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Manufacturing industry news
News Release from: GTMA
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 12 November 2003
Toolmakers strengthen European links
In October several GTMA members participated in a tour of Dutch toolmaking and manufacturing plants at the invitation of the Netherlands Foreign Trade Agency.
In October several GTMA members took the opportunity to participate in an escorted tour of Dutch toolmaking and manufacturing plants at the invitation of the Netherlands Foreign Trade Agency (EVD) which generously covered the costs of hotel, transport and dinners on the fact-finding visit The delegation, consisting of representatives from twelve UK toolmakers, accompanied by the GTMA's Business Manager, Tom Griffiths, followed a packed itinerary, visiting a wide range of companies both large and small, and in each instance having the opportunity to meet and discuss business and technical matters with senior staff
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 2 Sep 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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One of the highlights of the trip was the visit to Philips' High Tech Campus at Eindhoven, where delegates met the Operations Manager, Mr.L.
van Sambeeck, who gave them an insight into the work the department is doing looking at future developments, for example the electronics for affordable house-robots.
This was followed by a visit to the very impressive TNO Industrie facility.
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TNO is a highly respected academic institution with which the GTMA is already actively collaborating on two European R and D projects.
TNO's Business Developer, Mr.N.
Dijkshoorn, hosted the visit, and delegates were given the opportunity to see how the institute is looking at many real-life machining issues as well as metal cutting technologies of all types, including the specially developed under-water cutting hawser used to cut up the transporter vessel that sank in the English channel while carrying high-value vehicles.
Visits to MDE, SMS, AJB Instrument, AAIS Menzing International, and Dexter Mould Technology also provided fascinating insights into how our European counterparts view the engineering market in today's global economy.
Delegate, Tom Stoddart, MD of Durham Precision Engineering, commented, "This was a very valuable trip because it gave us the opportunity of understanding a range of business issues from a European perspective.
The tour was very well organised and the quality of the companies visited was exceptional." This view was reinforced by Tom Griffiths, who explained, "We feel it is very important that GTMA members increase their participation and understanding of both buyers and suppliers across the channel in order to remain competitive.
This trip was one of the regular series of visits organised to make sure that members have the opportunity to keep up-to-date with the latest developments.".
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