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U I


nsidide this this issue we


issue w have another have another


systems. It was originally planned as a feature, but grew to become rger secti n of the m gazine due to the shear number of teresti g new developments ations that we had to chi e vision system


specispecial supplement, thi focusing onmachine vision was ori


al supplement, this time ti


focusing on m chine vision systems.


al y planned


as a feature, but grew to becom a la larger section of themagazine due to the shear number of interesting new developments and appland applications that we had to cover. Machine vision systems have made huge advances over the last 20 years and the company featured on the


cover.


have made huge advances over the last 20 years and the company featured on the ement cover,


een at the forefro


supplsupplement cover, Multipix, has been at the forefront of many of these. As one of the UK’s forem st specialist m chin


x, has


these. As one of the UK’ foremost specialist machine vision distributors, the company is celebratin


vision distributors, the com any is celebrating its 20th


its 2 th


annianniversary this year and will be attending the UKIVA’s inaugural conference and exhibition,


versary this year and w be


attending the UKI A’s i augural conference and exhibition, which takes place on 27 April at Arena in


ynes. M st o th tten ma ma


supplliers wiers willl bl be attending and taking the opportunity to display and dem nstrate their l test products and solutions.


taking the opportunity to display and demonstrate their latest products and solutions.


Featuring a packed programme of over 50 technical sem nars, an exhibition of 47 l ading companies and keynote


Featuri g a packed program of over 50 technical seminars, an exhibition of 47 leading companies and keynote


addresses by Dyson and Ocado, this promises to be any event not to be m ssed by anyone


addresses by Dyson and Ocado, this promises to be any event not to bemissed by anyone


interested in the latest machine vision technology.


interested in the latest m chin vision technology. Nei


NeilMead -Managing Editor ad - Managing Edi


takes place on 27 Apri at Arena MK in Miltolton Keynes. Most of the UK’s mainmachine vision su


TATA STEEL I VESTS ata Steel has unveieiledled its latest


the company’s Automotive Service Centre in Wednesfiednesfield, West ands,


ata Steel h s u llinine for tailo mp


for tailor welded blanks at mo


ld Centre i est


Midldlands, marki g 21 years of the site processing and distributing steel products.


rking 21 years of the


site processing and distributing steel products.


The openiThe opening comes after UK car production reached a 17-year high in


ng comes after UK car


production reached a 17-year high in 2016, due inin part to exceptional glglobal demand. Recent figures publpublished by the Society of M tor Manufacturers and Traders (SM


16, d rt to cep io


obal demand. Recent figures shed by the Society of Motor nufacturers and Traders


(SMMT) show that 1.7mcars were buibuilt in thlt in the UK last year, with a large portion (78.8 per cent) of those being exported. Tata Steel


rge porti n (78.8 per cent) of those being exported. Tata Steel


show that 1.7m cars w re e U last year, w th


its latest


TATA STEEL INVESTS IIN UK FOR AUTOMOTIVE CUSTOMERS T


UK FOR AUTOMOTIVE CUSTOMERS plplays a key role in the UK ays a key role i the UK


automotive manufacturing supply arge part of i s high


quality steels processed at the Wednesfidnesfield si site for ite for its wide OEM and subcontractor customer base. One of only a few i the world, the new line trebles the site’s


and subcontractor customer base. One of only a few in the world, the new line trebles the site’s capacity for taicapacity for tailolor welded blanks, adding to the existing high-


r w lded blanks, adding to the existing high-


throughput line that provides linear near/2D processes.


throughput l ne that provi es l near and non-land non-linear/2D processes.


Tata Steel Tata Steel’s A’s Automotive Service Centre – part of the company’s ‘Stee


tomotive Service


Centre – part of the com any’s ‘Steelpark’ site – has been producining tailor welded blanks since its initial development in the


rk’ site – s b en tailor w ld sin e its initial d velo ent in th


1990s, with the new line heralding the latest phase of investment in the T ta Steel site, that h


90s wi h the new l ne her in the last three ng


the latest phase of investment in the Tata Steel site, that has totaltotalled £led £20min the last three years.


years.


automotive m nufacturing supply chaichain, wi with a lth a large part of its high quality steels processed at the s w de O


start to the year than expected, defying firms’ own expectations and providing amuch-needed boost to conficonfidence, recruidence, recruitment and investment, according to the Q1 2017 Manufacturing Outlook released by EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, and accountancy and business advisory firm BD


K m nufacturing has got off to a m ch stronger start to the year than expected, defying firms’ own expectations and providing a m ch-needed boost to tment and investment, according to


the Q1 2017 Manufacturing Outlook released by EEF, them nufacturers’ organisation, and accountancy and business advisory firmBDO LLP.


LLP.


The latest quarterly survey, the first this year, reports positives across alreports positives across alll the sector’s key indicators with performance in vital areas such as output and orders smashing all expectations. The balance of firm reporting an upl t i


The latest quarterly survey, the first this year, the sector’s key i dicators th performance i vital areas such as output and


orders smashing al expectati ns. The balance of firms reporting an uplift in output (31 per cent) and orders (29 per cent) is double what was expected, with the output balance hitting i s highest level since Q3 2013. Importantl , al of UK m nufacturing’s sectors are seeing this positive trend.


output (31 per cent) and orders


(29 per cent) i double what was expected, with the output balance hitting its highest level since Q3 2013. Importantly, all of UK manufacturing’s sectors are seeing this positive trend.


The fiThe figures demonstratemanufacturers’ unfailing abilility toity to ‘make hay while the sun shines’, with firms clearly capitalising on a broad-based export recovery fuelled not only by the drop in the value of sterling, but so


clearl capital im


gures dem nstrate m nufacturers’ unfai ng ‘m e h y w ile the su shines’, w th firm ng on a broad-based export recovery


fuel ed not only by the drop i the value of sterl ng, but also by an improvement in the economic performance of keymarkets. A balance of 54 per cent of


vement in the eco ic p rfo


of key m rkets. A balance of 54 per cent of nufacturers report positive dem nd condi


manufacturers report positive demand conditions in ns i


EXPORT REBOUND FUELS STRONG MANUFACTURING OUTLOOK Europe while, overall, just a fifth of firms are yet to see Business confidence, which took a temporary


EXPORT REBOUND FUELS STRONG MANUFACTURING OUTLOOK Kmanufacturing has got off to amuch stronger


Europe w ile, overall, just a fifth of firms are yet to see any piany pick up ick up in overseasmarkets.


overseas m rkets.


coupled w th the fact that firms are m ch busier and enjenjoyioying hing higher demand than they had expected, is supporting an increase in employment and investment. the sa


Business confidence, w ich took a tem orary battering folbattering followlowing the EU referenduming the EU referendum, continues to clclimimb and is now at a level last seen in 2015. This, coupled with the fact that firms aremuch busier and gher demand than they had expected,


is n level last seen in


, conti ues to 15. T is,


supporting an i crease i employment and i vestment. At the same time, with the crash in sterling driving higher input costs, manufacturers report that they are continuing to push through pri e hikes, with m re sti to com as they seek to al eviate pressure on m rgins. stic customers are bearing the brunt of these and the B


tim , w th the cra in sterlin rivin


higher input costs, m nufacturers report that they are continuing to push through price hikes, withmore still to come as they seek to alleviate pressure onmargins. Domestic customers are bearing the brunt of these and this will clearly not be lost on the Bank of England, whichich is keepining a close eye on inflation.


this w ll clearly n t b lost o is k


clo f E inflatio


th the positive and broad based trend looking set to continue into the next quarter, EEF has revised its growth forecasts upwards to one per cent for anufacturi g and 1.8 per cent for GDP. At the sam tim , it w rns that m nufacturers still face short, um and l nger-term risks i cludi g, but not ed to, uncertainty from forthcom g European elections, the new Trump adm nistration and Brexi


With the positive and broad based trend looking set to continue i to the next quarter, EEF has revised i growth forecasts upwards to one per cent for


manufacturing and 1.8 per cent for GDP. At the same time, it warns that manufacturers still face short, mediediumand longer-termrisks including, but not llimimited to, uncertainty fromforthcoming European elections, the new Trump administration and Brexit.


an


Rittal Automation Systems. We automate panel building.


Machining ENCLOSURES Assembly Wire processing POWER DISTRIBUTION POWER DISTRIBUTION Wiring Handling CLIMATE CONTRCLIMATE CONTROL AT


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