The annual event, organised by the Gauge and Toolmakers Association (GTMA) and the British Plastics Federation (BPF), brings UK plastics moulders face-to-face with toolmaking specialists in a day designed to help these co-dependent businesses connect. Almost 200 people attended, exceeding numbers from previous years.
The event was introduced by GTMA CEO Julia Moore and chairman of the BPF Moulders and Specialist Processors Group Wilf Davis, who is also managing director of Broanmain Plastics. Technical director of the Manufacturing Technology Centre, Ken Young, then spoke of the many as-yet unexploited opportunities presented by 3D printing before business development manager of GKN Wheels & Structures, Henry Sarel-Cooke, spoke about the automotive industry’s use of composites and the need to develop tooling capacity within the UK.
Later in the day, Lloyds Banking Group business development director Andy Moss gave an overview of the work the bank has been doing to engage with the manufacturing community, including a form of loan designed specifically for toolmakers. Delegates were then provided with a tour of the MTC.
Mr Davis said: “This year proves there is growing momentum behind Meet the Toolmakers, as it has increased significantly in size, illustrating the value of this unique opportunity for plastics moulders and toolmakers to meet in an informative and dynamic networking environment.”
Julia Moore added: “The quality of visitors attending shows that the OEM and Tier 1s see the event as a focal point for toolmaking technologies and engineering solutions. This GTMA/BPF collaboration has been a great success and we are already planning for the 2019 Meet The Toolmaker Event.”
British Plastics Federation www.bpf.co.uk
Gauge and Toolmakers Association www.gtma.co.uk
