INDUSTRY NEWS
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Katja Hall, CBI chief policy director
INDUSTRY NEWS CERTIFICATION
FOR PLYMOUTHWELDING FIRM BUSINESS OPTIMISM RIDES HIGH
BUSINESS OPTIMISM among UK manufacturers saw its sharpest improvement since 1973, on the back of strong growth in domestic and export orders, according to the latest CBI quarterly Industrial Trends Survey. The survey of 405 manufacturers found that, in the
three months to April 2014, growth in total order books and domestic orders was the fastest since 1995. Export orders grew strongly, while investment intentions for the year ahead remained particularly robust. Output growth was solid again for the second consecutive quarter, while numbers employed rose at the strongest rate since October 2011. Companies are upbeat about the next quarter, with growth expectations for domestic orders and output also the highest since the 1970s. Optimism about export prospects for the year ahead also rose strongly. Signs of a continued recovery in the manufacturing sector appear to be feeding through to investment plans over the next 12 months, with plans for capital expenditure on plant and machinery (relative to last year) the highest for 17 years. Investment plans for innovation and training/re-training also remain robust. “There are still bumps in the road ahead, with only a tepid
recovery likely in the Eurozone, the pound creeping higher and a rapidly evolving situation in Ukraine. However, expectations for growth in the coming three months are positive and manufacturers plan to significantly ramp up investment in the year ahead,” added Katja Hall, CBI chief policy director.
(Left to right) Neil Hart and Jay Hart with Jack Gailer, owner of CelticWelding
A METAL FABRICATION company in Plymouth is celebrating after achieving an internationally recognised quality mark. Celtic Welding, also trading under Westcountry Fabrication, has been awarded the ISO 9001:2008 by QAS International (Quality Management Systems) for its general fabrication and welding. The ISO takes the small Plympton-based firm
a step nearer to achieving CE marking certification to ensure it adheres to a new EU ruling. As of 1 July 2014, CE marking of fabricated steelwork products will become mandatory throughout Europe. Jack Gailer is the owner of Celtic Welding, based in Chantry Court. He employs
two full-time and two part-time staff. “As of July this year, anyone in the steel fabrication industry providing steel work
in a structural format will have to have certification to allow them to CE-mark their products. By July, if you have not got CE certification, you are not supposed to work within the industry. This ISO quality mark is a major step towards us being able to achieve CE marking,” he told Welding World. “The ISO 9001:2008 certificate is the first step in growing our customer base by promoting the quality of our business to a wider audience.” Following in his father’s footsteps, Jack began welding when he was a small
boy. He re-launched Celtic Welding, originally his father’s business run from the family home, three years ago. In recent years, Celtic Welding has completed a wide range of work, mostly in Devon and Cornwall. The firm has customers in the domestic, commercial and industrial markets. Recent work has included stainless steel fabrications for Tamar Foods, on-site welding services for Dawnus Construction and structural steel work for various local construction firms. Domestic customer projects include bespoke gates, railings, balconies and staircases.
OFFSHOREWELDING CHALLENGES
OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS worldwide is driven by several challenges. Mature arenas, such as the North Sea, face challenges in managing risks associated with ageing facilities. Internal corrosion and erosion are more severe for new plant in sour fields, as well as for ageing infrastructure. New technical challenges abound, including fatigue issues as new discoveries are being exploited in ever-deeper water. The 2014 Welding Institute annual conference will focus on the theme of ‘Welding and integrity challenges for offshore’. Held at the Aberdeen Airport
Thistle Hotel on 11 June 2014, delegates will learn about new developments in technologies for fabrication and maintenance of offshore systems, hear about specific integrity management challenges from industry experts, acquire insights and lessons learned from selected case studies and make use of networking opportunities. An exhibition will run alongside the conference, please call +44 (0)1223 899000 for further details or see
www.theweldinginstitute.com/news-and- events/news/2014-welding-institute-annual-conference.
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