Innovation, partnership and excellence

Subcon returns on 4-6 June 2019 and is once again set to take place at the NEC, Birmingham. Now in its 43rd year, the show remains the UK’s only dedicated event that enables subcontract manufacturing buyers to source suppliers, benchmark capabilities, and form new manufacturing partnerships.

Against a backdrop of profound uncertainty and change within the engineering and manufacturing industries, Subcon 2019 will show how the industry continues to innovate and deliver maximum value, with three events in one venue.
For 2019, Subcon has unveiled a new opportunity to support engineering entrepreneurs. The Launchpad and Launchpad Awards will showcase cutting-edge innovations from across the industry with dedicated space at the event for specially selected start-ups.
According to the organisers, the Launchpad aims to propel manufacturing and engineering-based start-ups by giving entrepreneurs an opportunity to share their innovations with thousands of professionals who have the power to guide them to success. The showcase and awards will deliver a platform for eight engineering start-ups, with a £10,000 prize package to the winner.
As with every previous year, Subcon will deliver the contacts, connections and content that engineering and manufacturing businesses in the UK need to succeed. Visitors will be able to harness new innovations from over 300 suppliers that can help increase capacity, optimise productivity and improve flexibility, while driving down costs to stay competitive in a global market.
Ahead of the event this year, the Subcon team hit the road and spoke to exhibitors across metal fabrication, 3D printing, measurement and other sectors. As this diversity of exhibitors shows, there will be opportunities to forge strategic partnerships and improve existing processes.

Among those returning to the event this year is Goodman Metal Works, a Nottingham-based, full-service metal fabrication company. Director Richard Goodman explains what keeps the firm coming back: “It is a compact event, spread out over three days, so it is a very easy way to meet important contacts.”
The story is similar for 3D printer reseller Laser Lines, based in Banbury. This year at Subcon the company is debuting not only new machinery but new materials. Mark Tyrtania, sales director, explains that for Laser Lines “Subcon is the right mix of visitors from varied industries. My top tip is to arrive early and leave late.”
Based in Smethwick, Metpro has grown to become a leading supplier to the mechanical and electrical market in the UK. Marketing manager Jacob Rudge outlines that the value of Subcon is the quality of people who attend: “The majority of our conversations have been with key decision makers; some of the most successful outcomes we’ve had throughout the years have been from just striking up these conversations.”
To maximise the value of the event, Subcon is once again co-locating with The Engineer Expo and Advanced Manufacturing Show. The Engineer Expo is designed to deliver the innovation, inspiration and insight businesses need to optimise future engineering and manufacturing strategies. From an exhibition of next-generation design and technology solutions presented by UK ground-breaking suppliers, to a conference programme featuring industry leaders responsible for some of the country’s most inspiring engineering and manufacturing projects, The Engineer Expo will keep visitors abreast of the biggest issues around, from Brexit and Industry 4.0, to the challenges of diversity and skills.
The Advanced Manufacturing Show will showcase live demos and the latest efficiency-boosting innovations from hundreds of suppliers. This event is an opportunity to review outsourcing and procurement decisions, and bring tools and technology up to speed, to reduce costs, cut lead times and increase productivity.

Following the success of the conference programme in 2018, Subcon will also feature presentations from industry pioneers such as Siemens and Rolls-Royce, as well as thought leadership from organisations including Make UK, the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) and WMG (formerly the Warwick Manufacturing Group). A total of 34 sessions will be announced in the run up to the event.
The conference programme will deliver insight on industry issues, with presentations from industry leaders responsible for some of the UK’s most inspiring and ground-breaking engineering and manufacturing projects. Speakers confirmed this year include: Brian Holliday, managing director, Siemens Digital Industries, delivering a keynote address covering the latest developments and momentum around Industry 4.0; Mark Ireland, chief engineer, MTC, speaking on the MTC Sit Ski project and the role of collaboration; Stephen Phipson, CEO, Make UK, covering the impact of Brexit and the changes felt throughout the manufacturing supply chain; Riona Armesmith, chief project engineer, Hybrid Electric Propulsion, Rolls-Royce, talking about the development of electric/hybrid aircraft and the E-Fan X project; Lina Huertas, head of technology strategy, digital manufacturing, MTC, covering the technologies set to transform manufacturing; Jeremy Pullen, Sartorious, on what is next for additive manufacturing; Steve Banton, channel manger, ABB Robotics, on the development of cobotics and where it will make its impact felt; Rachel Edes, WMG, on the challenge and opportunity of creating a domestic supply chain for electric vehicles; Nick Hawker, CEO and co-founder, First Light Fusion, on the commercial application of nuclear fusion; and Martin Little, commercial director, Rail Alliance, on the overlooked opportunities within rail.
Gordon Kirk, event director for Subcon, points out that this wide range of opportunities and the chance to see so many diverse companies is no accident: “We are even more aware than ever of the pressures on UK engineering and manufacturing businesses, so we have crammed as much value into the event as we can. From the 34 sessions of The Engineer Conference to the showcase of new start-ups and co-locating with Advanced Manufacturing Show and The Engineer Expo, Subcon 2019 will deliver value to visitors throughout the three days. We are incredibly excited to include so much new material and look forward to opening the doors at the NEC.”
For further information www.subconshow.co.uk

15 new members for GTMA

In the first quarter of 2019, 15 new members have joined the GTMA. The latest to join the association are Fanuc, Filtermist, Morson Projects, R-Winter Tooling, National Composite Catapult Centre, Plazology, Surface Generation, IBS Precision Engineering, Surtec North East, Guhring, Tebis, Solent University, Ewikon, Consort Medical and Park Sheet Metal.

DCIM100MEDIADJI_0049.JPG

“Our new members will, no doubt, have a different reason for joining the GTMA, but I believe that our digital marketing programme provides a key route to market for companies,” says GTMA CEO Julia Moore. “It includes business profiles and is combined with our successful social media campaign to maximise every member’s media presence. We are in detailed discussions with a number of additional industry names and I am confident that our membership ranks will swell even further in the coming months.”
For further information www.gtma.co.uk

30 years of EOS

Additive manufacturing specialist EOS is celebrating 30 years since the company was founded in 1989 by Dr Hans Langer.

Today, the German family-owned enterprise has an installed base of nearly 3500 industrial 3D-printing systems. While the early phase of EOS was dominated by stereolithography, since 1997 the company has concentrated exclusively on laser sintering. This move was a far-reaching decision at the time and, as it turned out, the right strategy. The powder-bed based laser sintering process is particularly well suited to today’s rapidly growing market of series applications.
For further information www.eos.info

SYS-DPA joins Nidec Press & Automation

Nidec Press & Automation (NPA) CEO David Winch has announced the acquisition of a German-based company specialising in high-speed metal-forming automation machinery and technology.

Systeme and Steuerungen (SYS) and its subsidiary Die Peripherie Anlagen (DPA) join the NPA group of companies in offering turnkey manufacturing solutions to its customers.
SYS-DPA products include high-speed servo feeds, related automation machinery and integrated controls with production management and monitoring software. In addition, SYS-DPA offers a full suite of customer service products, specialising in press remanufacturing.
“This acquisition will allow us to offer a wider array of products and services, increase our global presence, and boost the profits of customers by combining the experience and synergies of our group companies,” says Winch.
Founded in 1994, SYS-DPA is headquartered in Grafenau, Germany and employs 120 people. Current managing director Wolfgang Biewald and his leadership team will continue to lead the SYS-DPA team in Germany.
Additional NPA brands include Minster, specialising in mid-range tonnage mechanical and servo presses. Arisa manufactures some of the world’s largest servo and mechanical presses, and specialises in customised solutions with built-to-order transfer and material handling systems integrated with controls and software.
Additional OEM solutions from NPA include high-speed servo-feeding systems from Vamco and high-speed presses from Kyori.
For further information www.nidecpa.com

Brandauer acquires CB Cable Clips

The company behind the self-adhesive cable clip has been acquired by one of Birmingham’s longest-established manufacturers.

Brandauer, which is a specialist in metal pressings and stampings, has purchased CB Cable Clips in an undisclosed deal that will safeguard three jobs, create two new positions and see all customers, IP, stock and assets transferred over.
Under new ownership, it is expected that the business has the potential to double its £110,000 annual sales over the first 12 months and will complement Brandauer’s own product range, which currently includes turnkey precision tooling, motor laminations and Elopin press-fit connectors. The deal is the first acquisition that Brandauer has ever completed in its 157-year history, and is part of an ambitious growth plan that will see it achieve £10m turnover by the end of 2020.
“We have been manufacturing the CB Cable Clip range under a subcontract agreement for more than 40 years, so are synonymous with the innovation and the production process,” says Rowan Crozier, CEO of Brandauer. “When the possibility of selling was sounded out, it seemed the logical decision to incorporate the business into Brandauer. We knew the quality and customer service expected, we knew the delivery patterns and, most significantly, it was another product we could add to our growing range.
“We are already looking to double the size of the team and believe there is an opportunity to access new markets and customers,” he adds.
Brandauer will manufacture and supply the CB Cable Clip range of self-adhesive aluminium cable clips. Since the invention came to market in 1972, over 566 million clips have been produced and used across the world.
For further information www.brandauer.co.uk