News Release issued by
the COI News Distribution Service on 06 September 2010
An exhibition of
cutting edge products was today unveiled at the Department for
Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to encourage a new
generation of innovators, Business Minster Mark Prisk announced today.
The Government is committed to promoting manufacturing as it is
critical to economic growth with responsibility for 53 per cent of
UK exports and 2.8 million jobs.
With new business opportunities, such as low carbon products,
emerging all the time BIS wants to work with the manufacturing
industry to encourage new talent and attract new businesses to the sector.
The exhibition is the first in a planned rolling programme of
themed displays demonstrating excellence in British design,
engineering and manufacturing.
The theme for the opening programme is the engineering supply
chain and exhibits have been provided by JCB as well as three
other companies who are part of their supply chain: Craftsman
Tools, Renishaw and Mazak UK.
Exhibiting products include the Union Jack painted Backhoe Loader
JCB which will be placed in the forecourt of One Victoria Street.
Business Minister Mark Prisk said:
“Britain is a world leader in manufacturing but if we are to
inspire future generations we must do all we can to promote UK excellence.
"As a signal of our intent we have invited shining
examples of British design, engineering and manufacture to
showcase their products at the department.
"I am extremely grateful to JCB, Craftsman Tools,
Renishaw and Mazak UK, four leading companies in the engineering
supply chain, for contributing exhibits to this event.”
To help illustrate the theme the exhibits will be displayed so
that visitors from the business community can follow the supply
chain through the displays in the main reception and lift lobby areas.
This exhibition will also help to raise awareness of
manufacturing in the build up to the launch of a new manufacturing
framework in the autumn which will detail specific plans for
encouraging growth in this sector.
As an early signal of support for the manufacturing sector BIS
has already redirected savings within the department to strengthen
both investment in FE colleges and to create 50,000 new apprenticeships.
NOTES TO EDITORS
· JCB – is one of the world's largest construction
equipment manufacturers and has its headquarters in Rochester.
They are supplying a Backhoe Loader painted in Union flags and a
display highlighting UK content.
· Renishaw - is a global company with core skills in measurement,
motion control, spectroscopy and precision machining. Its
headquarters are in Gloucestershire. The company has won 12
Queen’s Awards, and invests 17% of turnover in
R&D/Engineering. The display will include a mini mock up
of one of their machines and examples of products produced.
· Yamazaki Mazak – is a manufacturer of machine
tooling equipment for a cross section of sectors as well as
CAD/CAM products and factory management software. The Yamazaki
Mazak UK plant is currently the most advanced of its type in
Europe, providing machine tools and sophisticated manufacturing
systems to customers in more than 30 countries throughout Europe.
The company employs 200 plus in UK. They are supplying a Wing
spare made on one of their machines which was designed and built
in their UK factory in Worchester.
· Craftsman Tools Ltd – is a family owned business providing tool
holding, work holding and sub-contract machining solutions to the
UK and global markets for nearly 60 years. Their expertise spans a
wide range of sectors, including Oil exploration, Aerospace,
Machine Tool Manufacture, Automotive, Electrical and Power Generation.
· The UK is one of the World’s leading manufacturers contributing
£140bn pa to the UK economy.
· In addition to the Engineering Supply Chain there are plans to
exhibit manufacturing products on the following themes: Green
Manufacturing, High-tech Manufacturing, Innovative Design,
Olympics 2012 and Science and Manufacturing.
· The BIS online newsroom contains the latest press notices,
speeches, as well as video and images for download. See http://www.bis.gov.uk/newsroom
for more information.
Contacts:
BIS Press Office
NDS.BIS@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Ashley Rogers.
Phone: 020 7215 5971
ashley.rogers@bis.gsi.gov.uk