Shapa
Coming home
Manufacturing is returning to Britain, which is great news for the returning industries and those who are involved in bulk handling
In this context we are considering repatriation of British
manufacturing. It is heartening to see the off-shoring trend gaining momentum in reverse; the mix of returning industries is truly eclectic. Recent examples range from toy racing cars to domestic appliances, in many cases driven by the ability to adapt to change rapidly – much easier with local suppliers. Again, wage rates and transport costs are increasing in many hitherto “low cost” countries. Delivery costs (and lead times) are significant, with recent increases in shipping rates – good for container shippers! – but less beneficial for overseas suppliers moving goods over long distances. We well know that most manufacturing relies on processing and handling bulk materials. Whether made from plastics, metals or minerals the raw materials will have been in bulk form at some stage. SHAPA is the natural hub and source of technical, commercial and market information for materials manufacturers and suppliers. Industries may be diverse – this
24 March 2014 Solids and Bulk Handling
issue features food and drink, pharmaceutical and quarries/ mines, but the processes overlap. Of course the technologies required to handle cereals, pharmaceutical powders or china clay, for instance, are quite different, but the principles are nonetheless similar. S&BH also features hoppers and silos this month. They may be used across the above industries, but accurate handling of high value medical products clearly requires a different specialist approach from storage of grain or cement. However, whatever the material and industry there are SHAPA member companies who can deliver reliably. Specialised skills together with years of accumulated knowledge and wisdom ensure that the best economic partners for material processing and handling projects can be found by visiting the Product Finder at
www.shapa.co.uk. Some industries have continuously attracted inward investment to UK, vital to maintain or improve the balance of trade. The export value of the motor vehicle industry, for instance, now almost matches
that of imports. With reliance on steel, plastics, minerals and fabrics as raw materials, this is good news for the solids and bulk handling industry sector, the success of which is vital for further manufacturing processes. Further recent good news comes from the awarding of the Crossrail train contracts to British industry. It is therefore vital that companies in this diverse sector maximise their skills, knowledge and competence. SHAPA provides an ideal low cost forum for the sharing and dissemination of this data and offers member companies great opportunities to keep up with developments in technology and in the marketplace, for the national good. Of course, if you are a
manufacturer or supplier of solids handling or processing equipment and not yet a member, it would be clearly worthwhile to consider joining the SHAPA family. n
Visit:
www.shapa.co.uk or email:
info@shapa.co.uk for a valuable insight.
www.solidsandbulk.co.uk
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