At the heart of the metal forming industry
quite dependent on the automotive sector, but is looking to diversify into other sectors and there are major opportunities on the horizon, notably in the electric vehicles (EV) and medical sectors. Leath-Dawson believes things will naturally diversify to sectors, such as e-mobility and EV which is an ever-growing market, as every electric motor has to have several metal stampings, while are also other applications that many would not think metal forming plays a key role. “The UK is leading EV technology globally at the moment and there is a lot of innovation going on and taking place with several new start-ups for passenger and commercial vehicles. There is a great opportunity and as these innovations come forward it will naturally diversify as these opportunities are created.” BREXIT AND RESHORING The UK left the European Union (EU) at the end of 2020 when the transition period ended, but will this move have an impact on the sheet metal forming industry? Leath-Dawson is sure that leaving the bloc will provide a positive boost to the industry. “We go back to the 1970s slogan ‘Buy British’ and things start to be more nationally produced which will be good for manufacturing and our economy. I think it will have a stronger local focus that will be great for our industry.” Haller concurs, and feels the reduced bureaucracy will help boost trade to other markets so leaving the EU allows the UK to spread its wings, opening up new opportunities across the globe. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic a Reshoring UK programme was launched to bring back more manufacturing and engineering home along with some concerns over the UK’s reliance on global supply chains. This initiative is being firmly backed by the association. Haller feels the programme is “absolutely essential” and is much needed by the UK’s power press makers, providing an opportunity to pull together to grow business and help
The MMMA is growing its membership despite a difficult period due to the Covid-19 pandemic and will showcase everything it offers, every other year in the Metalworking Village at the bi-annual MACH show.
T he Metalforming Machinery Makers The Association’s membership has been growing
strongly after it changed the membership criteria to include ancillary equipment manufacturers and British- based importers, evolving to also include roll forming and sheet metal machine manufacturing companies. The MMMA can now count on 39 members, with more than 20 added since the rebrand that now even features recruitment firm Glen Callum Associates, training company In-Comm Training and Business Services, and a safety expert. Times have been challenging, as key trade show MACH 2020 which is a critical event, was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but the MMMA has used the time to help members and plan for future MACH shows, hosting bigger and better Metalworking Villages. KEY TO THE RECOVERY Since the outbreak of Covid-19, the sheet metal forming industry has like many industries suffered, especially as it is heavily reliant on the automotive sector. However the MMMA is positive about the prospects for the industry and its members and believes there will be a strong recovery. Chairman Adrian Haller, managing director (MD) of Bruderer UK, a key supplier of high speed presses of 10-to-1000-ton capacity in the UK, says it has been a challenging period on different levels but business has proven to be resilient. “It’s been difficult, no question, and a double whammy with both Covid-19 and Brexit challenges, but on the whole very promising. Our industry is used to ever-changing environments with one thing and another. “Another difficulty has been trying to get
Association (MMMA) has been representing the UK’s power press makers since 1949 and is the only UK association solely dedicated to the sheet metal forming industry.
engineers into our customers and most of our industry has an ageing workforce - so have had to shield, which has proven to be another big challenge, as during the first lockdown, no hotels or amenities were open so working on site was very difficult.” Haller believes that manufacturing and engineering hold the key to the UK recovery and is the only way to get the country “back up and running” at full capacity, forecasting a V-shaped recovery. He is very positive about the future of the sheet metal forming industry. Vice chairman Phil Leath-Dawson, MD of Schuler UK, a provider of mechanical and hydraulic presses, feels the biggest challenge now is the continued uncertainty. He explains that due to being a heavily automotive-based industry, many power press makers have faced strong headwinds, although there is a drive to diversify away from being too reliant on the sector. “It has been really difficult as we have been fully-booked for periods, but then there have been these huge voids of nothing inbetween,” says Leath-Dawson. “That is the biggest problem we face, as before we could plan things, but there is no consistent business and we do not know what it will be from week to week. The sheet metal forming industry has traditionally been
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