FEATURE PLASTICS & INJECTION MOULDING


COVID-19, WHAT WILL IT MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF UK MANUFACTURING?


Toolmaking and Plastic Injection Moulding services are ISO2009:2015 accredited. Our services mean we are well equipped to provide support the COVID- 19 response, with a wealth of experience on the production of medical grade thermoplastics. Finding a silver lining to the current


situation can seem like a real challenge right, however there is always one to be found. As our country pulls together in unity we are seeing businesses and people come together to support one another on a whole new level. Seeing the resources and the supply chain network that we have here on our own doorstep work night and day to keep our country going through this challenging time. The current demand of support with


It is no secret that the lure of low component price, rapid tool manufacture and short lead times is attractive for anyone looking to bring a new plastic injection moulded product to market


A


nd for many overseas manufacture is the go-to production route of


choice, however in light of COVID-19 we can’t help but wonder, will this bring about a new wave of demand for UK Manufacture? For many years now UK Manufacturers


have been sharing the benefits of having both tooling and production of moulded components carried out here in the UK. Promoting ease of communication, ease of distribution, quality production in facilities that you can actually go and see. To a degree reshoring of existing tooling has been increasingly evident for business such as our own from around 2014 onwards. One of the main hurdles that UK


Manufacturing does face is the prevalent skills gap, many people now setting their sites on a desk based role or chasing the current trend of social influencing, unfortunately for many manufacture and engineering are not an option. But in the current climate what is it that as a nation we truly need? We need our wonderful NHS workers, our core workers and more than ever we need UK Manufacture. We have been so fortunate to be able to get what we want, when we want at the touch of a button that it is a shock to many that there are not enough ventilators to support the victims of the


16 JUNE 2020 | IRISH MANUFACTURING


2020 pandemic. Having the required volume of essential life-saving and protective equipment bought in currently not a simple process and we now turn the focus on what we as a country can do for ourselves. It has been nothing short of humbling


to see how UK Manufacturing and Engineering companies have united to help support and develop the much- needed PPE, ventilation systems and test kits in response to the Coronavirus outbreak. Firms that may not have previously run products for the medical sector are stepping up to adapt and change their scope of service to support the needs of the NHS while firms that already serve in to the medical sector, like us here at Pentagon are facilitating increased production demand. Over 3000 companies and individuals


have registered their services to the Governments NHS Ventilator Challenge, offering a range of services and manufacturing capabilities to assist with the urgent demand for life saving equipment. Here at Pentagon around 30 per cent of


the products that we manufacture are delivered in to the medical sector, products used in ventilation systems, stoma care, fluid draining and other essential hospital products. Both our


/ IRISHMANUFACTURING


suitable medical equipment is highlighting just how important UK Manufacture and Engineering is. The perceived ‘unglamorous’ industry has now become one of the vital industries that is working night and day to help draw us out of COVID-19. Will UK Manufacture earn the


recognition that it deserves once the storm passes? Will demand for UK manufacture deliver exciting and interesting career paths and increased employment within the sector? Will people be looking to have tooling and products manufactured here in the UK to safeguard their supply chain for the future? The answer to all of these is yes. Although we never want to experience


anything like COVID-19 again we are excited to see the inevitable growth in demand for UK services over the coming years. Are you looking for a UK supplier for


mould tooling and production? Call us now on 01403 264397 or email websales@pentagonplastics.co.uk.


Pentagon Plastics www.pentagonplastics.co.uk T: +44 (0) 1403 264 397


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36