News Industry
Comment Top firms compete for ‘business oscars’
Britain’s best businesses have been shortlisted for the Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ Manufacturing
Excellence
Awards 2010 (known as MX). Despite the economic climate
It seems that show season is upon us once again. I’ve already attended quite a few exhibitions this year and I’m pleased to say that the majority have been quite well attended with visitors keen to learn more about the products and services on offer and exhibitors reporting many of these enquires turning into genuine sales leads. I’ve always been of the opinion that you can gauge the general health of a market sector to a certain extent by the interest and attendance of its relevant exhibitions, and I’m pleased to say that so far this year there are definite signs that things are heading in a positive direction. The industrial automation sector is
well served by exhibitions and they tend to be the place to find out about the latest products and industry trends as well as network with like- minded industry professionals. The biggest exhibitions for us in the UK include MACH and Drives & Controls and the good news is that both of these biennial shows run together and are taking place this year. I believe they are happening at just the right time and a visit to the NEC, Birmingham in June could prove very worthwhile. Find out more about both events in our previews that start on page 15 of this issue.
Neil Mead - Editor
Events
Mach 2010
7-11 June, NEC, Birmingham
www.mach2010.com
Drives & Controls 2010
8-10 June, NEC, Birmingham
www.drives.co.uk
Automatica 2010
8-11 June, Munich Trade Fair
www.automatica-munich.com
Profibus and Profinet User Conference (see p28-29)
29-30 June, Stratford Manor, Stratford-upon-Avon
www.profi-bus.co.uk
Automation MAY 2010
taking its toll on the UK business and manufacturing sector, firms such as Michelin Tyres and P&G Gillette are all vying for one of 12 awards at MX which is dubbed the ‘Oscars’ of the business world. Judging the 18 finalists will be
business experts from Price- waterhouseCoopers, Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) and Autodesk, among others. There will be a two-day judging process before the winners are announced at the Dorchester in London on 23rd June. ‘Oscars’ up for grabs include
Best SME, Best Overall Business, Product Innovation, Process Innovation, Best Financial Management, Best Business Education Partnership and Sustainable Manufacturing. Past winners include North West’s Leyland Trucks which won the event last year and Rolls-Royce, Ford, Land Rover and Wrightbus are all previous success stories.
MX2010 finalist, Aircelle from
Yorkshire, produces nacelles (a special type of casing often used to protect engines, wind turbines or contain fuel on aircraft), thrust reversers and aero structures. It counts giants such as Rolls Royce, Gulfstream and Airbus as some its clients. Its products are said to be crucial to the safety of flights and contribute to the effi- ciency of some of the world’s leading airliners. Helen Gopsill, HR Director at
Aircelle said: “We are striving to become an employer of choice within the marketplace and these awards provide an excellent opportunity to benchmark against other high profile, high calibre organisations. This year’s shortlist includes firms with headcounts ranging from 75 to circa 5,000, manufacturing prod- ucts ranging from submarines, diesel engines, tyres, missile sys- tems and safety technology.
Cambridge-based Carl Zeiss
SMT, is also celebrating reaching the last few. The firm dates back to 1865 and was founded by the nephew of Charles Darwin. It is the leading producer of Scanning Electron Microscopes, devices so acute they can capture grains of pollen for hay fever research as an example. The firm is also involved in life sciences and material analysis and most of its products are exported. Bob Taylor, managing director
of Carl Zeiss SMT said: “We are delighted to be shortlisted in our first year of entering this compe- tition. Carl Zeiss is an interna- tionally renowned company with a long history and brand name associated with world leading innovation and quality.” Graeme Allinson, head of man-
ufacturing and transport logistics at Barclays, which is supporting the Best Financial Management Award, said: “The MX Awards are one of the mainstays of the British manufacturing calendar, a chance to celebrate innovative manufac- turers, and understand what the future holds for this sector.”
www.imeche.org
ABB broadens product availability Fourth Automatica opens next month
As part of a global programme, ABB in the UK and Ireland has announced the local launch of several new products as part of its comprehensive automation portfolio. Previously ABB control system products were used almost
exclusively by ABB’s own engineering groups; however the development of new products delivering high value in terms of functionality and price has allowed ABB to rethink its method of delivering them to the market. Under its solution provider programme ABB is now working
with a selected group of Channel Partners in order to broaden the availability of these automation products. ABB’s portfolio of control system products ranges from a very
small hybrid controller through to its flagship System 800xA Extended Automation system, with the key middle ground being populated with the Freelance DCS and Compact 800 products. The new approach allows DCS functionality to be available for smaller applications than those typically be undertaken with the 800xA DCS system. Care has been taken to ensure that both pricing and functionality make the middle ground or hybrid products span applications that previously would have attracted a SCADA/PLC solution. Martin Grady, manager of ABB’s open control systems busi-
ness in UK & Ireland said: “These are exciting times. We can offer a new and better way to develop and deliver automation solutions across the board, bringing ABB’s DCS expertise and ease of use to all automation tasks. We already have projects delivered and underway with our
chosen Channel Partners. We have strategically selected our Channel Partners in order to ensure that they all have access to the full range of support that backs up ABB’s reputation for quality.”
www.abb.co.uk
The fourth Automatica exhibition will take place in Munich’s state-of-the-art trade fair centre from 8th to 11th June. Covering automation for every
industry, it includes robotics, machine vision, assembly and handling technol- ogy, positioning systems, sensor tech- nology and for the first time, the industry’s contribution to the concept of ‘Green Automation’. Automatica has evolved into one of
the industry’s leading European Trade Fairs. In 2008 there were 868 exhibitors from 41 countries and the show had 31,856 vistors from 101 countries. The show is thought to be a suitable platform to gather informa- tion, discuss business and make inter- national contacts.
www.automatica-munich.com
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