ‘an age’ tobed in a larger MRP/ERP typesystem in an operation likeours,” said Carl. “This, and theflexibility of design of the soft-ware, is why our ultimate deci-sion to purchase PSLDataTrack was made.”

Business variesThe jig and tool and specialmachine building businessvaries constantly, with very fewmanufacturing jobs similar andrarely repeat. Some workhold-ing fixtures may need a lot ofspecial machining and assem-bly. They may be made uppartly from machined parts,standard components and‘bought out’ items. This makes it very difficult toachieve any kind of proper balance on the shopfloorbetween the different machiningprocesses.

An example is a three-face,hydraulic clamping, workholdingfixture ‘cube’ for three separateworkpiece holding positions. Atthe quotation stage, the engi-neering team, including jig andtool designers, would agree thebest solution and discuss details

like workpiece locations, orien-tation and clamping systems.The quotation is entered intothe PSL DataTrack system anda proposal sent to the cus-tomer. After the order, a detailedCAD drawing is produced andprocess layouts for every manu-factured part input into PSLDataTrack. This produces workorders for the shopfloor andallows comparison betweenactual and calculated costs.The system also controls thepurchasing function as well asproducing delivery notes andinvoices.

On-going investmentMost CNC machine tools usedby B & H are integrated into thePSL system. Also linked in isthe co-ordinate measuringmachine where the company'squality engineers book inspec-tion time.

This, together with on-goinginvestment in new machinetools, keeps B&H at the fore-front of technology and com-petitiveness.

Production data is entered dailyto provide accurate end-of-jobcosting which, with purchaseditems such as material, subcon-tract and finishing operations,ensures B & H can constantlymonitor production and estimating procedures.

B & H o7perates 10 seats withPSL DataTrack running inMicrosoft Windows XP andWindows7. “We occasionallythrow challenges at PSLDataTrack,” said Carl Baker. Forexample, B & H recentlyacquired the UK agency forForkardt precision chucks, col-lets and mandrels.

Work measurement“We wanted to separate theForkardt operation from the jigand tool operation, using differ-ent customer codes,” said CarlBaker. Work measurement,margins and sales levels had tobe separated too. “PSLDataTrack very quickly tailoredthe system enabling us to runvirtually two businesses with asingle system.”

Carl Baker says PSL DataTrackhas developed its systems inline with the developments of itsbusiness. “The software is flexi-ble enough to be tailored to suitour changing needs, communi-cation between our companiesis excellent and they haveproved themselves to have agood understanding of ourbusiness.”

For more information contactTel: 08456 345931 or Email:[email protected]

www.psldatatrack.com


28

>>>

Production control software helps jig and tool manufactureEasy-to-learn solution for complex operation

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:35 Page 28

...

It is nearly nearly three years sinceGTMA published our Medical ExecutiveBriefing which showed how UKMedical is undergoing a transformationwith wide-ranging implications andopportunities for those in the manufac-turing supply chain.

This update shows that changes continuein the sector which continues to be a priori-ty for the Government and where innova-tion in product design and services are stillcrucial to success.

GTMA's Medical Network, numbering over100 companies, is a valuable resource forOEMs and Tier 1s in medical device manu-facture and other medical areas.

“Our commitment to this sector has neverbeen stronger,” says GTMA CEO JuliaMoore. “We see ourselves as helping bothsides of the supply chain.

“Our work to bring member companies theright competencies is critical; as is the workwe do through the Manufacturing ResourceCentre to help buyers find the right suppli-ers with the right qualities and the rightexpertise.”

Later this year GTMA and member compa-ny Seco Tools will host a Network event.

This is a major event for GTMA members inmedical at which major speakers are beinglined up to give updates on the sector andits needs.

Seco is a leading supplier into the sector andhas supplied winning solutions in areasincluding Tibial tray machining, Hip jointmachining, Femoral cap and stem machining,and General implant machining. The compa-ny has built strong relationships with medicalcomponent manufacturers who are constantlyworking to advance their technology.

Meanwhile, the Medical sector has beensingled out for special mention in theGovernment's 'Plan for Growth' Reviewannounced in the 2011 Budget. TheReview will look at every UK industry sectorand draw up action plans forsuccess.Health and Life Sciences is one ofsix priority areas to be piloted with this

initiative (see Growth Review – Health, page31). It says the sector has strengths whichmake it well placed to take advantage ofglobal opportunities.

But there is world competition also includ-ing from BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia,India and China) particulary in medicaldevice manufacturing sector. The UK isgoing to succeed through innovative prod-ucts, technologies and processes.

Strengths in innovative product design,advanced materials, manufacturing tech-nologies, bio-electronics for sensors andtitration control solutions are a few of theareas that will be key to UK success andGTMA companies are well placed to be partof the supply chains serving both globalmarkets and the home base where the UKsectorgenerates over £10 billion of revenues.

“Our close working relationships with com-panies in Medical mean we can be close totheir needs,” says Julia Moore. “This isgoing to be increasingly important in a sec-tor which is known for the speed withwhich new products come to market.”

To register for the Medical event pleaseemail: [email protected]

www.gtma.co.uk

29

MEDICAL UPDATE

Supply chain opportunitiesin medical sector

Photos (left to right) of spinal implants © Synthes,a leader in supply of surgical instruments,implants and), two-shot medical parts fromGTMA member Hanson Thorpe, and the LeksellStereotactic System® courtesy the internationalmedical technology group Elekta.

Top: Photos courtesy world pharmaceutical sup-plier Bayer Schering Pharma and, right, from med-ical device manufacturer Draeger Medical UK.

Page 31: Surgeons in a digital operating systemcourtesy Smith & Nephew and brain mappingequipment courtesy Elekta.

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:35 Page 29

Rust never sleeps Go for a better steelU D D E H O L M S TA I N L E S S C O N C E P T

Harsh environments put steel under considerable stress. Parts

rust together, surfaces need constant repolishing and cooling

channels have to be redrilled.Wherever there’s moisture, there’s

rust. That’s why selecting tool steel is crucial. Plastic materials

are a natural part of our everyday life. Since plastic moulding is a

demanding and evolving industry,many of the most familiar brands

choose tool steel from Uddeholm Stainless Concept for their

manufacturing process. The problems are well-known, the right

steel is the solution. Rust never sleeps – go for a better steel!

For more information, please visit www.uddeholm.co.uk.

UDDEHOLM, European Business Park, Taylors Lane, Oldbury, West Midlands, B69 2BN

Phone 0121 552 5511, Fax 0121 544 29011, Email [email protected]

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:35 Page 30

GROWTH REVIEW – HEALTHBudget 2011 saw the launch of theGovernment's 'Plan for Growth' toradically reform barriers to enter-prise. It also published its GrowthReview to identify structuralreforms. This includes a “forensic”examination of every sector fol-lowed by action plans. The sixareas to be looked at first includeHealth and Life Sciences which theReview says is world leading,employing over 120,000 and gener-ating over £10 billion (2008 figure).“The sector’s strength is based onhigh quality research and innovationand a growing reputation for strongcollaboration. This makes it wellplaced to take advantage of globaltrends.” The other sector prioritiesare Advanced manufacturing,Digital and creative industries,Business and professional services,Retail and Construction.

www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/growth_291110.pdf

MINISTERIAL MEDICALTECHNOLOGY STRATEGY GROUPThe MMTSG has been establishedin accordance with the recommen-dation of the Healthcare IndustriesTask Force (HITF) StrategicImplementation Group (SIG). TheGroup will take forward SIG recom-mendations, NSR Innovation agen-da for medical technology and pro-vides a strategic forum for joint dis-cussion of other issues of impor-tance. Group members include min-isters from the Department forBusiness, Innovation & Skills (BIS)(former BERR/DIUS), senior officialsacross Whitehall and leading inter-national players from the industry.The document link below givesaccess to a range of documentsincluding Meeting minutes; theHome link to HITF, the Bioscienceand Health Technology Database,and a wide range of organisationsworking with the the Dept of health.

Home: www.dh.gov.uk/ab/HITF/index.htm Document links:www.dh.gov.uk/ab/HITF/DH_091803

NHS SUPPLY CHAINNHS Supply Chain provides end-to-end supply chain services incorpo-rating procurement, logistics, e-commerce, and customer and sup-plier support. It manages the pro-curement of over 620,000 productsfor more than 1000 trusts andhealthcare organisations. It is oper-ated by DHL on behalf of the NHSand aims to save the NHS £1 billion

by 2016. Innovation is beingencouraged with a new InnovationScorecard, which assesses a prod-uct's innovation level and can leadto a pilot contract.

Home:www.supplychain.nhs.uk/portal/page/portal/Public

NHS Supply Chain is committed toproviding an effective and efficientprocurement service. We aim tocontinually improve the service bydecreasing purchasing costs andincreasing the value availablethrough the national frameworkagreement. As a result NHS SupplyChain encourages suppliers toapproach relevant buyers withideas and proposals for enhancingthe product offering throughout theterm of the agreement.Supplier information:

www.supplychain.nhs.uk/portal/page/portal/Suppliers

Supplier support includes supplychain development expertise, toolsand resources and supplier relation-ship support to provide the linkbetween suppliers and the peoplewho depend on their products.

Supplier suppport link: www.supplychain.nhs.uk/portal/page/portal/Suppliers/Working%20With%20Us/Supplier%20Support

Supplier forum link:www.supplychain.nhs.uk/portal/page/portal/Suppliers/SupplierForum

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH DH is divided into separate busi-ness units for purchasing, each withits own budget. As of January2011, the Department’s tendersand contracts have been publishedon Contracts Finder, the govern-ment’s single platform for providingaccess to public sector procure-ment related information and docu-mentation free of charge.

Procurement link (includes link toSustainabile Procurement policydocument): www.dh.gov.uk/en/Aboutus/Procurementandproposals/Procurement/index.htm

www.dh.gov.uk/en/Aboutus/Procurementandproposals/Tenders/index.htm

Contracts Finder: www.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk/

Calls for research proposals fromthe DH and the National Institute forHealth Research (see below):

www.dh.gov.uk/en/Aboutus/Procurementandproposals/RDcallsforproposals/index.htm

A comprehensive list of researchand development (R&D) work in theDH and the NHS is available at thislink:www.dh.gov.uk/en/Aboutus/Researchanddevelopment/AtoZ/index.htm

RESEARCH CONTRACTA new model agreement betweenthe pharmaceutical and biomedicalindustries, universities and the NHSto streamline the research contract-ing process was announced inMarch. The model IndustryCollaborative Research Agreement– mICRA – will speed contractnegotiations for research studiesinvolving industry, universities andthe NHS.For template model contract, sup-

porting decision tree and guidanceinfo, see the NOCRI pages at:

www.nihr.ac.uk/nocri

NHS NATIONAL INNOVATIONCENTREThe National Innovation Centreworks with innovators in industry,academia and the NHS to speedthe development of healthcare tech-nology. The website includes arange of free-to-use, secure andconfidential tools.

www.nic.nhs.uk/

NHS TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION CENTREThe Centre helps organisations nav-igate the complexities of the 'NHSadoption landscape' and identifytechnologies to help the NHS. Itproduces detailed NHS focusedGuides on how technologies can besuccessfully implemented.

www.technologyadoptionhub.nhs.uk/

31

BUSINESS ZONE

The Medical Devices Directives(MDDs) are the set of EU legisla-tive texts which cover theEuropean regulatory require-ments for medical devices. Theycame into force in 1990 and reg-ulate the standards of safety,quality and efficiency of medicaldevices. The Directives har-monise safety requirements andspecify the measures that needto be met in order to place adevice on the European market.A product which meets the rele-vant requirements bears a ‘CE’mark, a legal ‘Declaration ofConformity’ to EU rules.

EU rules are now over 20 yearsold, and developments in med-ical technology and the expan-sion of the EU have put pressureon the current framework, as wellas highlighting some shortcom-ings in the legal process.Therefore, the EuropeanCommission is considering revis-ing, or ‘Recasting’, the MedicalDevices Directives. Although thecurrent system works well, themedical technology industryrecognises that it can beimproved, and would supportsuch a revision. Legislativechange is an opportunity tofuture-proof the system for bothmanufacturers and patients. It

does not need to be a funda-mental revision, but enhance-ments should encourage speedypatient access to the best andmost innovative care. Any revision should also considerhow Small and Medium sizedEnterprises (SMEs) deal with reg-ulatory systems; such companiesmake up the majority of medicaltechnology companies, and lackthe resources to deal withincreasingly complex and costlyregulation. Most importantly, anyrevisions must be geared toensuring that products retain thehighest levels of safety and quali-ty, and that citizens have timelyaccess to the innovation theyneed. The key to this should beavoiding excessive centralisation;the greater the degree of decen-tralisation the more diverse, inno-vative and creative research anddevelopment in medical technol-ogy can become, providing realencouragement to SMEs andbringing tomorrow’s citizens thesolutions they need.

– Eucomed statement onplans to revise EU MedicalDevices Directives

www.eucomed.org/key-themes/medical-devices-directive

MEDICAL DEVICES DIRECTIVES

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 4/5/11 10:05 Page 31

EPSRCEPSRC is the main UK governmentagency for funding research andtraining in engineering and thephysical sciences, investing morethan £850 million a year in areasfrom materials science and healthcare to information technology.Priority Research areas include'Towards next generation health-care', 'Nanoscience through engi-neering to application' and 'Aging –lifelong health and wellbeing'.EPSRC has set up four Innovationand Knowledge Centres includingRegenerative therapies and devicesat Leeds. The others are looking at:Advanced manufacturing technolo-gies for photonics and electronics;Ultra-precision and structured sur-faces; and secure information tech-nologies. Its Materials, Mechanicaland Medical Engineering pro-gramme has looked at areas includ-ing instrumentation and microsys-tems, mechanical engineering,medical engineering, robotics andsensors.

Home: www.epsrc.ac.uk/Pages/default.aspx

EPSRC Centres for InnovativeManufacturing include those forRegenerative Medicine, AdditiveManufacturing, Advanced Metrologyand Intelligent Automation:www.epsrc.ac.uk/research/cen-tres/innovativemanufacturing/Pages/default.aspx

Medical Imaging research:www.epsrc.ac.uk/newsevents/cas-estudies/techtimes/medicalimag-

ing/Pages/default.aspx

Medicine and Materials timeline:www.epsrc.ac.uk/newsevents/cas-estudies/techtimes/medicinemate-rials/Pages/default.aspx

NATIONAL INSTITUTE FORHEALTH RESEARCHNIHR supports leading edgeresearch. Its budget for 2010/11 is£992m. NIHR aims to build for theUK an international reputation forexcellence in translational andapplied research covering areasincluding devices, diagnostics,biotech and pharma. It has a dedi-cated industry liaison team to workwith industry, trade associations etc.

www.nihr.ac.uk/Pages/default.aspx

Two new NIHR booklets publishedin April showcase models forresearch partnerships including inthe biotechnology, medical technol-ogy and diagnostics industries.

www.nihr.ac.uk/Pages/default.aspx

PROSPEROThis is a major global initiative to setup an international register toimprove transparency of healthresearch. Launched in Feb, 2011,PROSPERO, is the first online facili-ty to register systematic reviews forresearch about health and socialcare from all around the world. It isdesigned to avoid the duplication ofhealth research.

www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/

COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE ANDTECHNOLOGYCST is the Prime Minister's top levelAdvisory Board on Science andTechnology issues. And in March2010 published A Vision for UKResearch in which it highlighted the“significant growth” of medicalresearch over the last 10 years. Butit stressed, too, that successful out-comes in medical research dependon high quality research across theengineering, physical and social sci-ences base. CST has identified sixkey technology areas includingmedical devices, E-health; andPlastic electronics. A series ofScience Reviews have been com-pleted including in Health, whereone finding is the need for moreresearch into the impact of nano-particles on health.

www.bis.gov.uk/cst www.bis.gov.uk/assets/bispart-ners/cst/docs/files/whats-new/10-584-vision-uk-research.pdf

NHS SUSTAINABLEDEVELOPMENT UNITA new SDU Route Map wasannounced to 220 SDU conferencedelegates in Feb as a frameworkfor action to develop a sustainablehealth system. It includes action insix key areas including technologyand use of resources.

www.sdu.nhs.uk/http://www.sdu.nhs.uk/

OFFICE FOR LIFE SCIENCESOLS is part of the Department forBusiness, Innovation and Skills(BIS). In partnership with the Deptof Health it brings together thesponsorship of the biotechnology,pharmaceutical and medical tech-nology industries. The use ofbiotechnology in particular isexpanding rapidly and will sooncontribute significantly to the UK’seconomic output, says OLS.

www.bis.gov.uk/ols

TICThe Government announced in thecountry's first Technology andInnovation Centre (TIC). It is a keypart of the Government’s GrowthReview (see above) to target theexpansion of Britain’s manufacturingsector and position the UK asEurope’s leading exporter of highvalue goods.The announcement isthe first in a network being set upwith over £200m funding. An extra£7million was also announced forthe Manufacturing Advisory Serviceto focus specifically on supply chaindevelopment.

http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/Detail.aspx?ReleaseID=417872&NewsAreaID=2

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY (DH) Recent technological advances , aswell as research into the benefits ofspecific products and systems, inthe area of assistive technology(equipment to help mobility etc ofthe disabled) is seeing manyadvances. The Dept of Health pro-duces an annual report on this workproduced for it by the Foundationfor Assistive Technology.

www.dh.gov.uk/en/Aboutus/Researchanddevelopment/AtoZ/DH_062674

FASTThe Foundation for AssistiveTechnology works with organisa-tions across the AssistiveTechnologies sector to advanceinnovation in product design and toencourage technology adoption oftechnology for benefit of disabledand older people.

www.fastuk.org

AT ALLIANCEThe Assistive Technogies Alliancebrings together four main bodies:Assist UK, Disabled LivingFoundation (DLF), the Foundationfor Assistive Technology (FAST) andRicability). Funded by the DH it issetting up “The Assistive

business zone... business zone... business zone...

32

Enquiries placed with theManufacturing Resource Centre(MRC) and GTMA have a com-monality for supplier performanceneeds that is demanded by thebuyer. For key sectors, this isoften linked with quality accredi-tation requirements. However, inthis competitive global market-place, supply chain efficiency isparamount in order to securesustainable business.

GTMA is on hand to assist mem-ber companies develop the nec-essary competencies andenhance profitability opportunitiesvia the GTMA Supply ChainProgramme.

Evolved from the GTMABusiness Development TrainingProgramme (BDTP), the Supply

Chain Programme (SCP) hasbeen developed to work in linewith key sector accreditationssuch as for the medical sector.The programme offers in depthassistance in the following disci-plines:

• Supply Chain Development• Internal Supply Chain relation-

ships• Manufacturing Process

competency• Change Management• Business and Strategy planning• Management mentoring for

business growth andprofitability

• Sales and Marketing proficiency

Contact: Alan Fairweather,Email: [email protected]

GTMA NETWORK DEVELOPMENT

Medical management information systems are increasing in importance.Photo courtesy Elekta.

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 4/5/11 10:07 Page 32

Technology Information Network forthe Future”. The project’s aim isto develop expertise on information,evaluation, policy and user experi-ence relating to assistive technolo-gy. The work of the project is setagainst the changing climate forassistive technology and an antici-pated increase in information-seek-ing by the public.

www.at-alliance.org.uk/

£775 MILLION RESEARCHThe largest ever funding – up to£775million over 5 years - to bemade available for translationalresearch dedicated to deliver bene-fits to the NHS was announced byHealth Secretary Andrew Lansley inMarch. Amongst other initiatives itwill help create 12 BiomedicalResearch Centres. The funding ispart of a total of £4billion for R&Dup to March 2015 and will be madeavailable to NHS/university partner-ships through the NIHR (see above).

www.dh.gov.uk/en/MediaCentre/Pressreleases/DH_124881

Call for proposals information:

www.nihr.ac.uk/proposals/Pages/default.aspx

MEDICINES AND HEALTHCAREPRODUCTS REGULATORYAGENCY (MHRA)

MHRA is the government agencyresponsible for ensuring medicinesand medical devices work, and areacceptably safe. Activities includeoperating a proactive complianceprogramme for medical devices.The term 'medical device' covers allproducts, except medicines, usedin healthcare for the diagnosis, pre-vention, monitoring or treatment ofillness or disability.

The range of products is very wide:it includes contact lenses and con-doms; heart valves and hospitalbeds; resuscitators and radiothera-py machines; surgical instrumentsand syringes; wheelchairs and walk-ing frames or other assistive tech-nology products - many thousandsof items used each and every dayby healthcare providers andpatients.

http://www.mhra.gov.uk/index.htm

MHRA MEDICAL DEVICETECHNOLOGY FORUM The Forum focuses on the impactof new and emerging technologiesin the devices sector. Its aimsinclude to ensure all novel technolo-gies are monitored and regulated,and to minimise unnecessary delaysto product marketing due to unclearregulatory process. This may resultin the production of industry or userguidelines, new standards beingproposed or, where appropriate,recommending future changes tolegislation.

www.mhra.gov.uk/Howweregulate/NewTechnologiesForums/DevicesNewTechnologyForum/index.htm

NANOTECHNOLOGY IN MEDICALNanotechnology is enabling the cre-ation of a whole range of materialswhich have novel properties. It islikely to have a wide impact onmedical devices, leading to innova-tive devices. At the nanoscale,changes to the structure of a mate-rial can lead to changes in chemicalor physical behaviour (ie nanoparti-cles behave differently from bulkmaterials). This presents the poten-

tial for the development of noveltherapies, including smallerimplantable devices etc.

UK Nanotechnologies strategy report:www.bis.gov.uk/assets/BISPartners/GoScience/Docs/U/10-825-uk-nanotechnologies-strategy

MHRA link:www.mhra.gov.uk/Howweregulate/Nanotechnology/index.htm

NHS NATIONAL INNOVATIONCENTRE (NIC) Set up on the recommendation ofthe Health Industry Task Force, theCentre promotes innovation in theNHS. The website allows innovatorsto connect with the right peopleand organisations, assess theirinnovative ideas on the unique siteScorecard, and includes a ProspectZone where suppliers can registernew ideas and opportunities. Itsexpert tools are free to use andthere are areas for developmentopportunities as well as profiles oforganisation capabilities.

www.nic.nhs.uk

33


3D measurement of micro machined componentswith an optical micro CMMMeasure form and roughness in one system

Achieve a vertical resolution of up to 10nm

Verify dimensional accuracyeven on complex geometries

Gain true colour informationregistered to 3D data

++ Radii and angle measurement ++ Measurement of polished edges ++ Variance analysis ++

Alicona UKAlicona UK Ltd.Lime Tree House

15 Lime Tree Walk, SevenoaksKent TN13 1YH

UKphone: +44(0)1732 746670fax: +44(0)1732 465500

e-mail: [email protected]

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:40 Page 33

34

THE STANDARD METER GAVE US ORDER,MAHR GIVES YOU PRECISION.In the beginning there was the standard meter - which in turn laid thebasis for ever greater precision. Mahr has been a leading light in thisevolution over the last 140 years. Today, our measuring instruments are employed wherever high precision and reliability are paramount, from the automotive industry and semiconductor production to medicaltechnology and the aerospace industry. Precision is universal.Mahr crosses all borders.

SURFACE ROUGHNESS METROLOGY

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HIGH PRECISION INJECTION MOULD TOOLMAKERS

From single impression soft prototype tools to high volume fully hardened multi cavity tooling

Small enough to care yet big enough to deliver

T: 01803 846013 E: [email protected]

www.moultechsolutions.com

Why use Mouldtech ?• ISO 9001 accredited• Professional friendly service• Quality Tool making• Over 40 years experience• Efficient complete service• Set time scales• Peace of mind• Reliability

Alliance Design and Manufacturing Ltd is one of the UK’spremier toolmaking companies specialising in injection andblow mould tooling design and in-house manufacturing.

Investment in advanced equipment and a highly skilledteam gives our customers an extremely competitive edgeto their technical requirements.

Our Industry Portfolio includes:Electronics - Medical - Electrical Consumer - Security - Packaging -Cosmetic - Dairy - Food and Drink - Household - Automotive - Car Care.

Injection Mould Tooling, Two Shot Mould Tools, Blow MouldTooling, Repairs and Modifications (Capacity up to 5 tonnes).

Tooling Repair – Aftercare – Preventative Maintenance Tool repair and modification work carried out on a 24/7 basis when required.

Tooling Trials – All our moulds are trialled at our sister company.www.AllianceMouldingServices.com

Quality Approvals: ISO 9000 series

Tel:0161 872 8881 Fax:0161 872 8883 Email:[email protected] Website: www.adm.eu.com

Managing Director: Jim Kelly Sales Contact: Steven Tynan

The Lodge,Westbrook Road, Trafford Park,Greater Manchester M17 1AY

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:40 Page 34

UK TRADE & INVESTMENT UKTRADEInvestment (UKTI) works with UK-based businesses to ensure suc-cess in international markets. It alsoencourages the best overseas com-panies to bring operations to theUK. Healthcare sector reports areregularly added to the site (see link)– April adds covered, among oth-ers, healthcare in Australia,Germany, Russia and India; medicaldevices in Netherlands; and e-Health in Belgium.on different mar-kets. Recent additions include onMedical Devices The main websitealso has sections on BusinessOpportunities, medical case studiesetc.

www.ukti.gov.uk/export/sectors/lifesciences/healthcaremedical/sec-torbriefing.html

Main:www.ukti.gov.uk

HEALTH TECH AND MEDICINES KTN This Knowledge Transfer Network(part of Technology Strategy Board)is dedicated to accelerating innova-tion and technology exploitation inthe broad health industries sector. IIts vision is to be recognised as aworld class initiator, translator anddisseminator of research andknowledge. All in the sector canjoin, with the KTN providing, amongothers: Knowledge of the UK inno-vation landscape; signposting andpersonal introductions; Finding part-ners for new collaborations; FindingUK and European funding sourcesfrom public and private sources;Technology audits and support forcommercialisation and spin outs;

Market and project information; andBest practice guidance. It alsoenables technology translationbetween the UK's InnovativeManufacturing Research Centresand the clinical and industrial base.There are Special Interest Groupscovering: Advanced Wound Care,Biomanufacturing Innovation,Biomedical Surfaces, Dental, DrugDelivery, Medical Devices andDiagnostics, Medical Devices ClinicalStudies and Orthopaedics. Eventsbeing held as we went to Pressinclude conferences on ConvergentTechnologies (May 10), TakingMedical Sensing Technologies toMarket (May 11) and Innovation inHealthcare (May 12).

https://ktn.innovateuk.org/web/healthktn

TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY BOARD The TSB is the UK’s national inno-vation agency. Its goal is to acceler-ate economic growth by stimulatingand supporting business-led inno-vation and it has identified sixunderpinning technology areas -Advanced Materials; Biosciences;Electronics, Photonics and ElectricalSystems; High Value Manufacturing;Information and CommunicationTechnology and Nanotechnology. Aparticular emphasis has beenplaced on the development of‘enabling technologies’, which canlead to the creation of other prod-ucts or processes able to supportfuture development.

The Board is working with theDepartment of Health, primary caretrusts, research councils, localauthorities, academia, industry andthird-sector organisations to devel-

op technologies and services tobenefit the medical sector, particu-larly elderly. A new strategy reviewwas due to be published as wewere going to Press (the previousreview having covered years 2008-2011. Knowledge TransferNetworks are under its umbrella, aswell as a network of TechnologyInnovation Centres, KnowledgeTransfer Partnerships and R&Dgrants and funding for SMEs.

Home: www.innovateuk.org

Innovation Centres:www.innovateuk.org/deliveringin-novation/technology-and-innova-tion-centres.ashx

R&D grants:www.innovateuk.org/content/com-petition/grant-for-rd-single-busi-ness.ashx

EUCOMED Eucomed is the largest organisationrepresenting the medical deviceindustry in Europe. It represents22,500 designers, manufacturersand suppliers of medical technologyused in the diagnosis, prevention,treatment and amelioration of dis-ease and disability. Eucomed mem-bers include national trade and pan-European product associations andinternationally active manufacturersof all types of medical technology.industry it represents employs morethan 500,000 people, turns over£95 billion a year in Europe andencompasses some 500,000 differ-ent medical technologies from stick-ing plasters and wheel chairs topacemakers and replacement joints. www.eucomed.org

WELLCOME TRUST A key task for The Trust is technolo-gy transfer and it is a committedfunder of translational research sothat innovations can be translatedinto new health products. Prioritiesinclude medical engineering andfighting microbial disease. A signifi-cant number of projects involve thecreation and/or evaluation of adevice, prosthesis or software appli-cation that draws on the physicalsciences, mathematics or engineer-ing as core to the innovation. It hasalso done much to increase thenumber of high quality applicationsby researchers from physical sci-ences, engineering and digitalhealth groups.

www.wellcome.ac.uk/index.htm

ABHI CONFERENCEABHI is pleased to announce thattheir International BusinessConference will take place on the13th June 2011 in Central London.The ABHI International BusinessConference looks to explore thechallenges and opportunities forindustry in a global context. Theconference will provide the audienceinsight into the key areas for consid-eration both near and long term,contemporary issues and opportuni-ties for the sector and differentstrategies for international success.The event will start with an overviewon the current global landscape.

www.abhi.org.uk/events/2011/Internationalconferencemay.aspx<http://www.abhi.org.uk/events/2011/Internationalconferencemay.aspx>

EUROPEAN COORDINATIONCOMMITTEE OF THERADIOLOGICAL,ELECTROMEDICAL ANDHEALTHCARE IT INDUSTRY COCIR is the voice of the EuropeanRadiological, Electromedical andHealthcare IT Industry. It representsthe medical technology industry inEurope and its membersÊplay adriving role in developing the futureof healthcare in Europe and world-wide. As well as communicatingwith EU policy-makers on econom-ic, regulatory and technical issuesrelated to healthcare, COCIR workswith various organisations promot-ing harmonised standards and fairregulatory control across the world.One of its key objectives is to pro-mote free worldwide trade of med-ical devices and to maintain thecompetitiveness of the Europeanindustry.

www.cocir.org

35


GTMA has made a strategic deci-sion to become a sector-focussedorganisation with buyer needs atthe top of its agenda. The strategyhas its foundations in SectorNetworks of member companieswhere the focus is on identifyingspecific and detailed needs of buy-ers – and then putting in placeprogrammes to meet those needs.Now this has been developed intoa Manufacturing Resource Centrefor buyers where clusters ofproven companies can be madeavailable to strengthen OEM andthe entire supplier linkage.

One of the first Sector Networkswas for the medical and pharma-ceutical industry, into which nearly

100 GTMA member companieswere already supplying or were tar-geting for new business. TheSupply Chain Programme has astrong focus on:

• Supplier Accreditation• Suppler Evaluation/Relationships• Process

Control/Visibility/Traceability• Ongoing Quality, Cost and

Delivery • Supplier Sales and Marketing

A key issue in the Networkapproach is to ensure membercompanies have the right compe-tencies to meet buyer requirementsin the sectors they serve, and areregularly updated on issues affect-

ing those sectors. Buyers can thenhave confidence in their manufac-turing products and services.

Critical to this has been the veryclose relationships built betweenGTMA and medical OEMs and Tier1s whose purchasing departmentshave been very supportive of theprogramme, both in speakingdirectly to member companies atNetwork events but also in helpingGTMA design the right kind of sup-plier support initiatives. Help hascome from a wide range of bodies,from the NHS to OEMs likeGlaxoSmithKline.

Contact: Alan Fairweather, Email: [email protected]

GTMA NETWORK

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:40 Page 35

NHSNHS Innovations Eastwww.hee.org.ukNHS Innovations Londonwww.nhsinnovationslondon.comNHS Innovations Northwww.nhsinnovationsnorth.org.ukNHS Innovations North Westwww.trustech.org.ukNHS Innovations South Eastwww.innovationssoutheast.nhs.ukNHS Innovations South Westwww.nisw.co.ukNHS Innovations West Midlandswww.midtech.org.ukNHS Innovations Yorkshire &Humberwww.medipex.co.uk

BIOBUSINESS NORTHERNIRELANDwww.biobusinessni.org

ONE NUCLEUSOne Nucleus is based in Cambridgeand London at the heart of Europe’slargest life science and healthcarecluster.www.onenucleus.com

HEALTHCONNECTConnect members operate in assis-tive technology, health informatics,

medical devices etc and their asso-ciated supply chains. www.bewellconnected.co.uk

THE CENTRE OF EXCELLENCEFOR LIFE SCIENCES North East based support for those in medical devices, assistive technology for aged, stem cells etc.www.celsatlife.com

MEDILINKSMedilinks stimulate collaborationbetween public and private sectorsfor Life Science companies fromtheir powerbases in the Midlandsand the North.

MEDILINK UKMEDILINK is a non-profit makingorganisation which brings togetheron a regional basis medical manu-facturing and distribution compa-nies, hospitals and universities tostimulate innovation and drive for-ward profitable developments in thehealthcare technology and systemssector. A UK network of Medilinkspromotes innovation and developscommercial opportunities. www.medilinkuk.com

MEDILINK EAST MIDLANDSwww.medilinkem.com MEDILINKWMwww.medilinkWM.co.uk MEDIWALESwww.mediwales.com MEDILINK YORKSHIRE & HUMBERwww.medilink.co.uk

SOUTH EAST HEALTHTECHNOLOGIES ALLIANCE(SEHTA) Supports health technologies sectorincluding pharmaceuticals, biotech-nology, medical devices and diagnostics. www.sehta.co.uk

SCOTTISH LIFE SCIENCEASSOCIATION Set up in Jan to support Scottishcompanies in medical devices,diagnostics, biopharmaceutical andcontract research.www.scottishlifesciencesassocia-tion.org.uk

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER NETWORKSElectronics, Sensors, Photonics KTN Also covers plastic electronics,embedded systems, displays, light-ing, instrumentation, control sys-tems...https://ktn.innovateuk.org/web/espktn

Environmental Sustainability KTNNew technologies advice and priori-ties including resource efficiency,waste management, renewablesand carbon.https://ktn.innovateuk.org/web/sustainabilityktn

Materials KTN Seperate groups for composites,materials and design exchange,metals and alloys, materials forpackaging, polymers, powders,smart materials, technical textilesand materials for transport.https://ktn.innovateuk.org/web/materialsktn

Measurement KTNGroups for biotech and healthcare,engineering and optical, communi-cations and electromagnetics, envi-ronment and energy, ionising radia-tion, materials and surface analysis.The KTN provides a forum and forinfo and ideas as well as seminarsand conferences.https://ktn.innovateuk.org/web/measurement-network

Nanotechnology KTN Groups include Coatings,NanoMed, Nano4Energy,

NanoPharm, Elec Devices,EcoNano and Metrology. Priorityarea is Healthcare and LifeSciences.https://ktn.innovateuk.org/web/nanoktn

ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH HEALTHCARE INDUSTRIES Lead UK industry association forthe medical technology sector. Itincludes manufacturers of medicaldevices, equipment and consum-ables, as well as service compa-nies, distributors, professionalgroups etc. Its approx 200 membercompanies produce about 80% ofannual output is about 80% - every-thing from life support machines tolatex gloves. www.abhi.org.uk

THE ASSOCIATION OF THEBRITISH PHARMACEUTICALINDUSTRYRepresents UK companies produc-ing prescription medicines. Itsmembers research, develop, man-ufacture and supply more than 80per cent of NHS medicines. Thesector employs 73,000 directly,27,000 in research and another250,000 in related industries (forexample in the manufacturing sup-ply chain). www.abpi.org.uk

BRITISH HEALTHCARE TRADESASSOCIATION Members are in the assistive tech-nologies sector making and supply-ing products from wheelchairs,scooters, stairlifts, seating and posi-tioning products, to patient supportsurfaces, rehabilitation products,prosthetics and orthotics.www.bhta.com

HEALTH CARE SUPPLYASSOCIATION Promotes the work of supply chainstaff at all levels. Affiliated to theChartered Institute of Purchasingand Supply. www.healthcaresupply.org.uk

THE BRITISH DENTAL TRADEASSOCIATION Represents and supports manufac-turers and suppliers of dental prod-ucts, services and technologies,and is a member of ABH (seeabove)I. www.bdta.org.uk

BRITISH IN VITRO DIAGNOSTICSASSOCIATION Represents manufacturers and dis-tributors of analytical instrumentsand the reagents and accessoriesfor in vitro diagnostic tests. www.bivda.co.uk


36

Joshua Lane, Middleton, Manchester UK, M24 2AZ Tel: 0161 655 3355 Fax: 0161 655 3322Web: www.hansonthorpe.co.uk Email: [email protected]

• Competitive prices• Complete project support• Fast response times• Continual investment• Tool trialling and validation in-house

on 50 & 100T Engel machines

We believe in continual investment in latest technologies andmachinery, supported by a highly skilled and well motivatedworkforce. This has helped the company to win the PlasticsIndustry Toolmaker of the year Award 3 times and earned us anexcellent reputation within the industry.

Hanson Thorpe Precision Toolmakers Ltd

Manufacturers ofClinical Plastic Injection Mould Tools

and PrecisionMedical / Engineering components

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:40 Page 36

GTMA memberHuntsman AdvancedMaterials has won an inno-vation award with its cus-tomer NRG Wheels for inno-vative use of composites inhigh performance vehicleapplications.

The award was in the Sportsand Leisure category of the JECInnovation Awards 2011 fornew carbon / magnesiumwheels, which helped achieve a10% fuel saving in tests with aPorsche with a 380bph engine.

NRG Wheels Ltd, based in theUK, specialises in designing,manufacturing and marketingstructural composites for theautomotive industry, and thewheel was invented to create abetter driving experience basedon improved handling and bet-ter impact resistance as well asreduced fuel and engine emis-sions.

It was achieved by focusing onthe two main wheel compo-nents: the hub and the rim.The forged, magnesium alloybased hub of the wheel hasbeen designed to reduce thenormal cast magnesium porosi-ty and corrosion potential of thewheel to zero.

The other major feature is thecarbon composite wheel rimwhich was developed with thesupport of Huntsman whoselected and provided anAraldite® resin system especial-ly adapted for Resin TransferMoulding (RTM). The resin wasalso designed to achieve thehighest level of targeted per-

formance, defined by challeng-ing criteria to deliver increasedtoughness and better impactresistance.

During the RTM process aero-space type carbon fabrics areput into a mould and injectedwith epoxy resin. Specially-coated titanium fasteners work-ing within specially-bondedbushes fasten the hub to theepoxy carbon fibre rim, so noadditional auxiliary componentbonding or finishing is required.

Because of both the quality ofthe resin and the processingconditions, the visible outer sideof the rim has an aestheticallypleasing surface finish, showingthe carbon fibre pattern. Thesurface is protected from UVlight with a tough, high glosslacquer paint finish.

Combining properties of tough-ness and high temperatureresistance, the Araldite® RTMsystem helps creatie a carbonwheel with better impact resist-ance than metal wheels andhigh fatigue resistance.

The carbon / magnesium wheelis 40% lighter than even thelightest aluminium or magne-sium wheels. Substituting con-ventional materials with com-posites creates a direct primaryweight reduction, allowing thecarbon rims on the wheel tohave a noticeable effect on acar’s fuel economy, reducingfuel consumption and emissionswhile enhancing performanceand handling.

When tested on a Porsche with

a 380 bhp engine, the carbon /magnesium wheels helped toachieve power savings of around43 bhp, equating to approxi-mately 10% of fuel savings.

Coupled with reduced fuel con-sumption and engine emissions,the reduced energy requirementfor composites manufacturingcompared to aluminium alloymanufacturing results in signifi-cant energy savings during thelife of the product.

The overall potential for carbon

composite wheels is large, butspecific. They are suited tohigher-value and high-perform-ance vehicles. The instant per-formance advantage and sim-plicity of fitment makes theNRG carbon wheels a naturalchoice for highly tuned vehicles,either OEM or aftermarket.

RTM with suitable epoxy resinsystems allow the production ofreproducible high quality partswithin acceptable cure times.

www.huntsman.co.uk

37


New composite wheel wins awardfor Huntsman Advanced Materials10% fuel saving achieved on Porsche test

>>>

GTMA members are beingoffered help in obtainingfinance from BusinessLending Specialists NGIFinance.

The company recognises thatbusiness loans and overdraftsaren’t as easy to obtain as theyused to be.

If you are a new start businessor a well-established companydisappointed by your currentbanker’s attitude to lending youmoney to invest in the business,NGI Finance can help. NGIFinance is a company thatunderstands our industry.

It specialises in securing

Business Loans, CommercialMortgages and Asset Finance,and currently has an UnsecuredLoan facility at competitive rates!

Being independent and flexiblewe have relationships withmany lenders across the wholeof the market, it says. If you arelooking for finance just giveChris Morris of NGI a call.

• Chris is due to speak atGTMA's AGM on June 15 onfunding opportunities (also seePage 41). Contact by Tel: 0870 8504484; Fax: 0870 8504485; Email: [email protected]

www.ngifinance.co.uk

Alternative finance for GTMA members

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:40 Page 37

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press releases... press releases... press releases...

Renishaw plc, the global engi-neering technologies company,has acquired the entire sharecapital of MTT InvestmentsLimited and its subsidiary, MTTTechnologies Limited (MTT).Based in Stone, Staffordshire,MTT designs, develops andmanufactures additive manufac-turing and rapid prototypingsystems, including selectivelaser melting, metal casting,and vacuum casting machinesand processes.

MTT's technologies has its mainmarkets in aerospace and med-ical devices, but with potential

Software products: GTMAmember Planit was at theSouthern Manufacturing atFIVE, show in Farnborough inFebruary with four brands:Alphacam Edgecam Radan andJobshop which all reportedgreat, steady attendance at thethree stands they had. All foursales teams had leads, andappointments to attend fromdiscussions on the stand. Planitis a leading developer of soft-ware products for sectorsincluding the metalworkingindustries, aircraft, appliances,ships, and a wide variety ofsheet metal products.

www.planit.com

Dragonskin succes: Since itsintroduction WNT’s MastertoolDragonskin range of insertshave proved highly successful inextending tool life and increas-ing productivity across a rangeof applications and materials.WNT has introduced five fami-lies of insert grades, with eitherPVD or CVD coatings, to pro-

vide a high-performance solu-tion when machining steel,stainless steel or difficult-to-machine materials such as heatresistant super alloys. Theinserts allows users to ensurethey are using the correct gradeon any application and gain themaximum performance fromtheir cutting edges.

www.wntuk.com

C2M Eurofunding: C2M hasannounced that it has beensuccessful in its proposal forEuropean Funding to developthe RGH™ material through toproduction. The C2M team wasin Brussels on the 13th and14thApril to put pen to paper on thedeal with a view to starting theproject in the middle of thesummer. The proposal wasdeveloped using support fromthe EEN and a great deal ofinput from the C2M team andits associated partners through-out Europe.

www.c2muk.co.uk

Press Releases Here is a selection of Press Releases received atGTMA offices. If you want to be considered please send yourreleases by email and in a Word document to: [email protected] the Subject: Press Release.

• Design & manufacture new tooling

• Refurbish existing tooling

• Repairs

• Precision machining

• Laser welding service

Put us to the test today !

Moorland Toolmaking LtdLady Ann Court, Lady Ann Road,Batley, West Yorkshire, WF17 0PY

Tel: 01924 470666 Fax: 01924 472666e-mail: [email protected]: www.moorlandtools.com

FOR ALL YOUR TOOLMAKING REQUIREMENTS

Wayne at the top of amountain in AfricaManaging Director, WayneKilford of GTMA member com-pany 3D Lasertec Ltd recentlytackled and reached the top ofKilimanjaro, the highest moun-tain in Africa and fourth highestof the Seven Summits.It is considered the tallest free-standing mountain in the

world,19,340 feet (5,895metres).Wayne also raised over £3500for the Children withLeukaemia Charity. He chosethis charity, after the sad lossof his cousin to the illness.

www.3dlasertec.co.uk

New business for Renishawfor use in other sectors. “All itsproducts are complementary toRenishaw’s existing technolo-gies and business and we lookforward to developing an excit-ing new business together,”said Sir David McMurtry,Renishaw’s Chairman and ChiefExecutive. MTT TechnologiesLimited has 35 employees, withsubsidiaries in the US and Italy,and a branch office in France.Its operations will be incorporat-ed within Renishaw as a newproduct division and will contin-ue to be based in Stone.

www.renishaw.com

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:40 Page 38

Following the continued success of the MakeMeasurement Matter (MMM)road shows GTMA is pleasedto announce the 2011 roadshow will be held at thePaddock Suite, DonningtonPark on October 19.

This will be the fifth road show -the others were at Aston Villa,RAF Cosford (twice) and DigitalLabs (below), the mult-discipli-nary research centre at Warwick

Impressive

accuracy and

repeatability with

the Trimos Vectra

Touch Height

Gauge

BOWERS METROLOGY: LEADING THE WAYIN QUALITY AND INSPECTION SOLUTIONS

Accurate shop-floor boremeasurement with theBowers XT Holematic Xtreme

Versatile materialstesting with theNEW Nemesis 9000Universal HardnessTester

The Bowers Metrology Group of Companies

Unit 15, Bordon Trading Estate,

Bordon, Hampshire GU35 9HH

Telephone: 08708 50 90 50 Fax: 08708 50 90 60

www.bowers.co.uk [email protected] in Precision

M a k e M e a s u re m e n t M a t t e r

Get ready foranother great road show

Manufacturing Group.

The event regularly attracts buy-ers from many 'blue chip' com-panies (last year these includedAlstom Transport, BAESystems, Bentley Motors,Bombardier Aerospace, DelphiDiesel Systems, Rolls Royce,GKN Aerospace) and with over30 exhibiting companies is ashowcase for latest develop-

CONTROL leads CONTROL, the world'sleading trade fair for qual-ity assurance to a broadrange of indusry groups,was held in Stuttgart, May 3-6.

It attracted over 800exhibitors from 28 countriesand had over 20,000 visitors.GTMA had its own stand asdid members includingBlum-Novotest, BowersMetrology, De-sta-co,Delcam, Eley MetrologyFaro, GOM, HexagonMetrology, Materialise, PhaseVision, Renishaw, TesaTechnology, VerisurfSoftware, Wenzel and CarlZeiss.

www.control-messe.com/en/control

ments in manufacturing measurement.

It is also an event where busi-ness is done – HexagonMetrology announced at oneshow that it took two on thespot orders of over £300,000.

Speakers were being organisedas we went to Press but arelikely to include a major playerfrom the automotive sector.

For more information contactGTMA on 0121 601 6350 oremail [email protected] TheMMM website below is nowopen for Registrations.

www.makemeasurementmatter.com

39

events... events... events... events... events...

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:40 Page 39

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The Plastics Design andMoulding Exhibition andConference (PDM11) hasmoved from its traditionalbase in Telford to the ExCelCentre in London where itruns from 18-19 May.

The move has attracted newexhibitors and visitors as well asstrengthening the event’sunique position in bringingtogether the best of British plas-tics manufacturing and design.Visitor registration as we wentto Press show that the new for-mat and London venue isattracting visitors from acrossthe UK andinternationally.

Both the PDM exhibition andthe conference programme arefree and give visitors access tosome of the world’s most emi-nent plastics manufacturingprofessionals.

In order to attract designers and

manufacturers with great plasticproduct ideas looking for adviceabout the best material or mouldmanufacturing process tochoose, there is a wealth ofexpertise on the exhibition standsand in the free workshops.

Three exhibitors, injectionmoulding technology groupEngel, design companyAgentdraw (both GTMA mem-bers) and materials distributorPlastribution are collaborating tohold PDM’s first plastics designworkshop on 18 May.

A wide range of the UK plasticsdesign and moulding communi-ty is represented at PDM11including of injection mouldingmachinery, rotational mouldingmachinery, blow mouldingmachinery and ancillary equip-ment as well as automationcompanies, mouldmakers, soft-ware companies, materials test-ing specialists, moulders, rapid

prototyping companies andother industry services.

The PDM11 conference pro-gramme includes seminars onAward Winning InjectionMoulding; Medical DeviceManufacture; and InjectionMoulding – design and productdevelopment. sessions coverhow to eliminate uncertaintyand optimise designs usingsimulation software and how toapply best practice whendesigning for manufacture.

PDM11 is supported by the GTMA.

www.pdmevent.com

PDM11 is co-located at theExCel Centre with a unique newevent dedicated to industrialdesign: the ProductDesign +Innovation conference

www.pdesigni.com

The Plastics Design and MouldingExhibition Conference

GTMA Exhibitors

GTMA registeredexhibitors at PDM as wewent to Press are (Standnumbers in brackets)

Agentdraw Ltd (27)

Carl Zeiss Ltd (6)

Engel UK Ltd (P33)

Hexagon Metrology (53)

Midas pattern Company (14)

Sprint Tool & Die (P40)

Superite Tools Limited (68)

University of Wolverhampton(P40)

GTMA will be representingall members on Stand W2.

Hexagon Metrology, which ison Stand 53, has completelyrevised and upgraded itsOptiv Classic product line.

In future the models making upthis entry level series of visualand multisensor measuring sys-tems will be the Optiv Classic321 GL (Granite Line), OptivClassic 321 GL tp and theOptiv Classic 453. They offereven more advantages.

The portfolio ranges frombenchtop measuring machinesto high-accuracy multisensormeasuring machines whichachieve top performances even

in the nano range. Multisensormeasuring machines combineoptical and tactile measuringtechniques so users can meas-ure all features of a workpiecein one measurement cycle. At

the same time Optiv featuresboth flexibility and accuracy. The new Optiv Classic 321 GLand the Optiv Classic 321 GLtp are based on a stable granitedesign. The machine base ismanufactured in natural hardstone, which gives an extremelystable mechanical construction.

The third in the group, OptivClassic 453, has a greater meas-urement range of 400 x 500 x300 mm and a higher table load.Parts weighing up to 60 kg canbe measured.

www.optiv.net www.hexagonmetrology.com

Hexagon refreshes Optiv Classic line

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:40 Page 40


Events 20112011

May 11th

May 18th – 19thJune 7th – 9th

June 15th

Sept 27–29th

October 19th

October

Nov 9th-10th

Nov 30th - Dec 3rd

Bringing it Back to Britain,Yamazaki Mazak, WorcesterPDM, ExCel London, GTMA Stand No W2Subcon, NEC, Birmingham,GTMA Stand No M1 GTMA/AGM, The National MetalformingCentre. The winner of the 2011 Apprenticeof the Year Award will also be announced atthe eventInterplas and TCT, Birmingham NEC, GTMA TCT: Stand P9GTMA Make Measurement MatterRoadshow, Donnington ParkWorld Skills London, ExCeL Exhibition &Conference Centre, London DocklandsAero Engineering / Composites ShowNEC, Birmingham Euromold, Frankfurt, Germany

Next Issue... The Autumn issue of GTMA NEWS will have promotionalopportunities for members in Metrology (in the Make MeasurementMatter Roadshow 2011 special focus), Automotive (a section highlightingbuyer needs), Aerospace (it will be at Aero Engineering / CompositesShow) and Interplas exhibitors.

Call for more: Colin Swindells on 01243 826385 or email: [email protected]

There will be a Financetheme to this year's GTMAAGM being held at our newoffices at the National MetalForming Centre, WestBromwich on June 15 starting at 3.30pm.

A seminar format will see threepresentations:

R&D Tax Credits: Greg Howeof Braithwaite will define R&Dand cover qualifying expendi-ture, 2011 budget changes andbenefits, using case studies.

Exchange Rates: Barry O'Neillof new member Clear Currencywill discuss how to manage for-

Finance theme to GTMA AGM GTMA members at this

year's Subcon exhibition atBirmingham NEC, June 7-9,include Faro, HexagonMetrology, Phase Vision,Nikon, Trac MeasurementSystems, Vision Engineeringand WDS Components.GTMA is on Stand M1.

Subcon has doubled in sizesince 2007 and this year hasover 300 exhibitors from 28countries. Visitors are from allsectors and are sourcing sub-contracting including machiningand metal forming, plasticmoulding, electronic assembly,prototyping, toolmaking andsurface engineering.

There is also a strong Seminarprogramme with case studies

from leading OEMs includingon topics including supply chaindevelopment. Other sessionswill cover renewable energy,collaborative working and newtechnologies.

Also lined up is theManufacturing Technology Zone(covering areas such as metrol-ogy equipment and prototyping)and The Tooling Show withlatest tooling developments foradvanced manufacturing.

Subcon is co-located withLogistics Link Live on 8 and 9June. Free tickets are availablefrom:

www.subconshow.co.ukwww.toolingshow.co.uk www.logisticslink.co.uk .

Subcon doubles in size

eign exchange exposure andissues including increasing andprotecting profit margins ininternational trade.

Today's Financial Market:Chris Morris from NGI FinanceSolutions will cover areasincluding funding opportunitiesand alternatives to mainstreambanking products.

The winner of the 2011Apprentice of the Year Awardswill also be announced at theevent.

More information from GTMAoffices on 0121 601 6348. oremail [email protected]

Optiv Classic: Your entry to the

world of 3D multi-sensor metrology.

The new range of Optiv Classic models is

available with a range of multi-sensor options

including various vision sensors and tactile

probes for the ultimate in flexibility.

Optiv. Optical Performance Technology in Vision.

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xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:44 Page 41

UK TOOLMAKING INDUSTRY SURVEY - 2011

Image courtesy of Casting Support Systems Ltd.

Is at least one person in your company spending at least 80% of their time on tasks that are a part of the “toolmaking” process? Typically these activities might include: Tool Design; Tool Repair/Servicing; Machine Tool Operation; Machine Tool Programming; Tool Building; Bench Work/Fitting; Tool Trials

If Yes, please continue with Question 2.

If No, please ignore Questions 2-5 but fill in the details at the bottom of the form and return to GTMA.

Can you further help us to understand the type of toolmaking activity at your company by indicating which of the followingcategories is most valid:

Please tick as appropriate

Sub-contract toolmaker – only engaged in toolmaking as business activity

Main activity is toolmaking - but there is also a subsidiary part of the business such as moulding, die casting or stamping(above simple try-out facilities)

Main activity is traditional toolmaking, but as an additional service you manufacture prototype/rapid tooling

Main activity is prototype/rapid tooling

Main activity is production (moulding, die casting or stamping typically), but there is also a subsidiary toolmaking department in support of the main activity, i.e. you carry out “in-house” toolmaking.

In total, how many people are employed at your company either in a job position called “Toolmaker” or in a position thatwould not exist if it were not in support of the toolmaking activity?

This figure should include all support staff

Please split the figure quoted in Q3 into:

a. The number of people involved in “hands-on” toolmaking activities including Design, Machine Tool Programming, etc.

b.The number of support staff (typically non-engineering activities).

What is the amount of turnover at your company that is derived from toolmaking activity?Please indicate a figure for the last calendar year (2010) or nearest acccounting year

If you are not the person named overleaf, but you are the person responsible for toolmaking activities at your company,please give your name, position and company name.

Form completed by -(PLEASE PRINT)

Please return this form to:

Julia Moore, GTMABy Fax to: 0121 601 6378OR By Post to:GTMA (Census)The National Metal Forming Centre,47 Birmingham Road,West Bromwich B70 6PY

or TEL 021 601 6368 even if the answer to Q1 is “No”.

YES NO please tick

1

2

3

4

56

£

For office use:

Position:

Company:

Address:

Tel:

Fax:

e-mail:

Name:

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:44 Page 42

Select Moulds offer a full solution to the Medical IndustryFrom conception to birth we can support our customers by supplying a one stop shop service.

-Reverse Engineering

-Design for Manufacture -Mould Design

-RP Tooling-Pre-Production Tooling-Full Scale-Up-2 Material Moulding

-Turn-Key Packages

-PDQ-Validation

West Richardson StreetHigh WycombeBucks HP11 2SB

Tel: +44 (0)1494 459551Fax: +44 (0)1494 461533Enquiries: [email protected]

www.selectmoulds.co.uk

Select Moulds Ltd

Select Moulds offer a full solution

-Reverse Engineering-Moldflow Analysis-Design for Manufacture-Mould Design

-RP Tooling-Pre-Production Tooling-Production tooling-2 Material Moulding

No: 2 avocet Trading EstateWest Richardson StreetHigh WycombeBucks HP11 2SB

Tel: +44 (0)1494 459551Fax: +44 (0)1494 461533Enquiries:[email protected]

www.selectmoulds.co.uk

-Gas Insertion-Automation and Assembly-Validation

From ‘conception to birth’ we can support ourcustomers by supplying a ‘one stop shop’ service.

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:44 Page 43

xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:44 Page 44

Documents

GTMA News Issue 1 2011