GTMA News Issue 1 2011

news
toolmaking
l
precision machining
l
metrology
l
tooling technologies
l
rpd
inside...
Bringing it Back to Britain
Roadshow
Medical Business Zone
Tooling Census launch
Engineering a 1000 mph
supersonic car
ISSUE 1 2011
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:09 Page 1
Reduce
your
gauging
costs
Nothing compares to Equator
The unique new Renishaw Equator is a versatile alternative
to custom gauging, offering inspection of an unprecedented
variety of manufactured parts. Developed and proven on the
shop-oor with industry-leading gauging users in multiple
industries and applications, Equator 300 is the rst of a range
of gauging systems from Renishaw.
Highly repeatable master and measure technique
Thermal stability through simple re-mastering
Nothing compares like Equator
Versatility operators change parts in seconds; engineers
adjust programs for any part design changes
Speed and form measurement with the industry standard
SP25 scanning probe
Automation and feedback interface with robots and
machine tool controls
Plug and play rapid installation, single phase, no air supply
Call +44 (0)1453 524111 now to request details
or download at www.renishaw.com/gauging
Renishaw plc New Mills, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, GL12 8JR United Kingdom
T +44 (0)1453 524111 F +44 (0)1453 542901 E uk@renishaw.com
www.renishaw.com
R i h E t Ad t GTMA A il 2011 EN i dd 1 18/04/2011 14 33 22
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:09 Page 2
3
Contact GTMA
In order to receive a copy of this GTMA News please phone, fax or email
your request to GTMA. We do not accept responsibility for omissions or
errors. Please note the views expressed in articles by contributors and
advertisements included in this edition do not necessarily represent those
of the GTMA.
issue 1 2011
Published by: Gauge & Toolmakers Association
The National Metalforming Centre,
47 Birmingham Road, West Bromwich, B70 6PY
Tel: 0121 601 6350 Fax: 0121 601 6378
Email: admin@gtma.co.uk Web: www.gtma.co.uk
This publication has been produced for the GTMA by
Channel Publications Ltd, 14 John Slessor Court, Camden Row, Bath BA1 5LD
Tel: 07800 962 473 Email: john29345@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.channelpublications.co.uk
and was printed by Buxton Press.
CONTENTS
GTMA CEO Forward 3
News 4-5
New Members 6-8
News 9
EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES 10-14
News 15-17
BRINGING IT BACK TO BRITAIN 19-27
Manufacturing fights back 20
The 1000 mph supersonic car 22-23
Pitfalls of China 22
A-Z of Exhibitors 23
Case Studies 24-27
News 28
MEDICAL UPDATE
Supply Chain opportunities 29
Business Zone 30-36
News 37
Press Releases 38
Events 39-40
Toolmaking Census Form 41
Cover image courtesy BLOODHOUND, the project aiming to
launch a 1000mph supersonic car.. See 'Bringing it Back to
Britain', pages 19-27
3
The drive for
more business
This issue is published to tie in with the GTMA's first ever
Bringing it Back to Britain Roadshow an event to highlight how
buyers who moved some of their manufacturing overseas are
increasingly returning to the UK.
It comes at a time when a new report from the joint industry/government
Automotive Council shows that many automotive companies in the UK
are actively seeking UK suppliers across a range of components.
This is good news for our industry and our members, many of whom
are already active in the sector and in a position to benefit from a revival
in the UK automotive sector as global vehicle manufacturers increase
their local component sourcing.
Promoting UK-based manufacturers and technologies, strengthening
the supply chain and positioning the UK as a leading global player are
key issues for the GTMA.
So, we are pleased to have Ian Harnett, Purchasing Director of Jaguar
Land Rover, opening and speaking at our Bringing it Back to Britain
event on May 11 (See pages 19-27).
The Automotive Council report says the UK sector has a strong future
and is at the heart of the low carbon agenda, investing in R&D that will
deliver ever cleaner, safer and more fuel efficient vehicles.
More than 40 companies manufacture vehicles in the UK, ranging from
global volume car, van, truck and bus builders to specialist niche mak-
ers. The UK automotive industry generates 52 billion of turnover and
adds 10 billion to the UK economy.
The Automotive Council report sets out for the first time details of the
manufacturing parts and products that car makers want to source from
the UK, but are not currently buying here. It identifies some of the rea-
sons for this, where purchasing decisions are made and where the UK
has the potential capability to meet this currently untapped demand.
Although companies in the UK are already winning more than 7 billion
of work annually from vehicle makers, there are clear opportunities to
grow this business. Using data collected from vehicle manufacturers
and supply chain companies, the report identifies the opportunities with
a new purchasing wish list of interior and exterior vehicle parts from
manufacturers.
Our next issue will look more closely at the opportunities and I would
appeal to GTMA members to let us know of your successes in
Automotive so we can let the wider world know.
Julia Moore GTMA CEO
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:09 Page 3
pretty well invisible at the
moment. This is because activi-
ties like the manufacture of
component prototypes or the
tools used to make them do not
fall neatly into any of the SIC
classifications used by
Government,
The census questionaire is limit-
ed to one page so that it takes
up minimal time; and is aimed
at companies in any of these
categories:
Sub-contract toolmaker only
engaged in toolmaking
Main activity is toolmaking
but there is a subsidiary part
of the business such as
moulding, die casting, or
stamping
Main activity is traditional tool-
making, but company also
manufactures prototypes or
rapid tooling
Main activity is rapid proto-
types or rapid tooling
Main activity is production,
but there is also a subsidiary
toolmaking department.
Key questions cover numbers
of people employed in toolmak-
ing directly or in hands-on sup-
port activities (eg Design,
Machine tool programming etc),
turnover etc.
The 2001 census results, on a
similar sized sample as the new
census, estimated total turnover
then of sub-contract toolmakers
at 263 million; main acitivity
toolmakers at 248m; tradition-
al toolmakers also doing proto-
types at 172m; and produc-
tion as main activity with sub-
sidiary toolmaking at 219m
(toolmaking element only). Main
activity rapid prototypes or
rapid tooling was 16m.
Over the five types of toolmaking
the total number of toolmakers
and support staff was 17,390.
If your company fits into any of
the five categories (see left)
please let GTMA know (mem-
bers will automatically be con-
tacted) by calling 0121 601
6350 or email:
admin@gtma.co.uk
www.gtma.co.uk
in the news... in the news... in the news... in the news...
4
Toolmaking Census 2011
to raise profile of sector
GTMA is about to carry out
the first UK-wide census into
Toolmaking for 10 years.
Over 2,400 companies in the
sector will be contacted over
the next few months to help
put together a complete pic-
ture of the size and shape of
the toolmaking industry.
It is the first census since 2001
which also involved GTMA and
was part-funded by the then DTI
(Department of Trade &
Industry).
GTMA CEO Julia Moore said
the data to be collected will help
the organisation's efforts to
underline the needs of toolmak-
ing and its importance within
Britain's manufacturing base. It
will help raise our profile and
because the questions are the
same as in 2001 will mean we
can show how the industry has
developed.
One of the difficulties we have
is that a lot of toolmaker data is
Get your Census
Forms here
Census forms will be sent out
within the next two weeks.
If your company is involved in
any aspect of toolmaking
your views will be welcome.
For the census form just
email admin@gtma.co.uk
with Subject 'Census' and
you will be put on the distri-
bution list. Returned forms
will be analysed with results
planned to be ready by the
end of the year. All partici-
pants will receive an emailed
report.
Delcam customer
Tower Tools has recently
completed its largest project
with its Delcam manufactur-
ing software, the tooling for
the cargo-door seal for the
freight version of the Boeing
777.
The seal is three by three
metres square, and has a small
and variable cross-section.
Like many of the companys
projects, the moulds and the
associated checking fixture
were supplied to Meggitt
Polymers and Composites.
"When the Boeing representa-
tive visited us, he seemed a little
nervous about having a relative-
ly small company responsible
for the tooling for such a critical
component, said Myles Ball,
Managing Director at Tower
Tools.
He was a lot happier when the
first seal was delivered in 18
weeks, six weeks earlier than
the norm for a seal of that size.
The seal fitted perfectly and
worked first time. Tower Tools
specialises in moulds for rubber
products, in particular for aero-
space seals, and as well as
Meggitt, other major customers
are GKN and Trelleborg. It also
works in other transport sectors
and medical.
Tower first invested in Delcam
software in 1998 and today
widely uses the PowerSHAPE
design software.
"The flexibility of the software is
important to us, said Mr. Ball.
For some projects, we are
supplied with a fully-detailed
CAD design of the seal so we
Delcam customer seals Boeing success
The seal mould for the Boeing 777 - it
was the largest produced by Tower Tools
with its Delcam software.
>>>
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:09 Page 4
3D measurement
specialist Physical Digital
helped to bring technology
to young minds recently,
when it sponsored a visit by
Olympic sled designers,
Bromley Technology, to a
junior school in Surrey.
Children at Bushy Hill Junior
School in Guildford experienced
Bromleys Formula 1 Ice
Roadshow which spent the day
showing enthusiastic Year 6
pupils how important engineer-
ing is to a complex sport like
the skeleton bob.
To be able to bring the virtual
skeleton system to Guildford is
a real coup, said owner Tim
Rapley of Physical Digital, which
sponsored the event. I am very
keen on promoting engineering
as a career option and this is
one of the reasons I wanted to
become involved, he said.
The children at Bushy Hill expe-
rienced the skeleton bob at first
hand, using a unique simulator
that allows them to lie on a sled
and control its speed and direc-
tion down a bobsled course.
For more information contact
Tim at Physical Digital on 07880
703010.
...
5
in the news...
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>>>
Physical Digital
promotes engineering
use PowerSHAPE just to create
the mould.
"At the other extreme, we can
be sent drawings of two adja-
cent parts and are told to cre-
ate something to fill the gap
between them so we need to
design the seal from scratch.
PowerSHAPE makes it very
easy to make checking fixtures
from the tool designs.
"The PowerMILL CAM system
also gives us many benefits,
not least the ability to machine
undercuts in three-axis by using
special cutters, he said. The
flexibility of rubber means
undercuts are far more com-
mon in rubber moulds than in
those for plastics.
Delcam's support and help
desk are also important, as are
the regular training days with
up-dates on new developments
and the latest design and
machining techniques.
More information from Peter
Dickin, Marketing Manager, on
0121 683 1081 or
Email: marketing@delcam.com
www.delcam.com
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:09 Page 5
Mastercam services: 4D
Engineering has been trad-
ing since 1990 and prides
itself on being solely dedi-
cated to UK Mastercam dis-
tribution, associated prod-
ucts, sales and support.
Mastercam is the largest CAM
system worldwide with over
150,000 seats installed. It offers
solutions for designers and NC
programmers across industry,
including milling, turning, wire
EDM, router programming,
plasma cutting, lasers, and 3D
design and drafting.
Lately 4D has had great suc-
cess with the new Mastercam
integrated Robotmaster 6 axis
CAM system for robotic CNC
machining. Unlike other sys-
tems which are generally post
processor only type robot CAM
systems, Robotmaster includes
full optimisation, with user con-
trol over singularities, wrist flips
etc plus full simulation and
clash detection. It is already
used with all the major manu-
facturers including ABB,
FANUC, KUKA, MOTOMAN,
STAUBLI etc.
In addition, the integrated
Verisurf product for inspection,
measurement, verification etc., is
gaining considerable interest as
one of the most powerful prod-
ucts on the market at its price.
www.mastercam.co.uk
6
new members spotlight... new members spotlight...
4D Engineering / Mastercam
Premier Mould Services Phase Vision
Competitive Tooling: Premier
Mould Services (PMS) pro-
vides high quality competi-
tively priced tooling for the
plastics industry, including
the medical, automotive,
defence, food and white
goods sectors.
It achieves this through:
Advanced Manufacturing
Technology
Flexibility
Quality service and backup
Accuracy and reliability.
PMS Toolings design and tool-
ing capabilities embrace in-
house 3D design, project man-
agement, product development,
Stereo-lithography (SLA), tool
trial facility, and an experienced
CAD / CAM team.
Strong investment has been
made for customer benefit
including in its Hurco VMX 84-
40T high speed milling machine
which allows machining of large
plates and billets up to 2.1M x
1M x 1M using 3D data direct-
ly from the CAD system. This
increases accuracy and elimi-
nates program error. At the
same time the 4 axis AGIE sink
EDM, with 5 station tool
change, reduces lead times
and labour costs. It can run 24
hours a day.
PMS provides tooling up to 15
ton and offers single impression
Prototypes through to fully
hardened multi cavity hot run-
ner production tooling.
www.stocktonmachine.co.uk
Unique benefits: Originally
developed for the most
demanding conditions in the
aerospace sector, Phase
Vision pioneered the devel-
opment of white-light 3D
scanners for the shopfloor,
aircraft hangar, or dockyard.
The companys products are 3D
measurement systems using a
non-contact structured lighting
technique and they bring sever-
al unique advantages including
measurement of very large
objects and 360 measurement
of complex objects, at produc-
tion line speeds.
The metrology industry has neg-
lected the needs of larger free-
form objects. Aeroplanes, cars,
and energy turbines are all large
yet freeform metrology suppli-
ers concentrated on small scan-
ners. Not anymore. Quartz
scanners have vast light output
and sophisticated algorithms to
power larger measurement vol-
umes, bringing breakthroughs in
performance and accuracy.
Newly launched for 2011, the
rotary table can be pro-
grammed to turn through a set
number of degrees between
scans, enabling a complete all-
round scan of the object to be
taken in just a few minutes.
www.phasevision.com
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:09 Page 6
EDM Quality: Erodex (UK)
Limited has for many years
been at the forefront of the
EDM industry with a policy
of producing products of the
highest quality allied to first
class service.
Its success is underlined by the
quality of its graphites (it has
been the sole official stockist
and distributor of Poco Graphite
Inc and Toyo Tanso Limited
since 1974) along with the
excellence of its "state-of-the-
art" machine shop; with staff /
operator training a priority.
The Erodex product and servic-
es range includes EDM raw
material sales and a finished
electrode manufacturing serv-
ice; metallurgical applications
such as con-cast dies and sin-
tering tools; semi-conductor
tooling in both purified graphites
and silicon carbide; a first class
carbon brush manufacturing
service; a complete "mechani-
cal" carbon service for bearings,
seals, vanes and other products
and vacuum furnace carbon
fibre insulation and furniture.
www.erodex.com
7
Erodex (UK) Limited
Casting Support
Systems Ltd
High Gain Technology
Central Scanning
Clear Currency
Formation Prototypes
Genisis Automation
New Members
Flexible Solutions: Casting
Support Systems Ltd are
toolmakers and injection
moulders with a reputation
in creating flexible solutions.
Formed to design and manu-
facture tooling, on a sub-con-
tract basis, for the investment
casting and gas turbine indus-
tries, it now designs and manu-
factures tooling for its own
product range as well as for its
growing customer base.
CSS serves the Aerospace sec-
tor amongst others and has
ISO9001 and AS100 accredita-
tion. Its services cover:
Product Design
Tooling
Manufacture
It also has a full design service,
from conceptual analysis to fin-
ished product, with close work-
ing relationships with leading
international companies. It is
often involved in design on day
one of a project, with its input
on tooling specification helping
to save volumes of work later.
Its investment in two high
speed VMC's and second
CAD/CAM suite in its tool room
has reduced lead times and
costs while maintaining quality.
CSS manufactures new, modi-
fies and repairs tools for plastic
injection moulding, investment
casting dies and composite
tooling.
www.cssltd.info
Quality solutions: High Gain
Technology is a leading sup-
plier of high speed machin-
ing solutions for internation-
al metal cutting industries.
Founded in 1993, the compa-
ny's success is based on
designing, installing, servicing
and maintaining a wide range of
products including high fre-
quency spindles, minimal
coolant systems, robotic
machining, CNC rotary tables.
It also offers a spindle recondi-
tioning service.
High Gain focuses strongly on
customer service with an
approach which understands
that every busness is unique. It
claims its and service is unri-
valled in the UK and always
makes the effort to visit cus-
tomers to understand their pre-
cise needs. The company offers
a free site evaluation of compa-
ny requirements.
More than 300 companies have
benefited from this innovative
approach, cutting edge expert-
ise and exemplary standards of
service, right across the indus-
try spectrum from automotive
and plastics to toolmakers and
aerospace.
www.
highgaintechnology.co.uk
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:09 Page 7
Electrochemical machining:
ECM Developments Ltd pro-
vides a specialist electro-
chemical machining capabil-
ity to sectors including aero-
space, automotive, defence,
nuclear, oil and gas, and
medical.
Electrochemical Machining is a
rapid, cost-effective process
that eliminates heat and
mechanical stress during
machining. The ECM tool (cath-
ode) is positioned close to the
work piece (anode) and a low-
voltage, high-amperage direct
current is passed between them
via an electrolyte flowing
through the anode-cathode
gap.
Material is removed by anodic
dissolution. Two dimensional
tolerances can be held to
0.025 mm and three dimen-
sional to 0.050 mm. Surface
finishes of 0.2 to 0.4 microns
can be produced in a single
pass.
Electrochemical machining can
be used as a metal removal or
de-burring process on virtually
any metal.
ECM Developments offers con-
tract electrochemical machining
and manufacturing partner-
ships, process innovation and
development, application engi-
neering and design and manu-
facture of tooling and machining
systems.
www.ecmdevelopments.co.uk
8
Tier 1 expertise: Gti
Corporation is a Tier 1 sup-
plier with a customer base
ranging from nuclear appli-
cations to off-highway vehi-
cles and high performance
cars. This gives it extensive
experience in the quality
expectations of differing
industrial sectors:
In the automotive industry its
expertise embraces not only
tool design and manufacture,
but also the design and manu-
facture of complete
EPDM sealing systems.
Originally founded in 1967 as a
tool making specialist for the
manufacture of rubber sealing, it
has grown organically to become
one of the UK's best known
companies in its chosen field.
Its team of experienced and
dedicated CAD/CAM designers
and tool makers work with the
latest technologies to meet cus-
tomer needs, and it has suc-
cessfully completed major proj-
ects for many 'blue chips'
including Aston Martin, Alfa
Romeo, Bentley and Lotus as
well as numerous other manu-
facturers.
Other services include product
and tooling design, and proto-
typing of new products available
within 48 hours of receiving
CAD data
(see www.gtisyntec.com ).
www.gtiltd.com
ECM Developments
Gti Corporation
DE-STA-CO
Global solutions: DE-STA-CO
is a global provider of work-
holding and automation
products and services.
Innovations, quality, and acqui-
sitions have made DE-STA-CO
the world leader in the innova-
tion, design, manufacture and
support of clamping, gripping,
transferring and robotic tooling
solutions for workplace and
flexible automation needs.
DE-STA-CO is committed to
being a lean resource for its
global customers. In addition, it
provides ways to eliminate bot-
tlenecks in manufacturing
processes. Its application case
studies, which can be seen on
its website, detail ways its prod-
ucts and solutions have enabled
its customers to be more pro-
ductive in the areas of assem-
bly, machining, metal forming
and stamping, moulding, weld-
ing and woodworking.
Its products embrace clamps,
indexers, hydraulic workholding,
grippers, linear motion, electric
devices, robotic tooling, end
effector systems and vacuum.
Originally a Dover company, it
was founded in 1915, and by
1936 had designed, patented,
and manufactured the first man-
ual toggle clamp. Its UK HQ is
now in Wolverhampton.
www.destaco.com
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:09 Page 8
A software-driven
gauging system from GTMA
member Renishaw is offer-
ing potential massive sav-
ings to Cincinnati-based
aero-engine component
manufacturer Meyer Tool on
the hard gauges it uses
Meyer was offered a pre-launch
trial by Renishaw on its new
Equator system, a software-
driven comparative gauge, and
just one system has eliminated
at least four costly hard gauges
in a new work cell. Hard gauges
can cost up to $20,000 each to
design, build and maintain, said
Meyer Tool's Quality Manager
Beau Easton.
With well over 100 hard gauges
costing $10-20,000 each
throughout its facilities for in-
process measurement, Meyer
Tool recognises the potential
cost advantages of a flexible,
software-driven gauging system.
"We are still expanding our
knowledge and capabilities with
the Equator system, but have
high expectations it will ulti-
mately alleviate a large part of
our cost burden for hard
gauges," said Easton.
For in-process dimensional
measurement, the company
principally relies on work-cell-
based point-to-point contact
gauges, using pneumatic digital
probes. Hard gauges in the
machining cell give very fast
feedback but are expensive.
Meyer's SPC Manager Bridget
Nolan said they immediately
recognised the potential of
Renishaw's Equator compara-
tive gauge. "We got involved
with Renishaw's introduction of
the system and provided parts.
Renishaw programmed them,
and the results matched our
Coordinate Measuring Machine
(CMM) results," says Nolan.
Though its appearance is
unusual, the Equator system
uses the comparison method of
mastering and measuring famil-
iar to anyone who uses dedicat-
ed gauging systems. A master
component with features of
known dimensions is used to
"zero" the system, with all sub-
sequent measurements com-
pared to this part.
The key to Equator is a highly
repeatable and radically different
metrology mechanism based on
a parallel kinematic structure.
This mechanism is lightweight,
allowing rapid motion, yet very
stiff and repeatable. The system
uses Renishaw touch and scan-
ning probes, styli and stylus
change racks, and MODUS
Equator programming software.
Cost-wise, three to five hard
gauges in a Meyer Tool work
cell can all be replaced by one
Equator and the Equator can
be used for multiple parts,
switching between them in sec-
onds, as well as reprogrammed
for many other parts over its life.
The Equator system is currently
assigned to a lean machining
cell in Meyer Tool's shop.
Demonstrating its adaptability, it
integrates with Meyer's Orion
SPC system.
The parts must meet tolerances
of 0.001 to 0.003 inches.
Inspection time varies with the
part but typically takes two to
six minutes, well within the
TAKT time of the cell so the
system easily keeps pace with
machining operations.
"We already gauge five part
numbers for two different
engine programs, so we have
multiple fixturing tiles for the
Equator setup and qualified,"
Nolan said.
The Equator measurements at
Meyer Tool are correlated with
those from a CMM, using a
CMM-calibrated master part.
"The master part sets the val-
ues the Equator expects to find
inside its measuring envelope
while the software automatically
applies the compensation val-
ues from nominal taken by the
CMM. It must check within 10
percent of allowable tolerance
from nominal," Nolan explains.
There is no need to re-master
on every part change, Meyer
have decided to re-master on a
3-hour schedule to compensate
for changes in the plant's tem-
perature. "The Equator system
memorizes the master parts
and validation scores, so we
can switch parts as many times
as needed during the 3-hour
window, and not have to re-
master," Nolan says.
Meyer Tool is a leading U.S.-
based producer of hot-section
jet engine components for aero-
space OEMs, employing more
than 1000 at ten locations.
With nearly 500 fast-hole EDM
drillers, Meyer Tool is the North
Americas largest EDM-based
manufacturer. These machines
are supplemented by 45 grind-
ing stations, 300 plus conven-
tional ram EDMs, plus CNC 3-
and 5-axis machining. The
company EDM-drills more than
1.75 million holes a day.
www.renishaw/gauging
9
Aero company trials
Renishaw's new system
Major cost savings with soft solution
>>>
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:13 Page 9
Carbon footprinting is
becoming increasingly
important in manufacturing,
with more and more OEMs
now charging suppliers with
the task of footprinting the
components they supply and
identifying areas for
improvement.
Among major presentatations at
the event was that of Dr Phil
Reeves, MD of Econolyst, a
specialist company operating in
the area. This report highlighted
the importance of the initial
product design in meeting
today's low carbon needs.
Econolyst is three years into the
Atkins Project, a 4-year rapid
manufacturing, low carbon foot-
print initiative to evaluate how
design, manufacturing process
choice and supply chain config-
uration impact on life-cycle
sustainability.
Also in the 3.9 million project
are Delphi, Boeing, MCP
Tooling Technologies, Alcon,
Virgin Atlantic, Bentley and
Loughborough University.
Dr Reeves told the Emerging
Technologies delegates that
carbon footprints and wider
measures of sustainability are
intrinsically linked to cost across
the supply chain and beyond.
One example he used was the
use of Additive Layer
Manufacturing to reduce weight
in components. This can have a
massive knock-on effect on
CO2 emissions particularly in
sectors such as aerospace.
Here a saving of 1kg in the
10
technology... technology... technology... technology...
GTMA members again showed they are embracing the cru-
cial part new and emerging technologies plays in all industry
sectors at the 2011 Emerging Technologies event held at
Delcam's Birmingham premises.
More than 100 delegates and participants were there to hear a
series of presentations and to have the opportunity to meet face to
face with member companies manning technology Hot Desks, and
to quiz them on future opportunities and trends.
The presentations were an outstanding feature of the day and the
line-up was a mixture of GTMA companies and external specialists,
many with global credentials.
They included updates on key topics of the era including really
rapid manufacturing for composites (Ajay Kapadia from TWI) and
on the importance of actions to reduce carbon footprints in whole
product life-cycles (Dr Phil Reeves from Econolyst). Mark Limage of
Munro Associates covered 'Techniques to Enhance Profitability'.
GTMA member presentations were by Alicona (optical measure-
ment of micro-manufactured parts) CRDM and EOL (ALM
advances in injection mould tooling), Huntsman Advanced Materials
(composites and other innovative materials for the 'U-Box' electrical
concept car) and Roemheld (The future of workholding). Roger
Onions, GTMA Business Development Director, gave an update on
the Flexform EU-funded project on incremental sheet metal forming.
GTMA CEO Julia Moore welcomed the diversity of the presenta-
tions and the Hot Desks. One of the things that really pleased me
was that the event underlined one of the reasons why so many in
industry are now coming back to Britain for their tooling.
We have our Roadshow event (see page 17) in May which under-
lines how many companies who once went to the Far East
because of a perceived price advantage are now Bringing it Back
to Britain. The way British companies are often in the vanguard of
new and emerging technologies is hugely important in convincing
companies to use UK-based suppliers.
Our emerging technology presentations and Hot Desks showed a
range of very important developments being pursued by our mem-
bers either in the products or services they are offering or in the
technologies they are using in production.
www.gtma.co.uk julia@gtma.co.uk
How to meet buyer
demands on carbon
Product design - one of the keys to winning
Technologies that back Britain
How to save
$13.5 million
EADS, the aerospace giant
that owns Airbus, has said
that each 1kg weight reduc-
tion saves $3000 in fuel a
year, which equates to
$90,000 over the aircraft's
30-year lifespan.
If 1,000 components are
made 0.15 kg lighter it can
take 150kg off the weight of
each aircraft, bringing $13.5
million in fuel savings.
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 4/5/11 09:20 Page 10
weight of a component can
save $3000 of fuel a year, or
$90,000 over the 30-year life
span of a plane (see panel).
The bottom line is that environ-
mental sustainability leads to
economic sustainability.
The carbon impact can be
analysed by looking in detail at
the whole life-cycle of a product
and component. In consumer
goods this means looking at
Raw Materials, Manufacture,
Distribution/Retail, Consumer
Use, Disposal/Recycling.
Design engineers have a key role
to play in keeping the carbon
footprint down. Design changes
have a huge impact on whole life
carbon footprint, he said.
To underline the point he used
the example of a brass buckle
on a leather briefcase, showing
that even using brass (ie copper
+ zinc + lead) was generating
CO
2
with three lots of materi-
als processing and transporta-
tion emissions.
Supply chains, he said, are
complex beasts for the brief-
case there was involved materi-
als including brass, steel, wood,
hide, chemicals, tanning, leather
cutting, buckle assembly, bag
assembly, distribution etc etc.
But what if I make a design
change? he asked. In his
example he showed:
Brass buckle Materials:
wood, leather, brass; Source:
multiple, global; Manufacture:
Manual assembly; Raw material
weight: 10kg; Product weight:
5kg.
Non-brass Material:
Polypropylene; Source: Single;
Manufacture: Rotational mould-
ing; Raw material weight: 2.2g;
Product weight: 2kg.
Design decisions impact in two
ways. First it affects our materi-
al, process and supplies choice;
second it affects our products
and their lifetime application.
We need to know the impact if
we are to drive down carbon and
drive down cost. You can't
improve what you can't measure.
The Atkins project has led to an
'enlighten-toolkit' now being
commercialised. This is a web-
based software application
which, among other things,
analyses raw material con-
sumption, calculates embodied
energy and carbon footprint,
evaluates supply chain trans-
portation and part impact on
application life-cycle, and analy-
sises of waste and recycling.
His presentation also covered
the use of ALM additive layer
manufacturing in the produc-
tion of a monitor arm used in an
aircraft. ALM builds up objects
by melting powdered plastic or
metal together in a series of lay-
ers. The end product can be up
to 65% lighter than one made
by traditional methods.
The weight saving was 0.5kg
per arm giving life span savings
of $6.5-9,000 fuel savings.
The Enlighten team are seek-
ing potential users to help test
its functionality. These include
designers, engineers, supply
chain and sustainability profes-
sionals.
If you would like to take part
please register your interest at
www.enlighten-toolkit.co.uk or
email info@enlighten-tookit.com
11
Supply chains can be complex beasts,
the Emerging Technology delegates were
told. This illustration, left, shows the
impact of using a brass buckle on a
leather briefcase starting with eight dif-
ferent raw materials, and the consequen-
tial knock on effects of transportations
and processing.
All of this adds to the carbon footprint of
the product and much of it could have
been designed out during initial product
design.
Analysing what happens throughout prod-
uct life-cycle, right through to disposal, is
the way to meet carbon targets being set
increasingly by OEMs.
Our other illustration shows the impact
manufacturing processes can have on
product weight and, ultimately, on the
cost of transportation.
Raw materials Manufacture Distribution/retail Consumer use Disposal/recycling
Process Part Weight Raw Materials Manufacture Distribution Usage Life cycle
kg kg CO
2
kg CO
2
kg CO
2
kg CO
2
kg CO
2
Original machined part 2.32 748 7 23 127,368 128,147
Optimised structure for SLM 1.41 126 35 8 77,438 77,607
Latticed structure for SLM 0.80 72 20 5 43,954 44,051
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:13 Page 11
12
Brian Kyte,
Director, Alicona UK Ltd
Brians presentation at the
Emerging Technologies event
looked at the ongoing miniaturi-
sation of components in
research and industry which
requires new 3D-measurement
technologies to verify dimen-
sional accuracy of produced
parts. Traditional methods allow
either only the measurement of
single surface profiles (tactile
devices), the measurement of
rather flat samples (white light
interferometry) or the measure-
ment of either roughness or
form. Brian's paper prsented a
new technology for the com-
plete 3D-measurement of com-
plex micro components at high
resolution allowing both form
and roughness measurements.
By using an optional rotation
unit the system can measure
surfaces not only from one
direction but around 360. The
system capabilities
were shown on different appli-
cations including form and
roughness measurements of
tooth implants.
www.alicona.com
Optical Measurement of Micro Manufactured Parts
The presentations: from composite
applications to True Design
The Future of Workholding is here

Bill Neal,
MD, Roemheld UK Ltd
The future and innovations for
2011 were outlined in this pres-
entation with regards to work-
holding including magnetic
clamping, green innovations
and some case studies. Bill,
who moved to Roemheld 15
years ago as Sales & Marketing
Manager and became MD in
1998, covered areas including
new flexible clamping elements,
with generous tolerances and
systems that can easily handle
thermal expansion up to
+
-
1,5mm through to the green
technology of a new electric
swing clamp which has high
clamping forces and low volt-
age (24v). Delegates heard
about up-to-date 5-Axis Vice
Technology, including a new self
centring vice whose features
include aluminium base, alu-
minium soft jaws, steel bed
rails, capacity 100mm opening
per jaw, fully sealed lead screw
and is light weight; as well as
the new KC 100 5 axis vice
which is suitable for machined
and unmachined parts and is
suitable for Zero point systems
and has capacity of 6 to 204mm.
www.roemheld.co.uk
Really Rapid Manufacturing for Composites
An Introduction to Project ADCOMP
Ajay Kapadia,
TWI Ltd and Programme
Director of the National
Composites Network
Ajay's presentation covered the
vision of ADCOMP which is to
create a cluster of excellence in
the West Midlands to develop
and sell world-class thermo-
plastic composite parts. This
demonstrator project forms the
first step, with primary target
sectors of aerospace and trans-
port but also significant rele-
vance to construction, rail and
medical. The project will devel-
op new and optimised process-
es for the affordable and rapid
forming of high performance
thermoplastic composites. It
will enable manufacturers to
select appropriate materials,
define optimised processing
conditions, and provide CAD
packages, which together will
allow the development of com-
petitive sub-assemblies.
www.twi.co.uk
www.ncn-uk.co.uk
Pictures, from (left to right) courtesy of Roemheld,
Alicona UK and Huntsman the three GTMA companies
highlighted different breakthroughs in their papers.
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:13 Page 12
Stewart Thompson,
Huntsman Advanced Materials
Huntsman Advanced Materials
decided to involve its technical
capabilities in an innovative
project that showcases the
possibilities of building an elec-
trical concept car the U-Box
- using environmentally sustain-
able components or processes.
While using advanced materials
from its Araldite branded port-
folio, Huntsman also researched
and developed new, sustainable
products to use wherever pos-
sible during construction of the
U-Box. Stewart's presenta-
tion was a journey through the
U-Boxs birth story, covering
how innovative materials were
present all along the different
steps of the U-Box, including
the preparation of the moulds
with Seamless Modelling pastes
or boards. Also see page 37.
www.huntsman.com
13
Techniques to Enhance Profitability
Mark Limage,
MD, Munro Associates (UK) Ltd
With more than 15 years of
hands-on automotive pro-
gramme management and vehi-
cle engineering experience, the
focus of Mark's presentation
was on how to maximise profit
on every sale. The process, he
said, starts at the design stage
where innovative thinking will go
a long way.
The profit is in the design! He
covered some of the techniques
and tools for success and
stressed the importance of
identifying waste during design
to minimise costs and raise
profitability. True Lean
Manufacture cannot happen
without a True Design . This
all starts with changing the
mindset of the engineer see-
ing and thinking differently
about the outcome of the prod-
uct design process is the
essential key to success.
www.leandesign.com
Incremental Sheet Metal Forming
Roger Onions,
GTMA Business Development
Director
Roger's presentation included
an overview of the 3-year EU-
funded Flexform project which
resulted in breakthroughs in
incremental sheet metal form-
ing, which are already being
viewed with great interest by
OEMs and Tier 1s in aerospace,
automotive and other sectors.
Flexform involved partners from
Spain, Germany, Slovenia,
France and the UK, and was
completed in December 2009.
Its aims were to change existing
rigid and manual manufacturing
process to a flexible process by
developing an automated and
computer aided process
design; and to open new mar-
kets to stamping tool manufac-
turers by offering improved
services such as prototype
parts in a very early stage of a
project.
www.gtma.co.uk
Composite Applications -
the U-Box Electrical Concept car
HOT DESKS
These GTMA members
manned hot desks at Delcam
with advice on new and
emerging technologies:
Blum Novotest Limited
Delcam UK
Europac 3Dimensional
Electro Optical Systems
ES Technology
Faro UK
Foregone Solutions
Mastercam / Verisurf
Nikon Metrology
Phase Vision Ltd
Prospec Systems Limited
Roemheld UK Limited
SGS Carbide Tool (UK) Ltd
Solartron Metrology Ltd
Also in the line-up....
There were also presentations on ways of reducing product carbon
footprints (see page 10) and on the Advantages of Using Additive
Layer Manufactured Inserts, which is included in the Bringing it
Back to Britain feature starting on Page 19. This was by Graham
Bennett of GTMA members CRDM and Stuart Jackson of EOS.
Stainless Steels and Titanium are both prone to galling and
seizing. WS2 is a very low friction dry lubricant surface treatment,
developed by NASA for use in deep space, and has been shown to
provide a very cost effective solution preventing both problems on
threads and other sliding surfaces. WS2 works well from -273 to
450 C and down to 10-14 Torr. WS2 has also been applied to
bearings and gears to extend life.
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:13 Page 13
14
High Speed Machining for Machines and Robots
Complete robotic machining
systems for styling and
sculpturing studios supplied
by QDesign from Pisa
and High Gain Technology
Peron Speed spindle
running at 24000 rpm for cutting steel
or aluminium mould tools on an
Anayak CNC. One of many UK
applications with complete
system supply by High Gain Technology
For all your High Speed and Robotic Machining needs contact
E: info@highgaintechnology.co.uk
M: 07861 233930
Web: www.highgaintechnology.co.uk
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:13 Page 14
Verisurf has launched
the 5th generation of its
Verisurf X software which it
demonstrated at the Control
international trade fair in
Stuttgart in May.
With Model-Based GD&T
Inspection technology at its
core, the all-new computer-
aided inspection and reverse
engineering software inspects
parts faster and more accurate-
ly without any need for 2D
drawings.
Verisurf Model-Based GD&T
data can be:
Imported from or created on
virtually any 3D CAD/CAM
model
Inspected manually or as
part of an automated
inspection process
Reported on in a variety of
industry formats.
The new X5 is loaded with
innovative features that greatly
expand the capability of metrol-
ogy devices, yet this is just the
tip of the iceberg, said Verisurf
President, Ernie Husted.
No other inspection software
implements GD&T inspection
technology to our level.
It lets engineers say goodbye
to 2D drawings and all of the
additional time, money and
inconsistencies that go with
them.
www.verisurf.com
The latest GTMA
Executive Briefing covering
Manufacturing Sectors
'Automotive, Rail and
Marine' was published earli-
er this year.
This quality 60-page publication
carries up-to-date information
on the three sectors collec-
tively known as the ARM sec-
tors including supply chain
needs and actions being taken
by GTMA and its members to
meet those needs.
The popular Business Zone
area covers 15 pages and as
well as comprehensive informa-
tion and contacts on auto, rail
and marine has, for the first
time, a dedicated Metrology
Zone where measurement
issues impacting across indus-
try are covered. There is also a
full A-Z of GTMA metrology
members with tel, email, web-
sites and services/products.
The ARM Briefing is the third in
the series. The others covered
Aerospace and Medical. The
next will cover Energy, including
renewables, nuclear, wind etc.
For free copies please email:
admin@gtma.co.uk
15
Agentdraw supports
young British designers
GTMA member
Agentdraw has created a
platform for young British
design talent to demonstrate
their skill and innovation.
It has set up the Agentdraw
Young Product Designer Award
to be presented at the Plastics
Industry Awards at London's
Park Lane Hilton Hotel in
October.
Open to anyone up to 25 years
(students, employees or unem-
ployed) the winner couldsee their
product made and marketed.
The entrants need to have the
skills to complete the full design
process including concept
design, market research, design
development, CAD design,
technical design, material speci-
fication, and production ready
manufacturing data.
The object is to design a useful,
original, non-electronic product
which must be no bigger than
400mm x 400mm x 400mm. It
must be commercial and have a
mass market in the retail or
industrial sectors. The product,
ideally but not exclusively,
should use plastic parts.
The judging panel will include
high profile designers and
Agentdraw management who will
select designs to go on a specific
competition page of Agentdraw's
website where the public can
vote for the best designs.
The three product finalists in
2010 were the Orana, a small
handheld device for peeling
oranges and bananas; the
Dynamic Chair, with a moulded
design that eases back pain; and
Vegetool, a garden multi-tool.
Agentdraw is an injection moul-
der and much more. The
company recently launched a
new fixed price CAD design
package to help small busi-
nesses.
www.agentdraw.co.uk
>>>
>>>
>>>
ARM Briefing
is published
New Verisurf
software eliminates
need for 2D Drawings
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:13 Page 15
GTMA member
Bowers Metrology is supply-
ing measurement equipment
which is being used in the
production of the 2011
Formula 1 Team Lotus
Racing car.
Team Lotus production and race
teams are housed in an impres-
sive 50,000 square foot, high-
tech facility in Hingham, Norfolk.
Among other features it has:
A machine shop with
advanced CNC mills and
lathes, machining centres and
support equipment.
An advanced composites
function with two modern
autoclaves, one large enough
to accommodate the largest
of F1 carbon components
A large pattern shop, includ-
ing 5-axis router, and an
impressive clean room for
laminating key car parts.
In addition, a modern quality
and inspection department
comprehensively equipped with
hi-tech inspection and testing
equipment opens out onto the
race shop where cars are built,
re-built and prepared for racing.
Formula 1 is an industry where
the accuracy of machined parts
can translate into the milli-
seconds that can mean the dif-
ference between success and
failure.
It was for this critical area of the
operation that Team Lotus
Quality Manager, Jeremy
Galimore, purchased a range of
Ultima bore gauges from
Bowers Metrology. He needed
an ultra precise range of bore
gauges to enable the scrupu-
lous dimensional inspection of
the crucial bores located on
vital Team Lotus components.
The class-leading Ultima range
is able to very accurately meas-
ure bore sizes from 1 300
mm, with a choice of resolu-
tions up to 0.0001 mm. It is
Bowers most accurate bore
gauging system with a simple
lever operation and a constant
measuring force.
Now in regular use in the busy
Team Lotus Inspection depart-
ment, they have been highly
praised. Jeremy Galimore said
that while high quality physical
measuring instruments are
readily available for very accu-
rate external measuring tasks,
the choice of very precise
internal measuring devices,
capable of bore diameter meas-
urement, is somewhat limited.
The Bowers instruments have
been able to match our accura-
cy needs, thanks largely to
their use of advanced transduc-
er technology. Although we
generally use the gauges in a
micron display mode,
occasionally we also make use
of their sub-micron capability,
he said.
www.bowers.co.uk
16
>>>
Bowers Metrology wins vote of confidence
Advertise the fact: Proto Labs delivers...
Telford based Proto
Labs is the manufacturing
brains behind an unseen rev-
olution in the outdoor adver-
tising industry. The compa-
nys two rapid prototyping
operations, Protomold and
Firstcut, helped London
based Urban Storm to
design and manufacture a
faster, easier and more
secure system for hanging
and securing large-scale
graphics, outdoors.
The technology has trans-
formed the traditional paper and
paste billboards even to the
point of eliminating the need for
ladders, to meet new health
and safety rules.
Urban Force is one of the lead-
ing UK operators in the sector,
founded by MD Sam Cook in
2000 to develop and manufac-
ture such systems. Anything
bigger than a bus shelter dis-
play and it can probably be held
in place by an Urban Storm
system, he says.
Proto Labs was called in by
Sam when he needed proto-
types of the new system after
initial design, which requires a
cam-like clip to provide the nec-
essary grip. He was impressed
both by Proto Labs speed (he
had anticipated waiting weeks,
not days) for the prototype and
the fact they used actual pro-
duction materials.
To meet minimum UK wind reg-
ulations each clip had to with-
stand a force of 90kg. Wed
test a prototype clip for loading
and if it didnt meet the stan-
dard, wed adjust the design
and have Firstcut make another.
We were able to develop our
ideas at such a rapid rate! The
whole process of getting the
final system prototype only took
about 2 months from start to
finish.
Proto Labs sister service,
Protomold, were used for the
injection-moulded production
version of the clip. We need-
ed 35,000 of each of two, sep-
arate parts. And, we needed
them quickly. Protomold deliv-
ered as required.
The result of Sam's work with
Firstcut and Protomold gave
birth to a whole new poster
hanging system called
Stormflex, part of the
EcoStorm range now being
used across the UK.
www.protolabs.co.uk
>>>
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:13 Page 16
Roemheld is offering
customers who buy from its
5-Axis vices or Zero Point
Mounting ranges cutting tool
vouchers worth up to 500.
The GTMA member joined forces
with major cutting tool brands,
including Iscar and Seco, to offer
this workholding promotion. The
value of the vouchers available to
end users will depend on the
total order value.
Bill Neal, Roemheld (UK) Ltd
MD, said the vouchers are an
easy way for customers to add
tools they need to their machin-
ing centres and there is no
rush for end users to decide on
the tooling required at the time
of purchase as the vouchers are
valid until the end of the year.
The vouchers are available on
two of the most popular
Roemheld workholding ranges:
the advanced Hilma 5-Axis vice
systems can hold rigidly and
safely on just 3mm while per-
forming to tight tolerances and
high repeatability; and the Stark
Zero Point Mounting range
revolutionises set-up times and
keeps downtime to a minimum.
Call 0121 453 1414 for more
information on the offer and
Roemheld's range of workhold-
ing solutions or visit the
website.
17
in the news... in the news... in the news... in the news... ...
>>>
Roemheld's 500 cutting tools offer
www.
roemheld.co.uk/vouchers
FARO Technologies,
Inc. (NASDAQ: FARO), the
worlds leading provider of
portable measurement and
imaging solutions, has
launched the FARO Edge,
the most advanced, state-
of-the-art FaroArm ever pro-
duced.
The FARO Edge is a portable
measurement arm that allows
manufacturers to easily verify
their product quality by per-
forming inspections, tool certifi-
cations, CAD-to-part analysis,
and reverse engineering.
Faro says this latest generation
of the FaroArm product line
continues to eclipse competi-
tive models in every category. It
improves production, quality,
and reverse engineering
processes by rapidly verifying or
scanning parts with confidence
and accuracy.
The new arm also simplifies the
user experience with improved
performance, portability, reliabil-
ity and features that include
the first ever integrated person-
al measurement assistant. With
its built-in touchscreen and on-
board operating system, the
Edge revolutionises portable
metrology by providing stand-
alone basic measurement
capability.
A laptop is no longer needed to
perform quick and simple
dimensional checks, or to opti-
mise system performance with
its on board diagnostic rou-
tines.
Additional industry-leading
areas of improvement and
capability include:
Enhanced Connectivity
Bluetooth, WiFi, USB, and
Ethernet ready. Multiple
device management through
networking.
Smart Sensor Technology
Improved sensors warn
against excessive external
loads, detect thermal varia-
tions and possible setup
problems.
Ergonomics Improved
weight distribution and bal-
ance for reduced strain and
ease-of-use.
Multi-Function Handle Port
Seamless and interchange-
able accessory integration,
Quick-change handle,
Expandable capability.
Everything about the Edge
was designed from the ground
up to boost productivity and
deliver the best performance in
a portable arm CMM, said
Orlando Perez, Product
Manager, FaroArm. More i
http://measuring-
arms.faro.com.
Introducing the FARO Edge A new dimension
to measurement arms
>>>
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:25 Page 17
For more details please contact,
Dr Richard Wylde Managing Director
r.wylde@terahertz.co.uk
Michael Clack Works Director
m.clack@terahertz.co.uk
Trevor Walker Scientific Instrumentation Director
t.walker@terahertz.co.uk
Simon Duke Technical Manager
s.duke@terahertz.co.uk
Station Mills
Billingshurst
West Sussex
RH14 9SH
01403 782045 Phone
01403 785464 Fax
www.terahertz.co.uk
The origins of Thomas Keating go back to the 1780s
when the company was set up to produce flea powder
and cough lozenges. It has re-invented itself a number
of times during the last 230 years. In the recent past it
made checking gauges for Hurricanes, press tools for
mechanical telephone exchanges and Timex watch
parts as well as high volume injection moulds for
aerosol valves.
In 2009 1.5M was spent replacing a 1920s building with a
modern structure, providing lower energy consumption,
improved ceiling height, Gigabite wiring for data transfer and
an excellent working environment for the 35 staff employed.
This purpose built structure maintains the businesses obses-
sion with accuracy by providing, two purpose built tempera-
ture controlled rooms containing 3 CNC and 3 Manual
Moore jig grinders, an AGIE wire, 3 AGIE CNC and 2
manual sink erosion machines as well as housing a calibrat-
ed Hexagon Co-ordinate measuring machine.
The new building has not stopped a continuous wave of
investment in the business: In 2010 a Moore 1050 jig
grinder was upgraded with new drives and a Fanuc
controller plus a Doosan Puma 2600Y 4 axis lathe was
purchased from Mills CNC. Currently underway in the US is
the rebuilding of an 8400 Moore jig grinder with Fagor con-
troller and Z axis control to allow contouring in Z or standard
reciprocation. In parallel with this and equally important
the business maintains a continuous effort to update its
computing infrastructure. The use of Pro/Engineer CAD and
EdgeCAM software allows the efficient importation and
machining of Customers components.
The ISO 9001-2008 Part 1 approved business is proud to
offer a full press tool and mould-making package from
receipt of component drawing through tool design,
manufacture and tool trialing. Our customers both UK
and overseas include businesses which make medical
devices, aerosol valves, stem and actuator tooling, paint
and rigid food containers, hearing aids as well as aero-
space parts. In addition to the full toolmaking service
the company also offers sub-contract jig grinding, milling,
turning and grinding.
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:25 Page 18
19
British manufacturers
fight back 21
Open book on 1000mph
supersonic car 22-23
Pitfalls in China 22
A-Z of GTMA expertise 23
Vericut upgrades 24-25
Bropel adds advantage 25
Thomas Keating's strength 25
helps take it OUT 26
CRDM/EOS do it
with technologies 26
Inside Bringing it Back to Britain
Bringing it Back to Britain
Excellence
Bringing it Back to Britain is a
roadshow initiative by the GTMA
which celebrates UK manufactur-
ing excellence.
Reliability
It underlines how buyers are
returning to UK suppliers after
finding some overseas suppliers
badly lacking.
Trust
The message is that technological
excellence, lower carbon foot-
prints, better materials, reliability in
quality and, above all else, Trust
are again winning for Britain.
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:25 Page 19
Coordinate Measuring Machine
SERVICE and CALIBRATION
che Coordinate Metrology offer GTMA members full support
when existing CMM controllers or software need upgrading
The latest range of controllers fitted by
che ensures that for the fist time the
end user has freedom of choice when
considering software and service
The controller software can also be used
to create an electronic error map to fine
tune small positioning errors.
Full range of services offered:
Complete repair and re-piping service where parts are still available
Calibration to ISO 10360-2 standard with UKAS Calibration Certificate
Wide range of 2nd user machines, plus latest CNC or Manual software
Carl Zeiss approved for retrofits/upgrades on non-Zeiss CMM's
Renishaw approved distributor for CMM products
For further information contact che Coordinate Metrology
on 01527 558255 or email: sales@che-metrology.co.uk
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:25 Page 20
The first ever 'Bringing it Back to
Britain' Roadshow is an event which
celebrates UK manufacturing prowess
and marks another important fight
back against the loss of manufacturing
overseas.
Organised by the GTMA and being held as
we go to Press, the Roadshow could not
come at a better time with a trend over
the last year being for large OEMs to
reconsider their policies with regards to
outsourcing.
Companies have reported work returning to
the UK which previously would have been
placed in low cost economies.
This exciting reversal of business strategy is
in the wake of the cost implications of proj-
ect managing overseas production and the
benefits of British engineering expertise.
The reality is that many companies who
had been attracted by headline figures
which indicated they could make substan-
tial cost savings by placing tooling (and
other manufacturing processes) overseas
have been hard hit by a string of hidden
costs, poor quality, delivery delays, pay-
ment problems and other issues.
Now, companies in the supply chains of
OEMs and Tier 1s are facing tough ques-
tions about the carbon footprints of the
components they supply, and of all the
suppliers in the supply chain.
Long transportation routes from the Far
East to the UK, with their inevitable added
CO2 emissions, are only part of the equa-
tion so too are the environmental prac-
tices of companies being used in China or
other Far East nations.
This issue of Carbon footprints was cov-
ered in detail at the GTMA's Emerging
Technologies event in March (see pages
10-13) which was told how a supply chain
is like a beast and where an analysis of
product life-cycles shows the impact of
using suppliers in far off places. It also
underlined how new manufacturing tech-
niques which reduce weight in components
is another way of impacting on carbon and
how clever design engineering at the prod-
uct design stage is absolutely critical.
No-one needs telling that the UK has
some of the most talented design engi-
neers on the planet, says GTMA CEO Julia
Moore. But they are just a part of the total
package of reasons to use UK-based man-
ufacturers and suppliers.
The Bringing it Back to Britain event is the
first real opportunity there has been for the
sector to really shout about the benefits of
making it in the UK. We are not just saying
use us because we are here; we are saying
use us because in many many areas and
disciplines we are the best.
www.gtma.co.uk
Email: julia@gtma.co.uk
21
Bringing it Back to Britain... Bringing it Back to Britain...
British manufacturing fights back
Overseas suppliers are more expensive than you think
The impressive venue for the event is
the Mazak Worcester plant (above)
one of the most complete and up to
date machine tool manufacturing
plants in Europe, and from where
over 85% of tproduction is exported
into continental Europe
It is not just an assembly plant but a
complete machine tool manufacturing
plant operating just-in-time and flexible
output techniques necessary in todays
competitive global marketplace
The new European Technical Centre of
GTMA member Yamazaki Mazak is on the
same Worcester site and , with the latest
innovations in high performance machin-
ing technology on display together under
one roof, Mazak is able to help European
and UK manufacturers achieve significant
productivity and profitability increases.
A tour of the facility was being offered to
delegates and attendees at the event.
www.mazak.eu
Mazak venue is European leader
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:25 Page 21
With an eye on the future one of the
headline speakers at the Bringing it
Back to Britain event is Tony Parraman,
Head of Sponsor Liaison on the
BLOODHOUND project, an internation-
al initiative focussed around a 1,000
mph World Land Speed Record
attempt.
Project Leader for the attempt is Richard
Noble OBE, who was propelled to world
acclaim in 2000 when he became the first
to ever break the sound barrier on land in
Thrust SSC (supersonic car), at 763.035
mph.
The core aim of BLOODHOUND is to inspire
young people to pursue careers in Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
(STEM subjects) by showcasing these sub-
jects in the most exciting way possible.
Cutting-edge high technology projects of this
calibre are usually shrouded in secrecy, but a
key aspect of the BLOODHOUND mission is
the aim of sharing the adventure and data
with the biggest audience possible.
In the UK that has meant the design draw-
ings being distributed to over 4,500
schools and colleges across the UK, where
they can be accessed by over 1.5m stu-
dents. They have also gone to fans and
enthusiasts in the 207 countries around the
world. They are also available on-line
22
Open book on the Bloodhound
1000 mph supersonic car
Downloadable design drawings available on-line
The Financial Times, in an article on China suppliers, has
highlighted a string of potential problems and difficulties
faced by companies who place sourcing there. GTMA is
grateful to the FT for permission to reproduce the list.
Hidden costs While Chinese prices may appear lower, there are
extra costs such as shipping, management time and additional
work needed in the UK.
Rising prices Labour costs for skilled staff are increasing
in China.
Length of supply chain Delivery of heavier items from China
takes weeks, reducing flexibility and requiring larger stocks to be
held in the UK.
Climate change Customers increasingly want components
with lower carbon footprints than products made
in China and shipped to Europe.
Quality control Bad workmanship and the poor quality of
materials used to make mould tools in China require remedial
work in the UK.
Order size Chinese companies no longer interested in smaller
orders as their costs rise.
Payment Chinese companies require payment before tools are
delivered and tested UK toolmakers will only expect payment
after testing, and sometimes after production has started.
This article originally appeared in 2008, and since then many
companies have moved back to Britain having found out the hard
way of the realities.
Pitfalls of manufacturing tools in China
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 4/5/11 09:28 Page 22
through the Bloodhound link below.
Many are calling the project the greatest
ever, land-based engineering challenge and
Bloodhound SSC will be driven by the cur-
rent World Land Speed Record holder,
Andy Green OBE. The 1000 mph attempt
is scheduled for the summer.
A complex combination of jet, rocket and
piston-engined power is employed in the
12.8m, 6,400kg Bloodhound SSC in the
quest for the ultimate goal.
The heart of the hybrid vehicle combines a
composite monocoque driver cell, mated to
a rear space frame, into which is installed the
petrol, jet and rocket motors, with fully-auto-
mated self-levelling suspension and solid,
900mm diameter wheels, front and rear.
Bloodhound is the ultimate environment in
which to share R&D and knowledge at the
very pinnacle of technology. I have no doubt
it will significantly benefit the future develop-
ment of our products and, as a conse-
quence, those of our existing and future cus-
tomers and beyond, says Richard Noble.
The downloadable 3D design drawings, that
make up the cars genetics, are the result of
an incredible 30 man-years of cutting-edge
research and world-beating design work.
Comprised of 4,000 individually-designed
components, you can deconstruct the CAD
model layer by layer, rotate on all axes and
zoom in and out, using professional engi-
neering software from Siemens.
The drawings allow viewers to explore the
remarkable engineering that allows
BLOODHOUND SSC to accelerate from 0 -
1050 mph and back in just 100 seconds
and safely handle the phenomenal forces
and loads acting upon it.
These include the 47,000 lbs thrust (equiv-
23
Pictured, opposite, the Cosworth CA2010
F1 race engine alongside the full size
BLOODHOUND SSC Show Car, and (left)
the front view of the supersonic car which is
set to attempt a record-breaking 1000 mph
land speed record this summer. Image origi-
nation, including those on Page 17 and Front
Cover, courtesy Curventa and Siemens.
alent to 133,000 thp) generated by its jet
and rocket engines; 30 tonne suspension
loadings; air pressures on the bodywork of
up to 10 tonnes per square metre; the air
brakes each exert 2.2 tonnes as they open;
solid aluminium wheels alone weigh 90 kg
each and will be spinning at 10,200 rpm,
generating 50,000 radial g at the rim.
The prime objective of the Project is to cre-
ate an unprecedented education and
engagement programme, led by a dedicat-
ed team of teachers and education special-
ists. From innovative, curriculum-based les-
son plans covering subjects ranging from
geography to citizenship, as well as sci-
ence, technology, engineering and mathe-
matics, to a schools visitor centre featuring
the classroom of the future at the teams
HQ in Filton, Bristol, the aim is to make
BLOODHOUND SSC accessible to all ages
from 5 19 and beyond.
www.bloodhoundssc.com
4D Engineering (Mastercam)
www.mastercam.co.uk
ATS UK
www.atsuk.com
Bauromat
www.bauromat.co.uk
BK Tooling
www.bktooling.co.uk
Blum Novotest
www.blum-novotest.com
BWP Technical Services
www.bwptech.co.uk
Central Scanning
www.central-scanning.co.uk
CGTech
www.cgtech.co.uk
Craftsman Tools
www.craftsmantools.co.uk
Delcam UK (Tooling Services Division)
www.delcam.com
Faro UK
www.faro.com/uk
Expertise backs Britain...
More than 140 delegates from leading OEMs and Tier 1s have registered to attend Bringing it Back to Britain where a wide
range of expertise will be on show from GTMA members. Here are the confirmed exhibitors as we went to Press:
Hexagon Metrology
www.hexagonmetrology.com
www.highgaintechnology.co.uk
Thomas Keating
www.terahertz.co.uk
Moorland Toolmakers
www.moorlandtools.com
MRC
www.manufacturingresourcecentre.co.uk
Paragon Rapid Technologies
www.paragon-rt.com
Phase Vision
www.phasevision.com
Renishaw
www.renishaw.com
Roemheld
www.roemheld.co.uk
SGS Tool
www.sgstool.co.uk
S & S Plastics
www.ssplastics.co.uk
Superite Tools
www.superite.co.uk
Tokai Carbon Europe
www.tokaicarboneurope.com
Toolrite
www.toolrite.co.uk
Wenzel UK
www.wenzel-cmm.co.uk
WH Smith & Sons (Tools)
www.whs-tools.com
WNT UK Tool
www.wntuk.com
JAGUAR STOP PRESS
As we were going to Press we heard
confirmation that Ian Harnett, who was
appointed Director of Purchasing, Jaguar
Land Rover in August 2009, has agreed to
open Bringing it Back to Britain. He will also
make one of the presentations.
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:25 Page 23
CGTech is now shipping the next major
version of VERICUT CNC machine sim-
ulation and optimisation software.
VERICUT 7.1 features significant enhance-
ments to reduce the time required for man-
ufacturing engineers to easily develop,
analyse, inspect and document the CNC
programming and machining process.
Along with proactively adding new features,
CGTech developers and engineers focused
on addressing hundreds of customer-driven
enhancements.
VERICUT 7.1 builds on CGTechs highly
successful VERICUT 7.0 release, that con-
tained over 700 customer requests deliv-
ered throughout 2010, said CGTech Ltd
managing Director, John Reed.
Version 7.1 contains over 400 customer
requests and further improvements to
VERICUTs user interaction, simulation
capabilities & analysis, cutting tool creation,
and CAD/CAM integration.
VERICUT is CNC machine simulation, verifi-
cation and optimisation software that
enables users to eliminate the process of
manually proving-out NC programs. It
reduces scrap loss and rework. The pro-
gram also optimises NC programs in order
to both save time and produce higher qual-
ity surface finish.
VERICUT simulates all types of CNC
machine tools, including those from leading
manufacturers such as Mazak, and can be
integrated with leading CAM systems such
24
Hundreds of customers
help Vericut upgrade
tool & die ltd
Design and manufacture of
plastic injection and die cast tools
High precision, intricate tools
Insert mould tools
Tool trial facilities
On line project management
ISO 9001:2000
Hot runner systems
Prototyping and
pre-hardened tools.
Telephone 01952 587 060
email ian@sprinttoolanddie.co.uk
or visit www.sprinttoolanddie.co.uk
Quick Tools Limited provides engineered
tooling solutions for industry. Whether you
need project and supplies management,
computer aided design, reverse engineer-
ing, manufacture and installation or
through life support: We are here to meet
all your toolimg needs.
With over 60 years of
experience we pride
ourselves on our speed of
response, quality service
and on-time delivery.
Please visit our website at
www.quicktoolsltd.co.uk
or call for more information
tel: 02392 375718
Quick Tools Limited
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:25 Page 24
as MasterCAM, EdgeCAM and Delcam
PowerMill.
Updates areas include the Tool Manager
where users can create a VERICUT tool
library, with CAD solid models of inserts
and holders being imported into VERICUT.
The feature added displays the CAD
Geometry window that allows easy identifi-
cation of which parts of the CAD model file
corresponds with holders, cutters, or
inserts. CATIA and STEP models are sup-
ported. It is now possible to create and dis-
play coordinate systems in the Tool
Manager. These coordinate systems can
then be used to align tool components.
A new feature, Assembly, in the Open
model file selection window enables the
user to extract all individual components of
a CAD assembly file and store them in their
own model definitions. There are a range of
other upgrades covering areas including
Vericut Reviewer, Cutting conditions, CNC
Process Documentation, Collision check-
ing, Project tree enhancements, Support of
back spot-facing tools, as well as support
for a full range of six-axis robots to simulate
machining, waterjet trimming, fibre-place-
ment, drilling and fastener insertion.
www.cgtech.com
25
Strength in depth in the UK is typified
by GTMA member Thomas Keating
which has been toolmakers for 60
years and has a reputation for accura-
cy and attention to detail.
TK designs and manufactures mould tools
for technical parts across industries includ-
ing manufacture of medical, hearing aid,
aerosol and spray dispensers, micro
switch, valves, gears and rigid plastic con-
tainers for food and DIY products. Small
and high cavity tools up 2 ton in weight are
not uncommon.
Other active areas include sub-contract jig
grinding of vital helicopter parts; and design
and manufacture of jigs and fixtures in the
aerospace and fiber optic industries.
In its two year old purpose built factory in
Sussex, TK has a full complement of CNC
machines, including Moore CNC jig grinders,
Agie CNC sink and wire erosion, all housed
in a temperature controlled environment.
Recent machinery investments include a
Matsuura machining centre, and Doosan
Puma 2600Y CNC turning centre. With a
solid balance sheet (the business carries no
debt), an IS9001 Part 1 QA system and
significant investment in CAD/CAM (Pro/E
and EdgeCAM) TK is well suited to provide
an efficient and sustainable service to both
current and new clients from simple sin-
gle impression to complex multi-cavity
tools.
More details from: MD Richard Wylde,
r.wylde@terahertz.co.uk;
Works Director Michael Clack,
m.clack@terahertz.co.uk;
Scientific Instrumentation Director
Trevor Walker, t.walker@terahertz.co.uk ;
Technical Manager Simon Duke,
s.duke@terahertz.co.uk
For plant list and more information please
visit the website.
www.terahertz.co.uk
TK brings strength in depth
across many sectors
Bropel specialists
add to UK
advantage
Specialist companies like Bropel
Technical Welding Services - The
new name in specialist welding -
are the backbone of UK manufac-
turing. They bring a confidence to
buyers not possible in many over-
seas locations.
Bropel offers a specialist welding serv-
ice for the precision welding of plastic
injection, pressure die casting and
press tools.
Its wealth of experience specialising in
rectifying design faults, tool modification
and breakdown repairs, is combined
with excellent service and competitive
prices. Its fast turnaround can be 'while
you wait, or next day.'
Bropel offers:
Laser and Tig welding
On-site welding
Collection and delivery up to 500kg
within 25 miles of its Aldridge,
W. Midlands site
Reliable courier service
Welding of all too steels, aluminium,
stainless steel, and cast iron
Handling capacity 10 tonnes
IS0 9001:2008 Quality.
For assistance please contact:
Darren Cook or Sue Lloyd 01922
745745 or Neil Baggott (On site
welding) 07866 611235.
Email: welding@bropel.co.uk
www.bropel.co.uk
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:35 Page 25
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:35 Page 26
GTMA member High Gain Technology
is the UK distributor for a company it
believes underlines the message of not
only Bringing it Back to Britain but of
taking it out of Britain also.
High Gain specialises in designing,
installing, servicing and maintaining a wide
range of products including high frequency
spindles and robotic machining.
Among these products are Peron Speed
spindles for high speed milling of mould
tools, and it is the manufacturer of the
inverter used to drive the spindle - Invertek
Drives of Welshpool - which has so
impressed Dick Langley of High Gain.
Invertek was launched only 12 years ago
and they are now a global operation. The
controls and drives they supply are world
class, he said. This rings well with the
current theme of bringing manufacturing
back to Britain.
High Gain has worked with Invertek on
developing their drives for machine tools.
The drives used in the Peron spindles are
designed and manufactured in Intertek's
UK operation and have been specially
developed for running high frequency
milling spindles with up to 2000 hz and
speeds up to 120000 rpm.
Invertek Drives is dedicated to the design,
manufacture and marketing a range of
electronic variable speed drives for control-
ling electric motors, and its state of the art
UK headquarters houses specialist facilities
for R&D, manufacture and global market-
ing. The Peron product offers customers
not only fast production but exceptional
surface finishing quality for mould and
press tools.
www.
highgaintechnology.co.uk
27
Pictured: Robot milling another example of the
latest technology on offer from High Gain
Technology where low cost complete robotic
machining solutions are being supplied for
3dimensional parts typically found in sculpturing
workshops and styling studios for automotive,
aerospace and artistic concepts.
And now a company
taking it OUT of Britain...
Britain's early uptake of new and
emerging technologies is another rea-
son so many companies are coming
back for manufacturing services.
GTMA's emerging Technologies event earlier
this year (see pages 10-13) underlined the
point and one of the presentations there
dealt with an area which is likely to be increas-
ingly used in manufacturing tooling inserts
the use of Additive Layer Manufacturing.
At the event two GTMA members who are
working closely together showed delegates
the advantages of the process and how
cycle times can be reduced by 40-60% over
traditional tools when pulsed cooling is used.
CRDM is currently running several projects
manufacturing and evaluating tools with
conformal tooling and is seeking manufac-
turing partners who could benefit from con-
formal tooling, which when used with
pulsed temperature cooling is useful for
polycarbonate style materials, precision
parts, where more than 10,000 parts a year
are needed, and for highly glossed cosmet-
ic parts eg Large flat panel TV surrounds
in 'piano black'.
CRDM works closely with EOS which sup-
plies all its Metal Sintering machinery and
has expertise in methods of manufacturing
conformally cooled tools and supports
CRDM in developing expertise in tool simu-
lation technologies. EOS has a programme
of continuous technology development.
Direct Metal Laser Sintering is an Additive
Layer Manufacturing technology to manu-
facture tool inserts in layers and was devel-
oped by EOS. Recent developments by
EOS now allow production of tooling inserts
in hardened steel (52 54 Rockwell C), and
DMLS tooling inserts can have any desired
internal and external geometry.
Tools using Direct Metal Laser sintered
inserts cost more than traditional tools but
offer overall cost savings, reduced cycle
times (fewer cavities and more components
produced per hour), lower reject rates (bet-
ter production).
DMLS can be used to produce production
standard tooling inserts which include con-
formal cooling channels, and tools using
these inserts can offer up to 60% savings
on component costs as well as greater
component quality.
The presentation at the GTMA event was
jointly prepared by CRDM Managing
Director Graham Bennett and EOS Regional
Manager Stuart Jackson.
www.crdm.co.uk www.eos.info
New Technologies back Britain
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:35 Page 27
Finding readily adapt-
able off-the-shelf produc-
tion management software
for special machine building
and jig and tool manufacture
is not easy. Brown and
Holmes (B&H) of Tamworth,
however, became the first jig
and tool company to use the
PSL DataTrack system,
which provided well-
supported production con-
trol modules for the complex
operation. Many years later
the DataTrack system is still
a major part of its success-
ful operation.
The company produces cus-
tomised work holding fixtures,
builds special production
machinery and is the UK agent
for Forkardt precision chucking
systems. Under joint Managing
Directors Carl Baker and Kevin
Ward B & H today has about 48
employees and a 3.5 million
turnover.
Off-the-shelf system
Production control software was
introduced early when a local IT
consultant developed in-house
computer software to replace a
good paper-based system.
When the consultant changed
career B&H began looking at
off-the-shelf systems.
This was in 2002, and the short
list of three included PSL
DataTrack. We could see a
promise of flexibility and tailor-
ing, said Carl Baker. We knew
the system could be easily and
readily tailored to our needs.
We also noted that the software
undergoes constant improve-
ments and was competitive in
price.
Key criteria was for the produc-
tion control software to be user-
friendly and easy-to-learn, and
that would not stop day-to-day
business in the learning period.
Our operation was too big for
an excel based system and we
felt it would take an age to
bed in a larger MRP/ERP type
system in an operation like
ours, said Carl. This, and the
flexibility of design of the soft-
ware, is why our ultimate deci-
sion to purchase PSL
DataTrack was made.
Business varies
The jig and tool and special
machine building business
varies constantly, with very few
manufacturing jobs similar and
rarely repeat. Some workhold-
ing fixtures may need a lot of
special machining and assem-
bly. They may be made up
partly from machined parts,
standard components and
bought out items.
This makes it very difficult to
achieve any kind of proper
balance on the shopfloor
between the different machining
processes.
An example is a three-face,
hydraulic clamping, workholding
fixture cube for three separate
workpiece holding positions. At
the quotation stage, the engi-
neering team, including jig and
tool designers, would agree the
best solution and discuss details
like workpiece locations, orien-
tation and clamping systems.
The quotation is entered into
the PSL DataTrack system and
a proposal sent to the cus-
tomer. After the order, a detailed
CAD drawing is produced and
process layouts for every manu-
factured part input into PSL
DataTrack. This produces work
orders for the shopfloor and
allows comparison between
actual and calculated costs.
The system also controls the
purchasing function as well as
producing delivery notes and
invoices.
On-going investment
Most CNC machine tools used
by B & H are integrated into the
PSL system. Also linked in is
the co-ordinate measuring
machine where the company's
quality engineers book inspec-
tion time.
This, together with on-going
investment in new machine
tools, keeps B&H at the fore-
front of technology and com-
petitiveness.
Production data is entered daily
to provide accurate end-of-job
costing which, with purchased
items such as material, subcon-
tract and finishing operations,
ensures B & H can constantly
monitor production and
estimating procedures.
B & H o7perates 10 seats with
PSL DataTrack running in
Microsoft Windows XP and
Windows7. We occasionally
throw challenges at PSL
DataTrack, said Carl Baker. For
example, B & H recently
acquired the UK agency for
Forkardt precision chucks, col-
lets and mandrels.
Work measurement
We wanted to separate the
Forkardt operation from the jig
and tool operation, using differ-
ent customer codes, said Carl
Baker. Work measurement,
margins and sales levels had to
be separated too. PSL
DataTrack very quickly tailored
the system enabling us to run
virtually two businesses with a
single system.
Carl Baker says PSL DataTrack
has developed its systems in
line with the developments of its
business. The software is flexi-
ble enough to be tailored to suit
our changing needs, communi-
cation between our companies
is excellent and they have
proved themselves to have a
good understanding of our
business.
Tel: 08456 345931 or Email:
sales@psldatatrack.com
www.psldatatrack.com
28
>>>
Production control software helps
jig and tool manufacture
Easy-to-learn solution for complex operation
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:35 Page 28
...
It is nearly nearly three years since
GTMA published our Medical Executive
Briefing which showed how UK
Medical is undergoing a transformation
with wide-ranging implications and
opportunities for those in the manufac-
turing supply chain.
This update shows that changes continue
in the sector which continues to be a priori-
ty for the Government and where innova-
tion in product design and services are still
crucial to success.
GTMA's Medical Network, numbering over
100 companies, is a valuable resource for
OEMs and Tier 1s in medical device manu-
facture and other medical areas.
Our commitment to this sector has never
been stronger, says GTMA CEO Julia
Moore. We see ourselves as helping both
sides of the supply chain.
Our work to bring member companies the
right competencies is critical; as is the work
we do through the Manufacturing Resource
Centre to help buyers find the right suppli-
ers with the right qualities and the right
expertise.
Later this year GTMA and member compa-
ny Seco Tools will host a Network event.
This is a major event for GTMA members in
medical at which major speakers are being
lined up to give updates on the sector and
its needs.
Seco is a leading supplier into the sector and
has supplied winning solutions in areas
including Tibial tray machining, Hip joint
machining, Femoral cap and stem machining,
and General implant machining. The compa-
ny has built strong relationships with medical
component manufacturers who are constantly
working to advance their technology.
Meanwhile, the Medical sector has been
singled out for special mention in the
Government's 'Plan for Growth' Review
announced in the 2011 Budget. The
Review will look at every UK industry sector
and draw up action plans for
success.Health and Life Sciences is one of
six priority areas to be piloted with this
initiative (see Growth Review Health, page
31). It says the sector has strengths which
make it well placed to take advantage of
global opportunities.
But there is world competition also includ-
ing from BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia,
India and China) particulary in medical
device manufacturing sector. The UK is
going to succeed through innovative prod-
ucts, technologies and processes.
Strengths in innovative product design,
advanced materials, manufacturing tech-
nologies, bio-electronics for sensors and
titration control solutions are a few of the
areas that will be key to UK success and
GTMA companies are well placed to be part
of the supply chains serving both global
markets and the home base where the UK
sectorgenerates over 10 billion of revenues.
Our close working relationships with com-
panies in Medical mean we can be close to
their needs, says Julia Moore. This is
going to be increasingly important in a sec-
tor which is known for the speed with
which new products come to market.
To register for the Medical event please
email: admin@gtma.co.uk
www.gtma.co.uk
29
MEDICAL UPDATE
Supply chain opportunities
in medical sector
Photos (left to right) of spinal implants Synthes,
a leader in supply of surgical instruments,
implants and), two-shot medical parts from
GTMA member Hanson Thorpe, and the Leksell
Stereotactic System courtesy the international
medical technology group Elekta.
Top: Photos courtesy world pharmaceutical sup-
plier Bayer Schering Pharma and, right, from med-
ical device manufacturer Draeger Medical UK.
Page 31: Surgeons in a digital operating system
courtesy Smith & Nephew and brain mapping
equipment courtesy Elekta.
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:35 Page 29
Rust never sleeps
Go for a better steel
UDDE HOL M S TAI NL E S S CONCE P T
Harsh environments put steel under considerable stress. Parts
rust together, surfaces need constant repolishing and cooling
channels have to be redrilled. Wherever theres moisture, theres
rust. Thats why selecting tool steel is crucial. Plastic materials
are a natural part of our everyday life. Since plastic moulding is a
demanding and evolving industry, many of the most familiar brands
choose tool steel from Uddeholm Stainless Concept for their
manufacturing process. The problems are well-known, the right
steel is the solution. Rust never sleeps go for a better steel!
For more information, please visit www.uddeholm.co.uk.
UDDEHOLM, European Business Park, Taylors Lane, Oldbury, West Midlands, B69 2BN
Phone 0121 552 5511, Fax 0121 544 29011, Email sales@uddeholm.co.uk
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:35 Page 30
GROWTH REVIEW HEALTH
Budget 2011 saw the launch of the
Government's 'Plan for Growth' to
radically reform barriers to enter-
prise. It also published its Growth
Review to identify structural
reforms. This includes a forensic
examination of every sector fol-
lowed by action plans. The six
areas to be looked at first include
Health and Life Sciences which the
Review says is world leading,
employing over 120,000 and gener-
ating over 10 billion (2008 figure).
The sectors strength is based on
high quality research and innovation
and a growing reputation for strong
collaboration. This makes it well
placed to take advantage of global
trends. The other sector priorities
are Advanced manufacturing,
Digital and creative industries,
Business and professional services,
Retail and Construction.
www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/
growth_291110.pdf
MINISTERIAL MEDICAL
TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY GROUP
The MMTSG has been established
in accordance with the recommen-
dation of the Healthcare Industries
Task Force (HITF) Strategic
Implementation Group (SIG). The
Group will take forward SIG recom-
mendations, NSR Innovation agen-
da for medical technology and pro-
vides a strategic forum for joint dis-
cussion of other issues of impor-
tance. Group members include min-
isters from the Department for
Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS)
(former BERR/DIUS), senior officials
across Whitehall and leading inter-
national players from the industry.
The document link below gives
access to a range of documents
including Meeting minutes; the
Home link to HITF, the Bioscience
and Health Technology Database,
and a wide range of organisations
working with the the Dept of health.
Home:
www.dh.gov.uk/ab/HITF/index.htm
Document links:
www.dh.gov.uk/ab/HITF/
DH_091803
NHS SUPPLY CHAIN
NHS Supply Chain provides end-to-
end supply chain services incorpo-
rating procurement, logistics, e-
commerce, and customer and sup-
plier support. It manages the pro-
curement of over 620,000 products
for more than 1000 trusts and
healthcare organisations. It is oper-
ated by DHL on behalf of the NHS
and aims to save the NHS 1 billion
by 2016. Innovation is being
encouraged with a new Innovation
Scorecard, which assesses a prod-
uct's innovation level and can lead
to a pilot contract.
Home:
www.supplychain.nhs.uk/portal/pa
ge/portal/Public
NHS Supply Chain is committed to
providing an effective and efficient
procurement service. We aim to
continually improve the service by
decreasing purchasing costs and
increasing the value available
through the national framework
agreement. As a result NHS Supply
Chain encourages suppliers to
approach relevant buyers with
ideas and proposals for enhancing
the product offering throughout the
term of the agreement.
Supplier information:
ge/portal/Suppliers
Supplier support includes supply
chain development expertise, tools
and resources and supplier relation-
ship support to provide the link
between suppliers and the people
who depend on their products.
Supplier suppport link:
ge/portal/Suppliers/Working%20Wi
th%20Us/Supplier%20Support
Supplier forum link:
ge/portal/Suppliers/SupplierForum
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
DH is divided into separate busi-
ness units for purchasing, each with
its own budget. As of January
2011, the Departments tenders
and contracts have been published
on Contracts Finder, the govern-
ments single platform for providing
access to public sector procure-
ment related information and docu-
mentation free of charge.
Procurement link (includes link to
Sustainabile Procurement policy
document):
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Aboutus/Procur
ementandproposals/Procurement/i
ndex.htm
ementandproposals/Tenders/
index.htm
Contracts Finder:
www.contractsfinder.businesslink.
gov.uk/
Calls for research proposals from
the DH and the National Institute for
Health Research (see below):
ementandproposals/RDcallsforpro
posals/index.htm
A comprehensive list of research
and development (R&D) work in the
DH and the NHS is available at this
link:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Aboutus/
Researchanddevelopment/AtoZ/in
dex.htm
RESEARCH CONTRACT
A new model agreement between
the pharmaceutical and biomedical
industries, universities and the NHS
to streamline the research contract-
ing process was announced in
March. The model Industry
Collaborative Research Agreement
mICRA will speed contract
negotiations for research studies
involving industry, universities and
the NHS.
For template model contract, sup-
porting decision tree and guidance
info, see the NOCRI pages at:
www.nihr.ac.uk/nocri
NHS NATIONAL INNOVATION
CENTRE
The National Innovation Centre
works with innovators in industry,
academia and the NHS to speed
the development of healthcare tech-
nology. The website includes a
range of free-to-use, secure and
confidential tools.
www.nic.nhs.uk/
NHS TECHNOLOGY
ADOPTION CENTRE
The Centre helps organisations nav-
igate the complexities of the 'NHS
adoption landscape' and identify
technologies to help the NHS. It
produces detailed NHS focused
Guides on how technologies can be
successfully implemented.
www.
technologyadoptionhub.nhs.uk/
31
BUSINESS ZONE
The Medical Devices Directives
(MDDs) are the set of EU legisla-
tive texts which cover the
European regulatory require-
ments for medical devices. They
came into force in 1990 and reg-
ulate the standards of safety,
quality and efficiency of medical
devices. The Directives har-
monise safety requirements and
specify the measures that need
to be met in order to place a
device on the European market.
A product which meets the rele-
vant requirements bears a CE
mark, a legal Declaration of
Conformity to EU rules.
EU rules are now over 20 years
old, and developments in med-
ical technology and the expan-
sion of the EU have put pressure
on the current framework, as well
as highlighting some shortcom-
ings in the legal process.
Therefore, the European
Commission is considering revis-
ing, or Recasting, the Medical
Devices Directives. Although the
current system works well, the
medical technology industry
recognises that it can be
improved, and would support
such a revision. Legislative
change is an opportunity to
future-proof the system for both
manufacturers and patients. It
does not need to be a funda-
mental revision, but enhance-
ments should encourage speedy
patient access to the best and
most innovative care.
Any revision should also consider
how Small and Medium sized
Enterprises (SMEs) deal with reg-
ulatory systems; such companies
make up the majority of medical
technology companies, and lack
the resources to deal with
increasingly complex and costly
regulation. Most importantly, any
revisions must be geared to
ensuring that products retain the
highest levels of safety and quali-
ty, and that citizens have timely
access to the innovation they
need. The key to this should be
avoiding excessive centralisation;
the greater the degree of decen-
tralisation the more diverse, inno-
vative and creative research and
development in medical technol-
ogy can become, providing real
encouragement to SMEs and
bringing tomorrows citizens the
solutions they need.
Eucomed statement on
plans to revise EU Medical
Devices Directives
www.eucomed.org/
key-themes/medical-devices-
directive
MEDICAL DEVICES DIRECTIVES
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 4/5/11 10:05 Page 31
EPSRC
EPSRC is the main UK government
agency for funding research and
training in engineering and the
physical sciences, investing more
than 850 million a year in areas
from materials science and health
care to information technology.
Priority Research areas include
'Towards next generation health-
care', 'Nanoscience through engi-
neering to application' and 'Aging
lifelong health and wellbeing'.
EPSRC has set up four Innovation
and Knowledge Centres including
Regenerative therapies and devices
at Leeds. The others are looking at:
Advanced manufacturing technolo-
gies for photonics and electronics;
Ultra-precision and structured sur-
faces; and secure information tech-
nologies. Its Materials, Mechanical
and Medical Engineering pro-
gramme has looked at areas includ-
ing instrumentation and microsys-
tems, mechanical engineering,
medical engineering, robotics and
sensors.
Home: www.epsrc.ac.uk/Pages/
default.aspx
EPSRC Centres for Innovative
Manufacturing include those for
Regenerative Medicine, Additive
Manufacturing, Advanced Metrology
and Intelligent Automation:
www.epsrc.ac.uk/research/cen-
tres/innovativemanufacturing/Page
s/default.aspx
Medical Imaging research:
www.epsrc.ac.uk/newsevents/cas-
estudies/techtimes/medicalimag-
ing/Pages/default.aspx
Medicine and Materials timeline:
www.epsrc.ac.uk/newsevents/cas-
estudies/techtimes/medicinemate-
rials/Pages/default.aspx
NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR
HEALTH RESEARCH
NIHR supports leading edge
research. Its budget for 2010/11 is
992m. NIHR aims to build for the
UK an international reputation for
excellence in translational and
applied research covering areas
including devices, diagnostics,
biotech and pharma. It has a dedi-
cated industry liaison team to work
with industry, trade associations etc.
www.nihr.ac.uk/Pages/default.aspx
Two new NIHR booklets published
in April showcase models for
research partnerships including in
the biotechnology, medical technol-
ogy and diagnostics industries.
www.nihr.ac.uk/Pages/default.aspx
PROSPERO
This is a major global initiative to set
up an international register to
improve transparency of health
research. Launched in Feb, 2011,
PROSPERO, is the first online facili-
ty to register systematic reviews for
research about health and social
care from all around the world. It is
designed to avoid the duplication of
health research.
www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/
COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY
CST is the Prime Minister's top level
Advisory Board on Science and
Technology issues. And in March
2010 published A Vision for UK
Research in which it highlighted the
significant growth of medical
research over the last 10 years. But
it stressed, too, that successful out-
comes in medical research depend
on high quality research across the
engineering, physical and social sci-
ences base. CST has identified six
key technology areas including
medical devices, E-health; and
Plastic electronics. A series of
Science Reviews have been com-
pleted including in Health, where
one finding is the need for more
research into the impact of nano-
particles on health.
www.bis.gov.uk/cst
www.bis.gov.uk/assets/bispart-
ners/cst/docs/files/whats-new/10-
584-vision-uk-research.pdf
NHS SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT UNIT
A new SDU Route Map was
announced to 220 SDU conference
delegates in Feb as a framework
for action to develop a sustainable
health system. It includes action in
six key areas including technology
and use of resources.
www.sdu.nhs.uk/http://www.sdu.n
hs.uk/
OFFICE FOR LIFE SCIENCES
OLS is part of the Department for
Business, Innovation and Skills
(BIS). In partnership with the Dept
of Health it brings together the
sponsorship of the biotechnology,
pharmaceutical and medical tech-
nology industries. The use of
biotechnology in particular is
expanding rapidly and will soon
contribute significantly to the UKs
economic output, says OLS.
www.bis.gov.uk/ols
TIC
The Government announced in the
country's first Technology and
Innovation Centre (TIC). It is a key
part of the Governments Growth
Review (see above) to target the
expansion of Britains manufacturing
sector and position the UK as
Europes leading exporter of high
value goods.The announcement is
the first in a network being set up
with over 200m funding. An extra
7million was also announced for
the Manufacturing Advisory Service
to focus specifically on supply chain
development.
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/Detail
.aspx?ReleaseID=417872&NewsAr
eaID=2
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY (DH)
Recent technological advances , as
well as research into the benefits of
specific products and systems, in
the area of assistive technology
(equipment to help mobility etc of
the disabled) is seeing many
advances. The Dept of Health pro-
duces an annual report on this work
produced for it by the Foundation
for Assistive Technology.
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Aboutus/Resear
chanddevelopment/AtoZ/
DH_062674
FAST
The Foundation for Assistive
Technology works with organisa-
tions across the Assistive
Technologies sector to advance
innovation in product design and to
encourage technology adoption of
technology for benefit of disabled
and older people.
www.fastuk.org
AT ALLIANCE
The Assistive Technogies Alliance
brings together four main bodies:
Assist UK, Disabled Living
Foundation (DLF), the Foundation
for Assistive Technology (FAST) and
Ricability). Funded by the DH it is
setting up The Assistive
business zone... business zone... business zone...
32
Enquiries placed with the
Manufacturing Resource Centre
(MRC) and GTMA have a com-
monality for supplier performance
needs that is demanded by the
buyer. For key sectors, this is
often linked with quality accredi-
tation requirements. However, in
this competitive global market-
place, supply chain efficiency is
paramount in order to secure
sustainable business.
GTMA is on hand to assist mem-
ber companies develop the nec-
essary competencies and
enhance profitability opportunities
via the GTMA Supply Chain
Programme.
Evolved from the GTMA
Business Development Training
Programme (BDTP), the Supply
Chain Programme (SCP) has
been developed to work in line
with key sector accreditations
such as for the medical sector.
The programme offers in depth
assistance in the following disci-
plines:
Supply Chain Development
Internal Supply Chain relation-
ships
Manufacturing Process
competency
Change Management
Business and Strategy planning
Management mentoring for
business growth and
profitability
Sales and Marketing
proficiency
Contact: Alan Fairweather,
Email: alan@gtma.co.uk
GTMA NETWORK DEVELOPMENT
Medical management information systems are increasing in importance.
Photo courtesy Elekta.
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 4/5/11 10:07 Page 32
Technology Information Network for
the Future. The projects aim is
to develop expertise on information,
evaluation, policy and user experi-
ence relating to assistive technolo-
gy. The work of the project is set
against the changing climate for
assistive technology and an antici-
pated increase in information-seek-
ing by the public.
www.at-alliance.org.uk/
775 MILLION RESEARCH
The largest ever funding up to
775million over 5 years - to be
made available for translational
research dedicated to deliver bene-
fits to the NHS was announced by
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley in
March. Amongst other initiatives it
will help create 12 Biomedical
Research Centres. The funding is
part of a total of 4billion for R&D
up to March 2015 and will be made
available to NHS/university partner-
ships through the NIHR (see above).
www.dh.gov.uk/en/MediaCentre/Pr
essreleases/DH_124881
Call for proposals information:
www.nihr.ac.uk/proposals/Pages/d
efault.aspx
MEDICINES AND HEALTHCARE
PRODUCTS REGULATORY
AGENCY (MHRA)
MHRA is the government agency
responsible for ensuring medicines
and medical devices work, and are
acceptably safe. Activities include
operating a proactive compliance
programme for medical devices.
The term 'medical device' covers all
products, except medicines, used
in healthcare for the diagnosis, pre-
vention, monitoring or treatment of
illness or disability.
The range of products is very wide:
it includes contact lenses and con-
doms; heart valves and hospital
beds; resuscitators and radiothera-
py machines; surgical instruments
and syringes; wheelchairs and walk-
ing frames or other assistive tech-
nology products - many thousands
of items used each and every day
by healthcare providers and
patients.
http://www.mhra.gov.uk/index.htm
MHRA MEDICAL DEVICE
TECHNOLOGY FORUM
The Forum focuses on the impact
of new and emerging technologies
in the devices sector. Its aims
include to ensure all novel technolo-
gies are monitored and regulated,
and to minimise unnecessary delays
to product marketing due to unclear
regulatory process. This may result
in the production of industry or user
guidelines, new standards being
proposed or, where appropriate,
recommending future changes to
legislation.
www.mhra.gov.uk/Howweregulate/
NewTechnologiesForums/Devices
NewTechnologyForum/index.htm
NANOTECHNOLOGY IN MEDICAL
Nanotechnology is enabling the cre-
ation of a whole range of materials
which have novel properties. It is
likely to have a wide impact on
medical devices, leading to innova-
tive devices. At the nanoscale,
changes to the structure of a mate-
rial can lead to changes in chemical
or physical behaviour (ie nanoparti-
cles behave differently from bulk
materials). This presents the poten-
tial for the development of novel
therapies, including smaller
implantable devices etc.
UK Nanotechnologies
strategy report:
www.bis.gov.uk/assets/BISPartners
/GoScience/Docs/U/10-825-uk-
nanotechnologies-strategy
MHRA link:
www.mhra.gov.uk/Howweregulate/
Nanotechnology/index.htm
NHS NATIONAL INNOVATION
CENTRE (NIC)
Set up on the recommendation of
the Health Industry Task Force, the
Centre promotes innovation in the
NHS. The website allows innovators
to connect with the right people
and organisations, assess their
innovative ideas on the unique site
Scorecard, and includes a Prospect
Zone where suppliers can register
new ideas and opportunities. Its
expert tools are free to use and
there are areas for development
opportunities as well as profiles of
organisation capabilities.
www.nic.nhs.uk
33
3D measurement of micro machined components
with an optical micro CMM
Measure form and roughness in one system
Achieve a vertical resolution of up to 10nm
Verify dimensional accuracy
even on complex geometries
Gain true colour information
registered to 3D data
++ Radi i and angl e measurement ++ Measurement of pol i shed edges ++ Vari ance anal ysi s ++
Alicona UK
Alicona UK Ltd.
Lime Tree House
15 Lime Tree Walk, Sevenoaks
Kent TN13 1YH
UK
phone: +44(0)1732 746670
fax: +44(0)1732 465500
e-mail: sales.uk@alicona.com
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:40 Page 33
34
THE STANDARD METER GAVE US ORDER,
MAHR GIVES YOU PRECISION.
In the beginning there was the standard meter - which in turn laid the
basis for ever greater precision. Mahr has been a leading light in this
evolution over the last 140 years. Today, our measuring instruments are
employed wherever high precision and reliability are paramount, from
the automotive industry and semiconductor production to medical
technology and the aerospace industry. Precision is universal.
Mahr crosses all borders.
SURFACE ROUGHNESS METROLOGY
See us at the MTEC 07, NEC, Birmingham, Hall 11, Booth B55 on
Feb 14
th
and 15
th
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Mahr U.K. Plc - 19 Drakes Mews, Crownhill , Milton Keynes, MK8
0ER, GB, www.mahruk.com
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HIGH PRECISION INJECTION MOULD TOOLMAKERS
From single impression soft prototype tools
to high volume fully hardened multi cavity tooling
Small enough to care yet big enough to deliver
T: 01803 846013 E: info@mouldtechsolutions.com
www.moultechsolutions.com
Why use Mouldtech ?
ISO 9001 accredited
Professional friendly service
Quality Tool making
Over 40 years experience
Efficient complete service
Set time scales
Peace of mind
Reliability
Alliance Design and Manufacturing Ltd is one of the UKs
premier toolmaking companies specialising in injection and
blow mould tooling design and in-house manufacturing.
Investment in advanced equipment and a highly skilled
team gives our customers an extremely competitive edge
to their technical requirements.
Our Industry Portfolio includes:
Electronics - Medical - Electrical Consumer - Security - Packaging -
Cosmetic - Dairy - Food and Drink - Household - Automotive -
Car Care.
Injection Mould Tooling, Two Shot Mould Tools, Blow Mould
Tooling, Repairs and Modifications (Capacity up to 5 tonnes).
Tooling Repair Aftercare Preventative Maintenance
Tool repair and modification work carried out on a 24/7 basis
when required.
Tooling Trials All our moulds are trialled at our sister company.
www.AllianceMouldingServices.com
Quality Approvals: ISO 9000 series
Tel:0161 872 8881 Fax:0161 872 8883
Email:jimkelly@adm.eu.com Website: www.adm.eu.com
Managing Director: Jim Kelly Sales Contact: Steven Tynan
The Lodge,
Westbrook Road, Trafford Park,
Greater Manchester M17 1AY
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:40 Page 34
UK TRADE & INVESTMENT UK
TRADE
Investment (UKTI) works with UK-
based businesses to ensure suc-
cess in international markets. It also
encourages the best overseas com-
panies to bring operations to the
UK. Healthcare sector reports are
regularly added to the site (see link)
April adds covered, among oth-
ers, healthcare in Australia,
Germany, Russia and India; medical
devices in Netherlands; and e-
Health in Belgium.on different mar-
kets. Recent additions include on
Medical Devices The main website
also has sections on Business
Opportunities, medical case studies
etc.
www.ukti.gov.uk/export/sectors/life
sciences/healthcaremedical/sec-
torbriefing.html
Main:
www.ukti.gov.uk
HEALTH TECH AND
MEDICINES KTN
This Knowledge Transfer Network
(part of Technology Strategy Board)
is dedicated to accelerating innova-
tion and technology exploitation in
the broad health industries sector. I
Its vision is to be recognised as a
world class initiator, translator and
disseminator of research and
knowledge. All in the sector can
join, with the KTN providing, among
others: Knowledge of the UK inno-
vation landscape; signposting and
personal introductions; Finding part-
ners for new collaborations; Finding
UK and European funding sources
from public and private sources;
Technology audits and support for
commercialisation and spin outs;
Market and project information; and
Best practice guidance. It also
enables technology translation
between the UK's Innovative
Manufacturing Research Centres
and the clinical and industrial base.
There are Special Interest Groups
covering: Advanced Wound Care,
Biomanufacturing Innovation,
Biomedical Surfaces, Dental, Drug
Delivery, Medical Devices and
Diagnostics, Medical Devices Clinical
Studies and Orthopaedics. Events
being held as we went to Press
include conferences on Convergent
Technologies (May 10), Taking
Medical Sensing Technologies to
Market (May 11) and Innovation in
Healthcare (May 12).
https://ktn.innovateuk.org/web/
healthktn
TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY BOARD
The TSB is the UKs national inno-
vation agency. Its goal is to acceler-
ate economic growth by stimulating
and supporting business-led inno-
vation and it has identified six
underpinning technology areas -
Advanced Materials; Biosciences;
Electronics, Photonics and Electrical
Systems; High Value Manufacturing;
Information and Communication
Technology and Nanotechnology. A
particular emphasis has been
placed on the development of
enabling technologies, which can
lead to the creation of other prod-
ucts or processes able to support
future development.
The Board is working with the
Department of Health, primary care
trusts, research councils, local
authorities, academia, industry and
third-sector organisations to devel-
op technologies and services to
benefit the medical sector, particu-
larly elderly. A new strategy review
was due to be published as we
were going to Press (the previous
review having covered years 2008-
2011. Knowledge Transfer
Networks are under its umbrella, as
well as a network of Technology
Innovation Centres, Knowledge
Transfer Partnerships and R&D
grants and funding for SMEs.
Home:
www.innovateuk.org
Innovation Centres:
www.innovateuk.org/deliveringin-
novation/technology-and-innova-
tion-centres.ashx
R&D grants:
www.innovateuk.org/content/com-
petition/grant-for-rd-single-busi-
ness.ashx
EUCOMED
Eucomed is the largest organisation
representing the medical device
industry in Europe. It represents
22,500 designers, manufacturers
and suppliers of medical technology
used in the diagnosis, prevention,
treatment and amelioration of dis-
ease and disability. Eucomed mem-
bers include national trade and pan-
European product associations and
internationally active manufacturers
of all types of medical technology.
industry it represents employs more
than 500,000 people, turns over
95 billion a year in Europe and
encompasses some 500,000 differ-
ent medical technologies from stick-
ing plasters and wheel chairs to
pacemakers and replacement joints.
www.eucomed.org
WELLCOME TRUST
A key task for The Trust is technolo-
gy transfer and it is a committed
funder of translational research so
that innovations can be translated
into new health products. Priorities
include medical engineering and
fighting microbial disease. A signifi-
cant number of projects involve the
creation and/or evaluation of a
device, prosthesis or software appli-
cation that draws on the physical
sciences, mathematics or engineer-
ing as core to the innovation. It has
also done much to increase the
number of high quality applications
by researchers from physical sci-
ences, engineering and digital
health groups.
www.wellcome.ac.uk/index.htm
ABHI CONFERENCE
ABHI is pleased to announce that
their International Business
Conference will take place on the
13th June 2011 in Central London.
The ABHI International Business
Conference looks to explore the
challenges and opportunities for
industry in a global context. The
conference will provide the audience
insight into the key areas for consid-
eration both near and long term,
contemporary issues and opportuni-
ties for the sector and different
strategies for international success.
The event will start with an overview
on the current global landscape.
www.abhi.org.uk/events/2011/Inter
nationalconferencemay.aspx
<http://www.abhi.org.uk/events/20
11/Internationalconferencemay.
aspx>
EUROPEAN COORDINATION
COMMITTEE OF THE
RADIOLOGICAL,
ELECTROMEDICAL AND
HEALTHCARE IT INDUSTRY
COCIR is the voice of the European
Radiological, Electromedical and
Healthcare IT Industry. It represents
the medical technology industry in
Europe and its membersplay a
driving role in developing the future
of healthcare in Europe and world-
wide. As well as communicating
with EU policy-makers on econom-
ic, regulatory and technical issues
related to healthcare, COCIR works
with various organisations promot-
ing harmonised standards and fair
regulatory control across the world.
One of its key objectives is to pro-
mote free worldwide trade of med-
ical devices and to maintain the
competitiveness of the European
industry.
www.cocir.org
35
GTMA has made a strategic deci-
sion to become a sector-focussed
organisation with buyer needs at
the top of its agenda. The strategy
has its foundations in Sector
Networks of member companies
where the focus is on identifying
specific and detailed needs of buy-
ers and then putting in place
programmes to meet those needs.
Now this has been developed into
a Manufacturing Resource Centre
for buyers where clusters of
proven companies can be made
available to strengthen OEM and
the entire supplier linkage.
One of the first Sector Networks
was for the medical and pharma-
ceutical industry, into which nearly
100 GTMA member companies
were already supplying or were tar-
geting for new business. The
Supply Chain Programme has a
strong focus on:
Supplier Accreditation
Suppler Evaluation/Relationships
Process
Control/Visibility/Traceability
Ongoing Quality, Cost and
Delivery
Supplier Sales and Marketing
A key issue in the Network
approach is to ensure member
companies have the right compe-
tencies to meet buyer requirements
in the sectors they serve, and are
regularly updated on issues affect-
ing those sectors. Buyers can then
have confidence in their manufac-
turing products and services.
Critical to this has been the very
close relationships built between
GTMA and medical OEMs and Tier
1s whose purchasing departments
have been very supportive of the
programme, both in speaking
directly to member companies at
Network events but also in helping
GTMA design the right kind of sup-
plier support initiatives. Help has
come from a wide range of bodies,
from the NHS to OEMs like
GlaxoSmithKline.
Contact: Alan Fairweather,
Email: alan@gtma.co.uk
GTMA NETWORK
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:40 Page 35
NHS
NHS Innovations East
www.hee.org.uk
NHS Innovations London
www.nhsinnovationslondon.com
NHS Innovations North
www.nhsinnovationsnorth.org.uk
NHS Innovations North West
www.trustech.org.uk
NHS Innovations South East
www.innovationssoutheast.nhs.uk
NHS Innovations South West
www.nisw.co.uk
NHS Innovations West Midlands
www.midtech.org.uk
NHS Innovations Yorkshire &
Humber
www.medipex.co.uk
BIOBUSINESS NORTHERN
IRELAND
www.biobusinessni.org
ONE NUCLEUS
One Nucleus is based in Cambridge
and London at the heart of Europes
largest life science and healthcare
cluster.
www.onenucleus.com
HEALTHCONNECT
Connect members operate in assis-
tive technology, health informatics,
medical devices etc and their asso-
ciated supply chains.
www.bewellconnected.co.uk
THE CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE
FOR LIFE SCIENCES
North East based support for
those in medical devices, assistive
technology for aged, stem
cells etc.
www.celsatlife.com
MEDILINKS
Medilinks stimulate collaboration
between public and private sectors
for Life Science companies from
their powerbases in the Midlands
and the North.
MEDILINK UK
MEDILINK is a non-profit making
organisation which brings together
on a regional basis medical manu-
facturing and distribution compa-
nies, hospitals and universities to
stimulate innovation and drive for-
ward profitable developments in the
healthcare technology and systems
sector. A UK network of Medilinks
promotes innovation and develops
commercial opportunities.
www.medilinkuk.com
MEDILINK EAST MIDLANDS
www.medilinkem.com
MEDILINKWM
www.medilinkWM.co.uk
MEDIWALES
www.mediwales.com
MEDILINK YORKSHIRE & HUMBER
www.medilink.co.uk
SOUTH EAST HEALTH
TECHNOLOGIES ALLIANCE
(SEHTA)
Supports health technologies sector
including pharmaceuticals, biotech-
nology, medical devices and
diagnostics.
www.sehta.co.uk
SCOTTISH LIFE SCIENCE
ASSOCIATION
Set up in Jan to support Scottish
companies in medical devices,
diagnostics, biopharmaceutical and
contract research.
www.scottishlifesciencesassocia-
tion.org.uk
KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER
NETWORKS
Electronics, Sensors,
Photonics KTN
Also covers plastic electronics,
embedded systems, displays, light-
ing, instrumentation, control sys-
tems...
espktn
Environmental
Sustainability KTN
New technologies advice and priori-
ties including resource efficiency,
waste management, renewables
and carbon.
sustainabilityktn
Materials KTN
Seperate groups for composites,
materials and design exchange,
metals and alloys, materials for
packaging, polymers, powders,
smart materials, technical textiles
and materials for transport.
https://ktn.innovateuk.org/web/mat
erialsktn
Measurement KTN
Groups for biotech and healthcare,
engineering and optical, communi-
cations and electromagnetics, envi-
ronment and energy, ionising radia-
tion, materials and surface analysis.
The KTN provides a forum and for
info and ideas as well as seminars
and conferences.
https://ktn.innovateuk.org/web/me
asurement-network
Nanotechnology KTN
Groups include Coatings,
NanoMed, Nano4Energy,
NanoPharm, Elec Devices,
EcoNano and Metrology. Priority
area is Healthcare and Life
Sciences.
nanoktn
ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH
HEALTHCARE INDUSTRIES
Lead UK industry association for
the medical technology sector. It
includes manufacturers of medical
devices, equipment and consum-
ables, as well as service compa-
nies, distributors, professional
groups etc. Its approx 200 member
companies produce about 80% of
annual output is about 80% - every-
thing from life support machines to
latex gloves.
www.abhi.org.uk
THE ASSOCIATION OF THE
BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL
INDUSTRY
Represents UK companies produc-
ing prescription medicines. Its
members research, develop, man-
ufacture and supply more than 80
per cent of NHS medicines. The
sector employs 73,000 directly,
27,000 in research and another
250,000 in related industries (for
example in the manufacturing sup-
ply chain).
www.abpi.org.uk
BRITISH HEALTHCARE TRADES
ASSOCIATION
Members are in the assistive tech-
nologies sector making and supply-
ing products from wheelchairs,
scooters, stairlifts, seating and posi-
tioning products, to patient support
surfaces, rehabilitation products,
prosthetics and orthotics.
www.bhta.com
HEALTH CARE SUPPLY
ASSOCIATION
Promotes the work of supply chain
staff at all levels. Affiliated to the
Chartered Institute of Purchasing
and Supply.
www.healthcaresupply.org.uk
THE BRITISH DENTAL TRADE
ASSOCIATION
Represents and supports manufac-
turers and suppliers of dental prod-
ucts, services and technologies,
and is a member of ABH (see
above)I.
www.bdta.org.uk
BRITISH IN VITRO DIAGNOSTICS
ASSOCIATION
Represents manufacturers and dis-
tributors of analytical instruments
and the reagents and accessories
for in vitro diagnostic tests.
www.bivda.co.uk
36
Joshua Lane, Middleton, Manchester UK, M24 2AZ Tel: 0161 655 3355 Fax: 0161 655 3322
Web: www.hansonthorpe.co.uk Email: sales@hansonthorpe.co.uk
Competitive prices
Complete project support
Fast response times
Continual investment
Tool trialling and validation in-house
on 50 & 100T Engel machines
We believe in continual investment in latest technologies and
machinery, supported by a highly skilled and well motivated
workforce. This has helped the company to win the Plastics
Industry Toolmaker of the year Award 3 times and earned us an
excellent reputation within the industry.
Hanson Thorpe Precision Toolmakers Ltd
Manufacturers of
Clinical Plastic Injection Mould Tools
and Precision
Medical / Engineering components
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:40 Page 36
GTMA member
Huntsman Advanced
Materials has won an inno-
vation award with its cus-
tomer NRG Wheels for inno-
vative use of composites in
high performance vehicle
applications.
The award was in the Sports
and Leisure category of the JEC
Innovation Awards 2011 for
new carbon / magnesium
wheels, which helped achieve a
10% fuel saving in tests with a
Porsche with a 380bph engine.
NRG Wheels Ltd, based in the
UK, specialises in designing,
manufacturing and marketing
structural composites for the
automotive industry, and the
wheel was invented to create a
better driving experience based
on improved handling and bet-
ter impact resistance as well as
reduced fuel and engine emis-
sions.
It was achieved by focusing on
the two main wheel compo-
nents: the hub and the rim.
The forged, magnesium alloy
based hub of the wheel has
been designed to reduce the
normal cast magnesium porosi-
ty and corrosion potential of the
wheel to zero.
The other major feature is the
carbon composite wheel rim
which was developed with the
support of Huntsman who
selected and provided an
Araldite resin system especial-
ly adapted for Resin Transfer
Moulding (RTM). The resin was
also designed to achieve the
highest level of targeted per-
formance, defined by challeng-
ing criteria to deliver increased
toughness and better impact
resistance.
During the RTM process aero-
space type carbon fabrics are
put into a mould and injected
with epoxy resin. Specially-
coated titanium fasteners work-
ing within specially-bonded
bushes fasten the hub to the
epoxy carbon fibre rim, so no
additional auxiliary component
bonding or finishing is required.
Because of both the quality of
the resin and the processing
conditions, the visible outer side
of the rim has an aesthetically
pleasing surface finish, showing
the carbon fibre pattern. The
surface is protected from UV
light with a tough, high gloss
lacquer paint finish.
Combining properties of tough-
ness and high temperature
resistance, the Araldite RTM
system helps creatie a carbon
wheel with better impact resist-
ance than metal wheels and
high fatigue resistance.
The carbon / magnesium wheel
is 40% lighter than even the
lightest aluminium or magne-
sium wheels. Substituting con-
ventional materials with com-
posites creates a direct primary
weight reduction, allowing the
carbon rims on the wheel to
have a noticeable effect on a
cars fuel economy, reducing
fuel consumption and emissions
while enhancing performance
and handling.
When tested on a Porsche with
a 380 bhp engine, the carbon /
magnesium wheels helped to
achieve power savings of around
43 bhp, equating to approxi-
mately 10% of fuel savings.
Coupled with reduced fuel con-
sumption and engine emissions,
the reduced energy requirement
for composites manufacturing
compared to aluminium alloy
manufacturing results in signifi-
cant energy savings during the
life of the product.
The overall potential for carbon
composite wheels is large, but
specific. They are suited to
higher-value and high-perform-
ance vehicles. The instant per-
formance advantage and sim-
plicity of fitment makes the
NRG carbon wheels a natural
choice for highly tuned vehicles,
either OEM or aftermarket.
RTM with suitable epoxy resin
systems allow the production of
reproducible high quality parts
within acceptable cure times.
www.huntsman.co.uk
37
New composite wheel wins award
for Huntsman Advanced Materials
10% fuel saving achieved on Porsche test
>>>
GTMA members are being
offered help in obtaining
finance from Business
Lending Specialists NGI
Finance.
The company recognises that
business loans and overdrafts
arent as easy to obtain as they
used to be.
If you are a new start business
or a well-established company
disappointed by your current
bankers attitude to lending you
money to invest in the business,
NGI Finance can help. NGI
Finance is a company that
understands our industry.
It specialises in securing
Business Loans, Commercial
Mortgages and Asset Finance,
and currently has an Unsecured
Loan facility at competitive rates!
Being independent and flexible
we have relationships with
many lenders across the whole
of the market, it says. If you are
looking for finance just give
Chris Morris of NGI a call.
Chris is due to speak at
GTMA's AGM on June 15 on
funding opportunities (also see
Page 41). Contact by
Tel: 0870 8504484;
Fax: 0870 8504485;
Email: chris@ngifinance.co.uk
www.ngifinance.co.uk
Alternative finance for GTMA members
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:40 Page 37
38
press releases... press releases... press releases...
Renishaw plc, the global engi-
neering technologies company,
has acquired the entire share
capital of MTT Investments
Limited and its subsidiary, MTT
Technologies Limited (MTT).
Based in Stone, Staffordshire,
MTT designs, develops and
manufactures additive manufac-
turing and rapid prototyping
systems, including selective
laser melting, metal casting,
and vacuum casting machines
and processes.
MTT's technologies has its main
markets in aerospace and med-
ical devices, but with potential
Software products: GTMA
member Planit was at the
Southern Manufacturing at
FIVE, show in Farnborough in
February with four brands:
Alphacam Edgecam Radan and
Jobshop which all reported
great, steady attendance at the
three stands they had. All four
sales teams had leads, and
appointments to attend from
discussions on the stand. Planit
is a leading developer of soft-
ware products for sectors
including the metalworking
industries, aircraft, appliances,
ships, and a wide variety of
sheet metal products.
www.planit.com
Dragonskin succes: Since its
introduction WNTs Mastertool
Dragonskin range of inserts
have proved highly successful in
extending tool life and increas-
ing productivity across a range
of applications and materials.
WNT has introduced five fami-
lies of insert grades, with either
PVD or CVD coatings, to pro-
vide a high-performance solu-
tion when machining steel,
stainless steel or difficult-to-
machine materials such as heat
resistant super alloys. The
inserts allows users to ensure
they are using the correct grade
on any application and gain the
maximum performance from
their cutting edges.
www.wntuk.com
C2M Eurofunding: C2M has
announced that it has been
successful in its proposal for
European Funding to develop
the RGH material through to
production. The C2M team was
in Brussels on the 13th and14th
April to put pen to paper on the
deal with a view to starting the
project in the middle of the
summer. The proposal was
developed using support from
the EEN and a great deal of
input from the C2M team and
its associated partners through-
out Europe.
www.c2muk.co.uk
Press Releases Here is a selection of Press Releases received at
GTMA offices. If you want to be considered please send your
releases by email and in a Word document to: admin@gtma.co.uk
with the Subject: Press Release.
Design & manufacture new tooling
Refurbish existing tooling
Repairs
Precision machining
Laser welding service

Put us to the test today !
Moorland Toolmaking Ltd
Lady Ann Court, Lady Ann Road,
Batley, West Yorkshire, WF17 0PY
Tel: 01924 470666 Fax: 01924 472666
e-mail: sales@moorlandtools.com
website: www.moorlandtools.com
FOR ALLYOUR
TOOLMAKING REQUIREMENTS
Wayne at the top of a
mountain in Africa
Managing Director, Wayne
Kilford of GTMA member com-
pany 3D Lasertec Ltd recently
tackled and reached the top of
Kilimanjaro, the highest moun-
tain in Africa and fourth highest
of the Seven Summits.
It is considered the tallest free-
standing mountain in the
world,19,340 feet (5,895
metres).
Wayne also raised over 3500
for the Children with
Leukaemia Charity. He chose
this charity, after the sad loss
of his cousin to the illness.
www.3dlasertec.co.uk
New business for Renishaw
for use in other sectors. All its
products are complementary to
Renishaws existing technolo-
gies and business and we look
forward to developing an excit-
ing new business together,
said Sir David McMurtry,
Renishaws Chairman and Chief
Executive. MTT Technologies
Limited has 35 employees, with
subsidiaries in the US and Italy,
and a branch office in France.
Its operations will be incorporat-
ed within Renishaw as a new
product division and will contin-
ue to be based in Stone.
www.renishaw.com
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:40 Page 38
Following the continued
success of the Make
Measurement Matter (MMM)
road shows GTMA is pleased
to announce the 2011 road
show will be held at the
Paddock Suite, Donnington
Park on October 19.
This will be the fifth road show -
the others were at Aston Villa,
RAF Cosford (twice) and Digital
Labs (below), the mult-discipli-
nary research centre at Warwick
Impressive
accuracy and
repeatability with
the Trimos Vectra
Touch Height
Gauge
BOWERS METROLOGY: LEADING THE WAY
IN QUALITY AND INSPECTION SOLUTIONS
Accurate shop-floor bore
measurement with the
Bowers XT Holematic Xtreme
Versatile materials
testing with the
NEW Nemesis 9000
Universal Hardness
Tester
The Bowers Metrology Group of Companies
Unit 15, Bordon Trading Estate,
Bordon, Hampshire GU35 9HH
Telephone: 08708 50 90 50 Fax: 08708 50 90 60
www.bowers.co.uk new@bowers.co.uk Partners in Precision
Make Meas ur ement Mat t er
Get ready for
another great road show
Manufacturing Group.
The event regularly attracts buy-
ers from many 'blue chip' com-
panies (last year these included
Alstom Transport, BAE
Systems, Bentley Motors,
Bombardier Aerospace, Delphi
Diesel Systems, Rolls Royce,
GKN Aerospace) and with over
30 exhibiting companies is a
showcase for latest develop-
CONTROL leads
CONTROL, the world's
leading trade fair for qual-
ity assurance to a broad
range of indusry groups,
was held in Stuttgart,
May 3-6.
It attracted over 800
exhibitors from 28 countries
and had over 20,000 visitors.
GTMA had its own stand as
did members including
Blum-Novotest, Bowers
Metrology, De-sta-co,
Delcam, Eley Metrology
Faro, GOM, Hexagon
Metrology, Materialise, Phase
Vision, Renishaw, Tesa
Technology, Verisurf
Software, Wenzel and Carl
Zeiss.
www.control-
messe.com/en/control
ments in manufacturing
measurement.
It is also an event where busi-
ness is done Hexagon
Metrology announced at one
show that it took two on the
spot orders of over 300,000.
Speakers were being organised
as we went to Press but are
likely to include a major player
from the automotive sector.
GTMA on 0121 601 6350 or
email admin@gtma.co.uk The
MMM website below is now
open for Registrations.
www.
makemeasurementmatter.com
39
events... events... events... events... events...
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:40 Page 39
40
The Plastics Design and
Moulding Exhibition and
Conference (PDM11) has
moved from its traditional
base in Telford to the ExCel
Centre in London where it
runs from 18-19 May.
The move has attracted new
exhibitors and visitors as well as
strengthening the events
unique position in bringing
together the best of British plas-
tics manufacturing and design.
Visitor registration as we went
to Press show that the new for-
mat and London venue is
attracting visitors from across
the UK andinternationally.
Both the PDM exhibition and
the conference programme are
free and give visitors access to
some of the worlds most emi-
nent plastics manufacturing
professionals.
In order to attract designers and
manufacturers with great plastic
product ideas looking for advice
about the best material or mould
manufacturing process to
choose, there is a wealth of
expertise on the exhibition stands
and in the free workshops.
Three exhibitors, injection
moulding technology group
Engel, design company
Agentdraw (both GTMA mem-
bers) and materials distributor
Plastribution are collaborating to
hold PDMs first plastics design
workshop on 18 May.
A wide range of the UK plastics
design and moulding communi-
ty is represented at PDM11
including of injection moulding
machinery, rotational moulding
machinery, blow moulding
machinery and ancillary equip-
ment as well as automation
companies, mouldmakers, soft-
ware companies, materials test-
ing specialists, moulders, rapid
prototyping companies and
other industry services.
The PDM11 conference pro-
gramme includes seminars on
Award Winning Injection
Moulding; Medical Device
Manufacture; and Injection
Moulding design and product
development. sessions cover
how to eliminate uncertainty
and optimise designs using
simulation software and how to
apply best practice when
designing for manufacture.
PDM11 is supported by
the GTMA.
www.pdmevent.com
PDM11 is co-located at the
ExCel Centre with a unique new
event dedicated to industrial
design: the ProductDesign +
Innovation conference
www.pdesigni.com
The Plastics Design and Moulding
Exhibition Conference
GTMA Exhibitors
GTMA registered
exhibitors at PDM as we
went to Press are (Stand
numbers in brackets)
Agentdraw Ltd (27)
Carl Zeiss Ltd (6)
Engel UK Ltd (P33)
Hexagon Metrology (53)
Midas pattern Company (14)
Sprint Tool & Die (P40)
Superite Tools Limited (68)
University of Wolverhampton
(P40)
GTMA will be representing
all members on Stand W2.
Hexagon Metrology, which is
on Stand 53, has completely
revised and upgraded its
Optiv Classic product line.
In future the models making up
this entry level series of visual
and multisensor measuring sys-
tems will be the Optiv Classic
321 GL (Granite Line), Optiv
Classic 321 GL tp and the
Optiv Classic 453. They offer
even more advantages.
The portfolio ranges from
benchtop measuring machines
to high-accuracy multisensor
measuring machines which
achieve top performances even
in the nano range. Multisensor
measuring machines combine
optical and tactile measuring
techniques so users can meas-
ure all features of a workpiece
in one measurement cycle. At
the same time Optiv features
both flexibility and accuracy.
The new Optiv Classic 321 GL
and the Optiv Classic 321 GL
tp are based on a stable granite
design. The machine base is
manufactured in natural hard
stone, which gives an extremely
stable mechanical construction.
The third in the group, Optiv
Classic 453, has a greater meas-
urement range of 400 x 500 x
300 mm and a higher table load.
Parts weighing up to 60 kg can
be measured.
www.optiv.net
www.hexagonmetrology.com
Hexagon refreshes Optiv Classic line
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:40 Page 40
Events 2011
2011
May 11th
May 18th 19th
June 7th 9th
June 15th
Sept 2729th
October 19th
October
Nov 9th-10th
Nov 30th - Dec 3rd
Bringing it Back to Britain,
Yamazaki Mazak, Worcester
PDM, ExCel London, GTMA Stand No W2
Subcon, NEC, Birmingham,
GTMA Stand No M1
GTMA/AGM, The National Metalforming
Centre. The winner of the 2011 Apprentice
of the Year Award will also be announced at
the event
Interplas and TCT, Birmingham NEC,
GTMA TCT: Stand P9
GTMA Make Measurement Matter
Roadshow, Donnington Park
World Skills London, ExCeL Exhibition &
Conference Centre, London Docklands
Aero Engineering / Composites Show
NEC, Birmingham
Euromold, Frankfurt, Germany
Next Issue... The Autumn issue of GTMA NEWS will have promotional
opportunities for members in Metrology (in the Make Measurement
Matter Roadshow 2011 special focus), Automotive (a section highlighting
buyer needs), Aerospace (it will be at Aero Engineering / Composites
Show) and Interplas exhibitors.
Call for more: Colin Swindells on 01243 826385 or
email: colin.swindells@tiscali.co.uk
There will be a Finance
theme to this year's GTMA
AGM being held at our new
offices at the National Metal
Forming Centre, West
Bromwich on June 15
starting at 3.30pm.
A seminar format will see three
presentations:
R&D Tax Credits: Greg Howe
of Braithwaite will define R&D
and cover qualifying expendi-
ture, 2011 budget changes and
benefits, using case studies.
Exchange Rates: Barry O'Neill
of new member Clear Currency
will discuss how to manage for-
Finance theme
to GTMAAGM
GTMA members at this
year's Subcon exhibition at
Birmingham NEC, June 7-9,
include Faro, Hexagon
Metrology, Phase Vision,
Nikon, Trac Measurement
Systems, Vision Engineering
and WDS Components.
GTMA is on Stand M1.
Subcon has doubled in size
since 2007 and this year has
over 300 exhibitors from 28
countries. Visitors are from all
sectors and are sourcing sub-
contracting including machining
and metal forming, plastic
moulding, electronic assembly,
prototyping, toolmaking and
surface engineering.
There is also a strong Seminar
programme with case studies
from leading OEMs including
on topics including supply chain
development. Other sessions
will cover renewable energy,
collaborative working and new
technologies.
Also lined up is the
Manufacturing Technology Zone
(covering areas such as metrol-
ogy equipment and prototyping)
and The Tooling Show with
latest tooling developments for
advanced manufacturing.
Subcon is co-located with
Logistics Link Live on 8 and 9
June. Free tickets are available
from:
www.subconshow.co.uk
www.toolingshow.co.uk
www.logisticslink.co.uk .
Subcon doubles in size
eign exchange exposure and
issues including increasing and
protecting profit margins in
international trade.
Today's Financial Market:
Chris Morris from NGI Finance
Solutions will cover areas
including funding opportunities
and alternatives to mainstream
banking products.
The winner of the 2011
Apprentice of the Year Awards
will also be announced at the
event.
More information from GTMA
offices on 0121 601 6348. or
email admin@gtma.co.uk
Optiv Classic: Your entry to the
world of 3D multi-sensor metrology.
The new range of Optiv Classic models is
available with a range of multi-sensor options
including various vision sensors and tactile
probes for the ultimate in flexibility.
Optiv. Optical Performance Technology in Vision.
w
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.
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x
a
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.
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.
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k
41
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:44 Page 41
UK TOOLMAKING INDUSTRY SURVEY - 2011
Image courtesy of Casting Support Systems Ltd.
Is at least one person in your company spending at least 80% of their time on tasks that are a part of the
toolmaking process? Typically these activities might include: Tool Design; Tool Repair/Servicing; Machine
Tool Operation; Machine Tool Programming; Tool Building; Bench Work/Fitting; Tool Trials
If Yes, please continue with Question 2.
If No, please ignore Questions 2-5 but fill in the details at the bottom of the form and return to GTMA.
Can you further help us to understand the type of toolmaking activity at your company by indicating which of the following
categories is most valid:
Please tick as appropriate
Sub-contract toolmaker only engaged in toolmaking as business activity
Main activity is toolmaking - but there is also a subsidiary part of the business such as moulding, die casting or stamping
(above simple try-out facilities)
Main activity is traditional toolmaking, but as an additional service you manufacture prototype/rapid tooling
Main activity is prototype/rapid tooling
Main activity is production (moulding, die casting or stamping typically), but there is also a subsidiary
toolmaking department in support of the main activity, i.e. you carry out in-house toolmaking.
In total, how many people are employed at your company either in a job position called Toolmaker or in a position that
would not exist if it were not in support of the toolmaking activity?
This figure should include all support staff
Please split the figure quoted in Q3 into:
a. The number of people involved in hands-on toolmaking
activities including Design, Machine Tool Programming, etc.
b.The number of support staff (typically non-engineering activities).
What is the amount of turnover at your company that is derived from toolmaking activity?
Please indicate a figure for the last calendar year (2010) or nearest acccounting year
If you are not the person named overleaf, but you are the person responsible for toolmaking activities at your company,
please give your name, position and company name.
Form completed by -
(PLEASE PRINT)
Please return this form to:
Julia Moore, GTMA
By Fax to: 0121 601 6378
OR By Post to:
GTMA (Census)
The National Metal Forming Centre,
47 Birmingham Road,
West Bromwich B70 6PY
or TEL 021 601 6368 even
if the answer to Q1 is No.
YES NO
please tick
1
2
3
4
5
6
For office use:

Position:
Company:
Address:
Tel:
Fax:
e-mail:
Name:
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:44 Page 42
Select Moulds offer a full
solution to the Medical Industry
From conception to birth we can support our
customers by supplying a one stop shop service.
-Reverse Engineering
-MoldNow Analysis
-Design for Manufacture
-Mould Design
-RP Tooling
-Pre-Production Tooling
-Full Scale-Up
-2 Material Moulding
-Turn-Key Packages
-Automation and Assembly
-PDQ
-Validation
No:2 Avocet Trading Estate
West Richardson Street
High Wycombe
Bucks HP11 2SB
Tel: +44 (0)1494 459551
Fax: +44 (0)1494 461533
Enquiries:
sales@selectmoulds.co.uk
www.selectmoulds.co.uk
Select Moulds Ltd
Select Moulds
offer a full solution
-Reverse Engineering
-Moldflow Analysis
-Design for Manufacture
-Mould Design
-RP Tooling
-Pre-Production Tooling
-Production tooling
-2 Material Moulding
No: 2 avocet Trading Estate
West Richardson Street
High Wycombe
Bucks HP11 2SB
Tel: +44 (0)1494 459551
Fax: +44 (0)1494 461533
Enquiries:
simoncollins@selectmoulds.co.uk
www.selectmoulds.co.uk
-Gas Insertion
-Automation and Assembly
-Validation
From conception to birth we can support our
customers by supplying a one stop shop service.
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:44 Page 43
xxxxxIssue 1 2011 3/5/11 15:44 Page 44

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GTMA News Issue 1 2011

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The Future of Workholding is here

Design & manufacture new tooling

Refurbish existing tooling

Laser welding service

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