Welcome to the Friday Brief for 7 March 2014.
The Seminar Programme for MACH 2014 has just been finalised as we go to press with this week’s Friday Brief. The line-up is very exciting with leading figures from across UK manufacturing represented in the five day programme. Topics to be discussed include the latest developments in 3D and additive manufacturing, promoting supply chain innovation, the prospects for civil aerospace growth, developing engineering skills and exporting to emerging markets.
There is a distinctly European theme to this week’s Friday Brief with news of a number of initiatives. Of particular interest is a new funding scheme targeting small and medium enterprise research and development. The EU SME R&D funding programme’s current aim is to support companies operating in the advanced manufacturing technology sector. The scheme has a 250 million Euro fund to distribute over the next two years, is designed to assist companies rather than just projects and has application support on offer.
Also on the European front we have news of initiatives on standards and the debate on quality versus speed for standardisation. Of interest to members concerned with Thermal Issues and machine tools is a conference in Zurich later this month. We have full details in the Brief.
China also features this week with the latest manufacturing report from our office in the country. Congratulations go the PTG for winning an export award in China. We carry a full report and photograph in this week’s Brief.
On the wider economic data front this week we see strong PMI figures from the UK and USA along with continued signs of recovery in Europe. There is also a timely reminder to send back your returns for latest MTA Business Survey.
Finally, the MQM scheduled to take place on Wednesday12 March at Delcam’s headquarters in Birmingham has had to be postponed now until after MACH 2014.
Have a good weekend.