GTMA Manufacturing UK 2013
Yamazaki Mazak's European headquarters played host to GTMA Manufacturing UK 2013, which attracted more than 120 visitors from many of the leading UK engineering and technology companies.
In addition to visiting the exhibition zone - which featured 38 of the Association's members demonstrating the very latest products and services designed to support manufacturing businesses - they were able to listen to keynote speakers from the aerospace, automotive and medical industry sectors.
Association Chief Executive Officer, Julia Moore, explained: "The GTMA Manufacturing UK event was organised to highlight the recent engineering successes already being enjoyed by UK-based manufacturing companies which have placed significant orders for tooling and precision machining with British companies in the aerospace, automotive, packaging, medical and other industries over the last year.
"This clearly demonstrates the trend for large OEMs to reconsider their policies with regards to outsourcing. Companies have reported work returning to the UK which previously would have been placed in low cost economies. This exciting reversal of business strategy is in the wake of the cost implications of project managing overseas production and the benefits of UK engineering expertise."
Scott Unwin, Editor of Mould Technology, chaired the event and introduced the speakers. From the aerospace industry John Rooney, Operations Director of Gardner Aerospace's new facility in Derby, he provided a brief presentation on the challenges facing aerospace manufacturing businesses in the coming years and Gardner Group's recent successes built upon solution and service provision to Tier One and OEMs. The part of his presentation that covered the impact and implications of supplying components to the various new aircraft programmes detailed the dramatic business demands that are placed on suppliers, but it also highlighted where the business benefits came from.
Michael Mychajluk, Purchasing Risk Manager at Jaguar Land Rover, represented the automotive industry. Having worked in the automotive industry for a number of years, he currently leads the development of sustainable supply chain policy and procedures for the JLR purchasing function. As well as detailing JLR’s recent investments and successes, his presentation 'UK automotive industry – the opportunity for growth' provided attendees with an insight into how to approach the automotive industry as a potential supplier. As well as explaining JLR's recent investments in UK manufacturing and engineering, he also explained about further investments from GM, Nissan, BMW and Toyota.
From the medical sector, Bryn Jones, Operations Director of Hospital Metalcraft/Bristol Maid, covered 'Technology Partnerships' stimulating growth; a collaboration between Manufacturing, Academia and the Healthcare sector. Bristol Maid has worked closely with the NHS to develop new equipment for the healthcare sector. As the commercial partner the company uses modern, high-tech manufacturing techniques to enable the design concepts to become commercially viable.
The final speaker of the day was Zoe Cairns, Director of ZC Social Media, who covered the professional business social media site, LinkedIn. Her tips on producing a social media strategy were very well received by both visitors and the events exhibitors.
Moore commented: "Yamazaki Mazak's state-of-the-art manufacturing facility provided an environment that ideally suited the theme of our event, and both the visitors and exhibitors provided extremely positive feedback."
What the exhibitors say:
Metrology and inspection equipment manufacturer, Alicona, exhibited the InfiniteFocusSL from its range of optical non-contact profilometers.
Sales Director, Brian Kyte, said: "The event was very well organised by the GTMA, bringing together a large number of delegates from many different industries and disciplines. The event was very successful from both an organisational point of view and an Alicona point of view developing a good number of new contacts and opportunities. The location, at the Yamazaki Mazak site in Worcester, was a perfect for such an event providing an engineering environment, which is both attractive and in-tune with the subjects discussed. Providing a good indication of the high quality of British engineering, and from an Alicona perspective we would most certainly attend others in the future."
Hanson Thorpe Precision Toolmakers also exhibited at the Manufacturing UK 2013 event. The Manchester-based company is a leading supplier of first-class injection moulding tools and has in-house design and CAD/CAM facilities, linked to a well-equipped toolroom that includes several high specification CNC milling and spark/wire erosion machines tools. It has manufactured a range of tools from single impression to multi impression tools, hot runner systems, unscrewing, 3D formed and twin shot tools.
Company Director, Des Thorpe, remarked: "Great day for networking, with excellent, informative speakers, it was certainly worthwhile attending."
It was the first time that Wogaard has exhibited with the GTMA, and the company has also recently become a member of the association.
Director of Wogaard's UK agent JTH Jason Hutt commented: "All in all it was an excellent experience with great location and good planning. Being a small company it was great to get the opportunity to exhibit without breaking the bank and also network with other suppliers."
He added: "The location of the show was excellent, at one of the world’s leading manufacturers of machine tools it was an extremely interesting venue with great relevance. It also provided an excellent platform for Wogaard to showcase the Award Winning 'Coolant Saver' which was launched properly into the UK in 2012. The product is gaining momentum and coverage, with growing European distribution channels now being set up.
"Wogaard look forward to launching further products this year and also participating in future events with the GTMA."
Another new GTMA member exhibiting at the event was Hasco Internorm.
The company's Managing Director, Neil Moseley, said: "On behalf of Hasco, I would like to thank the GTMA, Mazak and guest speakers for an entertaining and enlightening event. As a new member of the association, I was impressed by the professional manner in which it was executed, and I am looking forward to our companies working closer together in the future."
Stewart Roney, Sales Director, 4D Engineering (UK Mastercam Distributor), noted: "The latest Mastercam X7 was on show at the Mazak/GTMA event and considerable interest was shown in many of the new features released including the dynamic X7 Mill/Turn product, Blade Expert for impeller machining and Port Expert for automatic 3- and 5-axis engine port machining. Also on show was the latest Robotmaster release for offline robotic programming including the ability to import any CAD/CAM APT source file and optimise it for robot path trajectory using Robotmaster's unique graphical control."
For Ringspann UK, the GTMA Manufacturing UK 2013 event was very successful.
Walter Whiting, Area Sales Manager, North, stated: "The choice of venue was excellent and the presentations were interesting and informative. The whole event was a wonderful opportunity to meet with other GTMA members, and to discuss future business with existing and new potential customers. Overall, a most enjoyable day and one we look forward to participating again in the future."
Leading independent global supplier of VERICUT CNC machine verification and optimisation software, CGTech demonstrated V7.2, the latest release of the software developed to protect all machine tool investments and improve manufacturing efficiency.
By simulation the NC cutting tool path VERICUT removes the need to prove component machining programs on the shopfloor as well as negating the risk of any gouging, spindle or axes collisions on the machine.
“It was good to see such a significant number of leading manufacturing companies taking the time to attend the event, and to visit the various exhibition stands to see the latest products and services available. As well as showing our existing customers the enhancements available with the latest version of VERICUT, we also demonstrated the software to a number of potential new customers,” confirmed Managing Director, John Reed.
