News Industry Comment Government drive to cut red tape
As we approach the final quarter of the year and everyone returns to work following the summer break the exhibition season is getting into full swing. By the time you read this The Energy Event and Recycling & Waste Management exhibition will have already taken place at the NEC and the next big industry shows will be just around the corner. Following its launch in 2010, the second running of Datateam’s Sensing Technology exhibition is expected to be even more successful than last year when it opens for business on 27th September. As the UK’s only national show dedicated to sensors and sensing systems, there will be an extensive range of technologies on show, covering areas from inspection and measurement to condition
monitoring, flow and level, calibration, and data acquisition. The exhibition will be further enhanced by an Innovation Theatre and two seminar suites where you can learn about the latest technology and applications. The NEC will also be the venue for a number of other exhibitions running alongside Sensing Technology 2011, including Interplas, MM Live UK, MEMS Live UK, NANO Live UK, tct Live and the PPMA Show. In this issue you will find previews of Sensing Technology 2011 on page 5 and the PPMA Show starting on page 15. So as you can see at the end of September the NEC, Birmingham will once again become the main focus of attention for the manufacturing industry. Can you afford not to be there?
Neil Mead - Managing Editor Events
The PPMA show 27-29 September, NEC, Birmingham
www.ppmashow.co.uk
Sensing Technology 27-28 September, NEC, Birmingham
www.sensingtechnology.co.uk
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Manufacturing companies are being urged to get involved in the ‘Red Tape Challenge’ (RTC) and start to dismantle the barriers to growing their businesses. EEF, the manufacturers’ organ- isation is helping to spearhead the two-week campaign through its chief executive, Terry Scuoler, who will act as sector champion. Commenting on the Challenge and his role, Scuoler, said: “The growth in regulation has plagued business for a long time. But by getting involved in the Red Tape Challenge, companies now have a real opportunity to help turn the tide. By telling government how regulations are affecting them, how they could be improved and where they should
be scrapped, they can help to start dismantling a key barrier to growing their businesses.” The RTC is a government ini- tiative to help deliver on its com- mitment to cut the burden of regulation weighing down on the economy. Businesses are being invited to tell the Government, through a dedicated website, which regulations are justified and which are not.
EEF is also lobbying for reduced, simplified and more effective regulation in a number of areas covered by the RTC including Environmental policy, such as the considerable scope for consolidation in waste and packaging regulation.
www.eef.org.uk
A Big Tick for corporate responsibility
Arco has retained its Big Tick status in the Business in the Community’s (BITC) 2011 Awards for Excellence, for its dedication to ethical supply chain management.
As a leading distributor of safety clothing, equipment and industrial supplies, the reaccred- itation underpins Arco’s belief that the health and welfare of its own people and those working for companies in its supply chain are of critical importance. The Big Tick award is the first level of award available to entrants of the national Awards for Excellence, which recognises inspirational
Nick Hildyard, Arco’s joint MD, with members of the Arco team
programmes making a positive impact on the community, the environment or wider society. The Big Tick award recognises companies that have shown innovation, creativity and sus- tained commitment to corporate responsibility.
www.arco.co.uk New standard to enhance food safety
The British Standards Institution, BSI, has launched a new standard to streamline food safety systems between food manufacturers and the packaging they use for their products. PAS 223 aims to ensure confidence in food and drink packaging safety systems and bring consistency across global packaging industry practices. It could also potentially reduce tendering costs for packaging manufacturers who adhere to it and a help align packaging activities more closely with their clients’ requirements.
www.bsigroup.com Helping business leaders of the future
Students from Solihull College have been pitching their business ideas to industry experts as part of small business start up course. General manager of Mattei, Andy Jones, was asked to take part in the process, sharing his knowledge on running a success- ful and growing business. Around 20 students went in
front of the panel of judges ear- lier this month. The students, who are currently on a BTEC First Diploma in Business, received feedback about positive aspects of their business plans and also areas of improvement, which will benefit them in their future studies.
www.mattei.co.uk
Rechargeable lithium-ion battery technology received a boost with the investment of £40 million in Nexeon, the company pioneering the use of silicon anodes in place of carbon. The Series C invest- ment was led by existing investor Imperial Innovations Group and included Invesco Perpetual, also an existing investor.
Nexeon plans to use the new funding to establish a world-class manufacturing facility, scaling up the production of its latest sil- icon anode materials to around 250 tonnes per annum. Use of sil- icon anodes in Li-ion batteries is said to produce a significantly higher performance and over- come the limitations of present- day technology.
www.nexeon.co.uk SEPTEMBER 2011 Factory Equipment In brief…
Trumpf UK has appointed Scott Simpson as MD. Formerly technical director, Simpson has taken over from Hartmut Pannen who returns to Trumpf Japan to spearhead customer support in the wake of the country’s devastating earthquake and tsunami.
www.uk.trumpf.com
maxon motor, supplier of high-preci- sion motors, drives and systems for design engineers celebrated its 50th anniversary, marking a half-century of technological innovation. The Swiss company started out producing products for Braun Electric Razors.
www.maxonmotor.co.uk
A charity which offers paid gap year internships is helping university applicants who find they don’t have a university place this year, having failed to meet their offered grades. EDT’s ‘The Year in Industry’ programme places students on a working gap year with leading engineering, technology or science companies.
www.yini.org.uk
Brammer, supplier of maintenance, repair and overhaul products and services, has secured a contract with Tata Steel UK. The general bearings contract is part of Tata Steel’s Inventory & Stores Optimisation (ISO) project to reduce total cost of ownership.
www.brammer.co.uk
Boost for battery firm
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