FE-Jan10-6:FE-Jan10-6.qxd 05/01/2010 15:02 Page 6
News Industry
In brief…
Manufacturing invests despite recession
Washroom and hygiene products The metal manufacturing sector has increased its tise to get innovations to market quickly. The
supplier Kimberly-Clark investment in collaboration and innovation, despite shorter KTPs were undoubtedly a key part to greater
Professional has achieved ISO the recession, according to the latest Knowledge collaboration between manufacturers and acade-
14001 certification at each of its Transfer Partnerships (KTP) annual report. mics, providing flexibility during the downturn and
European manufacturing sites. The report reveals during 2008/09, a time in giving them an advantage during the recovery.”
Certification to the internationally which the recession had firmly taken hold, the One company to benefit from KTP is casting man-
accepted, independently audited number of KTP projects involving metal manufac- ufacturer, The Stockton Casting Company, which
standard shows Kimberly-Clark turers increased in comparison to the previous year. embarked on a KTP project with the University of
Professional has introduced an The news follows the publication of manufactur- Teesside. The project saw the business upgrade its
environment management system ing organisation EEF’s recent annual Innovation business efficiencies by implementing an improved
(EMS) within its tissue mills. Monitor survey which revealed 59% of manufactur- operational system and castings design capability to
The key environmental ing companies have plans to introduce product achieve sustainable capacity.
responsibilities identified include: innovations over the next three years. Funding organisations also continue to see the
energy use, air emissions, fresh The results from the KTP report also show that, value of innovative projects, with the report noting
water consumption, waste water on average, businesses stand to benefit from an an increase of almost 30% in grant support commit-
discharge and solid waste overall increase in annual profit before tax of more ted to new KTP projects during the year.
generation. Within its EMS, it will than £126 million through KTP - £43 million more Knowledge Transfer Partnerships Programme
consider each aspect and develop than in 2007/08. director Dr Debbie Buckley-Golder said: “KTP is
controls to mitigate or control their EEF senior economist, Jeegar Kakkad, said: “It is Europe’s leading knowledge transfer programme,
impacts. encouraging to see that over the past year metals and part of its success is its flexibility and respon-
www.kimberly-clark.com manufacturers have increased their investment in siveness to the changing economic environment -
innovation. More manufacturers are collaborating and this has never been more important than during
Representatives from the Carbon with universities, drawing on their technical exper- this past year.”
www.ktponline.org.uk
Trust and power solutions provider,
Power Quality Management were
among the speakers at the latest
£19m competition to support industries
energy management seminar held
by Brammer UK at its Centre of
linked to low carbon vehicle projects
Excellence in Wolverhampton.
The sessions at the event cov- The Business Secretary Lord “This competition will rein-
ered issues including energy pro- Mandelson has announced a £19 force the Automotive Council’s
ject funding and managing power million competition to support focus on both supply chain and
quality, as well as current legisla- industry-led collaborative pro- technology. Both these areas will
tion on energy usage and carbon jects which are focussed on be vital if the mass production of
emissions. Delegates found out strengthening UK capability and low carbon vehicles in the UK is
more about energy management developing the UK’s supply net- to become a reality.”
RAF museum to
best practice from real case stud- works for low and ultra-low The Technology Strategy
host exhibition
ies of Brammer customers. carbon vehicle projects. Board is putting £10 million into
Brammer works with companies Speaking at the first meeting of this new Low Carbon Vehicles The organiser of the Fastening &
across all manufacturing sectors to the Automotive Council, Lord Innovation Platform competition Assembly Solutions Exhibitions
help reduce energy consumption, Mandelson said: “This invest- and will run it in partnership has announced a new venue for
which delivers improvements to ment is an important step for the with the Office for Low Emission its March 11th event - now for
their performance. UK towards a low carbon econ- Vehicles (OLEV). the first time in the London area
www.brammer.co.uk omy. The Government is com- The Department for Transport at RAF Museum Hendon.
mitted to targeting areas where (DfT) is putting £9 million into Mark Newby, MD of organisers
More than one in five small firms there is potential to build on the competition that will be NewbyCom, said: “We are bring-
are delaying embracing environ- existing capabilities and deliver focusing on technology develop- ing the successful specialist
mentally-friendly measures global competitive advantage ment and expanding the UK forum of Fastening & Assembly
because of the recession but and economic benefit for the UK. supply chain. Solutions to design and produc-
almost as many are likely to imple- tion engineers in the south so
ment them, a Forum of Private they can benefit from the walk-in
Business (FPB) survey suggests.
Call to freeze new small business laws
hands-on kind of problem solv-
In all, 22% of business owners ing that our exhibitors can offer.
on the FPB’s Environmental The Forum of Private Businesses would be an opportunity to This approach has proven suc-
Member Panel said that economic (FPB) is calling for a freeze in launch the first comprehensive cessful in facilitating immediate
conditions had made them less new business legislation until regulatory review - in the spirit of cost savings using everything
likely to pursue environmentally- the next General Election to the comprehensive spending from adhesives, bolts, clips, plas-
friendly solutions. However, 17% allow the Government to re- review - as proposed by the FPB tic fasteners, latches, inserts,
said they are more likely to do so. assess the burden of red tape. in its submission to the PBR. blind rivets, rivet nuts and self
Most respondents (61%) said the Prior to the pre-budget report “The Government must ensure clinching fasteners, to stainless
recession had no impact on their (PBR) in December last year, the regulations are proportionate to steel fastenings, hinges, adhesive
environmental policies. FPB lobbied Government to ease their aim. We want departments tapes, captive fixings or clamps.”
A quarter of panel members regulation on small businesses to get to grips with the various More than 100 aircraft with
(26%) have as yet implemented no after finding it costs them almost aspects of the regulatory burden RAF connections are displayed
environmental measures, but 22% £12 billion per year. on businesses and a comprehen- on this historic site. Exhibits
have formal plans and 56% informal FPB policy representative, sive regulatory review would include the Spitfire and Hawker
policies in place. Matt Goodman, said a hiatus in provide just that sort of under- Hurricane.
www.fpb.org new small business laws in the standing.” www.fastening-
months before the election
www.fpb.org solutions-exhibition.co.uk
6 JANUARY 2010 Factory Equipment
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56