Alliance provides initiatives and support for aircraft industry


The North West of England’s aerospace sector is one of the largest and most capable in the world, generating over £8bn in turnover and directly employing over 25,000, highly skilled workers. With the industry forecast to grow by 4.4% per year for the next 20 years, requiring the manufacture of over 35,000 new aircraft worth over $5.3 trillion, it is clear that global competition for this work is increasing. The North West Aerospace Alliance represents


the cluster of aerospace companies in the region. The NWAA Cluster is the fourth largest in the world with 220 member companies from the primes to SMEs. The NWAA’s mission is to support its members from


the aerospace and defence sectors in three key areas: supply chain development, skills and innovation. It works to raise the international profile of members and positions the region as a global centre of excellence. One of the flagship programmes that NWAA is


delivering is the SC21 Competitiveness and Growth programme. This is a government and industry cross-sector funded initiative, led by ADS (the UK’s trade association for the aerospace, defence and security sectors) and the SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders). The SC21 C&G programme uses the National Manufacturing Competitiveness Level (NMCL) system.


NWAA has been leading the pilot for the national


programme and reports that more than 10 companies have commenced the NMCL assessment. As part of NWAA’s commitment to supporting and guiding the NW supply chain, the organisations in the pilot have joined the NW Aerospace Cluster of Excellence (ACE). This initiative allows companies to join the ACE to support them through the SC21 C&G NMCL assessment and enjoy benefits which include prime mentors and reviews by the programme’s NW stakeholders including: ADS, SMMT, BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Safran and Boeing.


Modular power components enables customisation


Specialising in power transmission, clamping fixtures and remote control systems, Ringspann (UK) has over 75 years’ experience in development, design and manufacturing. Its motto is ‘quality without compromise’. In addition to a comprehensive


program of standard products, the modularised components allow the company to quickly deliver customised solutions to customers. Customers include well-known


companies from the machine building, the material handling, energy and aerospace industries. The company provides industrial


gears and geared motors, precise clamping for milling and turning,


Visit NWAA at stand J81


Design opportunities for thermal management


Thermal management analysis is a service off ered by the Protool Plastics Group, which will be exhibiting injection-moulded polymers and sample heatsinks at this year’s show. Group managing director, Michael


Hadfield believes: “Advances in material technology and heatsink design have vastly increased the potential of polymer with successful applications on commercial lighting up to 5,000 Lumens and over 30W of output power. This technology has come of age”. Typical material advantages are a


reduction of 40% in component cost, compared to aluminium die casting. At 42% lighter than aluminium, it can save weight in automotive and ceiling light applications. The performance is comparable to


Credit


where (R&D) credit’s due


aluminium, based on 35°C ambient temperature thermal tests, with reduced mould tool costs; it can be post-mould machined, drilled or tapped and painting is not required, advises the company. Tool life is in excess of 500,000


shots, compared to 80,000 shots in aluminium.


Visit Protool Plastics Group at stand D85


Identifying a need


Striving to make claiming R&D tax credits as quick and easy as possible, randd UK, helps companies claim R&D tax credits. Acknowledging that business owners are very busy, the company strives to make the process easy and straightforward, with an R&D consultant to recognise eligible activities that qualify for R&D tax credits.


R&D tax credits can help


companies to recruit new talent, invest in resources and upgrade business tools, like software. This can enable it to carry out more R&D, pushing technological breakthroughs and undertaking larger projects.


Visit randd UK at stand L59


Product identification can take many forms and Mockridge Labels & Nameplates supplies chemical etching on stainless steel or brass, machine engraving, injection moulded plates, digital printing on vinyl, PVC, Foamex, acrylic, polycarbonate and


polyester and screen printing. It also off ers resin domed labels and


doming equipment, including resin doming kits and bulk resin.


The company has been trading


for over 50 years and is ISO 9001: 2015-accredited and UL-approved under PGAA & PGDQ2.


Visit Mockridge Labels & Nameplates at


stand M62


JOIN US AT EVENT CITY MANCHESTER (SatNav M17 8AS)


A comprehensive MRP system for manufacturing companies will be launched at this year’s show by Tricorn Systems. Tricorn: Enterprise is for larger SMEs with more complex bill of materials and the need to manage sales orders. It also provides more in-depth traceability for AS9100, IATF16949 and ISO9001 to serve customers in highly regulated sectors. The company will also announce


two new products for metal finishing companies, Tricorn: Treatments and Tricorn: DNAsp. Both help overcome the unique challenges of metal finishing companies by providing better part tracking from the docketing stage through job splitting and grouping, as well as holding


specialist customer specification settings like oven temperature, vat chemicals, or jigging details. Alasdair Pettigrew, Tricorn CEO


comments: “We’ve helped hundreds of companies to digitalise their process and drive productivity


improvements. Through launching these platforms, we look to bring greater benefits to the wider supply chain”.


Visit Tricorn Systems at stand D32


WWW.INDUSTRYNORTH.CO.UK


brake releasing for trains, as well as drives, door operation and unlocking and balancing equipment for train wheels. For aerospace customers, services include production of engine parts, mounting devices for aircraft construction and actuating and unlocking devices. The company also supplies power transmission components for wind turbines and hydro power plants.


Visit Ringspann (UK) at stand G56


Try component fi nishing free of charge


First-time exhibitor, Sharmic Engineering, will showcase its comprehensive range of vibratory finishing machines and consumables. It supplies small and large companies in the automotive, marine, aerospace, jewellery, architectural hardware, fancy goods, medical, plastic and ceramic industries. Machines perform component deburring, degreasing, descaling, deflashing, smoothing, radiussing and polishing, on all types of materials, using vibratory finishing techniques. A team of sales technicians


will be on the stand to answer component finishing questions. Visitors are also invited to the newly opened demonstration facility in Stourport-on-Severn where component trials can be undertaken with machines, free of charge.


A newly


expanded warehouse holds


extensive stocks of finishing


consumables, including ceramic,


plastic, wood steel, maize and walnut shells and there is also an in-house chemical manufacturing facility.


The engineering facility


specialises in the repair and refurbishment of vibratory machines to include motor bearing replacements and relines The company also off ers an


eff icient, low cost and reliable sub-contract service.


Visit Sharmic Engineering at stand B32


Software improves productivity


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