World-class in Engineering
The UK engineering sector has great strength across all kinds of products and services. UK companies supply end-users across the world, including in the aerospace, automotive, chemicals, construction, food, healthcare, oil and gas, mining, materials handling, pharmaceutical, power, printing and publishing, and steel industries. This diverse customer base gives UK engineering firms their competitive edge and the flexibility to offer innovative solutions.
Manufacturing technologies
The UK's world-class expertise in manufacturing technologies includes: CAD/CAM systems for component design and manufacture; manufacturing simulation programmes; workholding and toolholding systems; cutting tools; turning and milling machines; metal finishing and grinding equipment; and measurement systems. It is also a world centre for metrology, precision machining and rapid product development.
Instrumentation and advanced control systems
This well established sector plays a key role in all other areas of UK engineering. Companies produce equipment for use in areas that include industrial automation, process measurement and control, environmental analysis and monitoring, laboratory work and electronic and electrical test and measurement.
Automation
The UK's robot sector is led by system integrators who buy robots and manipulators and then design, manufacture, install and maintain turnkey systems. These increasingly sophisticated machines are concentrated in the automotive sector. Another application is materials handling, which is used by sectors such as pharmaceuticals, plastics and rubber, food and beverages, aerospace and fabricated metal products. The UK is highly regarded in system integration and system competency. Niche areas of expertise include flexible automation systems for life sciences, including bio-robotics.
Materials
Steel making
Significant investment in technology, research and development means the UK has one of the world's most cost-effective steel sectors. The UK steel industry makes a valuable contribution to the economy. In 2008 it contributed £2.9 billion to our balance of trade. Steel is the most recycled material in the world. More waste steel is recovered in the UK and recycled than all other materials combined. Each tonne of scrap recycled by the steel industry saves 1.9 tonnes of iron ore and 0.6 tonnes of coal.
The UK produced 13.5 million tonnes in 2008 whilst employing approximately 23,000 people.
Steel products made in the UK include bright steel bars, plate and strip mill products, hot rolled and long products, special steels, tubes and pipes, and wire and wire products.
Nanotechnology
The UK is at the cutting edge of the nanotechnology revolution. A concerted effort by business and government, backed with significant investment, established a co-ordinated network of companies developing and manufacturing nanometric technologies and materials. The sector is supported by a world-class academic community, whose research consistently brings powerful new technologies. Key areas of expertise include nanomaterials and bulk nanomaterials, while breakthroughs are being made applying nanotechnology in textiles, coatings, sensors, packaging and product security.
The global market in nanotechnologies is expected to grow from $2.3 billion in 2007 to $81 billion in 2015 whilst the number of nanotechnology products on the market has risen from approximately 210 in 2006 to around 800 in 2010.
Ceramics
As well as 200 years of experience, it's the UK's continuing technological advance, R&D, technology transfer and capital investment that keep it strong in ceramics. A dynamic supplier to Europe, North America and Asia, the UK's expertise covers kilns and casting equipment; industrial ceramics; pipes, bricks, floor and wall tiles; sanitary ware; commercial and domestic tableware; and an ever-growing range of advanced, technical ceramics.
Specialist equipment and processes
Solids and materials handling
The UK's multi-billion-pound sector in this area has around 500 companies with significant exports for a wide range of end user applications. Products in the sector include: bulk materials handling and storage; conveyors and conveying systems; dust collection and control equipment; load cells and level-control systems; process instrumentation and control; granulation, grinding and weighing equipment: mixers and blenders; weighing and sampling systems; sieves, sifters and screening systems; magnetic separators and metal detectors; and consultancy and testing.
Plastics processing machinery
Companies in the UK plastics machinery sector are efficient, innovative and flexible, and they operate at the cutting edge of technology. While the UK is a world leader in reprocessing, its other specialist areas include control and ancillary equipment, small-scale processing machines and testing equipment.
Printing and publishing technology
With a long and illustrious history in the UK, this sector encompasses an enormous range of products and services. These include printing presses; reprographic machinery; papermaking and converting machinery; glues, inks and chemicals; and binding and ancillary equipment. Most UK companies have strong track records in exporting.
Processing and packaging equipment
The UK's world-leading companies in this sector offer innovative design engineers and development facilities that are used frequently by international firms.
