Manufacturing and Engineering Magazine Issue 422 by Manufacturing and Engineering Magazine

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ISSUE 422

MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING MAGAZINE

M M MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING MAGAZINE

JENKS & CATTELL ENGINEERING the best and brightest in its field

ISSUE 422

. . . e d i s n i Also freeform technology A passion for precision engineering

tannlin Revolutionary laser cutting machinery

brightwake limited Innovative medical solutions with impact

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editor’s

Comment ISSUE 422

www.memuk.org Magazine Manager Daniel Beardsley Feature Managers Tom Waite Elliott Jenkinson Kyle Joyce Bradley Drake

h c a o r p p A y l i m a The F

Editor Ciaran Jarosz Contributing Editor Daniel Stephens

What’s the difference between the “traditional” approach and the “family” approach to business? I’m sure everyone has a different point of view on the merits of both but for me the best companies developed from family roots have a stronger sense of reputation. That’s not to say other companies aren’t proud of their own brand or work hard to secure a good standing within the sector, but that family businesses don’t have the luxury of packing up and starting again. There’s no rebrand to revitalise falling sales. It’s our name above the door, they tell me, and the name doesn’t change. For clients it results in customer service of the highest level where attention to detail is paramount. Indeed, relationships can last for decades, and generations of the same family can benefit from long-established contracts. It’s evident in Gregg and Patterson (Engineers) Ltd, a company from Northern Ireland who supply, fabricate and erect structural steelwork for the construction sector to an international customer base. Run by Managing Director Stephen Gregg – the third generation of Greggs to run the business – the company enjoys an enviable reputation for standards, customer retention, satisfaction rates and, perhaps most importantly, longrunning relationships. In fact, Gregg and Patterson retains contracts with clients that have lasted more than five decades. And these aren’t small-scale service providers but major players in the steel sector such as Lagan Valley Steel, Tata Steel and Kingspan.

Journalists Jeff Senior Hayley Toth Alice Rose Batley Art Editor Stacey Brewer Designers Carla Taylor Sam Dickinson Natalia Wysocka Production Vicki Lindsay Lisa Pollinger Rebecca Scott Accounts Nick Charalambous Manufacturing and Engineering Magazine is published by: Trafalgar Publishing Ltd, 1st Floor Turnbridge Mills, Quay Street, Huddersfield West Yorkshire HD1 6QT Tel: 01484 437314

Gregg told me: “We have an old fashioned ethos allied to a progressive mind set, backed up with huge experience, technical knowledge, modern machinery and a desire to be ‘The Preferred Subcontractor for Structural Steelwork’ because of our deed not our words.” Working with a family business offers no guarantees. But find a good one and the relationship has the potential to be mutually beneficial over the long term.

Manufacturing and Engineering magazine is published by Trafalgar Publishing Ltd. Company registered in England & Wales. All material is the copyright of Trafalgar Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved. Manufacturing and Engineering magazine is the property of Trafalgar Publishing Ltd. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form whole or part without the written permission of a director of Trafalgar Publishing Ltd. Liability: while every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, the publishers cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of information herein, or any consequence arising from it. In the case of company or product reviews or comments, these have been based upon the true and honest opinion of the Editor at the time of going to press.

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Contents www.memuk.org

ISSUE 422 4 UPDATE

42 JENKS & CATTELL ENGINEERING

The latest news from the industry.

8 DEFENCE SPECIAL

The pushes and pulls of technological development

MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING 12 BEST OF BRITISH Manufacturing at its best

14 FREEFORM TECHNOLOGY A passion for precision

18 SSE PLC

Energy. For those in need

22 BRIGHTWAKE LTD Innovative solutions with impact

28 PRODUMAX LTD Pure engineering excellence

36 TANNLIN

Revolutionary laser machinery

42 JENKS & CATTELL ENGINEERING LTD

The best & brightest in its field

50 STAINLESS PLATING Precision surface engineering

RAIL 52 RAILTEX

The latest technology, equipment and innovations

54 JAFCO TOOLS

Leading hand tool specialists

56 ROWE HANKINS Pure engineering excellence

8 DEFENCE SPECIAL

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14 FREEFORM TECHNOLOGY

CIVIL ENGINEERING 58 IPAF

Safe & effective powered access

62 STEEL CONSTRUCTION

CERTIFICATION SCHEME

Driving performance

64 PADDINGTON

CONSTRUCTION

Multimillion pound success

66 STEEL CONSTRUCTION INSTITUTE

Trusted expertise

22 BRIGHTWAKE LTD

68 GREGG & PATTERSON (ENGINEERS) LTD

The preferred subcontractor for structural steelwork

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update FLEETS IN RUSSIA & CIS TO MORE THAN DOUBLE BY 2034 According to the latest Airbus Global Market Forecast (GMF), the Russia & CIS air passenger market will more than double in the next 20 years, with over 2,000 aircraft needed by 2034, compared to the 922 in operation today to meet the countries’ growing demand for air travel. Airbus’ forecast shows that over 1,280 of these aircraft will be new deliveries, valued at US$150 billion, comprising 1,100 singleaisles, 160 twin-aisles and 24 very large aircraft. These additional aircraft will satisfy both fleet replacement needs and future growth for the intra-regional CIS

and international market. Airbus’ GMF foresees that in the next 20 years airlines in the Russia & CIS region will continue to renew their fleets by introducing more new fuelefficient models, while gradually phasing out older and second hand aircraft. The region’s economy will gain positive momentum and grow yearly at 2.4% in the coming 20 years, with some countries, such as Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, demonstrating a higher annual growth of around four to five per cent. “The Russia & CIS market has

always been of key strategic importance to Airbus, and we believe it will continue to grow, even with the recent challenges in the region, as air traffic has proven to be resilient to crisis around the globe. We look forward to seeing Airbus deliveries increasing in Russia & CIS to achieve a 50% market share,” said Christopher Buckley, Airbus Executive Vice President Sales. “We forecast traffic growth in terms of Revenue Passenger Kilometers (RPK) to, from and within the Russia & CIS region to increase at 4.8 per cent per year on average over the next 20 years,

OBAMA UNVEILS CLEAN POWER PLAN The Environmental Protection Agency’s new Clean Power Plan, released early in August, sets the first-ever limits in the U.S. on carbon pollution from power plants. The Clean Power Plan is designed as the President’s flagship policy to fight climate change. The plan, issued under the authority of the Clean Air Act, seeks to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from U.S. power plants. The overall goal is to decrease emissions by 2030 to 32% below their 2005 levels. The rule works by requiring states to make their own cuts — each state is given a different

emissions reduction goal under the plan and will have various options for hitting its target. The Administration’s plan is more ambitious than the proposed plan leaked last year. Moreover, it is less dependent on natural gas as a means of reducing emissions. The plan includes a “Clean Energy Incentive Program” which aims to promote the early development of renewables over emission releasing fuels. The EPA claims that the plan will save the average American nearly $100 on their average annual electric bill – though those savings likely would be realized slowly in the build up to 2030. The true benefit

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the agency claims will be to public health by cleaning the air. Critics, however, claim that emissions cuts will drastically impact the U.S. GDP in a negative way. The UK Futures Programme is a series of learning programmes that target specific emerging or persistent workforce development problems. This round invited employer-led proposals from businesses and other organisations in the manufacturing sector to run initiatives until summer 2016 that focus on skills to manage the innovation process and exploit innovative products or services for commercial value.

which is above the world average of 4.6 per cent. The region’s highest traffic growth is expected to be on international destinations to the Middle East (+6.6%), followed by traffic to Asia-Pacific (+5.9%) and Latin America (+5.3%).” Since Airbus delivered its first aircraft to Aeroflot in 1992, 28 airlines in the Russia & CIS region now operate over 340 Airbus models, including both its popular single-aisle and wide-body families. Over the last five years, Airbus’ fleet in Russia has doubled and the number of operators is constantly expanding.

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update HS2 CONFIRMS TUNNEL EXTENSION FOR SOUTH HEATH People living in and around South Heath, Hyde Heath and Great Missenden stand to benefit from a new extension to the Chilterns tunnel proposed as part of the HS2 rail project. Following detailed engineering and environmental assessment, the Government has today agreed to propose an amendment to the HS2 hybrid Bill to extend the deepbored Chilterns tunnel 2.6km to a new portal just past South Heath. By continuing the main tunnel all the way past the village, a separate ‘green tunnel’, designed to reduce noise and help blend the

line into the landscape, would no longer be needed. As well as reducing the scale and duration of local construction activity, the new proposals would also preserve 12 hectares of woodland at the nearby Mantle’s Wood, Sibley’s Coppice and Farthings Wood. The changes are in line with the recommendations of the hybrid Bill Select Committee, a group of MPs tasked with considering petitions against the Bill. The new proposals will be included in a future Additional Provision to the Bill.

INNOVATIVE MANUFACTURERS GET GOVERNMENT SKILLS BOOST The UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) has chosen five organisations to test new ways to develop skills for innovation in manufacturing. Each will run a trial programme expected to yield valuable learning that can be shared across the sector to improve innovation and productivity. The successful organisations include a leading UK manufacturer, an employer representative body and UK universities. Projects are based in Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow, Swansea and Lancaster. Each will test skills development in their workplaces as part of the UK Futures Programme, a series of learning programmes aiming to

address specific workplace skills needs. Each project will receive coinvestment from UKCES up to £150,000. UKCES Commissioner and leader of the competition Paul McKelvie OBE said: “I’m delighted to announce the successful applicants of our Skills for Innovation in Manufacturing competition. My team and I were impressed with the fresh thinking on display in these five projects, and we are excited to see what we can learn from their achievements.” UK manufacturing is identified as highly productive and a key sector for exports, and this competition seeks to explore new ways of developing skills

and practices needed to maximise the value of innovation. McKelvie added: “Innovation is vital for our national prosperity. It has a critical role in productivity and job creation, and nowhere is this true more than the manufacturing sector. It’s vital that that we learn how manufacturing firms can optimise their workplaces and processes to take best advantage of their high-skilled, highly productive workers. “We will watch and learn carefully over the coming months, and we look forward to sharing the learning from these five projects to the manufacturing sector as a whole.”

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update Rolo and Toffee Crisp ‘chocolate soup’ to power factory One year on from its official launch, the anaerobic digester at Nestlé UK & Ireland’s Fawdon factory, Newcastle upon Tyne, is converting four tonnes of solid waste and 200,000 litres of liquid waste into renewable energy and clean water each day. • Home to famous brands including Rolo, Toffee Crisp and Caramac, the factory in Fawdon turns sweet waste into a ‘chocolate soup’. • This ‘soup’ is then fed into an airtight tank, the anaerobic digester, where bacteria decomposes the material and converts it into by-products such

as the renewable energy, biogas. • The biogas produced fuels a combined heat and power engine, which produces 200kW of electricity, meeting about 8% of the sites energy needs. Since launch a year ago, the system has also significantly improved the quality of the water discharged from the factory. The equivalent of 41 Olympic-size swimming pools of clean water has been released from the site in the past year. Greenhouse gas emissions at the factory have also improved, falling by approximately 10% as a result of the heat and power

generated from the biogas produced at the Fawdon site. Andrew Griffiths, Sustainability Manager, Nestlé Fawdon said: “We’re proud to announce that one year on from launch, we’ve achieved our target of zero waste to landfill at our Fawdon factory, thanks to the installation of a new anaerobic digester. "The system allows us to convert a large amount of waste that would otherwise enter sewage, used as feed stock or landfill systems and generate methane and other greenhouse gas emissions.” The digester at Nestlé’s biggest UK factory in Fawdon, was

introduced as part of Nestlé UK&I’s commitment to achieve zero waste for disposal in 10% of its factories by 2015, a target achieved two years early in 2013. Across Europe, Nestlé is increasing its zero waste commitment, guaranteeing all of 150 factories do not send waste to landfill by 2020. To help reduce the company’s carbon footprint and improve the environmental impact of the Fawdon factory, Nestlé turned to UK based renewable energy experts Clearfleau to build a bespoke industrial anaerobic digestion system.

SMURFIT KAPPA UK SHORTLISTED FOR 2015 SUSTAINABLE MANUFACTURING AWARD Smurfit Kappa was chosen for its unique ‘Protect their Future’ project. This encourages all the company’s employees to make a sustainable difference by considering and acting upon the impact of their home and working lives on the future of our planet and environment. The awards are regarded as one of the largest and most rigorously judged events for the manufacturing sector. Smurfit Kappa’s short listing for the second round of judging will involve site visits to a sample of the companies 22 corrugated manufacturing sites. A strategic framework of events and actions has enabled Smurfit Kappa to engage with all of its UK Corrugated employees with

the aim of making them aware of the organisation’s responsibility for reducing carbon emissions. The project places emphasis on education and the development of an engrained awareness of the reasons for change by engaging individuals in a continual improvement process. This involves measuring, tracking and recognising success and achievement. Focusing initially on energy savings the project has developed to include improved communications across the sites. As a result, the implementation of companywide Best-Practice Operating Standards and the establishment of a Best Applicable Technology blueprint appropriate for the

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whole of the corrugated industry have been undertaken. Steve Parr, UK engineering Director explains, “Smurfit Kappa Corrugated takes its carbon responsibility seriously. The programme is driven from the top by the CEO and engages everyone, individually to cause a change. So far, we have delivered savings on carbon of 20% across the majority of our plants with over 50 live projects in our monitoring system. Being shortlisted for such a prestigious award is an incredible achievement, our understanding of what makes modern UK manufacturing competitive has obviously struck a chord with the judges.”

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update £5.4 MILLION TO DISCOVER NEXT GENERATION BIOMATERIALS A new £5.4 million grant for research aimed at accelerating the discovery and application of new advanced materials in healthcare was announced today by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). The grant, awarded to Professor Morgan Alexander at the University of Nottingham, will support a programme, Next Generation Biomaterials Discovery (GoW EP/N006615/1). Professor Alexander will head a multidisciplinary team spanning Engineering, Science and Medical faculties at Nottingham that will collaborate with leading

international groups to realise the vision of materials discovery in 3D, while aiming to keep the UK ahead in the global materials competition. The University of Nottingham has also committed a £1.1 million contribution to the research. Professor Alexander said: Advanced biomaterials are essential components in targeting infectious diseases and cancers, realising the potential of regenerative medicine and the medical devices of the future. We aim to move beyond the existing limited range of generic bioresorbable polymeric drug and cell delivery agents to bespoke

materials identified to function for specific applications. Defining the chemistry, stiffness, topography and shape of materials can control the response of cells to them. The programme at Nottingham will focus on producing and testing large libraries of these attributes in the form of patterned surfaces, particles and more complex architectures. New materials will be identified for application in the areas of targeted drug delivery, regenerative medicine and advanced materials for next generation medical devices. The team will also investigate and develop materials that can work around the abilities of

bacteria and microbes to sense and signal to each other. This could have application in the field of antimicrobial resistance. Minister for Life Sciences George Freeman said: From regenerative medicine through to the next generation of cutting-edge medical devices, biomaterials will be essential components of 21st Century healthcare. This £5.4 million government investment will help researchers at the University of Nottingham to develop ground breaking new techniques that will speed up the discovery and application of these increasingly important materials.

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DEFENCE SPECIAL

INNOVATION IN PROTECTION the pushes and pulls of technological development

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DEFENCE SPECIAL

The UK's defence industry occupies a difficult position as it is subject to both the pushes and pulls of technological development, as well as the demands and anxieties of the contemporary moment. Having a big part to play in the attendance of those worries, are the suppliers and manufacturers responsible for the creation of new kit. It's a sector which invites the expertise of the country's brightest engineers, manufacturers and suppliers, uniting them in the service of national security. With much of the equipment originating from multiple sources, it's thanks to the collaboration and union of industry-leaders that innovation can take place, and national protection is consequently possible. Most recently, we've seen an acceleration in the number of drones currently in operation,

wielded for the use of surveillance, detection and targeted attacks. Drones, innovated and refined as they have been in recent years, are now capable of covering longer distances, are quieter and can carry both sophisticated weapons and greater weights of equipment. The advances made have contributed to a more efficient deployment of artillery whilst minimising the risk to personnel and civilian lives â&#x20AC;&#x201C; two factors which are decisive in the development of new defence technology. Specialist military vehicles, of which the Jackal 2A is an example, have experienced the same overhaul and, should defence become extra-national (which is often the case), are now able to endure blast and ballistic attacks through use of a re-enforced armour while, at the same time, being nimble enough to travel at speeds of up to 80mph. The new models offer

better resistance against improvised explosive device (IED) attacks and, where ease of manoeuvrability can prove pivotal, the new models offer improved handling while retaining the firepower of its predecessors. Also accommodating concerns levelled regarding the rising number of fatalities attributed to IEDs, military clothing has been developed to a point so as to offer maximum protection. Comprising three tiers of defence, the pelvic protection system (PPS), implemented across military personnel and a mandatory uniform component for the armed forces, reduces the risk of injury by airborne debris. Through a combination of sophisticated fabric and the utilisation of in-built shock absorbent devices, enemy explosives pose a significantly diminished risk to life. As previously hinted at, the defence industry has to run in parallel with changes in governmental policy, and encounters with new regulation and changing attitudes often determine what measures are in place and just how far these measures go. The aforementioned measure taken to better-protect those potentially encountering IEDs is one such example of how the innovation of suppliers and manufacturers is dictated by public opinion. In order to withstand that scrutiny and still pursue technological development, defence must continue to form a deterrent rather than contributing to an antagonistic or offensive aim. All images copyright Ministry Of Defence

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DEFENCE SPECIAL

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DEFENCE SPECIAL Not many corporations boast an aim of attaining international peace but, doing just that, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is setting its sights high and, with the safety of the UK hanging in the balance, it's one such department that can't fail to deliver on its promises. For over 60 years, the MoD has formed the basis of the UK's security and, led by the government, is tasked with managing some 150,000 members of the armed forces, producing and implementing defensive strategies, as well as responding to terrorist threats. The consolidation entailed in its inception allowed the government to be able to co-ordinate the three operative services (land, air and sea) more efficiently, and has since proved vital in what has been dubbed “the war on terror”. Both the threat of terrorist attack and the very real fight going on in the Middle East and Afghanistan have dominated headlines, and have been risen consistently in the Houses of Parliament. At the same time as newspapers exacerbate worry, the MoD works behind the scenes to minimise the risk to national security whilst also improving the conditions of those civilians caught in the crossfire. Over the past decade, we have observed a resurgence of radical extremism and the catastrophic events to which it gives rise, and so the stability of Syria and eradication of Isis remains a priority. With a view to improving the safety of deployed personnel, new look military uniforms were unveiled last month which make use of the latest in com-

munication software and protective hardware. Of a highly futuristic design, the new kit boasts high rates of information relay through use of smart technology, and a sensor-laden device which records biometrics to be worn on the wrist. As a key aspect in the logistics and co-ordination of ground attacks, the capacity of communication which the kit achieves may well prove instrumental in eliminating enemy threats with minimal casualties. Simultaneously, plans were revealed to employ the use of a laser canon across the Royal Navy's fleet. Through sophisticated technology, the artillery produces a concentrated energy beam and will be largely autonomous. Whilst we're not expecting its release until 2020, it will be a great asset for the naval fleet: offering enhanced precision for the destruction of both enemy ships and drones. Admiral Sir George Zambellas, was enthusiastic about the cost-impact of the weapons too, saying: “Energy weapons don’t require conventional ammunition. With a cost-per-shot potentially measured in pence rather than pounds, they offer a route to address the spiralling costs of missile development and production, as well as reducing supply chain demands.” As a government department which is part-funded by the tax-payer, cost remains a key aspect of the MoD's innovation drives and initiatives. Since 2010, the army has seen a regular depreciation of its numbers as a result of the government withdrawing funding. As cutbacks continue, alternatives requiring less manpower, such as the laser cannon, will be instrumental in maintaining the level of protection currently available. With this comes the prospect of a department spurred on to invest into new technologies, and we expect to see some ambitious and vibrant projects in the years to come . Image copyright Ministry Of Defence

SUSTAINING A SAFE BRITAIN with the safety of the UK hanging in the balance the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is setting its sights high

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MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING BEST OF BRITISH

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MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING BEST OF BRITISH

MANUFACTURING AT ITS BEST Despite the renown dip in manufacturing since the 1970s, where UK manufacturing contributed approximately 25% of GDP, the UK still ranks second globally in the aerospace arena and has seen great prosperity in the automotive and pharmaceutical industries. Manufacturing has always been something that the UK excels at, and this isn't likely to change any time soon. With manufacturing currently account for only a tenth of the British economy, one might think it a bleak picture for the UK manufacturing sector, however reports suggest that British factories are in fact in the midst of a resurgence. In a recent survey it was shown that the balance of manufacturers reporting a rise in domestic sales rose during the second quarter of the year to the highest degree since records actually began in 1989, showing great signs for the future of the industry. It is not, however simply an increase in the number of sales, but an overall change in the economic landscape for the UK manufacturing sector whereupon new markets and new arenas have been located by ingenious manufacturing companies. China, Russia and India have increasingly become more important in the UK exports market, with a great deal of work brought back home from some of the world's most prominent industrial emerging market powers such as China – something that has greatly assisted in supporting the market. So why is there a sudden surge in the market? Sources suggest that it is the British reputation for productivity, efficiency and quality which has been opening up new opportunities in the market for reputable manufacturers such as for

Future Advanced Manufacture, one of the companies spearheading Britain's manufacturing revival. Craig Peterson, Managing Director of Future AM commented: "We're getting enquiries all the time. Even though we're a little bit more expensive, with the cost of shipping (from China), lead time problems and the quality issues, we're seeing a lot work coming back now.” Of those industries currently performing, British-built bicycles have seen impressive leaps in sales, jumping up to approximately 70% last year as the industry adapts in line with the wider cycling boom. Adrian Williams, managing director of Stratford-upon-Avon based manufacturer Pashley, the UK’s second-biggest bicycle manufacturer, said: “We have seen a general upswing in demand for British products.” This growth can be attributed partly to the popularity of Tour de France, held in Yorkshire and well reputed for inspiring people into a healthier, more fitness-conscious lifestyle. Alongside the surge in popularity for riding bikes, there had been a corresponding 70% year-on-year growth in the number of bikes being produced in Britain, with the numbers more than doubling to 120,000 in three years since 2011, the exact point at which British cycling was underlined at the London Olympics and at the Tour de France. British

Cycling Campaigns Manager Martin Key commented on the increased demand and popularity of bikes, whilst also urging changes in transport infrastructure to facilitate the sustained interest, saying: “With so many people now riding their bikes regularly, it’s time that the proper transport infrastructure is put in place to allow them to get around safely and in the manner that many of our European counterparts currently enjoy,” he said.

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MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING FREEFORM TECHNOLOGY

A PASSION FOR PRECISION freeform technology provide HIGH QUALITY COMPOSITE TOOLING, PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND MODEL-MAKING SOLUTIONS FOR CLIENTS WORKING IN DEMANDING OPERATING ENVIRONMENTS

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MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING FREEFORM TECHNOLOGY

Founded in 2008 by precision engineers, Fred Hutton and Simon Burchett, Freeform Technology is a company which has built its reputation through passion and precision. Since starting the business with one machine, limited resources and a stream of new work from Red Bull Racing, Simon and Fred have gradually grown Freeform Technology, reinvesting the growing turnover into equipment and staff. The company has since diversified into the design and manufacture of both tooling and component solutions, and now manufactures and develops tooling suitable for a number of different markets. Quality is one of the biggest priorities for Freeform Technology; this is why they chose

Quality is one of the biggest priorities for Freeform Technology; this is why they chose CMS UK Ltd to supply their three largest machines. CMS UK Ltd to supply their three largest machines. The accuracy of these machines and the continued support from the CMS engineers minimising downtime, enables Freeform Technology to maintain its reputation for high quality and fast turnaround. Its fine-tuned services have attracted the note of industry leaders across multiple sectors. More recently, Freeform Technology established a technical partnership with British Touring Car Championship Team West Surrey Racing – winners of the 2014 Overall Team’s Championship. In collaboration with software supplier TEAM Engineering, Freeform Technology is currently in the process of designing and manufacturing a carbon-fibre front-crash structure. It’s hoped the high-specification product will retain the strength of the

current fabricated steel structure, while significantly reducing the weight. Freeform Technology has been in partnership with TEAM Engineering from the beginning. Simon Burchett says “TEAM Engineering’s software support, since day one, has helped us establish as a competitive and effective startup company. Since then they have assisted us to evolve as a business by offering PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) solutions to suit our budget along with required training to enable seamless transitions and minimum disruptions to production.” Freeform Technology has made sure to keep focused on their sole foundation of composite tooling solutions, while working to diversify its operations into new areas via setting up a research and development department within

Freeform Technology has made sure to keep focused on their sole foundation of composite tooling solutions

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MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING FREEFORM TECHNOLOGY

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MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING FREEFORM TECHNOLOGY the business. They have been working on their current procedures, along with innovating systems to improve the composites industry, including an automotive tooling solution for composite component manufacture. Burchett is excited by the upcoming development, saying: “It'll be really suited to volumes typical of the niche vehicle market. The automotive market is getting heavily involved in composites owing to emissions requirements, and a demand for weight reduction. Through sustained innovation in our tooling practice, it may be the case that we can begin supplying carbon fibre to automotive OEMs.” Since their expansion, Freeform Technology has been conscious of the shortfall in skilled engineers in the UK. Due to this, Freeform Technology is actively trying to promote the industry by taking on work experience students from the local area, while also running an apprenticeship program. Currently they have two apprentices on board, gaining experience and knowledge in the engineering environment, while looking to take on more apprentices next year. As the company's grown, it has invested carefully in CAD software and now provides tooling and component design services at the same level of quality exhibited in its manufacturing services. The tooling design capacity compliments its manufacturing operations, both by allowing customers to concentrate their focus on components, and allowing the company to refine products before late-stage development.

Irrespective of the company's rapid expansion, Freeform Technology has retained its originating services. Simon Burchett explains, “We're firm believers in the principle of 'sticking to what you know' and, everything that we've done, with regards to innovation, always complements our existing services and what we've done from the offset – which was the composite tooling manufacturing.” Quality is, for Burchett, Freeform Technology's principal market differentiator. As he explains: “Because Fred and I are precision engineers by trade, we've been able to apply those same precision manufacturing techniques to a sector which wasn't necessarily delivering the same level of accuracy. While we end up with a very high quality product that certainly suits the requirements of our F1 customers, the fact that we can offer that same precision across the board, as well, means that, regardless of what industry our customers are in, they receive that same level of quality.”

As the company's grown, it has invested carefully in CAD software and now provides tooling and component design services at the same level of quality exhibited in its manufacturing services.

As a result of its pursued level of accountability and the sense of pride evident at each level of its services, Freeform Technology has recently secured the much-revered ISO 9001 certification. Its products and services are therefore verifiably compliant with the exacting standards required, and internationally recognised. The company also enjoys membership to a number of trade associations. As well as being a member of the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT), it also boasts a strong partnership with Composites UK, and it’s this relationship which has proved most fruitful to the company's most recent development. As a platform for the promotion of its tooling solutions, the association has provided invaluable networking and collaboration opportunities for the company. As such, Freeform Technology is looking toward joining the Motorsport Industry Association (MIA), and is optimistic of the prospects this could provide. As Burchett explains, “While it's an association which is very much motorsport-orientated, they're constantly looking to stimulate relationships with industries which have that motorsport knowledge, with a view to introducing those skills into different industries. Hopefully, it'll be a way for us to diversify our client base and continue to grow as a company.” Having experienced huge expansion, and yet not conceded on either the accuracy or quality of its products and services, Freeform Technology’s entry into the automotive industry looks imminent. www.freeformtechnology.co.uk

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MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING SSE PLC

ENERGY. FOR THOSE IN NEED 4

SSE's core purpose is to provide the energy people need in a reliable and sustainable way and comprises four main business activities: Networks, Retail, Wholesale, and Enterprise. The Wholesale business includes over 11,000 MW of electricity generation capacity including hydro, onshore and offshore wind, coal, and gas-fired technologies, in addition to two of the UK's largest onshore gas storage facilities at Hornsea and Aldbrough. The business has also invested in new generation capacity with a new Combined Cycle Gas Turbine Plant at Great Island, Co. Wexford, and the Ferrybridge Multifuel Plant in West Yorkshire - both entering commercial operation during 2015. The engineering challenges of the existing asset portfolio and the new development portfolio are significant. The existing assets

are largely ageing and face increasingly difficult market challenges. The new build portfolio requires innovative value engineering approaches from the outset to ensure planned business benefits are maximised and delivered throughout the complete lifecycle of the project. Maintenance management approaches are currently being considered to further optimise asset performance whilst also driving down costs. A fleet Equipment Performance Centre has been established and is now utilising predictive analytics to successfully detect asset health issues in advance of failure which is providing significant benefits to the business. The business is also looking to further exploit the capabilities of key business systems to enable more timely identification of any asset performance issues, and also to capture longer term performance trends to enable appropriate interventions and plans.

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SSE's core purpose is to provide the energy people need in a reliable and sustainable way

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MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING SSE PLC

WHOLESALE CAPABILITY The wholesale division comprises of four different business areas. The Generation business is responsible for the operation and maintenance of SSEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s generation assets and ensuring the plant is available for use by Energy Portfolio Management. The Energy Portfolio Management segment is responsible for ensuring SSE has the energy supplies required to meet the needs of its customers and for procuring the fuel required by the generation plants that SSE either owns or has a contractual interest in. For Gas Production, the business ensures the efficient delivery of gas from the physical gas fields that it has a shared ownership in, while its Gas Storage division is responsible for the operation and management of SSE's gas storage facilities, their maintenance and ensuring the plant is available for use by SSE and third parties.

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DEVELOPING THE PORTFOLIO In July, SSE plc, through its wholly-owned subsidiary SSE E&P UK Limited, entered into an agreement with Total E&P UK Limited to acquire a 20% interest in the four gas fields and surrounding exploration acreage approximately 125km north west of the Shetland Islands, collectively known as the Greater Laggan Area. In addition, this included a 20% interest in the new Shetland Gas Plant. Following completion of the acquisition later in this financial year, Total E&P UK Limited will continue as operator of, and will own a 60% stake in, these assets. The remaining 20% is owned by DONG Energy. The value of the transaction will comprise consideration of £565m for the assets plus additional forecast investment of £350m in the period to 2018 to complete the entire development. SSE acquired gas production assets in 2010 and 2013 and has regularly set out its intention to seek new opportunities to increase its asset base to help meet gas demand requirements. The acquisition will be in line with that and completes SSE’s portfolio of gas production assets for the foreseeable future. Alistair Phillips-Davies, Chief Executive of SSE plc, said: "We are focused on maintaining a balanced range of energy businesses, and we have regularly set out our wish to seek new opportunities to increase SSE’s presence in the upstream gas sector where assets can be acquired for a fair price, and that is exactly what this deal represents. “Following extensive due diligence, we have agreed to acquire a series of very good assets and entered into a partnership with one of the world’s leading gas and oil compa-

nies. The acquisition means we will be able to introduce further diversity across our investment programme. It comes following a period of relatively low wholesale gas prices and is therefore timely. “The acquisition, including the Shetland Gas Plant, represents further investment in the UK energy infrastructure that gives access to gas from northwest Europe to help secure energy for customers and to help meet the needs of our gas-fired power stations, which will have an important part to play in supporting security of electricity supply.”

www.sse.com Tel: 01738 456 000

"We are focused on maintaining a balanced range of energy businesses, and we have regularly set out our wish to seek new opportunities to increase SSE’s presence in the upstream gas sector”

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MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING BRIGHTWAKE LTD

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MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING BRIGHTWAKE LTD

INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS WITH IMPACT Brightwake are responsible for some of the most inventive solutions for manufacturing and production related problems.

An integral catalyst for innovation within the manufacturing sector comes from the need to optimise the performance and efficiencies of any given product, regardless of the bare minimum need or requirement. Of course, this does not solely imply performance in a singular role, but also with ancillary roles and processes and so, when observing the design and manufacture of products involved within medical care, it is increasingly important for utilised products to perform in a multitude of ways to support patient care and recovery. Over the years there have been a number of ground breaking developments in medical treatment, care and products which have been able to bring patient care to a whole new level, including everything from new medicines through to procedures, techniques, on-site facilities and supporting products; but where we will find the next great step in patient care? Advancis Medical, a brand name of Brightwake Ltd points us in the direction of a well-established, yet grossly

underused ingredient in the field of medical care, Manuka honey as a replacement for silver within the wound care industry. Founded in 1979, Brightwake is a creative development, engineering, production and research company with unrivalled expertise in the production of world class textiles for the medical, cosmetic, industrial, retail and aviation industries. It was in the early 80s that the company took delivery of 40 WWII textile machines, of which the company was able to refurbish and bring 20 back into operation. Over the course of Brightwake's operation, the company has produced textiles for a wide variety of industries and uses, including everything from coffin trims all the way through to knicker elastic. Roll forward to modern day and Brightwake is now a specialist provider of products for the wound care industry which, while vastly different in nature to that of their past products, has benefited enormously from the company's experience with various different textiles, production techniques and design concepts.

Brightwake is a creative development, engineering, production and research company with unrivalled expertise in the production of world class textiles for the medical, cosmetic, industrial, retail and aviation industries

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Through heavy investment into research and development for wound therapies and associated products, in 2004 Brightwake successfully launched its very own brand of wound care products, under the name of Advancis Medical and also subsequently became the first company in the industry to utilise medical grade Manuka honey in its products and pioneering its introduction into medical care throughout the UK. Though the utilisation of honey for wound care in the UK medical sector is rather slim, with silver being the most predominant alternative product, Brightwake argues that medical grade Manuka honey brings a whole host of medical benefits in addition to fighting infection such as being antiinflammatory and preventing unpleasant odours which silver does not. Although silver is often first off the shelf for treating infected wounds, Brightwake looks to debunk the myth that silver is the “best” way to treat infected wounds. “It's all good and well if you're trying to kill a werewolf, but if you want to treat a wound then we'd prefer to use 24

honey,” joked Barry Austin, Marketing Manager. And while medical grade Manuka honey already provides a number of key advantages over silver and other antimicrobial dressings, simply using the honey itself is only the first step of many for Brightwake. As the company has a growing reputation for being the expert in all things honey, Brightwake is looking at new applications and methodologies regarding its utilisation in wound care and treatment. “We're trying to improve our honey technologies even further, including with a dressing we launched last year which is a honey film. The Actilite Protect is the first time 3 dressings have been combined into one product. It uses a new innovation in the form of a dry Manuka honey 'gel'. The gel, which is activated when needed, is bonded on to our hydrophilic foam to soak up any wound fluid produced. The product also uses our own soft, silicone texture so that when you take it off you won't then damage the wound and be back to square one.” Naturally, the success of Manuka honey within the medical sector is now inherently tied

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MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING BRIGHTWAKE LTD to the success of Brightwake, as its pioneer. When looking at the way in which Brightwake has been able to succeed in such a highly specialised and competitive sector of the manufacturing industry, it is a combination of the company's expertise and eagerness to overcome technical, or industry-related challenges which has allowed the company to position itself as one of the most reputable organisations within the sector for providing innovative, intricate and industry-leading products and solutions. Explaining how this is possible, Barry details: “It's all about our speed to adapt. We provide a lot of innovative solutions, not just within wound care but medical as a whole as well as other manufacturing areas. We provide a lot of support for other industries such as retail, aviation and the defence sector where we are approached regarding how we see problem solving. They come to us because of how we're able to adapt and react quickly – we're a speedboat in innovation, both for our own products but also for our customer's.” Of course, this keenness to adapt and evolve has proven a key element in the company's continued growth and prosperity. Brightwake

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MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING BRIGHTWAKE LTD

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MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING BRIGHTWAKE LTD maintains a keen eye on all the latest research, technological innovation and industry happenings which could benefit its own products and services through integration; however the company also undertakes a vast amount of its own testing and research, as Paul Browning, Head of Regulatory Affairs illustrates: “We have our own R&D, technical support, regulatory, legal and quality departments, and we do a lot of in-house testing, high technology CAD design and 3d printing. Our R&D department is a driving force for the company - our M.D is very dynamic in that area.” Paul also provides evidence to the company's dedication to research and innovation by example: “There was recently the need for a breast dressing for augmentation, or breast surgery and we actually managed to turn a sketch on a napkin when talking to a clinician over dinner into a prototype to that design within a matter of weeks. There's really nothing else within the market that can compete with it as this type of breast dressing simply doesn't exist anywhere else at the moment and it fills that need.” The company has additionally achieved great success in a variety of other industry sectors, specifically with relation to wound management again. With ranges of dressings for all manner of specification, incorporating soft silicone textures to avoid damage from removal, super-absorbent dressings to suck up large amounts of fluid and foam dressings, Brightwake has been able to provide support not only for the traditional medical sector, but also when looking at military applications. Explaining further, Barry expands: “They were looking at combat trauma and the massive blood loss which combat patients will have, combined with the time it then takes to get secondary care. Using that knowledge and through collaboration with the University of Strathclyde, we launched a product called Hemosep which launched in 2012 with Advancis Surgical. Hemosep is a ground-breaking cell salvage device to overcome shortages in donor blood and, while there are a number of applications out there for concentrating and reinfusing a patient's blood, they are very costly and expensive to run. We saw that as a problem and we came to a very simple solution, Hemosep which is a double-bag system with a super-absorbent in the middle which sucks out all the liquid plasma in the blood and leaves all the red and white blood cells, platelets, clotting factors and your own immune system which can then be re-infused into you post-surgery. The benefit of that is that it's your own blood,

so there's no complications of allogeneic blood and it reduces the post-operative care and improves your clinical outcome.” Looking to the future, whilst Brightwake will maintain its focus within a multitude of industries, at the same time the company looks to drive forward its operations within advanced and chronic wound care, as Barry explains: “Around 200,000 patients within the UK, at any given time are affected by chronic wounds, which costs the NHS about £3bn to treat. We're looking at improving the care of chronic wound patients by using our dressings in the most appropriate manner as well as using better technologies and better education to ensure that they are then treated in the best possible way.” Additionally, the company is looking into further surgical care initiatives such as laboratory-based cancer detection, stem cell development and nanorobotics.

“We're looking at improving the care of chronic wound patients by using our dressings in the most appropriate manner as well as using better technologies and better education to ensure that they are then treated in the best possible way”

www.brightwake.co.uk

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MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING PRODUMAX LIMITED

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MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING PRODUMAX LIMITED

PURE ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE Produmax specialises in developing innovative manufacturing techniques for a wide range of industries, including aerospace; telecommunications; mechanical engineering and medical devices

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MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING PRODUMAX LIMITED

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It would be fair to say that quality is always one of the foremost concerns for manufacturers and engineers across all disciplines, however the importance of quality manufacturing still varies from sector to sector. It is obviously however that key flight critical components in the aerospace industry cannot afford to be anything short of perfection due to the importance of their reliability within an area where safety is paramount. Produmax has the expertise and capabilities required to consistently deliver high precision, complex, flight-critical components and assemblies such as flaps, steering mechanisms and actuation systems, for the aerospace industry. The company has earned a reputation for overcoming many of the challenges faced with manufacturing these complex parts, often incorporating the use of hard metals and titanium which typically prove difficult to manage. Founded in 1966, Produmax was purchased by current Managing Director, Jeremy Ridyard in 1997 to develop and expand the business into the high precision commercial and defence aerospace markets. Having grown from a turnover of £1.4m in 1997 to a turnover of £6m this last year, the company has enjoyed consistent growth of about 10% year upon year under Jeremy's care, and aims to reach an approximate turnover of £10m by 2020 – an ambitious yet achievable

MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING PRODUMAX LIMITED goal considering progress to date made possible by the company's acquisition of a new 28,000 sq foot manufacturing plant, which they will be moving into this October. Although UK-based, Produmax is a major supplier of its parts to the global aerospace industry, exporting 70-80% of its products internationally to areas of the world such as the Philippines, North America and North Africa. Not only is the company's global competitiveness a testament to its own build quality, but it also showcases Produmax's parts as representative of leading edge British manufacturing. Of course, Produmax doesn't only stand out in the arena of quality, but also in areas such as flexibility, design and cost effectiveness, which have each allowed for the company to take on a number of new programmes and work. But what allows the company to continually offer a service which excels in all of these areas is their dedication to investment. Viewing investment as the key to their success in the coming years, Produmax displays a consistent commitment to advancing its operations through new technologies, processes and training schemes for its staff. As mentioned above, the company has invested in new premises through which it hopes to facilitate increased growth and overall efficiencies across the board. Jeremy explains the facility further and the ways in which he hopes it will open up new

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MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING PRODUMAX LIMITED

“The Sharing in Growth programme has highlighted just how much of an open mind you need to take on new processes and new products.

capabilities and the potential to reach a turnover in excess of £20m: “We're moving into a purpose-built facility on a high-tech business park that has been developed by Bradford Council. The AMRC virtual reality centre in Rotherham has helped produce a solid model fly-through of the layout which has been invaluable to us – it’s allowed us to plan each and every unit to ensure a seamless fit before we even move in. The new factory will have a large amount of lights-out automation so we can take advantage of weekend and night working, where we will have robotic loading and automation, thus allowing Produmax to compete on price with the emerging and Low Cost Ecomomies. The processes involved in that include a lot of on-machine probing and real time process control, and allow us to be comfortable enough to run the parts unmanned through the weekend on the easier operations and do the technical, clever parts when it's

manned during the day.” Produmax was also selected as one of 40 aerospace suppliers to take part in the government sponsored Sharing in Growth scheme. Commenting on Produmax's involvement with the scheme, Jeremy explains: “one great achievement for Produmax is that we were selected onto the UK Sharing in Growth Aerospace Programme. The minimum entry level is £10m turnover and employment of 100 people, but because of the ambitions and culture of the company and our bold new building proposals, we were accepted onto the programme with £5m and 50 people. It really was quite a stretch for the management team to take on all the new skills and training programmes when the framework was designed for a company more than twice our size, however the fact it's gone so well is tantamount to the hard work of all our employees. “The Sharing in Growth programme has

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highlighted just how much of an open mind you need to take on new processes and new products. We have a very open relationship with most of our customers and we're always prepared to try a different or fresh approach. If you're not trying new things, then you're just not learning.” Produmax also understands the importance of not simply using the right materials for the right job, but also sourcing such materials from the right supplier, to the required standard. As such, the company works closely with many of its key supply chain members to ensure that standards are maintained across the board and that all suppliers demonstrate advanced innovation techniques in line with Produmax's own pioneering nature. “Particularly with certain, key raw material and treatment suppliers, it's a case of managing the processing of the parts all the way through their route to ensure we don't get any damage on the end components.

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overcome the structural complications there were a lot of check and measure cuts, and analysis of stress in the raw materials and throughout the process to deliver a solution within the confines of the original design.” Looking to the future there are clear ambitions for continued growth, both in terms of turnover and overall efficiencies and standards of service. Through the company's new, purpose-built factory, the Sharing in Growth process and investment in extensive employee training and new technology, we have no doubt that Produmax will have the means to deliver an increasingly broad and excellent level of product and service to an everexpanding customer base. The future looks bright for Produmax.

www.produmax.co.uk Handling is a critical aspect of the treatment process and so we work closely with a number of our treatment suppliers and visit on a regular basis to look at how to improve the processes,” explains Jeremy further. This embedded approach to supply chain partnerships has allowed for the company to gain mutual understandings with supply chain members so that both are able to tailor their respective aims and services in line with one another; however it's crucial to note that this slant is not used solely with the suppliers, but also with the company's customers and their leading designers. “We work the best when we're entrenched into the customer's processes as opposed to being a stand-off supplier,” explains Jeremy, noting that through a more integrated approach towards working with customers, again Produmax is able to offer a far more flexible service in line with their needs, and assist in the design process often inspiring new concepts or processes. Of course, due to Produmax's highly specialised area of operation, the company regularly has to overcome new challenges and requirements as defined by customers. On a day to day basis these challenges are things which Produmax's flexible approach to business are able to handle seamlessly, allowing customers to have faith in their ability to deliver consistently. Commenting on some of the more difficult issues which the company has managed to overcome in recent times, Jeremy explains: “The biggest challenges have been the weight limitations on some of the more modern, commercial aircraft where we've had to manufacture parts as thinly as possible to reduce their weight. To

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MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING TANNLIN

REVOLUTIONARY LASER MACHINERY 36

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from the manufacture of pioneering laser-cut stainless steel stencils, tannlin quickly developed into the in-house production of its own equipment and machinery.

At its inception in 1998, Tannlin was geared towards the electronics manufacturing industry. What began with the manufacturing of pioneering laser-cut stainless steel stencils, quickly developed into the in-house production of its own equipment and machinery. It's a decision which involved the design and manufacture of its first laser-cutting system, a process which kicked off Tannlin's now well-established position in the design, production and supply of laser-cutting systems, laser-cut products and SMT support products. Headquartered in Prestwick with operations in Hampshire, Hungary and Romania, Tannlin specialises in the design and manufacture of revolutionary laser machinery, producing laser-cut stencils for the assembly of electronic devices. A pioneer in both laser-cut production and products, the company are not just a national, but international, “how to” in terms of engineering excellence. Reacting to, and implementing the newest technology, Tannlin has an ethic of innovation. New this year is Tannlin Multi-Level (TML) – a product which facilitates the production of three-dimensional metal masks used to deposit solder paste. Opting for this new technology allows customers highly improved control and precision when selecting paste volume and height deposition on selected PCB areas. It's particularly powerful where designs have mixed component technology, or where extra volume is required for coplanarity issues. By bypassing the unpredictable process traditionally used, TML offers uncompromising precision and accuracy.

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As Technical Sales Director at Tannlin, Fraser Shaw, explains: “It's a process which, at a basic level, allows us to precision laser-weld materials of different gauge together, and create a 3D mask with targeted changes in mask thickness The raw material we use is mill-rolled, high-precision stainless steel supplied by Datum Alloys. TML allows our customers to achieve a paste volume accuracy of 2% on every aperture. Alternative methods all compromise the inherent accuracy of the material by up to 25%.” Such an addition to Tannlin's series of laser stencil machines, addresses a major concern of the electronics assembly industry: namely, precise control of solder paste volume. It's a feat previously unachieved and, by delivering genuine sub-micron accuracy in its metal masks through three-dimensional volume-control, Tannlin's latest product is a remarkable step forward in technology. As such, TML has been quickly adopted up by many leading OEM’s and EMS providers in the electronics industry.

“It's all about solving technical problems and designing new systems to meet the challenges of an evolving market. Electronics is always about smaller, better, faster, cheaper” Tannlin’s existing range of laser-cutting machines has been similarly revolutionised. The introduction of the T11 to its T-Series range of laser systems delivers Tannlin's most advanced system to date. It makes use of a combination of new design features including an enhanced AOI system and the integration of adaptive software. The investment in its design and manufacturing tools has enabled the company to widen its portfolio of laser-

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cut products. Attaining a reliable beam quality with a M2 value of < 1.05, courtesy of IPG lasers, its products represent some of the most accurate thin metal processing in any industry, anywhere in the world. Tannlin's capability is enabling a multitude of industries to benefit from high-volume, high-precision processing – including use in medical, military and household products. As such, the company now displacing the more traditional manufacturing methods by offering much higher accuracy and faster turnaround. Making use of the most cutting-edge technology is principal to both the company's present and its future ambitions, as Fraser explains: “It's all about solving technical problems and designing new systems to meet the challenges of an evolving market. Electronics is always about smaller, better, faster, cheaper. We have been instrumental in that drive by enabling ever more accurate stencils over the years. Precision masks are a crucial link in the production changes that follow Moore’s law, allowing us to actually

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MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING TANNLIN build systems with the ever smaller devices. “We've been there from the inception of SMT electronics in the age of hand-held phones the sizes of house bricks, right through to the smart phones which are commonplace today. Every year our laser machines make around 1 million stencils which are used to build every imaginable electronic device in every corner of the globe.” Though still relatively young in business years, the founders and directors boast a wealth of experience, thanks to their long history in the electronics industry. As Operations Director at Tannlin, Pete Rivett asserts, “We understand engineering, we understand electronics, we understand electronic production. We continue to refine all aspects of the manufacturing process and broaden our product offerings; for example, we have a division which is solely dedicated to surface mount assembly support, enabling repeatability and standardisation of the most challenging circuit assemblies through the production processes.” Recently in receipt of the Investors in Young People Best Practice award, Tannlin continues to drive investment in its people. As well as recruiting recent graduate designers and engineers, the company has an active apprenticeship program. It's this keen eye on new generations which will allow the company to preserve its ethic of creativity and innovation. A recent Customer Satisfaction survey revealed Tannlin exceeds customer expectations in 90% of all areas, declaring its team “good to deal with and very helpful and responsive.” In its pursuit of innovation, it is the customers which Tannlin keeps firmly in mind. Opting for Tannlin products, customers benefit from the close relationship the company endeavours to attain. As Pete explains, “With our ethos of continual innovation to provide both solutions and

services to our customers, we understand how critical it is to have control and traceability of the process. Our proprietary management application, Blueprint, was developed to allow us to efficiently manage our order entry, production scheduling and design and manufacturing processes. It has grown from an in-house application to an on-line platform allowing us to work closer and more effectively together. It bridges the gap between Tannlin and our customers, creating a virtual collaborative team, working in real-time.”

The benefit of making use of this live system is that customers have unrestricted access to Tannlin's operations, and can therefore observe every level of production with up-to-date, on-screen data. During scrutiny, customers can reflect on and amend the process as appropriate. “It's more efficient for them and it's more efficient for us because we're all working with the same live data,” says Pete. “Because each order contains a great deal of technical data, collaboration between us and the customer is vital. Blueprint allows us to address this remotely.” Compromise isn't in Tannlin's vocabulary. Across the board, the company exerts real pressure to ensure its principle of quality is upheld. Its choice of suppliers forms a big part of that need as Managing Director at Tannlin, Graham Hall comments, “Our approach to quality includes using the best suppliers we can find. We don't confine ourselves to the nearest or the least expensive, we take the best suppliers at a global level and our long standing relationship with Aerotech for our motion-control systems is a prime example. The aim, for Tannlin, is always to exceed expectations.” www.tannlin.com

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MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING JENKS & CATTELL ENGINEERING LTD

THE BEST & BRIGHTEST IN ITS FIELD Jenks and Cattell Engineering consistently produces high quality general metal presswork, welded assemblies, laser cutting and laser fabrications.

Established in 1886, Jenks and Cattell Engineering, owned by the Newship Group, is a family owned business which was once one of the largest garden tool manufacturers of its era, having provided high quality products to the industry for approximately 100 years. Roll forward to present day and the company is now one of the largest presswork and laser fabrication engineering companies within the Midlands, signalling a major change in commercial direction, yet still positioning the company as one of the best and brightest in its field of expertise. Jenks and Cattell boasts a vast range of services including: metal pressings, laser cutting, fabrication, forming, welding, nut insertion, surface finishing, and the ability to deliver the package as a finished product. This is possible due to the company's expertise and equipping itself with the facilities required to provide customers

with an industry-leading service, on time and to a competitive pricing structure – the combination of these three elements signifies the advantage which the company holds against key competitors with regard to capabilities, however it is in the provision of this service where Jenks and Cattell truly comes into its own. “We aim to treat all of our customers with the same levels of customer service, no matter if they manufacture one part per month, or 100,000 parts per month – and we are proud to say we have the capability and capacity to cater for all manufacturing requirements, regarding both quantity and complexity,” illustrates Nick George, Sales Director of Jenks and Cattell. “We are able to export all over the world with 2015 seeing large increases in exporting to China, India and Eastern Europe – which we didn’t think would be possible to be financially competitive – however our superior quality and service appears to be the ruling factor.”

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MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING JENKS & CATTELL ENGINEERING LTD

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MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING JENKS & CATTELL ENGINEERING LTD

Diversification for the company originally began in 2008, where Jenks and Cattell commissioned its very first laser cutting machine and fabrication area. Having received astounding levels of interest and consequent success as a result of this diversification, the company then decided to build upon this success yet further and commissioned its second laser machine in 2014, signalling the realigned focus of the company for the years to come. Commenting on how the new machines benefited the company, Nick explains: “Having lasers as well as presses not only allows us to reach a new customer base, but also allows us to help all of our customers with the production of prototypes and the completion of lower volumes [less than 5000]. Our state of the art laser machine can also operate 24/7 with automated lifting and loading machines. The costs are therefore very low from this production as there is no operator required.” Additionally, the laser machine is able to cut material thickness of up to 20mm as well as work with some of the most complex and intricate shapes for its customers, thus opening up new areas of work and specialisms which the company could offer to clients. “The lasers work well alongside our range of presses which are well equipped and cost-efficient for larger volumes, however as the lasers do not require a purchase of tooling, this allows us to once again keep the relative manufacturing costs down,” added Nick further. This then complements the

company's existing facilities and qualification which allow the company to offer quality at a competitive, best-value rate. Priding itself in offering a finished project to customers, Jenks and Cattell is able to support clients from their initial drawing right through to project completion. To be able to offer this level of service, it is essential for every single step in the Jenks and Cattell process to be flawless, which simply would not be possible without the support of key suppliers such as Alpha Rowen and SO Polishing, offering customers

the final surface finishing, painting, plating and heat treatment finish which they require from a finished project. Nick explains: “We have built an excellent working relationship with GPB prototypes, where we work together to manufacture soft tooled prototypes prior to production for our customers to reduce any feasibility issues later on in production. We currently work on an impressive lead time of 3 weeks to initial prototype, 8 weeks to sample and 16 weeks to production for the majority of our pressed parts.

the laser machine is able to cut material thickness of up to 20mm as well as work with some of the most complex and intricate shapes for its customers

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MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING JENKS & CATTELL ENGINEERING LTD

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MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING JENKS & CATTELL ENGINEERING LTD

“Working closely with a number of local steel suppliers and logistic companies means we are able to give our customers a fully assembled and completed product at the best price available, due very few miles being travelled throughout Midlands suppliers to deliver the finished product. Using local steel, surface finishing and logistics companies, we have the ability to offer short lead times to our customers as the majority of our requirements are luckily enough, on our doorstep.” Over the years the company has been involved in a number of impressive projects of which the company is incredibly proud, serving as testament to the company's service. Specifically, Jenks and Cattell was identified as a company with the capacity and capability to take on the production of an existing project for a world-leading automotive company. With

“Working closely with a number of local steel suppliers and logistic companies means we are able to give our customers a fully assembled and completed product at the best price available” the company being dissatisfied with the quality and delivery performance of its previous suppliers, Jenks and Cattell has since taken on the resource package with key areas of performance identified by the customer, including: organisation, quality, delivery performance and overall project management. The project itself has included an investment into machinery and employees as well as the introduction of a second shift to provide further capacity and an expanded service. “We have also had to assess the appropriateness of the work for our current presses, where existing tools have been adapted to fit in our presses to efficiently manufacture the parts,” added Nick further, highlighting how the company has tried to offer a tailored service for best performance and value. In being able to deliver upon this project, not only has Jenks and Cattell proven its capacity to deliver, but also

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MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING JENKS & CATTELL ENGINEERING LTD

that of its ability to provide a flexible solution which can adapt to the respective needs of the client – something which is of increasing importance within the manufacturing sector. Of course, the company has also seen it taking an increasing role in the operations of some of its electrical clients, as Nick details: “Jenks and Cattell Engineering are proud to be able to encourage exporting success and follow the growth of one of our electrical customers. We began supplying the UK plant for under £1m of work, where we showed an impressive service and manufacturing project management to be selected to then export to their plants overseas which included Germany, Serbia, Romania and China. This growth, coming internally from an existing customer is a very proud moment for Jenks and Cattell to be recognised and trusted

to supply presswork, laser fabrication and welded assemblies within such a key market at such a competitive time.” Looking to the future, Jenks and Cattell has a keen eye on possible areas of growth and expansion, building upon the foundations laid out in previous years and the company's current, envious position within the market. Key catalysts for growth will include heavy investment into various areas of the company, including the acquisition of new welding and presswork facilities to complement its state of the art laser machine. “Business is currently booming. We have recently taken on over 20 new employees, both in the office and on the shop floor, including two apprentices. We are also looking to increase our turnover by £3.5 next year, with a key focus being on investment into

our training and manufacturing facilities,” enthused Nick. “We're also look to build business relationships with leading industries including electrical, rail, white goods and locks – as we look to dilute our automotive reliance, as our business is currently 65% automotive.” Jenks and Cattell would like to thank: SL Polishing Metal Finishing, Ashmores Press Bake, Pertemps Recruitment, Alpha – Rowen Ltd, GPB Prototypes, Associated Spring, Allied Copper Alloys, Steel & Alloy Processing, and Luton Logistics for all of their support throughout the growth of Jenks & Cattell Engineering Ltd.

www.jcel.co.uk

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Stainless Plating.qxp_feature 2 07/10/2015 16:36 Page 50

MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING STAINLESS PLATING LTD

PRECISION SURFACE

ENGINEERING SPL are one of the UK’s Leading Suppliers of Precision Surface Engineering, Electro-Plating, Anodising & Metal Finishing.

As one of the UK's leading suppliers of precision surface engineering, electro-plating, anodising and metal finishing, Stainless Plating Ltd (SPL) has been supporting the aerospace, defence, oil and gas, electronics, medical and general industry for almost 100 years. Based in Sheffield, SPL is perfectly positioned to support customers with high quality services to the strictest of delivery requirement. Though incorporated all the way back in 1926, the company has seen expansive growth over more recent years and, in 1996, SPL moved to its new purpose built facility at 24 Don Road, Sheffield. The company swiftly then stamped its mark on the aerospace industry, gaining

approvals from leading Aerospace OEMs and placing the company in the “Premiership Division” of surface engineering. SPL is able to offer a wide, spanning range of treatments such as anodising up to six metres, and cadmium plate and electroless nickel – these are then supported by a number of approved pre and post treatments such as stress relieve vapour degrease, non-destructive testing and hydrogen de-embrittlement. As an organisation committed to quality, SPL is accredited to NADCAP and AS9100. The company has also gained quality approvals from prestigious blue chip companies such as RollsRoyce Plc, BAE SYSTEMS, Airbus, Sellex, UTAS, MOOG and Bombardier to name a few.

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“We are a customer focused, reliable, innovative and successful organisation. Focused on adding value to the supply chain”

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MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING STAINLESS PLATING LTD Key to SPL's own ethos as a company, and its dedication to key customers is the podium upon which the company ensures that its service remains, as the company explains: “We are a customer focused, reliable, innovative and successful organisation. Focused on adding value to the supply chain. We constantly measure and challenge ourselves to ensure excellence.” Lee Grant, Managing Directory of Stainless Plating Ltd also added: “Surface engineering can be challenging, especially in aerospace where we are experiencing increasing build rates, new treatment requirements and capacity issues and we need to apply a significant amount of energy to sustain excellent service levels to our customers.” As Managing Director, Lee has been with SPL since 2010 and has enjoyed five long years of sustained, year-on-year growth with the company. As SPL operates within a reputedly tough manufacturing sector, it is testament to his own skill, and that of his team that the company is now robustly profitable, successful and highly regarded for its service. Lee enthuses: “We have built a business with a vision and values designed to enable SPL to become supplier, customer and employer of choice.” Quality is of course also paramount to SPL, and as such the company has its own quality management system which is defined and operated by a quality manual with quality procedures. This system is put in place to meet the specific, contractual and technical requirements of each individual project and customer. With the QAHSE manager being directly responsible to Lee, it goes without saying that the process is handled with the utmost care. Looking to the future we can see considerable success on the horizon for SPL, and we will nodoubt see the company take advantage of its enviable position in the present-day industry of surface engineering. www.stainlessplating.co.uk

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Railtex.qxp_feature 2 01/10/2015 16:54 Page 52

RAIL RAILTEX

SUCCESS FOR RAILTEX The latest technology, equipment and innovations were exhibited at the most effective Railtex for years

Railtex is the all encompassing showcase for technological innovation across all sectors of the rail supply market. Against a backdrop of continuing investment in rail and significant ongoing projects, Railtex provides a timely opportunity for companies serving the rail market to highlight their capabilities and showcase their products and services. Nearly 7,500 rail industry professionals visited the recent Railtex 2015 exhibition at the NEC in Birmingham from 12 to 14 May. A total of 468 leading suppliers took part in the successful show, presenting their latest technology, equipment and innovations during an event regarded as the most effective Railtex for years. Participants included many of the best known firms supplying the UK rail market. There was a high-profile presence by Bombardier Transportation, which is currently delivering new trains for London Underground and Thameslink, Southern & Great Northern, and will soon be supplying rolling stock for the capitalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Crossrail project. The Hitachi Rail Europe stand featured a model of the intercity trains the firm is to build at its new County Durham factory for the Department for Transportâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s IEP programme, plus its vehicle concepts for future UK high-speed lines. Also present was Siemens, which will deliver the first new Thameslink trains later this year and is also supplying new trainsets to Eurostar. They were joined by a vast range of highly specialised com-

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RAIL RAILTEX

“With access to over 2,700 representatives of exhibitors and almost 7,500 visitors over the three days, we were able to share the RSG’s vision for the future” panies covering every sector of a very diversified supply chain. Railtex 2015 was not only about business transactions, though: an extensive and wideranging programme of speeches and presentations by leading industry figures was a major highlight, with many sessions standing room only and plenty of constructive exchanges between speakers and audience. With 468 of the rail industry’s leading suppliers taking part, Railtex 2015 was the biggest and busiest of these events for more than a decade. A total of 7,449 trade visitors attended the show. A further 2,700 people were present as exhibitors, bringing together some 10,150 rail industry professionals over three days at

the NEC. Of the 7,449 trade visitors, over 73% were of senior manager level or above and possessed purchasing power. As a result, many exhibitors said Railtex exceeded their expectations, with show surveys indicating that 98% received positive business enquiries.

EXTENSIVE SUPPORTING PROGRAMME While the event continued to fulfill its primary role as a showcase for the latest in railway technology, it also featured an extensive and high profile range of supporting activities, providing further Railtex highlights. These included technical seminars plus a full programme of interactive sessions including project updates, industry

briefings and discussion forums. Many featured presentations by leading figures shaping the UK rail sector and all were free to attend. The popularity of these sessions meant that many were standing-room only, including those by the recently formed Rail Supply Group set up by the industry and government to optimise the potential of UK companies. The Group’s cochairman Terence Watson said: “Railtex provided the RSG with an unrivalled opportunity to engage with both the industry and its customers. With access to over 2,700 representatives of exhibitors and almost 7,500 visitors over the three days, we were able to share the RSG’s vision for the future; and also outline how businesses in the supply chain, both large and small, could work with us as we develop our Industrial Strategy. Railtex will form a key part of our engagement with the industry over the coming years.

www.railtex.co.uk.

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RAIL JAFCO TOOLS

LEADING HAND TOOL SPECIALISTS Jafco tools ltd is a well established manufacturer of quality hand tools, significantly improving safety, strength and reliability.

When most of us think of hand tools, hammers, spades, spanners and crowbars spring to mind, indeed terms like ‘Japanese Cant Hook’, ‘Pansetter’, ‘Panlock Pullers’ and a ‘Tangye Hydraclaw Jack’ are alien terms for people not connected to, or familiar with the rail industry. However at Jafco Tools in Wednesbury in the Black Country, these terms along with a bewildering list of many other special industry specific tools are the very stuff of day to day business and production. Since its founding in 1981, Jafco Tools has developed a reputation as one of the world’s leaders in the production of specialist hand tools, further to this, since its acquisition by P F Cusack in 2013 the company has continued to increase both its specialist range of tools, client diversity and market sector share. The company’s three primary industry sectors are Rail, Fire & Rescue and Highways & Infrastructure, the latter encompassing both local government and contractor usage, however the company also boasts an impressive array of forestry hand tools.

These days its ties with P F Cusack mean it is able to offer a rail specific, high quality, railway standards compliant PPE wear range as well as an off the shelf rail sign service to its customers. In fact, to put it simply, Jafco doesn't just make fine hand tools, they create working relationships with companies and assist them on a day to day basis, Jean Wilkes, Jafco’s General Manager stated “We are committed not only to our own ongoing product development, but also to our customer project development activities, working with them to constantly improve and innovate” Indeed innovation is a company byword for Jafco having three new ranges added to its already large and diverse inventory in 2015 alone. The core feature of the company’s professional tool ranges are the ‘Pultruded’ Fibreglass handles which give the tools an unprecedented mix of strength, durability and electrical insulation properties, which can literally save lives in safety critical situations. All the professional range tools are batch tested to and in most cases above industry standards, with a comprehensive array of

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RAIL JAFCO TOOLS

“We are committed not only to our own ongoing product development, but also to our customer project development activities, working with them to constantly improve and innovate” strength and load tolerance, abrasion, insulation, soaking and flammability tests, simply making these the finest and most durable hand tools available to industry. One of the company’s cornerstone ranges is the BS 8020:2011 Track Tool Range, developed over many years in partnership with London Underground and Network Rail (formerly British Rail) Currently in development in conjunction with Network Rail to complement its existing Trough Tilter is a two man and four man ‘Total Lift’ Trough Lifter to make the sometimes hazardous task of removing trough lids simpler, safer and easier due to hand and foot injuries occurring in the past. Malcolm Latham, Works Manager stated “Working with our clients and suppliers alike, we are happy to take on any new challenges and design projects created by the ever growing demands in our chosen industry sectors”.

+44 (0) 121-556 7700 www.jafcotools.com sales@jafcotools.com

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RAIL ROWE HANKINS

SAFETY FIRST Rowe Hankins Ltd provides innovative on-train and trackside safety products and components to the world's railways

Known amongst the rail sector for its bespoke solutions, Rowe Hankins has established itself as one of the industry’s most important assets. Working with a broad spectrum of rail-sector service providers, the company specialises in the design and manufacture of components used within safety critical systems as well as international distribution of electro-mechanical products. Established in 1986, the company’s longstanding client relationships not only highlight an ability to consistently meet expectation but to evolve as technology progresses. Indeed, Rowe Hankins’ reputation has been built upon innovation, in both design and manufacture, working closely with rolling stock builders, train operating companies and infrastructure contractors from around the globe, to enhance railway operations, making them both safer and more efficient. Its own products include speed sensors (where it has recently developed a four-speed

sensor to complement its single and dual speed models), current monitoring products, earth leakage detection units and its unique intelligent wheel flange lubrication system. In fact, the company has recently received an award at the Modern Railway Awards for Engineering & Safety for its development of the smart device designed to reduce maintenance costs and increase efficiency. The product, an on-train oil-spray system that can be retrofitted to the fleet, uses GPS or train location data to deliver precise amounts of lubrication when and where it is needed most. Trials have revealed the system can increase wheel and rail life, reduce general wear and tear to the area, eliminate track bed pollution and increase passenger comfort in addition to energy-saving and maintenance cost benefits. Significantly, Rowe Hankins is currently working with a number of potential clients in the UK including the HS2 developers and Crossrail. Indeed, the company is confident the product can, and will, find an interna-

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tional audience given the advantages its presents over alternative methods where train lubrication isn’t intelligently delivered at the optimum time. Elsewhere, Rowe Hankins continues to make great strides in the development of bespoke speed sensors. Adapted to client specifications, the company’s association with the product began in 1996 when it identified a gap in the market. Designing and manufacturing its own technology, one of its units, implemented on the Jubilee Line in London, has now passed 10 million working hours of service. Having now launched a brand new four-speed sensor, Rowe Hankins continues to exhibit its capability in design, manufacture, test and distribution for a worldwide clientele. Complementary services such as its international distribution of products from industry leading suppliers like Sensata for Airpax hydraulicmagnetic circuit breakers and HaslerRail for OnTrain Monitoring and Recording equipment (OTMRs) alongside full technical support, give

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RAIL ROWE HANKINS Rowe Hankins an edge in a competitive market. The company also boasts service centre facilities for the reengineering of circuit breakers, contactors and other electro-mechanical devices, a capability backed by test facilities including a high voltage test unit to certify product performance before shipping. Jemmah Balabanian of Rowe Hankins says the company’s strengths lie in its specialism within the sector, working closely

“We have clients across the board who draw on our expertise in the knowledge that we have a track record for developing bespoke solutions” with service providers and suppliers to develop products that enhance rail productivity, safety and efficiency. She says, “We have clients across the board who draw on our expertise in the knowledge that we have a track record for developing bespoke solutions. The length of time we’ve partnered with many of our clients is testament to our standards and our ability to meet expectation. If a customer comes to us with a problem, we are always confident we’ll find the solution.”

www.rowehankins.com Tel: 0161 765 3005

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IPAF.qxp_feature 2 08/10/2015 14:22 Page 58

CIVIL ENGINEERING IPAF

SAFE & EFFECTIVE POWERED ACCESS The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) promotes the safe and effective use of powered access worldwide.

The concept of powered access equipment as a safe tool to perform temporary work at height has taken off in recent years, even as the industry is a relatively young one. In the late 1970s, two organisations were in place to cater for the needs of manufacturers of powered access equipment and rental companies: the International Federation of Hydraulic Platform Manufacturers (IFHPM) and the International Work Platform Association (IWPA). Both the IFHPM and the IWPA wanted to create some order in safety standards and legislation to ensure that this rapidly growing industry was established on a sound footing. This was the catalyst that brought the two organisations together in December 1983 to form the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF). What makes IPAF unique is its ability to unite manufacturers, rental companies and end-users into one member organisation dedicated to promoting the safe and effective use of powered access equipment. IPAF’s founding managing director, Paul Adorian, provides insight into the early years: “At that time, manufacturing and user organisations tended to keep each other at arm’s length. However, the benefits that would accrue to all concerned by establishing an organisation where manufacturers and their customers could rub shoulders regularly soon became apparent. This situation was certainly unique and has led to an enormous amount of harmony and goodwill within the industry ever since. “By manufacturers and rental companies joining forces, the flow of information on

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CIVIL ENGINEERING IPAF

safety related topics has obviously been beneficial in promoting safety. The feedback from companies that buy, use and rent the products relayed directly back to the manufacturers was a tremendous contribution to the continuing development of safer products.â&#x20AC;? European Community legislation and certification also helped pushed the development of the industry. In the early years, there was little specific legislation in place for an industry that had grown very rapidly. There were some rogue manufacturers keen to get on the bandwagon with cheap products. There were no checks on design, fabrication, the quality of steel and other requirements. Today, certification has had a massive effect in improving the design and quality of machines. IPAF persevered in attending and contributing to meetings of TC98, the com-

mittee that drafts the European standards. IPAF has played, and continues to play, a key role in the development of EN 280, the European design standard for mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs). It actively participates in several committees, including those relating to ISO, FEM, US ANSI standards committees, Canadian CSA standards committees, the British standards committees BS 8454 and BS 8460. With growing globalisation, IPAF has been involved in MEWP-related standards development in countries as diverse as Brazil, China and Singapore. IPAF cooperates with safety bodies worldwide, such as the HSE in Britain, Berufsgenossenschaften in Germany, Suva in Switzerland, OPPPBTP in France, and OSHA in the United States. It also lobbies and makes representations to the relevant authorities on

IPAF promotes the safe and effective use of powered access through a growing range of safety campaigns and initiatives. See www.ipaf.org/safe

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CIVIL ENGINEERING IPAF issues of concern to its members. Legislation has also spurred the use of powered access and the need for training. The UK Work at Height Regulations for instance, while not discounting ladders and scaffolds, make it more difficult for people to use ladders and scaffolds, because they highlight the need to do a proper risk assessment and select the most suitable equipment for the job. Powered access often wins because it gets the job done quickly, effectively and safely. Scaffold for example, takes time to erect and dismantle, and blocks up space during a project. A platform comes in, does the job and goes again within hours. The IPAF operator training programme, initiated by members in 1991, has left its mark on the industry. Since then, operator training is provided by more than 620 approved training centres in 30 countries. This industry-led training programme is offered by leading manufacturers and rental companies, and requires that accredited partner training centres pass initial, annual and unannounced audits as part of the quality management system. Instructors are certified and undertake ongoing professional development which includes free annual updates to the training materials. Trainees undergo a complete programme backed up with quality checks, accredited instructors, supervised written and practical testing, controlled class sizes and course duration, and a central register of valid cards. Operators who successfully complete the IPAF training programme after passing a written and a practical test are awarded machine-readable Smart PAL Cards (Powered Access Licences). PAL Cards are valid for five years and show the machine categories that operators have been trained in. More than 100,000 PAL Cards are issued each year through IPAF-approved training centres worldwide. The PAL Card is accepted widely and recognised as proof of high quality platform operator training. The validity of a card can be checked by using the online verification tool at www.ipaf.org/checkpal But IPAF is much more than a training organisation. It is a global movement to ensure the safety of people in the powered access industry and to keep the industry up to date with the latest technical and safety advice in mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) and mast climbing work platforms (MCWPs). “People sometimes focus on IPAF’s training activities, but we are much more,” says IPAF CEO Tim Whiteman. “IPAF’s members

IPAF’s accident reporting project collects data on worldwide fatalities involving mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) and mast climbing work platforms (MCWPs), with the aim of identifying key causes and developing further safety initiatives. MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING MAGAZINE

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CIVIL ENGINEERING IPAF

YOUR OFFICE IN THE SKY Bronto Skylift is the global market leader in truck mounted hydraulic platforms. We design, manufacture, sell and service appliances for rescue and ﬁreﬁghting as well as for construction work.

www.brontoskylift.com

cooperate to protect the safety of people in the access industry. We have re-adopted and re-affirmed the founding principles from 30 years ago – by doing so, IPAF members have made very clear what IPAF stands for and what it sets out to do and deliver. Work at height is inherently dangerous, but powered access is a safe and effective tool, and IPAF is here to keep the industry safe.” The not-for-profit organisation is owned by its more than 1,000 members who include manufacturers, rental companies, contractors and users of powered access. Among others, IPAF’s objectives are to encourage the highest standards of safety and good trading by members; and to encourage technical efficiency in the industry by cooperation in the establishment of standards. In sum, IPAF promotes the safe and effective use of powered access equipment worldwide in the widest sense – through providing technical advice and information, through influencing and interpreting legislation and standards, through its safety initiatives and training programmes. Join us in keeping the industry safe.

www.ipaf.org

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SCCS.qxp_feature 2 02/10/2015 09:16 Page 62

CIVIL ENGINEERING STEEL CONSTRUCTION CERTIFICATION SCHEME

DRIVING PERFORMANCE The SCCS was established in the early 1980s to provide a Quality Management Systems certification service for steelwork contracting organisations

The Steel Construction Certification Scheme continues to drive performance in the steelwork industry. The scheme, which assesses and certifies the capabilities of steelwork contractors and associated companies against International Management System standards, has been established since 1986. Since its inception it has remained committed in its pursuit of driving standards and securing best practice across design, manufacture and erection processes and associated procedures and practices in the steelwork construction industry. Quality management systems operated by the certified contractors are formally assessed to ensure compliance with the requirements of ISO 9001:2008. Each certificate issued is valid for three years during which period SCCS conducts regular surveillance audits to monitor continued compliance with the certified management system. Meanwhile, environmental management systems operated by the certified contractors are formally assessed to ensure compliance with the requirements of ISO 14001:2004, and

occupational health and safety management systems operated by the certified contractors are formally assessed to ensure compliance with the requirements of BS OHSAS 18001:2007. Assessment and certification is governed by an independent certification board whose members are selected from each sector of the steel construction industry. The board provides the essential technical links to ensure that the correct interpretation of standards, new technologies and work practices are applied to assessment and certification. The scheme's assessors are carefully selected to ensure that their experience is relevant to the product and process, such as design, preparation, fabrication, welding, painting and erection as well as environmental and health and safety issues. The assessors, who understand client needs, are specially trained on a continuous basis and all come from a background within the industry. Recently, the industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best and brightest were celebrated at the 47th Structural Steel Design Awards. The BCSA, of which the SCCS is a wholly owned subsidiary, is a national organisation for the steel construction industry and

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sponsors the awards each year. The glittering ceremony recognises the high standards of structural and architectural design attainable in the use of steel and its potential in terms of efficiency, cost effectiveness, aesthetics and innovation. They are open to steel based structures situated in the United Kingdom or overseas that have been built by UK or Irish steelwork contractors using steel predominantly sourced from Tata Steel. The BCSAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s member companies undertake the design, fabrication and erection of steelwork for all forms of construction in building and civil engineering. Associate members are those principal companies involved in the direct supply to all or some members of components, materials or products. Corporate members are clients, professional offices and educational establishments which support the development of national specifications, certification services, fabrication and erection techniques, overall industry efficiency and good practice.

www.steelconstruction.org Tel: 020 7839 8566

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CIVIL ENGINEERING STEEL CONSTRUCTION CERTIFICATION SCHEME

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Paddington Construction2.qxp_feature 2 30/10/2015 14:43 Page 64

CIVIL ENGINEERING PADDINGTON CONSTRUCTION LTD

MULTIMILLION POUND SUCCESS paddington construction - part of the ardmore group - has established itself as a serious player in the construction industry

Operating as a subsidiary of Ardmore Group, Paddington Construction enjoys much of the same multimillion pound success. Having realised an annual turnover of £10m thanks to its premium in-house steelwork, not including the £3m it lends to other steelwork companies, the company is a serious player in the construction industry. As company dedicated to the provision of steel fabrication services and joinery manufacture, Paddington Construction is spearheading the movement toward both engineering brilliance and an ethic of “right first time”. Its products, manufactured to order off-site, and superbly finished by Powdertech, are typically geared towards the production of bespoke bathroom pods, though do also contribute to the creation of architectural metal work and stonemasonry. The company also specialises in the construction of bespoke balcony modules, testament to its more recent diversification. Over the past four years, Paddington Construction has undergone dramatic transformation as a result of huge investment into the company; development and expansion is evi-

dent at every level of its manufacturing capacity. The company now boasts a new paint-shop with extraction systems, a shot-blast room and two workshops solely dedicated to the manufacture of stainless steel and aluminium. The equipment and tools needed to produce its durable and purpose-built materials have received the same overhaul and, following a total rearrangement and consolidation of its factory, the company's output has increased three-fold. It's as a result of this expansion that Paddington Construction has found itself in high demand with a diverse range of clients, including a project for the 2012 London Olympic Games. The company was responsible for the manufacture and supply of 2500 pods to the exclusive Athletes Village, structures which have since been converted and made use of as homes. Hotels also make up a sizeable portion of its general custom, as well as the development of properties for multiple use – one such being Pembury Circus. Comprising 268 apartments and houses, an assortment of commercial units, a community centre, a nursery and a gym, Paddington Construction was responsible

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CIVIL ENGINEERING PADDINGTON CONSTRUCTION LTD

This year, Paddington Construction's main undertaking has been the £15 million City Road Project in Islington

for the supply of supporting steels, and the undertook a variety of external and ancillary works on and off site. This year, Paddington Construction's main undertaking has been the £15 million City Road Project in Islington, the securing of which, as an internal contractor, is quite the feat. An imposing residential property at 30 storeys high, the company was tasked with the fitting of external cladding to the property, and has done so with absolute finesse. Irrespective of expansion and the securing of big name contracts, Paddington has made no concession on its compliance with building regulation and takes a firm stance on the management of healthy and safety. As a company, it endorses best practice and does so through rigorous risk assessments and method statements. It also maintains communication streams amongst staff to circulate knowledge with toolbox talks taking place each week, covering issues from PPE to company-wide directives. Looking ahead to 2016, we expect accelerated growth as Paddington Construction invests a further £150,000 in a profiling machine, individual to the company. The company's projected turnover will off-set those outgoings in just two years and, from then, will harvest only revenue. It also may be the case that, as technology improves and advances are made in the way of machinic capability, the company may turn to a significantly more robotic workforce. For that, Paddington Construction will utilise the expertise of Selmach and BOC, though it also plans to recruit specialists in CNC equipment, Trumpf and Voortman. Regardless of the changing face of its workforce however, Paddington Construction are set to remain a key player in the steel construction industry.

www.paddingtonoffsite.com

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CIVIL ENGINEERING STEEL CONSTRUCTION INSTITUTE

TRUSTED EXPERTISE sci are the leading, independent provider of technical expertise and disseminator of best practice to the steel construction sector.

As the leading independent provider of technical advice and disseminator of best practice within the steel construction sector, the Steel Construction Institute (SCI) serves as the most knowledgeable and experienced independent organisation in support of the steel construction sector and those operating within it. Formed in 1985 to assist with growing the market for steel in construction, the SCI initially served as an independent, objective and unbiased body to promote the efficient and effective use of steel in construction. Since then, the institute has been able to create a great foundation for the support of the steel construction industry through support and financing from an ever-increasing number of clients and members

– initially having been almost entirely funded by a sole client, this has allowed the institute to diversify and solidify its position in the market through not being wholly dependent on the success of a sole funder. Of note is that while the SCI has a long established membership base, less than 20% of the institute’s income is actually sourced from the membership and the remaining 80% comes from clients who depend on the services of the SCI to carry out specific project work. This essentially serves to represent the fact that while the SCI, at its core operates in a way which is for the good of the sector, it also acts as an independent organisation which serves the commercial needs of industrywide clients. Historically, the significance of the SCI's

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involvement and support for the steel construction sector cannot be ignored, for example having housed a number of internationally recognised composite construction expects who contributed to the boom of composite construction in the 1980s for the London commercial buildings market. Graham Couchman, Chief Executive of the SCI explains: “If you look at the proportion of the construction sector utilising steel and how it has grown since the 1980s then it's very significant – it must be around 65-70% of the multi-storey market now, which is much higher than it was. I'd like to feel that we did a lot to help convince designers that steel is a viable option.” In addition, the SCI runs the Light Steel Forum, having been involved in the development of light steel framing since its

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CIVIL ENGINEERING STEEL CONSTRUCTION INSTITUTE

inception in the UK, providing how-to guides for steel framing as a valid alternative to timber framing. Through both membership services and direct services for clients, the SCI is able to offer a wide range of technical advice to industry professionals, ranging from highly challenging design issues all the way through to how-to guides and basic advice. “One way to look at SCI Membership is that it is our way of packaging our consultancy services in a way that is appropriate for the design community. If a designer has a problem, then instead of paying for a specific bit of project work then they can contact us for some immediate technical advice. The service that our members most appreciate is our advisory desk, which they can phone in or

email and get technical advice, very much like the AA – worth every penny when you need it! Technical information is alternatively offered on our Steelbiz technical information site, and through our internationally respected publications,” explains Graham. Looking to support the modern-day industry professional, the SCI has also been working closely with members and clients on how best to adapt to Eurocodes, specifically covering areas of design where the codes greatly differ from the previous national standards. “The Eurocodes are becoming more and more requested by clients, and indeed are demanded for public sector work, so one way or another designers are having to come to terms with the Eurocodes. We've produced a number of design

guides, courses, and webinars to help designers, including in the key areas of portal frame design and composite construction. We have also produced Eurocode compliant load span tables for a number of product manufacturers,” adds Graham. With a broad range of expertise which can be used to address an even broader range of issues, for technical advice and support there's no organisation better placed to assist than SCI: “We're in a unique position where we know the problems which designers are facing, and can bring high levels of specialist expertise to help find solutions,” adds Graham.

www.steel-sci.com

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CIVIL ENGINEERING GREGG & PATTERSON (ENGINEERS) LTD

THE PREFERRED SUBCONTRACTOR FOR STRUCTURAL STEELWORK The company boasts nearly 100,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing workshops and offices in order to supply, fabricate and erect structural steelwork for the construction sector

Stephen Gregg is a passionate and hands-on Managing Director. Having been in the role since 1991, Gregg represents the third generation to control this family business, which was established by the Greggs and Pattersons in 1947. Headquartered in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, the business boasts nearly 100,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing workshops and offices in order to supply, fabricate and erect structural steelwork for the construction sector in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and mainland Britain. “Our company has come through what has been the most prolonged recession in living memory in our sector and I believe we are extremely well placed to move forward having incorporated hard earned lessons and having embraced the latest legislative changes regarding CE Marking of Structural Steelwork (now statutory law in UK from July 2014). We have now emerged as a better, leaner and more efficient organisation,” notes Gregg.

“In my role as Managing Director I believe that I should infuse the company with my personality and style of how I want to do business and hopefully then any and all our employees will reflect this in all their dealings with our customers (architects, consulting engineers, developers, main contractors, quantity surveyors, project managers etc).” Gregg says the collaborative approach brings dividends for both service provider and client. “I believe in being helpful and expect help in return from other parties and that the best way for all parties to make money on a building project is to minimise the time from order placed to steel on site and subsequent erection completion. It sounds simple but in practice can be very difficult to achieve. However if all parties buy in to this, it can be done. “I don’t believe that confrontation helps deliver a quicker or cheaper project, but that willingness to live not only in our own small world but to be flexible, accommodating and where possible to live in the world that our

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other building partners inhabit is best for all concerned. “In my 36 years’ experience our most profitable projects invariably are the ones that complete the quickest, smoothest and with amicable and detailed co-operation between all parties (client, main contractor, ourselves and all other main subcontractors). In these cases everyone does well so why not start each project with this philosophy.” Indeed, several of the business’s relationships with main contractors both in its homeland and internationally have existed for decades. This level of consistency can also be seen in its work with suppliers such as Lagan Valley Steel, Tata Steel and Kingspan, links that have, in some cases, lasted more than 50 years. Likewise, within the workforce, experience is key. The average member of staff has around 23 years’ employment with the company. “I have always believed that relationships are one, if not the most important factor in successful business dealings,” acknowledges

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CIVIL ENGINEERING GREGG & PATTERSON (ENGINEERS) LTD

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CIVIL ENGINEERING GREGG & PATTERSON (ENGINEERS) LTD

Gregg. This has resulted in many of the company’s biggest achievements in the last 18 months. The business has doubled turnover to £7.3m in that time, has achieved CE Marking Certification to Execution Class 3, and been entrusted by O’Hare & McGovern with the 3,500 tonne structural steelwork contract for the new Northern Ireland Football Stadium and Leisure Centre at Windsor Park, Belfast. This is the company’s largest single project to date. The new stadium will have a capacity of around 19,000 people with seating completely wrapping around the playing field. Gregg notes the challenging nature of the project but acknowledges the support of those companies who helped make it a success.

178m wide x 100m long with crane runways in each bay to suit 40 tonnes of overhead cranes by street crane. This building required over 2,000 tonnes of hot rolled and 25,000 lineal metres of cold rolled purlins and rails, and was erected on site in just over five weeks. The subsequent two-storey office building was completed a month or so later adding another 200 tonnes of hot rolled sections. “Our company is proud of our achievements to date and is looking forward to continue working closely with all our long term partners, welcoming the possibility of a few new long term partnerships with likeminded people,” adds Gregg. “We have an old fashioned ethos allied to a progressive mind set, backed up with huge experience, technical knowledge, modern machinery and a desire to be ‘The Preferred Subcontractor for Structural Steelwork’ because of our deed not our words.”

Tel: 028 90618131 www.greggpatterson.co.uk

“Our company is proud of our achievements to date and is looking forward to continue working closely with all our long term partners” He highlights connection designer Design ID, steel stockholder Lagan Valley Steels, purlin and rail supplier Kingspan and crane hire partner O’Grady Crane Hire for their support. The Managing Director also thanks customer O’Hare & McGovern and all the Gregg and Patterson employees who played a crucial role in the project’s completion. This wasn’t the only large-scale project completed by the company. For Oil State Industries, a new manufacturing test facility and separate offices were developed for Lagan Construction Group in Scotland. 200,000 sq. ft. of new manufacturing space was delivered based upon a six bay portal frame (5x28m spans + 1x38m span) building

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CIVIL ENGINEERING GREGG & PATTERSON (ENGINEERS) LTD

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THE LAST WORD...

Heathrow Expansion Gets Major Boost Heathrow’s expansion remains a hot topic. Now, the economic benefits of its development may have been given the boost those in favour of its expansion needed. It’s all about the Northern Powerhouse – a Conservative-government concept designed to rebalance the UK economy, driving growth outside London to northern cities. The theory is based on improved “connectivity” – think HS2 – between key cities such as Manchester and Leeds. Heathrow can and will play a crucial role in this. Expectations suggest nearly 100,000 new manufacturing jobs could be created through the Northern Powerhouse with 1 in 4 being as a direct result of Heathrow expansion. Chancellor George Osborne calls the theory’s implementation a necessity in order for the UK economy to “take on the world.” He said: “If you brought together the best players from each of the Premiership [football] teams in the

north, you’d have a team that would wipe the floor with any competition. We need to bring the cities of the north together as a team – that’s how Britain will beat the rest." John Holland-Kaye, CEO of Heathrow Airport, commented: “Expanding Heathrow will supercharge Government plans for the Northern Powerhouse. Today, airlines operating from the UK’s hub are forced to make a false choice between developing new routes to cities like Chengdu and Mexico City and maintaining domestic services. “That means exporters in areas like Merseyside, Humberside and Teesside are locked out of Heathrow, Britain’s biggest port by value. Every day we delay is a day we’re restricting the growth of British business.” Terry Scuoler, Chief Executive of the EEF, echoed these sentiments. He said, “It is time for Government to heed the unanimous and

“85% of manufacturing jobs would be created outside London with 28% created as a result of Heathrow expansion” unambiguous recommendation of the Airports Commission. It’s time to expand Heathrow for the whole of the UK. “Heathrow is a global freight hub and a crucial gateway for Britain’s manufacturing exporters, making its expansion the right choice for industry and the country. With the opportunity for growth and new jobs, it reaffirms that it is important for the Government to make a clear choice and to press ahead with delivering this much-needed improvement to our national infrastructure.” Based on the research carried out by consultancy Quod, 85% of manufacturing jobs would be created outside London with 28% created as a result of Heathrow expansion. This is in line with the Airports Commission’s assumption that 60% of the total economic benefit of Heathrow expansion will be realised outside of London and the South East.

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ISSUE 422

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ISSUE 422

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