6/2/2011 11:55:00 AM
New Metalforming President Urges Voice for Manufacturing
The new president of the Confederation of British Metalforming is urging members to step up their fight for the cause of manufacturing
“We need to create a bigger voice for our manufacturing sector, and one way is to align ourselves with other like-minded organizations, and there are many,” Barry Yeomans advocated.
“I’m not talking about mergers or formal alliances, but we do need to ensure that we are united in presenting the case for manufacturing and engineering, at a local, regional and national level.”
Yeomans, of Hadley Industries, is a long-term member of the CBM’s executive board.
Hadley Industries reports annual sales of £100 million (US$163.6 million) and employs 400. The Smethwick-based group has subsidiaries in Germany, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates.
Yeomans calls on Britain’s metalforming companies need to increase their focus on export markets. “Whilst it is really difficult for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to make an impact overseas, we need to strive to achieve significant growth which is more likely to be gained via exports,” Yeomans explained. “Organic growth from domestic markets is still limited, so almost all new business must come from exports.”
“Our industry has always turned out great engineers, and has a long and proud track record of innovation, but I think the sector needs to demonstrate its self-belief, and to make more noise about the considerable skills which it already has,” Yeomans added. “We must champion the greater cause of manufacturing; to reverse the view held by so many people in Britain that manufacturing is dying.”
”Our industry has to work harder at helping to create the business environment of the future. We can’t just wait for the future to arrive. It‘s often said that you can either be part of the problem, or part of the solution, and we are absolutely determined to be the latter.
“We need to believe in what our manufacturers and engineers can achieve, but we also need to understand where we are going, and how we intend to get there. It’s great to have passion, but it needs to be allied to purpose, if we are to make a difference. “
CBM is a 200-member trade association for companies in the forging, pressing and sheet metalforming industries. CBM works with European counterparts including Euroforge, European Industrial Fastener Institute and International Council of Sheet Metal Presswork Associations. Web: britishmetalforming.com ©2011 GlobalFastenerNews.com
Related Links:
• Confederation of British Metalforming
• Hadley
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