Product category:
Manufacturing industry news
News Release from: GTMA
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 01 August 2003
UK's Fastool project to get more DTI
funding
DTI confirmed its support for manufacturing, and funding for projects such as Fastool will continue to be available for UK companies to participate in through the Framework 6 programme.
The UK's Department of Trade and Industry's (DTI) Assistant Director, Brian Greenwood, gave the keynote address at an event which was held on 29 July at CRDM in High Wycombe to mark the first six months of the Fastool Project, Greenwood related the project to the seven pillars of the DTI's manufacturing strategy, stressing in particular the science and innovation needed for tool-room automation and the necessity for the implementation of best practice to integrate that automation into other manufacturing operations
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 2 Sep 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
IT solution provider, toolmakers, join GTMA
IT solution provider and two toolmaking companies have joined up with the Gauge and Tool makers' Association.
Welsh toolmaking winners are world class
South Wales based FSG Tool and Die was a double winner at the recent Production Engineering Solutions Awards ceremony held at the GTMA 60th Anniversary Lunch at the Savoy Hotel, London.
He also pointed out the new skills required to implement the changes, including new equipment and methods of operation necessary to make them work.
The three aspects of technology, training and implementation are seen to be key to the DTI's strategy of increasing productivity and competitiveness.
Partnerships are essential for the future success of UK industry and Greenwood praised the Fastool project as an excellent example of co-operative working, with organisations in the UK, Germany, Spain and Holland collaborating together and academia working with SMEs to provide practical solutions to real-life issues.
Further reading
Enlightened toolmaker scoops plastics award
Yorkshire-based Moorland Toolmaking Co was presented with the Plastics Industry Award for Toolmaker of the Year at the celebratory dinner celebratory dinner on 17 May.
Understanding measurement for education use
The Government's mantra of "education, education, and education" has resulted in innovative science teaching projects, including 'Understanding Measurement with the 'Metrology Toolkit'.
Greenwood confirmed the DTI's support for manufacturing, reiterating that manufacturing is seen as vital to the UK, creating as it does, a fifth of the UK's national output and being a key driver of innovation in the rest of the economy.
Further funding for projects such as Fastool will continue to be available for UK companies to participate in through the Framework 6 programme and Greenwood was delighted that the UK's Gauge and Toolmakers Association (GTMA) was actively pursuing this on behalf of the toolmaking industry.
GTMA Director, Julia Moore, gave a brief review of the GTMA's involvement in the Fastool project and the reasons behind the association's brave new push with R and D projects developing innovative ideas to provide UK toolmaking industry with that essential competitive edge.
Through these initiatives the GTMA will provide practical technical advantages for GTMA members, of whom 13 are directly involved in the Fastool project, to improve the skills and knowledge of the industry as a whole.
Presentations on the background and progress of the Fastool project were given by Dr.David Jacobson, GTMA project coordinator, and Dr.Chris Bocking, Technical project coordinator of CRDM.
These were followed by technical presentations on development work by Colin Cater, Technical Sales Manager, System 3R (UK)., who looked at the benefits of manufacturing automation and how they can be achieved in an SME environment and Steve Hobbs, CAM Product Development Director, Delcam, who discussed the CAM software developments that are taking place for the Fastool project.
The event concluded with Graham Bennett, CRDM Director, escorting attendees on a tour of CRDM's well-equipped demonstration facilities.
• GTMA: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Manufacturingtalk email newsletter
• Manufacturingtalk Home Page
