30
FASTENERS
Confederation of British Metalforming
11
EU fastener trade
figures for 2012
FORGING
12
Stokes Forgings saving
£2000 per month on a
single hot forging press
SHEET METAL
20
Innovative forming solutions
for the aerospace industry
30
ISSUE
2013
£7.50
ISSN 1759-5975
THE PRESIDENT’S REVIEW
CBM STAFF
President
Barry Yeomans
president@@britishmetalforming.com
Operations Director
Geraldine Bolton MCMI, Dip.OCR, MAAT, M.IIM
geraldine.bolton@britishmetalforming.com
Energy & Forging Sector Specialist
Dr Ken Campbell F.Inst.F.T
ken.campbell@britishmetalforming.com
Sheet Metal, Cold Rolled & Fastener Specialist
Adrian Nicklin ISME
adrian.nicklin@britishmetalforming.com
Accounts
Chris Smith MAAT
chris.smith@britishmetalforming.com
Administrator
Debbie York
debbie.york@britishmetalforming.com
Administrator
Louise Campbell
louise.campbell@britishmetalforming.com
Marketing & Communications Manager
Kirsi Lintula BA(Hons), LBIPP
kirsi.lintula@britishmetalforming.com
Sales & Marketing Assistant
Rohima Begum BSc(Hons)
rohima.begum@britishmetalforming.com
Receptionist
Jan Taylor
reception@nmcvenue.com
Confederation of British Metalforming
0121 601 6350
www.britishmetalforming.com
METAL MATTERS
ISSUE 30
ONLINE NOW!
for the latest
news, events
& features.
www.britishmetalforming.com
Take the time
to talk and listen
It’s a helter-skelter world we live in
now. I sit here at my PC keyboard, with
the corporate Blackberry squawking
at one side of my desk, and my iPhone - briefly silent, thank
goodness - at the other.
Of course, we all believe that 24/7 access to each other means we
communicate better than ever, but I do wonder if that’s true.
Take the latest manufacturing data, for example.
Essentially, May’s figures showed the US and China down, and the UK up,
which was very heartening for me, as it suggests that our industrial sector is
continuing steadily along the path to recovery.
Yet, when I watched TV, the focus was the impact of the negative data on
the equity markets. Easily done, but certainly not the full story.
It was the same with the latest bank figures, especially the government’s
Funding for Lending scheme. Understandably, the raw data made the headlines, but no-one addressed the question which, for me, lies at the heart of
the debate.
Are the banks refusing to lend, or have SMEs become so disillusioned at
having their funding applications rejected, that they have given up trying?
Instead of analysing the fundamentals of the FfL scheme - which would
have taken time and effort – people simply bashed the government for its
perceived failings.
I just wish everyone could pause for thought, stop and look over the parapet, because there is a lot of positive stuff out there.
Our Technology Transfer Group has just had a wonderful visit to RollsRoyce’s Apprentice Academy in Derby, which is the benchmark for how
such ventures should operate, and a fantastic resource for the Midlands and
the UK. Even JCB sends apprentices there, which is a real tribute.
Encouraging young people into our industry is our biggest challenge, and
at Hadley Group, we regularly use our apprentices to talk to school-leavers
and students as they speak the same language.
Rolls-Royce has adopted the same approach because individuals of like mind
relate best to each other, and achieving success is all about communication.
I’m not suggesting we should all sit here until midnight, tweeting away, but
we do need to communicate better, and the best way is to ensure that our
language is always right for its audience.
If we don’t have the right message, and it isn’t couched in the correct way,
then no-one will be listening, and all our time and effort has been wasted.
Barry Yeomans
CBM President
1
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METAL MATTE
CBM members provide high quality components to key industry sectors; indeed virtually every manufacturing sector buys components from a
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Maintaining close links with UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), Transport
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2
www.britishmetalforming.com
CONTENTS
Contents
issue 30
Presidents Review
1: Take the time to talk
1: CBM Staff
CBM Membership/Diary Dates
2: CBM Membership
What’s in it for you?
2: New Members
2: Diary Dates
CBM News
3: CBM Update
4: Report on the Technology
Transfer Group (TTG) Meeting
held on 31st May 2013 at the
premises of Rolls-Royce plc
Fasteners
10: Gesipa Blind Riveting Systems Ltd:
Riveting solutions for tight
application spaces
11: EU fastener trade figures for 2012
Forging
12: Stokes Forgings saving £2000
per month on a single hot forging press
Sheet Metal
15: Company profile:
QCI spans the globe
from Staffordshire HQ
16: Measuring the Oil Film Layer
and Determining its Distribution
on a Coil or Sheet Surface
CBM Events
7: CBM two day course:
Metallurgy for Non Metallurgists
Insurance
27: Credit Insurance: Helping you
to do business
Energy
9: Climate Change Levy (CCL):
Changes to your discount
9: Why it’s smart to plan your
next energy contract now!
20: Innovative forming solutions
for the aerospace industry
Health & Safety
10: REACH Substances of
Very High Concern Update, June 2013
Business Support
21: Huge R&D tax reclaim
for Wolverhampton
Landmine Company
22: Access to finance
24: Developing an internal health
and safety audit programme
24: Assessing the effectiveness
of in-house training
Confederation of British Metalforming
National Metalforming Centre, 47 Birmingham Road, West Bromwich, West Midlands B70 6PY.
Telephone: 0121 601 6350
Enquiries: Kirsi Lintula, Marketing & Communications Manager
Email: klintula@britishmetalforming.com
Advertising: Rohima Begum, Sales and Marketing Assistant
Email: rohima.begum@britishmetalforming.com
Web: www.britishmetalforming.com
www.britishmetalforming.com
25: Business Support Guide
25: Funding for innovation:
Smart – Round 2
Membership Directory
28: Fastener Manufacturer Members
28: Forging Manufacturer Members
29: Sheet Metal Manufacturer Members
30: Cold Rolled Manufacturer Members
31: Fastener Supplier Members
31: Forging Supplier Members
31: Sheet Metal Supplier Members
32: Commercial Supplier Members
32: Overseas Supplier Members
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical
including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system without the express prior written consent
of the Publisher. ISSN 1759-5975 Metal Matters Magazine is published by The Confederation of British Metalforming
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in this magazine. The Confederation
of British Metalforming and its agents do not accept any responsibility for the views or claims made by contributors in the
advertising or editorial content.
© The Confederation of British Metalforming 2013
3
CBM NEWS
cbm update
Following the successful launch
of the partnership between CBM
and the Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC), no time
has been wasted on the development of a CBM member engagement pack for communication of
AFRC capabilities and the nature
of collaboration between AFRC
and CBM members. An outline
framework of the pack has been
developed and will be progressed
at a meeting on 18 June. Plans
are also in hand to hold a CBM
members day at the AFRC,
possibly in September. Potentially the event will be an afternoon
event culminating in dinner. The event will consist of an introduction to AFRC, facility tour, breakout sessions, a summary of
the engagement pack and an industry road mapping session.
When we have a date for the visit I will be looking at some group
air travel. I hope to let you have the date for the members’ day
during the next month so that you can get it in your diary.
We are also working with AFRC to develop an industry roadmap, which
Adrian Bailey MP has requested from CBM. It is therefore important that
a roadmap is developed which makes a clear case for action on the part
of UK Government and this will require some preparation and thought.
Members will be asked to contribute to this exercise during the members’
day at AFRC in the autumn.
I am delighted to inform you that CBM have submitted a supply chain
project bid through the Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Supply
Chain Initiative (AMSCI). The CBM is leading a consortium of OEMs,
SMEs and equipment manufacturers backed by the Advanced Forming
Research Centre (AFRC) and Tata Steel. The objective is to apply novel forming technologies with existing production equipment to produce
components required in today’s and tomorrow’s high added value markets. The technologies involved will predominantly be either incremental
or high-strain rate forming processes that are capable of forming highstrength or difficult to form alloys and will allow UK companies the opportunity to trial the technologies prior to making investments. The improvement
in material utilisation and reduction in final machining costs would mean
the UK companies involved will gain significant cost advantage over low
cost manufacturing sources. The total project bid is £27m of which a grant
of £13.5m has been sought.
CBM continues its metals sector collaboration through its membership
of the Metals Forum group (see picture). The group, made up of 12 metals
trade associations, meets 4 times per year. The meetings are also attended
by representatives from the Department for Business, Innovations and Skills
(BIS) and SEMTA. The group which met at the beginning of June continued a watching brief of the Metals Forum Health & Safety Group, who are
looking at a co-ordinated approach to collating and benchmarking accident
statistics for the industry. With regards to skills in the metalforming industry, the group felt that manufacturing friendly topics are not as clearly part
of the school curriculum as they would like them to be. As a consequence
of this Metals Forum have agreed to write to all professional institutions
and relevant leading organisations e.g. EEF and CBI, to find out their views
and what they are doing to tackle this. During the state of trade discussions
access to finance appears to be raising its head again, with this in mind a
useful ‘Access to Finance’ sheet has been prepared which can be viewed on
pages 22 - 23 of Metal Matters.
CBM’s new climate change agreements are now up and running; the
agreements annually generate £3.4m of climate change levy discount for
members. We have a short window of opportunity to make any corrections
to base year data, but after September 2013 a penalty will be applied by the
Environment Agency, so please take time to audit your data for accuracy.
I continue to carry out my visits to member companies; I have made a
total of 29 visits so far this year, and I would like to remind you that you do
not have to wait for me to come and see you if you have something to tell me
about, I would be delighted to receive an invitation from you! If you have a
good news story about your business that you would like to share please let
me know so that it can be published in this magazine.
Thank you once again for your on-going support.
Geraldine Bolton
Operations Director
• The Metals Forum group
4
www.britishmetalforming.com
CBM NEWS
Report on the Technology
Transfer Group (TTG)
Meeting held on 31st May
2013 at the premises of
Rolls-Royce plc
D
espite the holiday shut down week a number of CBM
members made it to Derby for early morning coffee
and bacon buns.
Dr. Steven Halliday of R-R and the R-R person in residence at
the AFRC welcomed guests.
In his review of the activities taking place since the previous
meeting at Hadley Group on 19th February, Peter Standring
asked Geraldine Bolton to appraise those present of the £27
million CBM Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative
Proposal which had been submitted and accepted two days
earlier. This four year project Geraldine said, was to form
seven working groups, consisting of major OEM’s/T1 customers of metalformed products and process users, to purchase
current special purpose equipment (most of it currently unavailable for use in the UK) and to develop high added value
parts and hence to establish new supply chains. This, it is
believed, will provide UK metalformers with a golden opportunity to acquire 21st century skills which could be used to
create and develop an international presence in the market
for high added value metalformed products.
Peter Standring reminded members that the R-R TTG event
was to be a joint activity carried out with the launch of the
newly formed CBM Incremental Deformation Processes
(IDP) Sub Group.
This body, to be Chaired by Steven Halliday, was timely since
it would be addressing, on an entirely non competitive basis,
most of the processes associated with the AMSCI project.
Steven then informed those present of his Aims and Objectives for the outcomes he expected the Group would deliver
and how this was to be achieved. Please find attached Steven’s report on the IDP Launch.
In considering the subject of the TTG meeting, “What are
the skills and experiences necessary for our workforces
(current and future) in order to support the most effective
exploitation of Incremental Metal Forming Processes?”,
Steven introduced the ‘nearness to readiness for production’
as borrowed from NASA. This identified the numbers 1 to 4
as being the ‘Technology Assessment and Proving’ phase of
a project. The numbers 5 to 7 would indicate the ‘Pre-Production’ phase – similar to the AMSCI project and the 8 to
9, the ‘Production Implementation.’ Typically, AFRC activity
would cross over levels 3-6 of this technology development
scale (known internally within Rolls Royce as the Manufac-
www.britishmetalforming.com
turing Capability Readiness Levels). Copies of presentation
available from CBM.
The importance here was the need to identify what level of
skills and training those who would be employed in pushing
IDP’ing forward might require and where and from whom
they might obtain it. Again, this information which Steven
collected from the discussions is attached.
In Any Other Business, it was suggested that now the TTG
had run for one year and had held five meetings, it had yet to
achieve true Technology Transfer by working on a common
problem shared by a number of CBM members.
The Chairman suggested that sub groups exist to serve
the members’ interests and it was for members to generate
issues which they wanted the TTG to investigate. However,
the point was well made and would be circulated again to all
members to encourage a positive response.
Geraldine also raised the important matter of further developing the AMSCI Process Groups in the period before the
outcome of the bid is known.
Two major issues need to be worked on. One being the formalisation of the cross sectorial OEM’s/T1’s which would
be joining the project. The second was establishing those
CBM member companies which wanted to be associated with
the seven groups (this was not exclusive, for example, Tata
Steel and R-R will be joining all seven groups).
The visit included a conducted tour of the £11m R-R
Apprentice Training facilities. These truly were uplifting
seeing 474 featured apprentices (many female) in the wall
mounted montage for the 2012/13 year. They don’t have
drop-outs, the retainment figure was over 98% which gives
an indication that the format used is spot on.
Our grateful thanks to Steven Halliday for organising a
wonderful event and to R-R for hosting it. The next event will
be at W. H. Tildesley on 9 July.
For further information please contact
Geraldine Bolton on 0121 601 6350
or email geraldine.bolton@britishmetalforming.com.
5
CBM EVENTS
METALLURGY FOR
NON-METALLURGISTS
23rd & 24th September 2013
25th & 26th November 2013
at the National Metalforming Centre, West Bromwich, West Midlands B70 6PY
The Metallurgy for Non-Metallurgists programme is a two day course designed for
anyone who needs to know more about metals
and processes used in their company.
Outline of course contents
•Metal properties
•Metals structure
•Ore smelting
•Metals making & casting
•Rolling and metal forming
•Mechanical Testing and NDT
•Hot & cold working/shaping/forming
•Heat treatment
•Metal alloy classification
•Corrosion.
Business benefits
The Metallurgy for Non-Metallurgists programme
will enable participants to:
•Metal properties
•Metals structure
•Ore smelting
•Metals.
Programme content
Courses commence with delivery of core knowledge components and progress onto a series of
extended knowledge modules.
Programme delivery Courses take the form of participative workshops,
led by an expert metallurgist with extensive metals
industry experience.
The content, length and structure of the course can
vary according to individual company needs.
A folder of course materials is supplied and all
attendees will receive a certificate after completing
the two day course.
Cost: CBM members: £300 + vat per person Non Members: £400 + vat per person
Places are limited - to book a place please email Kirsi Lintula at the CBM: kirsi.lintula@britishmetalforming.com or call 0121 601 6350
www.britishmetalforming.com
7
ENERGY
Climate Change Levy (CCL):
Changes
to your
discount
For every company that is in a Climate Change Agreement (CCA), there is
a requirement for the company to submit new supplier certificates (PP11)
and supporting analysis declaration (PP10) with effect from 1 April 2013.
Specifically, the requirement is to amend the relief formula to increase
the amount of discount that can be claimed by businesses in a CCA
for ELECTRICITY from 65% up to 90%. In any event you should also re-submit for gas which is still at 65% but the forms have changed so new ones are
required to confirm you are in the new climate change agreements and the new
Target Unit Identifier number.
ACT NOW TO
AVOID LOSING
YOUR REBATE!
We recommend that you complete the forms as soon as possible using your latest
12 months data.
The CBM are offering a service to complete the forms for you for a nominal administration cost of £50 per site for which an invoice will be raised. When the forms are
completed they will be emailed to you to sign and send to your energy suppliers and
HM Revenue & Customs.
For more information, please contact, Geraldine Bolton.
email: geraldine.bolton@britishmetalforming.com.
Why it’s smart to plan your next energy contract now!
Do you usually leave your energy contract renewals until the last
minute? ENER-G offers three key reasons why you should be
ensuring they are top of mind well before their renewal is due.
1.Take advantage of dips in the wholesale market
The wholesale energy market is volatile, presenting opportunities to buy when prices dip, but equally a substantial risk of paying a premium during a peak. Therefore, the timing of placing
your next energy contract could make a difference of £1000’s.
You can secure your next energy contract well before the termination of your existing one. Ensure you are closely monitoring
the wholesale market at least nine months before your contracts
are due for renewal so you can identify the most opportune
times to buy.
2.Avoid expensive out of contract tariffs
If you fail to renew your existing energy contract you can easily find your business locked into over-inflated ‘out-of-contract’
tariffs for as long as 12 months, paying more than 50% above
current rates.
Sign up to a contract renewal reminder service, such as the one
provided by ENER-G, to provide ample time to research the
market and find the most competitive contract.
3.Take time to ensure your contract is right for your business
Ensure you thoroughly check your supplier contract terms and
conditions for clauses that give them the ability to ‘pass-through’
new market charges during your contract. In addition, spend
time researching all the contract options and understanding the
difference between a fixed, flexible or a collective product. One
approach will be more suitable than another depending on your
attitude to risk, budgetary requirements and internal plans for
efficiency improvements.
For further advice or information call 01527 855072
or email em@energ.co.uk quoting ‘CBM’.
www.britishmetalforming.com
9
HEALTH & SAFETY
UPDATE
JUNE 2013
REACH SUBSTANCES
OF VERY HIGH
CONCERN
Candidate List for SVHCs
The Candidate List still contains 138 chemicals, which is the same as
December 2012. However, in March ten new substances were proposed for
the Candidate list, eight by Germany, two by Sweden and one by Poland.
Eight of these are organic chemicals, but Sweden has proposed cadmium
and cadmium oxide. While most of manufacturing industry has
eliminated cadmium and found suitable alternatives, there is a large quantity
still used in the aerospace industry, primarily as electroplated finishes.
Cadmium coatings are used for the corrosion protection of alloy steel
fasteners and other steel components, and are present in most commercial
aircraft designed and specified before about 2008. The reason that the
aerospace industry continued to use cadmium is that their requirements
are safety critical and no substitute could be found that fulfilled all of the
functions of cadmium in fasteners in particular.
The consultation period for the proposed new chemicals ended at the end
of April, and as of mid-June, they have not been added to the candidate list.
However it is worth a reminder of the legal obligations that companies
have when a substance that is part of a finished article that they produce
and sell is included in the Candidate List.
If a company sells an article that contains more than 0.1% in weight of
a substance on the Candidate List, the supplier must provide sufficient
information to allow the safe use of the article to its customers or to a
consumer of the article within 45 days of their request. Companies that
make components with an electroplated cadmium coating will probably
have less than 0.1% weight of cadmium, but it is certainly worth confirming
that so that their legal obligations are known.
More importantly, EU producers and importers of articles that contain
more than 0.1% of a substance on the Candidate List, and is supplied
in quantities of over 1 tonne per year per producer or importer
must notify ECHA within six months of the substance being included
on the Candidate List. Again it is recommended that companies selling
cadmium plated components make a calculation in advance to determine
whether they will have this obligation to inform ECHA if cadmium is
included in the Candidate List.
Annex XIV, Authorisation List for SVHCs
There are now twenty two substances included in Annex XIV, eight more
having been added in April. The latest additions include seven chromium
VI substances, and trichloroethylene. Again there are implications here for
the aerospace industry. Sunset dates for these eight are in September 2017
except for trichloroethylene which is April 2016. Latest application date for
authorisation is March 2016 except for trichloroethylene which is October
2014. The full list can be seen on the ECHA website.
Many of these chromium compounds are widely used for surface treatment,
and the advice from HSE to any company that uses the substances is that
they ask their supplier whether they intend to apply for authorisation for
continued use. Note that authorisation is not required in order to supply
the articles that have been surface treated with chrome VI substances.
Further information on this can be given on request.
In addition in January, ten more substances were prioritised for inclusion
in Annex XIV, including strontium chromate, which used to be widely used
as a corrosion inhibitor.
FASTENERS
Riveting solutions
for tight application
spaces
For situations where there is not
enough room available to operate
standard rivet setting tools, GESIPA®
designed its angular heads which can
be freely fixed anywhere along its TAURUS®
tensile axis, providing additional room for
working in difficult to access areas.
Angular heads designed by GESIPA® can be especially used in tight
application spaces where minimum possible edge clearance is not more
than 12 mm with a total head length of only 90 mm. The robust design
of the angular heads allows users to apply setting forces of up to 20 KN
when fitting blind rivets. This angular head can be freely fixed anywhere (360° free
rotation) along the TAURUS® tensile axis, providing additional room for working
in areas with very limited working space.
GESIPA® designed two versions of the angular head where both the versions,
angular head 90° compact for TAURUS® 1 and 2 and the angular head 90°
TAURUS® 1-4, are characterized by
compact and robust design with simple
jaw maintenance, if need arises.
www.gesipa.co.uk
10
www.britishmetalforming.com
FASTENERS
EU fastener trade figures for
2012
Fastener import and export data for 2012 from the Eurostat database again shows that the biggest EU
fastener user and manufacturer nation was Germany, followed by Italy and France. Italy is the only
European nation that exported more than it imported, and only Germany and Italy manufactured more
than their domestic demand.
All figures in thousands of tonnes2012
France
Germany
Italy
Poland
Spain
UK
Total
Total EU
National production
220875583131118 832,046
2,121
National imports2937181701771692481,775
2,993
Imports from Asia **
3315063423683407591
Imports from China
19593429 1935196302
National Exports 152 706 384 69 82 58 1,4522,022
Domestic Demand
3738384642172052732,370
3,092
** India, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, China, South Korea and Japan
The nations listed above are the trade association members of EIFI, the European Industrial Fastener Institute. EIFI has been recording trade data in this way
since 2006. For the figures above, national production data had to be estimated for all nations except Germany and Italy, and it was taken to be the same as
2011. This is because of the delay in obtaining national production data from Eurostat. The trade data refers to the total of all of the CN 7318 codes, which
are the fastener codes for steel and stainless steel products. The data shows a significant reduction in market demand in 2012 across the main fastener
producing nations in Europe. According to the figures, the UK was the exception to this. The table below compares 2012 figures against 2011. For every
nation, the reduction in market demand was accompanied by a bigger reduction in imports.
Market Demand
Total imports
Exports
FranceGermany
- 6%
- 5%
- 7%
- 10%
0%
- 1%
Italy
- 15%
- 24%
- 2%
Poland Spain
- 9%
- 10%
- 14%
- 11%
- 8%
+ 3%
UK
- 1%
- 4%
- 11%
Total
- 7%
- 11%
- 2%
Eurostat collects trade and manufacturing data from all 27 European nations, and the database is available to the general public, so that the trends for
individual product commodities and types can be extracted separately.
The database is accessed via http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/eurostat/home/
www.britishmetalforming.com
11
FORGING
LESS GRAPHITE
– more consistent product
Stokes Forgings saving £2000 per month on a
single hot forging press
Stokes Forgings was not new to spray application of die
lubricant. The company had previously tried using spray
nozzles for the task but was discouraged by interruption of
flow through nozzle blocking, as well as by poor atomisation.
At the time Stokes discovered AutoJet systems on the
Spraying Systems stand at MACH 12, the forging plant was
using compressed air to propel die lubricant via open-ended
pipe – maintaining flow, but at the cost of over-lubrication
and some ‘splashing’.
In the modular automatic lubricating system now serving the
Eumuco press, electronic controls, lubricant pump, air and
liquid valving are housed externally in two cabinets alongside
the drum in which the graphite suspension is mixed. At
the press, 4 air-atomising nozzles mounted on a shuttling
feeder carrier deliver brief shots of finely atomised spray
directed consecutively at upper and lower mould sections
to give even surface coverage. An automatic cleanout needle
incorporated in each nozzle operates after every shot to keep
the orifice clear of blockage.
Movements and operation of all spray elements are programmed to synchronise with those of the press.
With the exception of the mixer drum and the feeder carrier
(both supplied by Stokes) all major system components were
included in the AutoJet specification.
“Since installing the new system,” says the company’s
maintenance team leader, “estimated expenditure on graphite for the press is substantially lower. For every £700 spent
on graphite we produced some 8,500 wheel hubs. For the
same expenditure we now make 34,000 hubs.
“On graphite alone, estimated savings are in the region of
£2000 each month, and there are other benefits. We have
been able to reduce the concentration of graphite in the
continued on page 13 .....>
A
new automatic die lubrication system manufactured
by Spraying Systems Co. is enabling Stokes Forgings,
the largest automotive forging company in the UK, to
quadruple productivity in relation to consumption of graphite
lubricant on an ongoing contract for the manufacture of
vehicle wheel hubs.
A Eumuco 2000 tonne forging press is the first of seven
presses at the company’s Dudley, West Midlands plant to
be equipped with the modular AutoJet Lubrication System,
designed and manufactured by spray technology specialist
Spraying Systems Co. Results have been so positive that
Stokes has put in hand a progressive plan to convert all its
presses to the new system.
In the hot forging of metal components there is general
agreement that the die lubricant used, and the manner of
its delivery, can critically affect the quality and consistency
of the forgings emerging from the press. Graphite-based
suspensions, such as graphite-in-water, are still the lubricants
most widely used in hot forging. They are not cheap - material
cost can be a significant factor on long runs – and inefficient
transfer of the lubricant to the die not only wastes lubricant
but can also create other costs.
12
www.britishmetalforming.com
FORGING
<..... continued from page 12
suspension, while improving product consistency. Under the
previous lubrication system, a percentage of the wheel hubs
needed hand finishing (a linishing operation). That work has
been virtually eliminated.”
Stokes Forgings is part of Mahindra Forgings – a member of a US
$16.2 billion company: the Mumbai-based Mahindra Group.
www.britishmetalforming.com
The wheel hubs and other forged components made at
Dudley are supplied to vehicle manufacturers world-wide,
including Britain, Continental Europe and China.
For further information
please contact Adam Mulvaney
email: adam.mulvaney@spray.com
13
SHEET METAL
company profile
QCI spans the globe
from Staffordshire HQ
Globalisation is often seen as an unstoppable force
which batters British companies into submission,
so it’s refreshing to meet an SME from these shores
which is using the concept to its advantage.
The QCI Group has achieved preferred supplier status with blue-chip
brands in aerospace, defence, power generation and rail, and taken on
crucial roles in their international supply chains.
Trelleborg Sealing Solutions, Bombardier Transportation and GE Energy
are among the corporates which have chosen this Staffordshire-based
business to handle their quality control, logistics, project management
and product sequencing requirements.
“We process 2.2 million aircraft seats just for Trelleborg each year, and
inspect and vet all the goods which go into Bombardier’s manufacturing
plant in Derby,” says QCI’s founder and CEO, Dave Munday, with
understandable pride.
Equally impressive is the geographical spread of QCI’s interests. Four
warehouses in the West Midlands focus on work for its key sectors - oil
and gas, power generation, aerospace and defence, and automotive - and
it operates others in Scotland and Sunderland.
Meeting the needs of its global customer base also requires offices in
China, France, India and Singapore, and QCI is currently setting up two
warehouses in the former country, one of which will supply customers
across Asia, and even into Australia.
The bulk of the group’s revenue - a healthy £2.5m in the last financial
year - comes from such supply chain activities, although it does also have
a machine tool shop in Aldridge, catering for clients who need special
purpose machines and tooling.
The QCI story makes impressive reading. Even more so given that the
business is funded from internal sources, employs every one of its 72
staff directly, and that Dave confidently expects the new interests in China
to boost turnover by some 40% in the coming year.
He established the business a decade ago, after acquiring significant
experience in quality management and the engineering sector, then
moved the fast-growing venture to Norton Canes in August 2011.
“It might not be the most obvious place, but it’s a great location for us.
Our HQ is right on the M6 Toll, and it’s just a few minutes walk to our
major warehouses,” says Dave.
“We’ve already got two managers lined up for China, so those centres will
open later this year, and we’re in the right sectors for long-term growth,
because about 50% of business currently comes from aerospace and
between 20% and 25% from rail.
“No-one can ever afford to be complacent, but everything is going
very well, and we’re all working very hard to make sure that the success
continues.”
www.qci-group.com
www.britishmetalforming.com
15
SHEET METAL
Measuring the Oil Film Layer and Determining
its Distribution on a Coil or Sheet Surface
Although the methods of production and materials
used in the coil processing and body-in-white
stamping industries have changed over the years,
one thing that hasn’t is the role that the oil film
plays on the surface of a coil or sheet.
Utilised as a coolant
process, acting as an
storage and providing
the stamping process,
and every stage of the
processes.
and lubricant in the rolling
anti-corrosion barrier during
a critical lubricating layer in
oil plays a vital role at each
body-in-white and coil rolling
Not only is oil an expensive necessity, but one that
needs to be carefully controlled to ensure it remains
within a tightly controlled thickness and
distribution, particularly in the BIW stamping
process.
Coils with insufficient oil can lead to:
•
•
•
•
Difficulties in the forming process
Defect stampings
Increased tool wear
Unnecessary stoppage and lost production.
At the opposite end of the scale, coils with excessive
oil deposits can lead to:
•
•
•
•
Downstream production problems
Panel welding and adhesion issues
Painting and lacquering difficulties
Degreasing and environmental impacts
To further add to the importance placed upon the
lubricating layer, the continuous drive for lighter
vehicle assemblies calls for a greater use of thinner
steels with higher yield strengths. Whereas this may
seem like an ideal solution, the downside is that such
materials pose a demanding challenge to the
stamping process due to their reduced forming
properties when compared to the more traditional
steels previously used.
Likewise, the wider use of aluminium sheets can
offer substantial weight savings to the BIW market,
albeit at a significant increase in costs. However,
total elongation, or the amount of stretch before
fracture, is usually much lower for aluminium than
it is for steel (approximately 20% for aluminium
versus 50% for steel) making aluminium a more
difficult material to form in the stamping operation.
Furthermore, the different joining techniques used
16
on aluminium bodies requires careful control in
order to avoid excessive oil deposits.
With increasing pressures to use smaller quantities
of oil and a need to control the oil film thickness to
a precise weight per square metre, how do you
measure the lubrication thickness? And equally as
important, how do you determine its distribution
across the complete coil or sheet surface?
“How do you determine its
distribution across the complete coil
or sheet surface?
In practice, oiling is achieved by means of
determining the speed of the strip, its width and
then by controlling the oil pump flow to achieve the
desired thickness of lubricant. However, with oil film
thicknesses in the region of a mere 2 g/m²,
determining whether oiling has successfully formed a
homogenous lubricating layer is not only a difficult
challenge, but one that has also become of
significant importance.
Current methods of measuring the oil film layer are
usually conducted on a sporadic basis and generally
confined to laboratory testing only. Furthermore, the
time involved to conduct the test, then act upon the
results, can often be a case of too little too late,
with the distinct possibility that the material may
have already been put into production.
Over the years, two measuring principles have been
used to determine the thickness of the lubrication
layer. The first being the Beta Backscatter radiation
method and the second (and more common of the
two) the gravimetric analysis procedure.
Utilising the Beta Backscatter Radiation procedure,
the coil is charged with a weak emission of radiation,
in which the radiation that is reflected by the
substrate is measured. After initial calibration, it is
possible to determine the lubrication thickness by
continued on page 17 .....>
www.britishmetalforming.com
SHEET METAL
<..... continued from page 16
the degree of backscatter dampening caused by the
oil film layer. It is worth noting that this procedure
does not provide an absolute measurement but
merely a comparative value using previously
calibrated strip samples. Such a method is not
without its difficulties and requires strict health and
safety controls and monitoring, thus making it
difficult to use as an industrial tool.
The more common procedure of the two has been
the gravimetric analysis method. Gravimetric testing
requires postcard sized samples to be taken from the
coil and sent to the laboratory where they are
precisely weighed to a fraction of a gramme. They
are subsequently cleaned to remove all traces of oil
and thereafter reweighed.
“Gravimetric measurements merely
determine the difference in weight
before and after cleansing.
A simple calculation of the difference in weight
divided by the surface area enables the amount of oil
per square meter to be estimated. The imperative
word in this instance is 'estimated' due to the fact
this method has no way of determining the
distribution of oil in any manner whatsoever.
Was there more oil on one side of the sample than
the other? Was it evenly distributed, or was it just a
case of there being one large droplet in a selected
area?
Gravimetric measurements are unable to determine
the distribution of lubricant, but merely the
difference in weight before and after cleansing.
100
Light absorbance (%)
80
Oil A
Oil B
Oil C
60
40
20
0
3000
3100
3200
3300
3400
3500
3600
3700
Wavelength (nm)
Fig. 1 shows acute light absorbance by the oil
film layer of wavelengths between 3.2–3.5 µm.
www.britishmetalforming.com
MIR
light source
Detector
unit
Optic
Oil film
Coil strip
Fig. 2 shows the design principle of a
measurement system using infrared photometry.
And of course, testing such a small sample piece is
by no means truly representative of the complete
coil surface.
A third and revolutionary method of measuring the
lubrication layer has recently been developed by
Amepa GmbH using a technology based on a
principle known as Lambert Beers Law, which states
that the thickness of lubricant is directly
proportional to the amount of light it absorbs.
Utilising infrared spectroscopy, the Amepa Oil Film
Measurement (OFM) technology directs a source of
infrared light through the lubricating layer. As the
light passes through the film of oil, wavelengths of
light between 3.2 and 3.5 µm are intensely absorbed
by the lubricant layer (as shown in Fig. 1)
irrespective of the grade of oil or its viscosity. The
remaining light that is reflected from the surface of
the strip is collected by an optical detector, making
it possible to determine the thickness of lubricant to
a very high degree of accuracy (as shown in Fig. 2).
Already adopted as a working tool by several
leading automotive BIW pressing facilities and coil
and strip producers alike, the Amepa OFM is an
in-line tool that instantly measures the lubrication
thickness in the range of 0.1–5.0 g/m² to an
accuracy of 0.1 g/m². The technology is precalibrated for a wide range of industry standard
textures, finishes and lubricants that enables the
system to be operated without the need for any onsite or pre-measurement calibration.
The accuracy of the technology has been extensively
checked, tested and verified with the results closely
correlating to conventional methods of measurement.
continued on page 18 .....>
17
SHEET METAL
<..... continued from page 17
With three options available, the Amepa OFM
technology comprises of a fully automatic in-line,
real-time system that constantly measures and scans
both sides of a coil simultaneously. A table mounted
version for pre-cut blanks and sheets, and a
handheld device that offers total portability and
flexibility.
In the case of the fully automatic system, sensors
can be mounted up to a distance of 120 mm away
from the surface of the coil and capable of
compensating for strip vibrations of up to 20 mm.
Using a spot diameter of 15 mm and taking 15
measurements per second, the OFM quickly and
efficiently measures the oil film thickness in a zigzag
pattern as the sensors traverse back and forth across
the width of the passing coil (see Fig. 3).
“An in-line tool that instantly
measures the lubrication thickness
to an accuracy of 0.1 g/m².
The software interface provides a total overview of
both the oil film thickness and its distribution as
well as allowing customer specific inputs such as coil
number, surface texture, coil dimensions and the oil
film thickness targets that forms part of the stored
data.
Fig. 4 shows the software interface detailing
oil film distribution on both sides of the coil.
Divided into two sections (see Fig. 4), the right-hand
side of the interface displays an overview of the
complete coil surface in a colour graded spectrum,
with red indicating lubricant in excess of the upper
limit, green within the specified limits and blue
denoting an oil film layer below the acceptable limit.
An adjacent ‘traffic light’ indicator informs whether
the strip is correctly oiled, needs further inspection
or has been rejected.
When used with a twin headed system, both sides of
the coil are displayed simultaneously.
“For the first time ever, it’s possible
to measure the oil film thickness on
both sides of the coil simultaneously.
The left-hand side of the interface displays the oil
film thickness across the width of the coil set against
the upper and lower pre-set limits, enabling a cross
section view of the oil film distribution to be taken
at any position in the coil length.
As the readings are instant, the results are conveyed
and displayed to the control room operator in real
time, with any out of tolerance readings triggering
an audio/visual alarm so that immediate corrective
action can be taken.
Fig. 3 shows a typical set up of a twin headed
system used to measure both sides of the coil,
although each installation utilises customer
specific arrangements.
18
The table mounted version uses the selfsame oil film
sensor head but also offers the provision to add an
additional Amepa non-contact surface roughness
sensor. This makes it possible to measure both the
oil film thickness and surface roughness of a pre-cut
blank or sheet at the same time, although in this
instance only one side of the sheet can be measured
continued on page 19 .....>
at any one time.
www.britishmetalforming.com
SHEET METAL
<..... continued from page 18
Fig. 5 showing a table mounted configuration
measuring both oil film thickness and surface
roughness.
Fig. 6 shows a dry strap running the length
of the coil due to a blocked oiler nozzle.
Utilising the same sensor technology as the in-line
systems, the handheld device offers total portability
and ease of use. Measurements are taken at the
press of a button which are instantly displayed on
the unit’s LCD in either g/m² or mg/ft².
The unit can store single readings or a whole series
of measurements including their average to obtain a
better indication of the overall lubrication
distribution. All stored data with their respective
coil numb ers and timestamps is wirelessly
transferable via Bluetooth to an application-specific
tablet PC that can thereafter be fully integrated
into the customer’s own database.
In the three-dimensional visualisation mode, it can
be clearly seen in Fig. 6–8 how the oil film
distribution varies and what action needs to be
taken to provide a homogenous lubrication layer.
Fig. 7 shows the oil has been excessively
deposited on the left-hand side of the coil and
under oiled on the right-hand side, indicating
that the oiler isn’t horizontal to the strip.
The benefits to be gained from oil film measurement
are not just limited to the body in white stamping
process alone, but major advantages can be achieved
by the coil processing industries as well. Not only is
the Amepa Oil Film Measurement (OFM) system an
in-line inspection tool, but for the very first time it
has now become possible to certify the oil film layer.
Additionally, significant savings can also be made by
eliminating a complete oiling operation and
supplying coils correctly coated with a high viscosity
forming oil, rather than a low viscous anti-corrosion
film.
For further details, contact Tim Lawrence of Amepa UK
telephone +44 114 2577277 or e-mail tim@amepa.co.uk.
www.britishmetalforming.com
Fig. 8 shows excessive oil deposits on the
outer edges of the coil that has resulted in a
trough of oil being formed. This is often seen
when coils have been stored for an extended
period of time.
19
SHEET METAL
Innovative forming solutions
for the aerospace industry
W
ith increasing environmental constraints on aircraft emissions,
manufacturers are seeking ever more efficient designs that
reduce drag. A key technology in achieving reduced drag is a smooth
flow of air over the aircraft skin. In laminar flow design the turbulence
and, hence drag, is minimised through the optimisation of the
aerodynamic surfaces. With the introduction of new energy efficient
aircraft, the design of the engine cover or nacelle has become a prime
focus for natural laminar flow technologies. As air flows over the
nacelle, it first contacts the lipskin before continuing to flow along
the outer surface. The lipskin is the highly polished leading edge on
an aircraft engine nacelle. Any roughness or assembly gaps on the
nacelle surfaces disturb the smooth flow of air, causing turbulence
and increasing the drag. One such assembly gap is found where the
lipskin joins the rest of the nacelle, currently close to the leading edge.
By moving this joint further towards the rear of the nacelle it will be
possible to delay the onset of turbulence and thus significantly reduce
the drag of the nacelle assembly.
Despite the extensive use of composite materials in modern aircraft
structures, the high in-service temperatures and damage tolerance
requirements found on the leading edge of the nacelle necessitates
the use of metallic components. Traditionally these skins have been
manufactured using deep drawing or spinning techniques. Such
processes are limited in the overall depth of draw available and are
fraught with quality control issues including excessive thinning, poor
geometric conformance and grain growth resulting from multistage
forming processes.
The Advanced Metal Forming Research (AMFOR) Group, led by Dr
Alan Leacock at the University of Ulster, has developed an innovative
forming method for the production of natural laminar flow lipskins.
With over 17 years’ experience in developing innovative forming
solutions for the aerospace sheet metal forming sector, the AMFOR
Group were able to rapidly develop the new process in minimal time. A
core element of the AMFOR Group’s approach to solving this problem
lay in the use of PAMSTAMP 2G FEA software from ESI.
The new process is a combination of draw, redraw and stretching stages
built into a single forming machine. The process, patented in over
30 countries (European Patent 2 328 698 B1), is specifically designed
for the production of extended lipskin segments and is limited only by
the size of blank material available. Through the support of the Invest
NI Proof of Concept programme, the new process has been developed
to Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) 4 by the manufacture of a
prototype forming machine. The single hit prototype forming machine
is capable of producing a lipskin part in five minutes to the tolerances
required for laminar flow designs, without the need for inter-stage
heat treatment.
This is an exciting time to be engaged with the aerospace industry and
sheet metals will continue to play an important role in future aircraft
designs. Through the development of innovative sheet metal forming
manufacturing methods the UK can stay at the forefront of the High
Value Manufacturing opportunities the aerospace sector affords.
• Modelled skin using PAMSTAMP 2G from ESI
• Prototype machine
• Manufactured part using the prototype machine
For further information please contact
Dr Alan Leacock, Senior Lecturer
on 02890 366269 or email: ag.leacock@ulster.ac.uk.
20
www.britishmetalforming.com
BUSINESS SUPPORT
Huge R&D tax reclaim
for Wolverhampton
Landmine Company
W
olverhampton based tax specialists R&D Tax Claims has helped a
UK company involved in the detection of landmines successfully
reclaim over £125,000 in tax spent on research and development. The
HMRC reclaim is R&D Tax Claims’ largest to date.
Mineseeker Operations Ltd, based at Wolverhampton Business Airport in
South Staffordshire, has developed technology that detects surface and subsurface landmines and unexploded ordnance. The two principal owners,
chief executive officer Mike Kendrick and Mark Dorey, commercial director,
were originally involved in a hot air balloon business based in Telford, West
Midlands, which they went on to develop into a successful global aerial
advertising business using airships to film major sporting events around
the world.
Mike Kendrick became interested in how aerial photographic imagery could
be combined with ground penetrating radar for use in identifying where
landmines were buried. Having taken an airship to Kosovo on a successful
fact finding mission, Mineseeker was born. The system, which took several
years to develop, enables the user to identify sub-surface objects, and can
survey up to five square kilometres a day.
“According to UN research statistics, there are one hundred million
landmines buried in 70 countries and it will take over 600 years to clear them,
at an estimated cost of $50bn”, says Mark Dorey. “Incredibly, these statistics
don’t include Iraq, Afghanistan or Libya, and there are approximately two
million more laid every year.”
“Mineseeker are a great example of a company that have combined their
entrepreneurial skills with in-depth knowledge of their specialism to create
a business with a global reach in an area of great need”, said Mark Evans,
managing director of R&D Tax Claims Ltd. “This was a slightly unusual
claim for us as Mineseeker has one product, whereas most companies
have several. The difficulty lay in identifying the costs we could claim with
HMRC, but we were very confident from the outset that Mineseeker had
clearly carried out research and development.
“Mineseeker are still in the start-up phase with low sales and high costs, so
we needed to ensure that their costs were clearly identified to HMRC, as they
are very specific about what R&D costs can be reclaimed and what can’t. We
were forensic in our approach and the resulting claim of £125,854 over two
years is our biggest to date.
“It’s a joy to assist a company whose ethos is firmly both humanitarian and
environmental – in excess of 80 per cent of land designated as mined is in
fact clear, and this land can be brought back into use quickly for the good of
both the community and the country.”
Since 2009 Mark Evans has helped SME clients across the UK in the
manufacturing, engineering and software sectors to reclaim more than £10
million by researching and identifying whether or not the company qualifies
for an HMRC R&D tax credit. Earlier this year, he opened a Manchester
base to cope with R&D tax credit enquiries across the North West industrial
regions.
To date, Mark has netted 120 SME clients an average tax refund of £83,000.
Clients include specialist gears manufacturer Mini Gears of Stockport
(£96,400); condition monitoring company PCMS of Newcastle under Lyme
(£33,500) and fabrications manufacturer Strongs Plastics Products of
Tamworth (£30,000).
“I was surprised but delighted that we could reclaim that amount of
corporation tax”, said Mineseeker’s Mark Dorey. “We’d never heard of the
scheme before. It’s great news from a cashflow point of view as we are
continually reinvesting into the business and we will continue to reclaim
through the scheme. 2013 is looking very good indeed.”
• Left to right: Mark Evans, managing
director, R&D Tax Claims Ltd;
Mark Dorey, commercial director,
Mineseeker Operations Ltd;
Mike Kendrick, chief executive officer,
Mineseeker Operations Ltd.
www.britishmetalforming.com
21
BUSINESS SUPPORT
Access to Finance
Many businesses tell us that it can be a challenge to identify the
right finance.
Lending conditions have changed: lenders are looking for more financial
information than they once were about the businesses they lend to and their
ability to repay.
The Government is working with the private sector to unlock finance.
Although only 33% businesses applying for finance are confident
of success, 71% of applications are successful.
This information aims to provide answers to the most common questions
and highlight sources of help available when raising finance.
Different businesses have different finance needs - and not all of this
information may be relevant to your own circumstance, but we hope that it
will be of use to you or a business you know.
For more information, please visit us at http://gov.uk, or search the web
for “Business in You”
Getting Support and Guidance
Business mentors have the practical experience, contacts and expertise to
Just as businesses have different finance needs, there are a range of different help you make the right choices for your business.
Government support products for businesses, from grants to loans for start Mentorsme.co.uk (the national mentoring portal which is funded
and operated by the BBA) can connect you with mentoring
ups to tax breaks for angel investors.
You can find information on all Government schemes, and a tool organisations across the UK. If you are a business that needs
support or a business professional who can offer support, it can
to help identify the most relevant ones, at
help you connect with each other.
gov.uk/business-finance-support-finder
There is a range of Government Support for Finance
Credit Scoring
Many businesses aren’t aware that when applying for finance, lenders will
check the credit scores of the business - and its directors.
Your credit score can be affected by a range of things, including:
•Unpaid bills (yours or others at your addresses)
•Whether you’re on the electoral roll
•Paying suppliers promptly
•Past searches for credit (including getting quotes
for finance or utility contracts)
If you’ve been surprised to be declined finance it may be worth asking credit
reference agency for your score - visit bipa.uk.com to find out more
How to identify professional accountancy advice
The Business Finance Advice Scheme enables businesses to identify
qualified accountants who can provide expert independent advice on how to
access finance, such as bank loans or outside investment. These practices
bear the Business Finance Advisor kitemark.
You can find a Business Finance Adviser via the ICAEW, ACCA, ICAS
websites:
http://www.icaew.com/bfascheme http://uk.accaglobal.com/
http://icas.org.uk/
Declined by a bank? You can appeal
The major banks in the UK and Northern Ireland (Barclays, HSBC,
RBS (inc Natwest), Lloyds (including Halifax/Bank of Scotland) and
Santander (plus NI banks) have agreed that if your loan application
is declined you have the right to appeal, as part of the BBA Better
Business Finance Programme (betterbusinessfinance.co.uk).
When an appeal is raised, the decision will be reviewed by a second person
from within the bank who was not involved in the original decision.
The banks will consider all the information originally provided and ask for
more where they think it is necessary.
Looking elsewhere for Debt Finance?
There are many banks providing business finance in the UK, and dozens
more organisations providing finance, from peer-to-peer lenders to asset
based financiers.
Each lender’s regional reach and appetite across sectors differs
- so it may well be that whilst one lender can’t help you - another
might.
The Government and BBA has worked with an array of finance providers to
http://tinyurl.com/BarclaysAppealshttp://tinyurl.com/RBSAppeals
produce a useful directory to help you find alternative finance providers:
businessfinanceforyou.co.uk
http://tinyurl.com/SantanderAppealshttp://tinyurl.com/LloydsAppeals
http://tinyurl.com/HSBCAppeals
Alternatives to banks
Banks are but one source of finance for companies. Equity (where people or The whole process is monitored and scrutinised by an independent team
businesses provide money in return for shares in the business) helps put your to ensure the banks are implementing a fair, prompt and transparent
businesses on a sounder footing to access finance and there are generous tax appeals process.
breaks from Government for investors looking to invest in equity.
In the first year of the programme, an appeal led to a change in
There are also Community Development Finance Institutions, peer-to-peer decision in 4 out of ten cases as a result of The process.
lenders, asset financiers, invoice finance and more that can be accessed
through businessfinanceforyou.co.uk and you can find out more at How do I appeal?
If you have been declined finance your bank should have given you
gov.uk/business-finance-explained
instructions on how to appeal with your decline. You will need to instigate an
When things go wrong
continued on page 23 .....>
Unfortunately, Ministers or Government officials cannot intervene in disputes
with banks. Whilst we do take seriously every issue raised in correspondence,
the Department cannot take the place of banks’ own complaints processes or the
courts. You may also be eligible to contact the Financial Ombudsman Service.
22
www.britishmetalforming.com
BUSINESS SUPPORT
<..... continued from page 22
appeal if you feel you have been declined unfairly. In most cases it can be
started with a phone call to your bank, and there isn’t a charge.
An appeal can be made after any formal request for lending has been declined
– this means any application that has gone through a credit assessment,
after the bank has received the information from you to make a decision.
The bank should explain to you why your application has not been
successful, and work with you to reshape the request if possible and give
guidance on alternative sources of finance if appropriate. The banks and the
BBA are making this as easy as possible.
Where is there more information?
Contact your bank for information on appealing.
Alternatively, the participating banks (see Delined by a bank? You can appeal)
and the BBA launched the website http://www.betterbusinessfinance.
co.uk to provide more information on the appeals process and lending
in general.
Accessing the Finance you need
You can explore the full range of publicly backed sources of finance
from Government grants through to investment types of finance available
from Business Angels and Venture Capitalists by visiting www.gov.uk/
business-finance-support-finder
Details of a wide range of private sector lenders, searchable by location and
firm type can be found at www.businessfinanceforyou.co.uk/
The BIS guide SME access to finance schemes: measures to
support small and medium-sized enterprise growth provides details
of the main forms of public support available to businesses and can be found
at: www.gov.uk/bis/financeguide
The Business Finance Advice Scheme gives businesses access to a
wide choice of independent, professionally qualified advisers across the UK
on a range of business finance options. Further information can be found at
www.icaew.com
The Business Debtline provides confidential and independent advice on
managing financial difficulties. Telephone 0800 197 6026 or log on
to www.bdl.org.uk
HM Revenue & Customs’ (HMRC) Business Payment Support Service
(www.hmrc.gov.uk/payinghmrc/problems/bpps.htm) helps businesses and individuals who are experiencing difficulties in paying tax due
in full and on time.
Business Support and Guidance to help you start and grow
your business
Advice to help and grow your business can be found at www.gov.uk. This
is the new home for Government services and information online; making it
simpler, clearer and faster to find what you need from Government.
For those without internet access, contact the Business Link helpline on
0845 6009006.
The Business in You campaign encourages people to start a business,
employ more staff, or start exporting. Further information can be found at:
www.businessinyou.bis.gov.uk/
Find a business mentor at www.mentorsme.co.uk to help you
develop your ideas and grow your business. There are over 115 mentoring
organisations on the portal, funded and operated by the British Banker’s
Association, providing access to 27,000 business mentors.
GrowthAccelerator is a new England-wide programme to help small
businesses with potential for rapid and sustainable growth achieve their
ambition; providing professional business advice and coaching. Join the
businesses already benefitting at www.growthaccelerator.com
The New Enterprise Allowance (NEA) helps unemployed people to start
their own business with access to business mentoring and financial support.
Further information is available at www.gov.uk/moving-from-benefitsto-work/starting-your-own-business
Start-Up Loans are available for 18-30 year olds interested in starting a
business but lacking access to the necessary finance or support to realise
their ambitions. Further information can be found at:
www.startuploans.co.uk/
Businesses of all sizes are using apprenticeships to help recruit and
develop the people they need - with the Government funding all or much
of the costs of training, plus incentive payments for small and medium
firms who take on new young apprentices. For further information contact
www.apprenticeships.org.uk
Exporting
UK Trade and Industry’s (UKTI) trade development product, Helping
Your Business Grow Internationally, is available to UK companies
of all sizes. For further information contact: www.ukti.gov.uk/export/
howwehelp/item/213720.html
UK Export Finance supports export contracts. Ask your bank for further
information or visit www.ukexportfinance.gov.uk
Business Support
Business Support Organisations
The Government wants to make it easier to start, invest in and grow a business. So we are helping support businesses, particularly, Small and Medium
sized Enterprises (SMEs) in a number of ways.
The following information gives details of the various Government initiatives
helping small businesses and provides useful links to other business support available.
The National Enterprise Network is an umbrella organisation for
business support organisations committed to the support and development
of enterprise - www.nationalenterprisenetwork.org/
“StartUp Britain” is a business-led initiative to help businesses start up
and grow - www.startupbritain.org/
The Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) works for manufacturers
and through experienced advisors. Further information, including local
contact points, can be found at: www.mymas.org or by speak to an
adviser on 0845 658 9600.
The Technology Strategy Board helps SMEs develop new products and
services and access technology - www.innovateuk.org
www.britishmetalforming.com
23
BUSINESS SUPPORT
Monitoring and review of the audit process are important management activities. These will include an evaluation of conformity with
the programme’s objectives and the auditor’s own performance levels. Lessons learned from the audit programme review should be
used for the programme’s continual improvement.
Assessing the effectiveness
of in-house training
My organisation delivers a range of health and safety
courses in-house as part of employee induction and
continuing professional development. How can we
ensure that the courses have been successful and
decide when refresher training are required?
Developing an internal health
and safety audit programme
I have been asked to develop and manage an
internal health and safety audit programme for
my organisation. Could you outline the factors I
need to consider to ensure the audit programme
is effectively managed?
The Health and Safety Executive defines auditing as “the
structured process of collecting independent information
on the efficiency, effectiveness and reliability of the total
health and safety management system and drawing up
plans for corrective action”.
A comprehensive picture of how effectively the health and safety
management system is controlling risks will emerge from a wellstructured auditing programme.
Failure to develop and manage an effective audit programme could
therefore result in inappropriate and/or inadequate information
being collated and disseminated, giving a false indication of
performance.
BS EN ISO 19011:2011 Guidelines for Auditing Management Systems,
states that “the audit programme should include information and
resources necessary to organise and conduct its audits effectively
and efficiently within the specified time frames”.
The first stage is for top management to determine the objectives
of the audit programme. These can be based on many factors, not
least management priorities and findings from previous audits. With
internal resources being finite, a risk-based audit programme can
be developed.
When establishing the audit programme, the key is to determine
roles and responsibilities, along with audit extent, procedures and
resources. The procedural elements may include the audit schedule,
reporting procedures and selection of appropriate auditors. As well
as personnel, resource issues will be dictated by the extent of the
audit programme but adequate budgeting will have to be taken into
consideration.
In respect of the personnel, competence is essential. BS EN ISO
19011 states that “knowledge and skills related to the discipline
and the application of discipline-specific methods, techniques,
processes and practices should be sufficient to enable the auditor
to examine the management system and generate appropriate audit
findings and conclusions”.
The provision of information, instruction and training in
health and safety is a legal requirement, but also makes
good business sense. The Health and Safety Executive
states that “training helps people acquire the skills,
knowledge and attitudes to make them competent in the
health and safety aspects of their work”.
The purpose of any learning and development opportunity is
for those attending to assimilate the information provided so as
to improve or affirm their knowledge and understanding of the
course’s subject matter.
As the Institution of Occupational Health and Safety (IOSH) notes,
the most important outcome of any health and safety course is
for the achieved learning to be “transferred and applied to the
workplace”.
As such, the success of any course must be assessed. This will
enable the course facilitator to determine whether those attending
have attained skills or knowledge to the required level.
There are many ways to assess the training both during the course
(formative assessment) and at the end of the course (summative
assessment). Methods can include completion of formal indicators
such as multiple-choice questions, tests or assignments. Informal
methods may include self-assessment, worksheets or group discussions. The important factor is that the assessment method suits the
delegates’ and course needs.
Assessment of learning outcomes can also be undertaken in the
workplace following the training courses. Course evaluation forms
completed by those attending may highlight any areas that those
attending feel need to be reviewed or changed so as to improve
outcomes.
IOSH suggests that, in order to assess how successful training has
been, “managers can agree objectives with staff before they begin
a course” and that “at a suitable point after the course, staff and
managers can then evaluate how far the training has helped to meet
the objectives”.
Knowledge gained through training can decay for a number of
reasons, eg introduction of new procedures. As such, refresher
training may be required periodically.
IOSH suggests that staff appraisal can be used as a way to “review
their staff’s key competences, identify any gaps, and plan activities
to renew or add to them”. Reactive data from accidents and near
misses may also identify training needs. Finally, employees should
be encouraged to raise concerns with their managers if they feel
that they require additional or refresher training.
Essential to the audit programme is selection of the most appropriate
audit methodology. In general terms, these can be divided into
“human interaction” such as interviews and questionnaires and “nonhuman interaction” including document reviews and observations.
24
www.britishmetalforming.com
BUSINESS SUPPORT
Electric and Intelligent vehicles (ERDF) offers grants of up
to £30,000 for West Midlands SMEs to access expertise electric
vehicle technologies or intelligent vehicle systems to help them
with an innovative product development or to diversify into a new
market.
email electric_intelligent@cad.coventry.ac.uk
or call 024 7623 6245 / 07557 425498.
Enterprise Europe Network Midlands supports Midlands
businesses to be more competitive and innovative in Europe. The
team of experienced specialists provide a range of free services to
help you: develop your business in new markets; source or license
new technologies and access EU finance and EU funding.
email een-midlands@coventry.ac.uk
or call 024 7623 6236.
Eco Business (ERDF) offers grant support of up to £2,400 to
help regional SMEs to cut costs, reduce waste and find new
opportnities for growth. It can help those looking for initial
compliance with environmental issues through to increasing the
competitive advantage of your business. In addition to the grant,
part funding towards consultancy work can also be provided.
email EBusiness@cad.coventry.ac.uk
or call 024 7615 8206.
Metrology for the West Midlands (ERDF) helps SME businesses to access grant funded expertise to use applied metrology to improve their resource efficiency. Grants up to £10,000
are available to SMEs that are looking to improve their business
processes and improve their resource efficiency.
email metrology@cad.coventry.ac.uk
or call 024 7623 6326.
www.britishmetalforming.com
The Technology Innovation Futures West Midlands project helps qualifying SMEs in the West Midlands
to examine existing technologies, investigate new solutions
and implement change. The project can fund 50% of up to ten
days consultancy and also offers free workshops and networking
opportunities for SMEs looking to improve their knowledge of
emerging technology.
www.tifwm.co.uk, email info@tifwm.co.uk
or call 024 7615 8293.
Touch Digital provides fully-funded support for eligible West
Midlands SMEs to access up to 5 days technical expertise to enable
them to explore and integrate interactive technologies. Touch Digital
can help companies whether they want to learn about digital media,
create new products or services or evaluate existing ones.
email touchdigital@cad.coventry.ac.uk
or call 024 7615 8207.
Business Support Guide
Innovation Networks (ERDF) offers grants of £10,000 to West
Midlands SMEs that are collaborating with other regional SMEs
on the development of a new product, process or service.
www.innovation-networks.co.uk
email innovation@cad.
West Midlands (SME) Internationalisation
Project (ERDF) offers grants of £1,000 or £2,500 for an eligible
West Midlands SME to carry out international activities plus
advice and information on overseas priority market opportunities.
www.wmbusinessexport.co.uk
email wmint@cad.coventry.ac.uk
or call 024 7623 6406.
Funding for innovation: Smart – Round 2
Round 2, FY 2013-14
S
mart is a grant scheme which offers funding to small and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs) to engage in R&D projects in the strategically important
areas of science, engineering and technology, from which successful new
products, processes and services could emerge.
The scheme supports SMEs carrying out R&D which offers potentially significant
rewards and that could stimulate UK economic growth.
Three types of grant are available:
• Proof of market • Proof of concept • Development of prototype.
Any UK SME undertaking research and development may apply; applications are
accepted on a rolling basis for assessment by independent experts.
The new batch assessment dates for Smart scheme applications during the
financial year 2013/14, which starts on 21st March, are:
2013 close dates: 23 May, 18 July, 26 September, 21 November
For further information please visit:
www.innovateuk.org/competition-display-page
To apply or find out more:
e: support@innovateuk.org. t: 0300 321 4357
25
INSURANCE
Credit Insurance:
Helping you
to do business
For CBM members, getting credit from your suppliers can be essential, but giving it to customers is risky. Today, the use of credit is
almost universal. As a consequence of this, cash flow has become a
key measure for almost all businesses.
Are you happy that everything is being done that can be to lessen this risk
to your business? Alternatively, is there anything else you can do to help
improve the cash flow needs of your business?
Has your business considered Credit Insurance?
Credit Insurance can provide peace of mind, and support good credit management disciplines. After all, the faster you collect your money, the better
your cash flow. It can also provide financiers with the security and comfort
they need to establish funding lines. That’s why Towergate can offer a Credit
Insurance policy
www.britishmetalforming.com
Common policy options include:
• UK or Export customers separately
• A single strategic customer only
• Top up cover to complement your existing credit insurance policy
• The larger customers only
• Your entire sales ledger
Surety Bonding
CBM member companies that import goods into the UK could take advantage of surety bonding. This is an insurance based guarantee that can replace the more traditional bank guarantee or cash collateral. This can include
performance/retention bonds, Duty and VAT deferment, and travel bonds. By
placing your bonding requirement in the insurance or surety market - on an
unsecured basis - this may free up bank capacity for other purposes.
Why not give your business a Credit health check?
For your free credit risk assessment, call Towergate Insurance today on
0844 346 0905, or e-mail stoke@towergate.co.uk
27
FASTENERS
FORGING
A.M.C. UK Fasteners Ltd
Northamptonshire NN17 5XZ
(: 01536 271 920
www.amcukfasteners.co.uk
Alcoa Fastening Systems
Shropshire TF3 3BQ
(: 01952 290 011
www.alcoa.com
Alcoa Fastening Systems
Worcestershire B98 7TD
(: 01527 525 719
www.mckechnieaerospace.com
Avdel UK Ltd
Cheshire WA1 4RF
(: 01925 856 526
www.acument.com
Barton Cold-Form (UK) Ltd
Worcestershire WR9 0LP
(: 01905 772 021
www.coldform.it
Brooks Forgings Ltd
West Midlands B64 5QJ
Caparo Atlas Fastenings Ltd
West Midlands WS10 8XL
(: 01384 563 356
www.brooksforgings.co.uk
(: 0121 224 2000
www.caparoatlasfastenings.com
Cirteq Ltd
(: 01535 633 333
www.cirteq.com
West Yorkshire BD20 8QP
Clyde Fasteners Ltd
Lanarkshire G74 5ET
(: 01355 225 451
www.clydefasteners.com
Abbey Forged Products Ltd
Yorkshire S6 1ND
(: 0114 231 2271
www.theabbeygroupuk.com
AKS Precision Ball Europe Ltd
Co Durham SR8 2PP
(: 0191 587 0000
www.aksball.com
Bedford Steels
Yorkshire S4 7YS
(: 01142 769 643
www.bedfordsteels.co.uk
Bifrangi UK Ltd
(: 01522 585 800
Lincolnshire LN2 5DT
Brockhouse Group Ltd
West Midlands B70 0SN
(: 0121 556 1241
www.brockhouse.co.uk
Brooks Forgings Ltd
West Midlands B64 5QJ
Brooks Forgings Ltd, established in 1960, are one of the UK’s leading
manufacturers of Forged and Machined components. With our extensive in house
manufacturing capabilities we are able to produce standards and specials to suit
customer specific requirements.
: 01384 563 356
F: 01384 563 357
E: enquiries@brooksforgings.co.uk
www.brooksforgings.co.uk
Cooper & Turner Ltd
(: 01142 560 057
Yorkshire S9 1RSwww.cooperandturner.com
DSL Ltd (Stride Supplies Ltd Div.)
West Midlands WV14 2JS
Caparo Forging: Europe
West Midlands DY2 0LA
www.designcrews.com
Gesipa Blind Riveting Systems Ltd
• Rivet nut and rivet nut studs
Chapmans Agricultural Ltd
Yorkshire S6 2FH
: 01535 212 200
E: info@gesipa.co.uk
www.gesipa.co.uk
Flintshire CH5 2NX
Leggett & Platt Components Europe Ltd
Lancashire BB18 6JA
PSM International Limited
Pembrokeshire SA71 4RE
RCF Bolt + Nut Ltd
West Midlands DY4 8RF
Smith Bullough
Lancashire WN2 4HD
SPS Technologies (T.J. Brooks Div.)
Leicestershire LE4 9HX
28
(: 0121 772 6515
www.cerro-ems.com
West Midlands B9 4DS
• Tooling with process control (fully automatic or manual)
Henrob Ltd
(: 0161 438 4021
www.cascorp.com
Cerro EMS
• Special designed blind rivets
West Midlands DY2 0ED
Cascade (UK) Ltd
Greater Manchester M11 2DD
West Yorkshire BD21 4JU
Griff Chains Ltd
(: 01384 252 587
www.caparo.com
(: 01384 569 415
www.griffchains.co.uk
(: 01244 837 220
www.henrob.com
(: 01282 811 232
www.leggetteurope.com
(: 0114 285 6000
www.chapmans-uk.com
Cramlington Precision Forge Ltd
Northumberland NE23 1WA
Crosby Premier Stampings Ltd
West Midlands B64 6AJ
(: 01670 716 811
www.cpfl-tvs.com
(: 01384 353 100
www.premierstampings.co.uk
Doncasters Blaenavon Ltd
Gwent, Wales NP4 9XG
(: 01495 790 345
www.doncasters.com
Doncasters Precision Forgings Ltd
Yorkshire S6 2FR
(: 0114 285 8100
www.doncasters.com
Firth Rixson - River Don
Yorkshire S9 2LD
(: 0114 219 3694
www.firthrixson.com
(: 0121 522 2353
www.rcfboltnut.co.uk
Firth Rixson Forgings Ltd
Yorkshire S9 1HD
(: 0114 219 3740
www.firthrixson.com
(: 01942 520 250
www.smithbullough.com
Firth Rixson Forgings Ltd
Derbyshire DE4 2JB
(: 0114 219 3694
www.firthrixson.com
Firth Rixson Ltd
Yorkshire S9 1JD
(: 0114 219 3000
www.firthrixson.com
(: 01646 623 569
www.psminternational.com
(: 0116 276 8261
www.spstech.com
www.britishmetalforming.com
MANUFACTURER MEMBERS
Firth Rixson Metals
Yorkshire S35 9XH
George Dyke Ltd
West Midlands WS10 8LP
Henry Williams Ltd
Co. Durham DL1 2NJ
(: 0114 219 3740
www.firthrixson.com
(: 0121 526 7138
www.george-dyke.co.uk
(: 01325 462 722
www.hwilliams.co.uk
Tinsley Bridge Ltd
Yorkshire S9 2DZ
(: 0114 2211 111
www.tinsleybridge.co.uk
TSL Turton Ltd
Yorkshire S4 7YP
(: 0114 273 0966
www.tslturton.com
VTL Precision (Huddersfield) Limited
West Yorkshire HX2 6EL
(: 01484 478 700
www.vtl-automotive.com
Hull Forgings Ltd
(: 01482 323 089
Yorkshire HU9 1LL www.wp-forging.co.uk
W. H. Tildesley Ltd
West Midlands WV13 2AN
Independent Forgings & Alloys Ltd
Yorkshire S6 2BL
Wyman Gordon Lincoln Ltd
Lincolnshire LN2 5XY
(: 01522 525 492
www.wyman-gordon.com
Wyman Gordon Ltd
(: 01506 446 200
www.wyman-gordon.com
Integriti
Yorkshire S63 6BJ
Kimber Drop Forgings Ltd
West Midlands B64 5QZ
Koyo Bearings (Europe) Ltd
Yorkshire S75 3TA
Mettis Aerospace Ltd
Worcestershire B97 6EF
Mills Forgings Ltd
Warwickshire CV1 2BJ
MSI-Forging Division
Yorkshire DN4 8DH
Padley & Venables Ltd
Yorkshire S18 2XT
Pandrol UK Ltd
Nottinghamshire S81 7AX
Rollins Bulldog Tools
Lancashire WN1 3DD
Schaeffler (UK) Ltd
Carmarthenshire S14 9TG
Shakespeare Forgings Ltd
West Midlands B64 7RB
Sheffield Quality Forge
Yorkshire S9 3XL
Smethwick Drop Forge Kidderminster
Worcestershire DY11 7QE
Smith Bullough
Lancashire WN2 4HD
(: 0114 234 3000
www.forgedinsheffield.com
(: 0191 263 8686
www.integriti.co.uk
(: 01384 414 500
www.kimberdropforgings.co.uk
(: 024 7622 4985
www.millsforgings.co.uk
(: 01302 366 961
www.msi-forge.com
(: 01246 299 100
www.padley-venables.com
(: 01909 476 101
www.pandroluk.com
(: 01942 244 281
www.bulldogtools.co.uk
(: 01554 747 748
www.schaeffler.co.uk
(: 01384 632 420
www.shakespeareforgings.com
(: 0114 2560 914
www.specialforgedproducts.com
(: 01562 823 451
www.sdf-auto.co.uk
(: 01942 520 250
www.smithbullough.com
Somers Forge Ltd
West Midlands B62 8DZ
(: 0121 585 5959
www.somersforge.com
Merseyside L36 6AN
Stokes Group Ltd
West Midlands DY2 0SE
Symmetry Medical Inc
Yorkshire S6 2AN
ThyssenKrupp Woodhead Ltd
Yorkshire LS4 2AQ
www.britishmetalforming.com
Yorkshire Fittings Ltd
Yorkshire LS10 1RT
(: 01527 406 400
www.mettis-aerospace.com
(: 01384 636 421
www.solidswivel.co.uk
Spromak Ltd
West Lothian, Scotland EH54 5BZ
(: 0113 270 1104
www.pegleryorkshire.co.uk
(: 01226 733 200
Solid Stampings Ltd
West Midlands B64 7BL
South Wales Forgemasters
Wales CF15 7YF
(: 01902 366 440
www.whtildesley.com
(: 029 2081 0341
www.swforgemasters.co.uk
(: 0151 480 0592
www.spromak.co.uk
(: 01384 342 550
www.stokesforgings.com
(: 0114 285 5881
www.symmetrymedical.com
(: 01132 441 202
www.thyssenkrupp.com
SHEET METAL
3M Healthcare
Lancashire BB7 1NX
(: 01200 421 140
www.3M.com/uk
AGA Rangemaster Ltd
Warwickshire CV31 2AD
(: 01926 457 400
www.rangemaster.co.uk
Aisin Europe Manufacturing (UK) Ltd`
West Midlands B32 3BZ
(: 0121 421 5688
www.aisin.com
ArcelorMittal Tailored Blanks Birmingham Ltd
(: 0121 558 8464
West Midlands B66 2BA
www.arcelormittal.com
Ash + Lacy Perforators Ltd
West Midlands B66 2RP
(: 0121 558 8921
www.ashlacyperf.co.uk
Berck Ltd
(: 0121 553 2726
www.bercklimited.co.uk
West Midlands B70 7DP
Bird Stevens & Co Ltd
West Midlands DY5 2JE
(: 01384 567 381
www.birdstevens.co.uk
Calsonic Kansei
(: 0191 417 0084
www.ckeurope.com
Tyne & Wear NE37 3JD
Carlton Laser Services Ltd
Leicestershire LE4 9LN
(: 0116 233 9990
www.carltonlaser.co.uk
Charter Automotive
Staffordshire WS7 3GJ
(: 01543 414 541
www.charterautomotive.com
Cooper B-Line
Somerset TA9 4AQ
Cooper Crouse-Hinds (UK) Ltd
Kent ME12 1LP
(: 01278 783 371
www.cooperbline.co.uk
(: 01795 889 146
www.enclosures-crouse-hinds.uk.com
Cooper Lighting and Safety
South Yorkshire DN2 4NB
Covpress Holdings
Warwickshire CV5 6RT
Doncasters Bramah
Yorkshire S20 3GB
DPE Automotive
Co Durham DL16 6UJ
DRB Engineering Ltd
West Midlands B19 3TE
(: 01302 321 541
www.cooperindustries.com
(: 024 7669 1000
www.covpress.com
(: 0114 251 2102
www.doncasters.com
(: 01325 300 777
www.sertec.co.uk
(: 0121 359 4566
www.drbengineering.com
Eden (Glamorgan - Marmon Group Ltd Div.)
(: 08707 259 656
Glamorgan CF44 9YN
www.eden-industries.co.uk
Eden (Suffolk - Marmon Group Ltd Div.)
Suffolk IP28 7AR
(: 08707 259 656
www.eden-industries.co.uk
29
MANUFACTURER MEMBERS
Eu-Matic Div. of Multimatic Ltd
(: 024 7667 3333
Warwickshire CV5 6UB
www.multimatic.com
Fellows (Rical Group Div.)
(: 01902 576 400
West Midlands WV2 4HL
Futaba-Tenneco UK Ltd
(: 01282 433 171
Lancashire BB12 6HJ
Genex UK Ltd
(: 01922 710 050
West Midlands WS2 7NA
www.genexuk.co.uk
Gestamp Tallent Limited
(: 01554 772 233
Carmarthenshire SA14 8EU
www.thyssenkrupp.com
Gestamp Tallent Limited
(: 01543 466 664
West Mdilands WS11 1LY
www.gestamp.com
Gestamp Tallent Limited
(: 01325 313 232
County Durham DL5 6EP
www.gestamp.com
Gestamp Tallent Limited
(: 01554 772 233
Carmarthenshire SA14 8EU
www.thyssenkrupp.com
Glen Dimplex Home Appliances
(: 08442 484 466
Merseyside L35 2XW
www.gdha.com
Grorud Group Ltd
(: 01207 590 471
County Durham DH8 8JA
www.grorud.com
Grove Metal Sections Ltd
(: 01902 601 697
West Midlands WV13 3RN
www.grovems.com
G-TEKT Europe Manufacturing Ltd (: 01452 610 022 / 01452 632 129
Gloucestershire GL3 4AJ
www.takao.co.uk
Guala Closures UK
(: 0141 777 2000
Lanarkshire, Scotland G66 1ST
H V Wooding Ltd
(: 01303 264 471
Kent CT21 6HG
www.hvwooding.co.uk
Hadley Industries Plc
(: 0121 555 1300
West Midlands B66 2PA
www.hadleygroup.co.uk
JCS Hi-Torque Ltd
(: 01787 376 212
Suffolk CO10 2YH
www.jcshi-torque.co.uk
Kiyokuni Europe Ltd
(: 01952 292 920
Shropshire TF2 9TY
www.kiyokuni.co.uk
KMF (Precision Sheet Metal)
(: 01782 569 060
Staffordshire ST5 7UF
www.kmf.com
Laser Process Ltd
(: 01543 495 000
Staffordshire WS12 2GI
www.laserprocess.co.uk
Leonardt Ltd
(: 01746 861 203
Shropshire WV16 6NN
www.leonardt.com
Metsec Plc
(: 0121 601 6000
West Midlands B69 4HE
www.metsec.com
Miking Ltd
(: 0191 415 5919
Tyne & Wear NE37 3JD
www.mi-king.co.uk
Milton Keynes Pressings Ltd
(: 01908 271 940
Buckinghamshire MK2 3EF
www.mkp.co.uk
Mitchell Grieve (Rical Group Div.)
(: 0116 235 0512
Leicestershire LE4 0HZ
www.mitchell-grieve.co.uk
Northern Automotive Systems Ltd
(: 01873 832 263
Wales NP7 0EB
Portola Packaging Ltd
(: 01302 552 400
Yorkshire DN4 5NT
www.portola-europe.com
Presspart Manufacturing Ltd
(: 01254 584 126
Lancashire BB1 5RF
www.presspart.com
Rical Group
(: 01384 569 283
West Midlands B64 7AL
www.ricalltd.com
Rical Group
(: 0121 555 4807
West Midlands B66 1NY
www.ricalltd.com
Rittal-CSM Ltd
(: 01752 207 600
Devon PL6 7EZ
www.rittal-csm.co.uk
30
RSM Industries Ltd
(: 024 7636 2082
West Midlands CV7 9NN
www.rsmindustries.co.uk
Sankey Laminations Ltd T/A Kienle + Spiess
(: 01902 693 000
West Midlands WV14 9NE
www.kienle-spiess.com
SAS International
(: 01656 664 600
Glamorgan CF31 3XU
www.sasint.co.uk
Sertec Ltd
(: 01675 463 361
West Midlands B46 1JU
www.sertec.co.uk
Sertec Tube and Pressings
(: 0121 706 0330
West Midlands B11 2BF
www.sertec.co.uk
SPS Aerostructures Ltd
(: 0115 988 0000
Nottinghamshire NG15 0DP
www.spstech.com
Stadco Castle Bromwich
(: 0121 382 3120
West Midlands B24 9GZ
www.stadco.co.uk
Stadco Powys
(: 01691 648 561
Powys, Wales SY22 5DH
www.stadco.co.uk
Stadco Shrewsbury
(: 01743 445 541
Shropshire SY1 3AS
www.stadco.co.uk
Steel Service Centre Ltd
(: 01889 270 241
Staffordshire ST18 0PJ
www.steelservicecentre.co.uk
Stockfield Metal Spinners Ltd
(: 0121 440 1333
West Midlands B12 9DJ
www.stockfield.com
Swann-Morton Ltd
(: 0114 234 4231
Yorkshire S6 2BJ
www.swann-morton.com
Tata Steel
(: 01902 698 635
West Midlands WV11 3SR
www.tatasteel.com
Taurus Engineering (Rical Group Div.)
(: 01903 761 188
West Sussex BN15 8TA
www.taurusengineering.co.uk
The Regent Engineering Co (Walsall) Ltd
(: 0121 526 6060
West Midlands WS10 8XB
www.regenteng.com
UYS Ltd
(: 01865 334 300
Oxon OX4 2BW
www.uys.ltd.uk
UYT Ltd
(: 024 7667 1400
West Midlands CV5 6UF
www.uyt.ltd.uk
Walsall Pressings Co Ltd
(: 01922 721 152
West Midlands WS1 4JW
www.walpres.co.uk
Whittan Storage
(: 01952 682 251
Shropshire TF7 4LN
www.whittan-storage.com
William King Ltd
(: 0121 500 4121
West Midlands B70 9DR
www.williamking.co.uk
William Mitchell (Rical Group Div.)
(: 0121 558 2694
West Midlands B66 1NY
www.william-mitchell.co.uk
X-met Fabrication & Finishing Ltd
(: 01698 733 533
Lanarkshire ML1 5RX
www.x-met.com
COLD ROLLED
Aisin Europe Manufacturing (UK) Ltd
West Midlands B32 3BZ
Hadley Industries Plc
West Midlands B66 2PA
Metsec Plc
West Midlands B69 4HE
Stewart Fraser Ltd
Kent TN24 8DR
(: 0121 421 5688
www.aisin.com
(: 0121 555 1300
www.hadleygroup.co.uk
(: 0121 601 6000
www.metsec.com
(: 01233 625 911
www.stewartfraser.com
www.britishmetalforming.com
SUPPLIER MEMBERS
FASTENERS
Ajax Tocco International Ltd
West Midlands B8 1BG
(: 0121 322 8000
www.ajaxtocco.co.uk / ajaxtocco.com
Broder Metals Group Ltd
Yorkshire S9 3WL
(: 0114 243 1206
www.broder-metals-group.com
FNsteel Ltd
(: 07785 230 632
www.fnsteel.com
West Midlands B91 1JF
National Machinery UK Ltd
West Midlands B63 3HY
(: 0121 585 9846
www.nationalmachinery.eu
Tata Steel
(: 01724 404 040
www.tatasteel.com
Lincolnshire DN16 1BP
The Bifurcated & Tubular Rivet Company
Buckinghamshire HP20 1DQ
(: 01296 314 300
www.bifandtub.co.uk
FORGING
Ajax Tocco International Ltd
West Midlands B8 1BG
Kespar Engineering Ltd
West Midlands WV14 7EG
(: 01902 353 848
www.kespar.co.uk
Lasco UK Agent
(: 01902 672 491
West Midlands DY3 3RF
Locum Fine Steels Ltd (Barrett Steel Div.)
South Yorkshire S65 1SU
Micas Simulations Ltd
Worcestershire DY13 0WU
(: 01709 789 273
www.locumfinesteels.com
(: 01299 822 522
www.micassimulations.co.uk
Pearson Panke Ltd
London NW7 3LR
(: 020 8959 3232
www.pearsonpanke.co.uk
Schmolz Bickenbach
West Midlands B69 2NY
(: 0121 544 1923
www.schmolz-bickenbach.com
SMS Mevac UK Ltd
Cheshire CW7 3RS
(: 01606 551 421
www.sms-mevac.co.uk
Staniforth-HKB Steel Ltd (Barrett Steel Div.)
(: 01709 789 227
South Yorkshire S65 1SU
www.staniforth-hkb-steel.co.uk
Steel Supplies (Scotland) Ltd (Barrett Steel Div.) (: 01674 674 009
Angus, Scotland DD10 9PA
www.steelsuppliesltd.com
(: 0121 322 8000
www.ajaxtocco.co.uk/ajaxtocco.com
Tata Steel
(: 01709 371 234
www.tatasteel.com
Yorkshire S60 1DW
Barrett Nickel Alloys Ltd (Barrett Steel Div.)
(: 01709 386 690 Taylorsteel (North East) Ltd (Barrett Steel Div.)
(: 01207 599 226
www.taylor-steel-northeast.co.uk
South Yorkshire S60 1FB
www.barrettnickelalloys.com County Durham DH8 6HG
Barrett Steel Ltd
(: 01709 789 201 Taylorsteel (North West) Ltd (Barrett Steel Div.) (: 0161 621 9848
www.taylor-steel-northwest.co.uk
South Yorkshire S65 1SU
www.barrettsteel.co.uk Lancashire OL1 4AD
Barrett Steel Ltd
(: 01274 474 372
www.barrettsteel.co.uk
West Yorkshire BD4 9HU
Timet UK Ltd
(: 0121 356 1155
www.timet.com
West Midlands B6 7UR
(: 0121 601 5050
Barrett Strip & Alloys Ltd (Barrett Steel Div.)
(: 01274 654 229 Tubes (UK) Ltd (Barrett Steel Div.)
www.tubes-uk-steel.co.uk
West Yorkshire BD4 9HU
www.barrettstripandalloys.com West Midlands B69 3HU
CMT Steel Services Ltd (Barrett Steel Div.)
(: 01384 565 166 Woodberry Chillcott & Co Ltd (Barrett Steel Div.) (:0117 316 5410
www.woodberrychillcott.co.uk
West Midlands B64 7DD
www.cmt-steel.co.uk Avon BS11 8AF
Dielife Limited
(: 01642 221 133 Woodberry Chillcott & Co Ltd (Barrett Steel Div.) (: 01752 343 421
www.woodberrychillcott-plymouth.co.uk
North Yorkshire TS2 1JW
www.dielife.com Devon PL7 5ET
Euromarch Ltd
(: 01452 525 259
Fabreeka International Inc.
(: 01274 531 333
www.fabreeka.com
Gloucestershire GL2 5EU
West Yorkshire BD18 1QG
Forge Tech Services (SA) Ltd
West Midlands WS2 8NG
(: 01922 612 192
www.forgetechservices.com
Fuchs Lubritech (UK) Ltd
London N18 3DB
Henkel - Acheson ASM
Worcestershire B61 8LG
(: 020 8345 5566
www.fuchs-lubritech.com
(: 07768 477 310
www.achesonindustries.com
Henkel Loctite Adhesives
Somerset TA4 3UD
(: 01823 430 034
www.henkel.com
HKB Steel Ltd (Barrett Steel Div.)
(: 0121 601 5062
www.hkb-steel.co.uk
West Midlands B69 3HU
Interpower Induction Europe
West Midlands B76 9EB
(: 01675 477 700/07746 976 232
www.interpowereurope.com
J Boyd Laurie & Son Ltd (Barrett Steel Div.)
West Yorkshire BD4 9HU
(: 01274 474 335
www.boyd-laurie.co.uk
James Durrans and Sons
• Suppliers of all types of forging lubricants
• UK based manufacturing facilities and technical support
• 10 day delivery time on most lubricants
www.britishmetalforming.com
Bauromat UK Ltd
(: 01684 575 757
www.bauromat.co.uk
Worcestershire WR14 1GL
Dayton Progress Ltd
Warwickshire CV8 1NP
(: 01926 484 192
www.daytonprogress.co.uk
Institute of Sheet Metal Engineering
West Midlands WV6 7UQ
(: 0789 149 9146
www.isme.org.uk
Oerlikon Balzers Coating Ltd
Buckinghamshire MK7 8AT
(: 01908 377 277
www.balzers.co.uk
Pearson Panke Ltd
London NW7 3LR
Professional Polishing Services Ltd
West Midlands B66 2DZ
(: 020 8959 3232
www.pearsonpanke.co.uk
(: 0121 555 6569
www.professionalpolishing.co.uk
QCI Group
Staffordshire WS11 9SS
(: 01543 677 792
www.qci-group.com
Refmet Ceramics Ltd
Yorkshire S35 2PH
(: 0114 257 7277
www.refmet.com
Technotrans Graphics Ltd
Colchester CO4 9QX
Yorkshire S36 9QU
Contact: Steven Sherry, Sales Manager
SHEET METAL
: 01226 370 000
www.durrans.co.uk
The Bifurcated & Tubular Rivet Company
Buckinghamshire HP20 1DQ
TTI Group Ltd
West Midlands B6 7EE
Whiston Industries Ltd
West Midlands B64 5JY
(: 01206 224 200
www.technotrans.co.uk
(: 01296 314 300
www.bifandtub.co.uk
(: 0121 327 2020
www.ttigroup.co.uk
(: 01384 560 606
www.whistonindustries.com
31
SUPPLIER MEMBERS
COMMERCIAL SUPPLIERS
Spraying Systems Ltd
Surrey GU9 8QT
Advanced Forming Research Centre
Glasgow PA4 9LJ
(: 0141 534 5200
www.strath.ac.uk/afrc
Applied CAE Limited
Leicestershire DE74 2NN
(: 01332 813 340
www.appliedgroup.com
• Automatic application of lubricants and anti-corrrosion protectives.
• High efficiency transfer, with up to 90% saving in materials.
• Use on coils, blanks, pipe sections, wires, bars, stamping
and forming tools, forging dies etc.
: 01252 727 200
E: adam.mulvaney@spray.com
www.spray-uk.com
Contact: Adam Mulvaney
M: 07802 895 745
WG Safety & Environmental
Staffordshire WS7 1AG
(: 01543 670 067
www.wg-safety.co.uk
OVERSEAS
Bharat Forge Ltd
India
Imperial College London
London SW7 2AZ
(: 0207 594 7082
www.imperial.ac.uk
Lean Education and
Development Group of Companies
West Midlands DY6 0NW
(: 01562 720 596
www.leadlimited.co.uk
(: 00 91 212 671 666
China Forging Industry Association
(: 00 86 10 6846 5045
P.R. China
CPM
(: 00 49 2407 95940
Germany
Ewald Dorken AG
Germany (: 00 49 2330 630
www.doerken.de
Nicholas Associates Stafforce Personnel Div.)
(: 0114 252 5730
Yorkshire S9 1XU
www.nicholasassociates.co.uk
Forging Industry Association
USA
(: 00 1 216 781 6260
Pilz Automation Technology
Northants NN18 8TJ
Japan 103
Japan Forging Industry Association
(: 00 81 3 3241 7661
(: 01536 460 766
www.pilz.co.uk
Lasco Umformtechnik GmbH
R&D Tax Claims Ltd
West Midlands WV9 5HD
Oberste-Beulmann GmbH & Co. KG
Germany
• We are the R&D tax relief experts for manufacturing
SMEs with a 100% success track record
• We work on a No Win No Fee basis and have
achieved average client savings of over £80,000
Pietro Rimoldi & C SRL
Italy
• We will secure, speed through and maximise
your refund from HMRC
Presstrade GmbH
Contact: Mark Evans FCA
M: 07850 385 198
SEMTA
Hertfordshire WD18 0JT
Towergate Risk Solutions
West Midlands ST4 4F8
(: 00 49 9561 6420
www.lasco.com
Germany
(: 49 2191 93 60 32
www.oberste-beulmann.de
(: 00 39 0 331 504 449
(: 01788 890 055
www.presstrade.com
Northamptonshire NN11 7HS
: 01902 783 172
E: mark@rdtaxclaims.co.uk
www.rdtaxclaims.co.uk
(: 01923 238 441
www.semta.org.uk
Ajax Tocco Inte
rn
West Midlands, B8
1BG
ational Ltd
:
0121 322 8000
www.ajaxtocco.
co.uk / ajaxtocc
o.com
(: 0844 346 0582
www.towergate.co.uk
Corus Construct
ion & Industria
Lincolnshire, DN
16 1BP
l
Dorken MKS-S
yste
West Midlands, B9
0 3JR
Henkel Loctite
Derbyshire, DE4
4F
R
me GmbH & Co
KG
0
struction.com
: 0121 745 8959
www.doerken.
de
Adhesives
: 01629 824 17
1
IRIS Business
So
West Yorkshire, WF
: 01724 404 04
www.coruscon
lutions [Chorus]
15 8HG
Johnson Machi
ne & Tool Co Lt
West Midlands, WS
d
10
8BJ
www.henkel.co
m
: 01274 851 57
7
www.iris.co.uk
: 0121 568 8013
www.johnson-g
roup.co.uk
32
www.britishmetalforming.com