PPMAGroupnews-issue6_v2 copy

Group Members’ Magazine
roupNEWS
Brexit
proof
your
business
Issue 6 / Summer 2018
Opportunity knocks
for automation
Why a shortage of
seasonal EU workers
could kickstart a
robotics revolution
in the food and
drink industry
Tom Brake MP on what Brexit
means for British manufacturers

Members’ Magazine
THE BREXIT ISSUE
Editorial
Summer 2018 / Issue 6
3 View from the top
Tom Brake MP explains why trade is all about location. Plus, the PPMA’s CEO,
Dr Andrew Mint, on why now is the time for action.
4-5 Business intelligence
With the clock ticking until Britain exits the EU, what are the implications for UK
manufacturers? What do our continental cousins think of our decision to leave?
And could Brexit actually bring fresh opportunities to our shores?
6-7 Success stories
How automation is helping UK food businesses prepare for the post-Brexit EU
labour shortage. And why one company is treating Brexit as an opportunity to
strengthen ties with its European partners.
7 Linked up
Tips and opinions from PPMA members.
8-9 Industry events
A successful second outing for the UKIVA Machine Vision Conference, plus all
the essential dates for your diary over the next 12 months.
10 Seminars, training and networking
Join our next Chairman’s Lunch, plus details of digital marketing, sales and
other training events.
Editor
Kate O’Reilly
+44 (0)7894 039609
kate.oreilly@ppma.co.uk
Managing Editor
Kirsty Sharpe
+44 (0)1920 821873
kirsty.sharpe@glohouse.co.uk
Editorial Assistant
Lucy Benbow
+44 (0)7971 987761
lucy.benbow@glohouse.co.uk
2018 editorial schedule
To contribute to any of our
forthcoming issues, contact our
editorial team via the details
above.
Autumn
The packaging innovations issue
(copy deadline 27 July)
Winter
The efficiency issue
(copy deadline 19 October)
11 PPMA Show 2018 preview
What’s in store for the 30th anniversary of the UK’s leading processing and
packaging machinery event?
12-13 Member benefits
PPMA Group partner TÜV SÜD explains how machinery safety could be
impacted after Brexit. Plus, the latest news from PPMA BEST.
14-15 New members
Meet the newest additions to the PPMA family.
15 Get in touch
Contact the PPMA team.
© 2018 PPMA Ltd
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints
expressed by the various authors and
forum participants on this publication
do not necessarily reflect the opinions,
beliefs and viewpoints of the PPMA Group
of Associations.
2 www.ppma.co.uk

Time for answers
By Andrew Mint, Chief Executive
Officer of the PPMA Group
Brexit has created – and
will continue to create –
many business challenges.
This situation is not
helped by the lack of clarity from
government, with still far too many
questions remaining unanswered.
Whilst we now know the timeline for
some of the key milestones, exactly
how trade will operate going forward
is still unclear.
Two of the key issues are tariffs
and free movement of goods.
Additional tariffs are not helpful for
UK businesses, but I believe that the
free movement of goods – allowing
us to ship equipment to accommodate
the ‘just in time’ manufacturing that
is now commonplace – is even more
important.
As we navigate closer towards
our exit from the European Union, we
will endeavour to keep our members
up to date with any developments
that impact our business area. We
will also use our membership of
other associations to give us access
and a voice to central government,
should future issues arise which
could impact our industry. And
finally, we look forward to hearing
the views of Lord Mark Price,
Former Minister of State for Trade
and Investment, during his keynote
speech at the PPMA Show 2018 (see
p11 for more details). The former
Managing Director of Waitrose and
Deputy Chairman of The John Lewis
Partnership has stated his optimism
for a post-Brexit Britain, despite
voting to remain in the EU.
www.ppmashow.co.uk
View from the top
Location, location, location
By The Rt Hon Tom Brake MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesman for Exiting the
European Union and International Trade
When it comes to manufacturing, there
is a basic concept that even the most
ardent supporters of leaving the EU
cannot skilfully spin away – geography
matters. Irrespective of their desire to
distance themselves from the EU, it is a
fact that our border will remain only 20.7
miles from Calais. It will continue to be
quicker, simpler and more profitable to
trade with France and the rest of the EU
than with countries on the other side of
the world.
I apologise for stating the obvious,
but over the last few years I have heard
too many people forget or even disregard
simple facts such as 47 per cent of our
exported goods and 55 per cent of our
imported goods are currently traded with
the EU.
As we speak, uncertainty over the
UK’s relationship with the EU post-Brexit
prevails and is already impacting our
economy. The UK’s economic growth
is one of the slowest of the G7 nations
and we know from the Government’s
economic reports that areas like
Sunderland, Derby, Coventry and County
Durham will be hardest hit in a ‘no deal’
scenario. My assessment draws a rather
gloomy picture of Britain’s economic
future outside the EU. But we must of
course look for the positives.
The British manufacturing sector has
a proud history as a source of economic
growth and prosperity. It is confidenceinspiring
that the Government’s Industrial
Strategy seeks to maintain this tradition
by promoting medium-high tech
manufacturing sectors. An effective
Industrial Strategy, combined with a well
resourced Department for International
Trade, could see UK exports maintained
to the EU and expanded outside the EU.
However, the Government’s own
impact analyses confirm manufacturers
will be better off if the UK remains a
member of the Single Market and the
Customs Union. That’s why the Liberal
Democrats will continue to put our
country’s economic interests first, pushing
for an ‘Exit for Brexit’ and if that fails,
backing membership of the Customs
Union and the EEA.
www.tombrake.co.uk
3 www.ppma.co.uk

Deal
or no
deal?
business intelligence
It’s been more than two years
since the UK voted to leave the
EU on 23 June 2016, yet the future
is still uncertain. We may now
have more detail over the Brexit
timeline – negotiations must be
completed by 31 October 2019,
before we enter a transitional
Brexit period on 29 March 2019
and a new political relationship
between the UK and the EU
officially begins on 31 December
2020 – but just how it will affect
our manufacturing, engineering
and automation industries is
unclear. With no certainty yet over
trade tariffs, freedom of movement
for workers, or safety legislation,
what could be the impact for British
manufacturers?
“Businesses should consider other ways through which they
can improve the efficiency of their supply chain, such as by
embracing new technologies and automating processes. In the
end, businesses that fail to plan ahead and use this opportunity
to reduce costs in their supply chain may not survive
post-Brexit.”
John Glen, Economist, Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS)
Fresh pickings
99
Percentage of seasonal workers on fruit
and vegetable farms that come from
Eastern Europe
(National Farmers’ Union)
0.6
Percentage of seasonal workers on fruit
and vegetable farms that come from
Britain
(National Farmers’ Union)
29
Percentage of vacancies on fruit and
vegetable farms left unfilled during the
harvest month of September 2017
(National Farmers’ Union)
Rising costs
1/3
Proportion of UK businesses with EU
suppliers that have increased their prices
as a result of Brexit
(CIPS)
60
Percentage of UK businesses with EU
suppliers whose supply chains are
now more expensive due to currency
fluctuations following the Brexit vote
(CIPS)
£4.5bn
Estimated cost in tariffs of a no-deal
Brexit to the motor industry
(Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders)
4 www.ppma.co.uk

Get export ready
Whether the UK ends up with a hard
or soft Brexit, the Department for
International Trade (DIT) can help your
business achieve its exporting aims.
Get exporting guidance, whatever your
experience level, at
www.great.gov.uk
Employment threat
European perceptions
Seizing the opportunity
1/5
Proportion of manufacturing firms
planning to lay off workers to cope with
the costs of Brexit
(CIPS)
1/4
Almost a quarter of UK business with EU
suppliers are having difficulty securing
contracts which run after March 2019
(CIPS)
9Percentage of UK manufacturers who
have lost contracts because of the Brexit
vote
(CIPS)
42
Percentage of EU supply chain managers
who do not think British products ‘stand
out from the crowd’
(CIPS)
11
Percentage of EU companies who have
moved some of their workforce out of
the UK since the Brexit vote
(CIPS)
42
Percentage of European respondents
who favour a hard line Brexit
(Dalia research for the University of Zurich)
1/3
A third of UK supply chain managers
with EU suppliers are now looking for
alternative suppliers inside the UK
(CIPS)
46
Percentage of SMEs who want the
government to focus on support for
UK exporters looking to expand outside
the EU
(PwC My Financepartner)
£90m
Amount government has earmarked
for a ‘Transforming Food Production’
programme, to harness AI and robotics in
the agri-food industry
(www.gov.uk)
5 www.ppma.co.uk

Automation softens Brexit impact
for seasonal produce packers
This PPMA Group
member sees Brexit as
a golden opportunity to
increase UK automation
levels
success stories
At a glance
Challenge: How to soften the
impact of reduced numbers
of seasonal EU workers
coming to the UK since the
Brexit vote
Solution: Integrate high
speed automated case
loading systems onto fresh
produce lines
Outcome: Improved
productivity, increased
economic output and reduced
reliance on seasonal EU
labour
Brillopak’s P160 loads soft fruit punnets into crates
individually at speeds of 100 packs p/m
Between May to September each year,
more than 28,000 EU workers come to
the UK to harvest, process, grade and
pack soft fruit alone. To a large extent,
packing fresh produce into cases remains
a manual task and with a hard Brexit
on the horizon, this over-dependence
on seasonal EU labour could create a
potential crisis for UK farmers and fresh
produce, soft fruit and meat packhouses.
In fact, a recent NFU labour study found
that an average of 12.5 per cent of
vacancies on fruit and vegetable farms
across Britain went unfilled in 2017, the
first time there has been a shortfall since
the survey began in 2014. This increased
to 29 per cent during the crucial harvest
month of September.
Affordable automation
Fortunately, there is a solution.
Automated case loading can help to
counteract the loss of EU seasonal labour
and curb rising costs. According to David
Jahn, Director of Brillopak, a British
manufacturer of flexible robotic packing
and palletising systems, integrating high
speed technology onto a packing line
makes automation financially viable,
even for seasonal and SME packhouses.
“Improving packing productivity and
economic output per hour will be central
to boosting efficiency and offsetting
fresh produce price rises,” he explains.
“With packhouses grappling with an
imminent EU labour crisis, combined with
rising minimum wages, many processors
are seriously exploring automated case
loading systems.”
To extend seasonal packing windows, the P160
can switch to handle soft fruits, top fruits, root
vegetables and meat products
Brillopak’s new Unipick P160 high
speed case and crate packer is specifically
designed to handle tray seal punnets,
flow wrap and vertical form fill seal
products, including soft fruits, top fruits,
root vegetables and packaged meat
products. Averaging over 100 packs per
minute and with a reach of 1,130mm, two
three-axis robot spider arms individually
place each pack into a retail crate. This
gentle handling helps to prevent bruising
and damage.
Flexible and efficient
The system incorporates two Omron
three-arm Delta robots, both with
quick release end-of-arm robot heads
for different product types. These
enable packhouses to extend their
traditional seasonal work windows to
year-round packing operations and flex
quickly to multiple product types and
sizes, resulting in a quicker return on
investment. It can also be integrated with
a Brillopak crate destacker and palletiser
for increased efficiency.
Depending on the application, ROI
for the P160 can be between one and
three years. “By delivering consistent
presentation on all types of punnets,
flow wrap and vertical form fill seal
products, packhouses can seek out and
exploit new business opportunities. With
freedom of movement due to end in
Spring 2019, most should be able to see
payback by the time the UK leaves the
EU,” ends David.
www.brillopak.co.uk
6 www.ppma.co.uk

Do Brexit Euro-wn way!
How one company is tackling Brexit head-on and
removing uncertainty from its business model
The shadow of Brexit has plunged
many British businesses into a time of
doubt, but Yorkshire Packaging Systems
(YPS) view it as an opportunity, not a
threat. Since the company began in the
1970s, its business model has centred
on the importation of shrink wrapping
machines from leading manufacturers
in the Eurozone – Italy, Germany and
Spain – for supply to the UK market.
YPS has used the period leading up to
Brexit to strengthen relationships with
these key European suppliers by opening
up more channels of communication,
which has fostered a greater spirit of
co-operation and mutual agreement. This
has stabilised YPS’s market position and
ensured that they can continue to work
with their suppliers long into the future,
regardless of a hard or soft Brexit.
YPS have used Brexit
as an opportunity to
strengthen existing
relationships
Above: YPS’ Managing
Director, Glyn Johnson
Customer connection
Meetings arranged to look at
pricing structures have proved
opportune moments to open
up dialogues with customers. In
some cases, these candid conversations
have secured the extension of contracts.
“This period of renegotiation has been
challenging but the silver lining has been
a chance to reconnect with the people
at the core of YPS – our customers,”
says Glyn Johnson, Managing Director.
“Furthermore, as we have UK exclusivity
rights with several of our suppliers, they
have recognised that they need us as
much as we need them.”
Whatever path Brexit takes Britain
down next year, YPS are confident that
they can weather the storm. “We are no
strangers to adversity, having survived
a major disaster in the 1980s when our
largest single customer at the time went
into administration and left behind a
substantial bad debt,” reveals Glyn. “In
2008, the economic downturn again left
us feeling the pinch but complete faith in
our brand, astute directorship and overall
At a glance
Challenge: How to sustain a
successful business during a
time of political uncertainty
Solution: Take Brexit
into your own hands and
start early dialogue with
customers and suppliers
Outcome: Contract
extensions agreed and long
term European partnerships
secured
resilience has steered us towards success
on several occasions. Our focus has
always been on planning for growth and
acceleration, of course with a sensible
degree of caution, and our approach to
Brexit will be no different.”
Glyn concludes: “The overall message
that YPS offers to any UK business
anxiously awaiting Brexit is to make the
situation work for you and your business
model. Don’t let Brexit break you!”
www.yps.co.uk
Linked Up
Opportunity knocks post-Brexit
By Mark Gray, UK Sales Manager for Universal Robots
The UK employs a lot of temporary labour, for simple tasks such
as packing and picking. As a result of the Brexit vote we are in
danger of losing this workforce, so many firms are now looking
for a back-up strategy. Over the last nine months, I’ve noticed
more companies setting aside a budget for automation and
looking at employing robotics to automate simple tasks.
Although the UK has been slow to adopt robotics, our approach
to automation is changing; had we not been facing Brexit, I
believe it would have been at a slower rate. That’s not to say
humans will become obsolete. If we can make our products
better and less expensive, we’ll win an increased market share
and be more profitable, which will in turn lead to more jobs.
The opportunity afforded by Brexit is also helping to dispel some
of the other myths surrounding robots. One of our strategies,
when we market to companies affected by Brexit, is that we
don’t supply huge pieces of capital equipment that need a
qualified individual in order to be programmed and maintained.
Our devices can be implemented very quickly, are flexible and
work on simple software. They also have a short payback,
typically just nine months.
www.universal-robots.com
Agility 4.0 to help keep Britain competitive
By Marc Aury, President and Managing Director of Gebo Cermex
While there has been much speculation on the consequences
of Brexit, what is certain is that many UK companies
will continue to seek ways to optimise production, raise
their competitiveness and ultimately protect their business. We
have been working to implement new tools, such as digital data
exchange and advanced robotics, to drive the transformation
of manufacturing models and help companies optimise their
competitive advantages. Our Agility 4.0 programme enables
producers to manufacture small production batches at cost levels
typically associated with mass production, without compromising
on key performance criteria. It encompasses smart machines,
system and data intelligence, digital connectivity and powerful
simulation tools, all within a philosophy of sustainable production.
One of the key aspects of the Agility 4.0 programme is the use
of high precision simulation and modelling tools, particularly
useful in the commissioning phase. Our Virtual Commissioning
project can dramatically decrease the time and costs involved,
while anticipating the challenges the equipment might face when
installed in the actual production environment.
For British manufacturers looking to reduce their total cost of
ownership, Gebo Cermex offers all the benefits of Industry 4.0,
from initial virtual design to total mastery of the extended factory,
ensuring that – regardless of Brexit – ‘Made in the UK’ can remain
a competitive and successful brand.
www.gebocermex.com
7 www.ppma.co.uk

Key industry events
Forthcoming
Later on
4-6
jul
11-13
jul
13-15
sept
18-20
sept
25-27
sept
25
sept
Kenya Manufacturing Expo 2018
Nairobi, Kenya
Attracting 3,000 visitors, 80 exhibitors and three country
pavilions across 2,500m 2 , this is where East African
manufacturers come to evaluate and purchase new
machinery.
www.kenyamachineryexpo.com
ProPak China 2018
Shanghai, China
The 24th international processing and packaging
exhibition comprises five areas (BevTek, DairyTek,
FoodTek, PharmaTek and CosmeticTek) and welcomes
35,000 visitors across 80,000m 2 of exhibition space.
www.propakchina.com/en
ProPak Myanmar 2018
Yangon, Myanmar
Returning for the fifth time, this is the leading industry
trade event for Myanmar’s developing food, drink and
pharmaceutical processing and packaging industries.
www.propakmyanmar.com
ProPak West Africa 2018
Lagos, Nigeria
The largest packaging, food processing, plastics, labelling
and print exhibition in West Africa, which last year
featured 135 exhibitors and 3,261 visitors.
www.propakwestafrica.com
PPMA Show 2018
NEC Birmingham
The UK’s main production line event for
processing and packaging machinery. Network
with peers, see the latest machinery in action, get
inspired at our new Enterprise Zone and of course do
business at the 30th anniversary of this industry-leading
show. See p11 for full details.
www.ppmashow.co.uk
PPMA Group Industry Awards
Hilton NEC, Birmingham
Hosted by Brian Conley and taking place on
the first night of the PPMA Show, the PPMA
Group Industry Awards bring together over 400 industry
professionals and influencers to celebrate excellence
across all facets of the processing and packaging sector.
Featuring 12 categories, including two new awards, and a
three-course gala dinner, this is an event not to be missed.
www.ppmashow.co.uk
Registration
now open
Tickets on
sale now
25-27 Sept 2018
Fachpack 2018
Nuremberg, Germany
www.fachpack.de/en
10-11 Oct 2018
Photonex Europe 2018
Ricoh Arena, Coventry
www.photonex.org
11-14 Oct 2018
Pacprocess Tehran
Tehran, Iran
www.pacprocess-tehran.com
14-17 Oct 2018
Pack Expo International 2018
Chicago, USA
www.packexpointernational.com
23-26 Oct 2018
Scanpack 2018
Gothenburg, Sweden
www.scanpack.se
24-26 Oct 2018
Indiapack pacprocess
Mumbai, India
www.pacprocess-india.com
6-8 Nov 2018
Vision
Stuttgart Germany
www.messe-stuttgart.de/vision/en/
6-8 Nov 2018
Gulfood Manufacturing 2018
Dubai World Trade Centre, UAE
www.gulfoodmanufacturing.com
janette.lane@ppma.co.uk
26-29 Nov 2018
ALL4PACK Paris
Paris, France
www.all4pack.com
24-26 Jan 2019
ProPak Philippines
Manila, Philippines
www.propakphilippines.com
janette.lane@ppma.co.uk
Last chance
for PPMA UK
pavilion
bookings
PPMA
UK pavilion
bookings now
being taken
8 www.ppma.co.uk

Feature events
From deep learning to real world solutions at Machine Vision Conference
The second UKIVA Machine
Vision Conference and
Exhibition has been hailed
a resounding success after
attracting hundreds of visitors – significantly up on last year’s
figures – with some seminar sessions standing room only.
A showcase for the latest vision technologies and services
from the world of industrial vision and imaging, the event
took place in Milton Keynes on 16 May 2018 and featured
two keynote presentations, 54 technical seminars and over
50 specialist exhibitors. The Deep Learning and Embedded
Vision seminar theatre attracted the largest audiences across
the day. One of the key messages was that while deep and
machine learning can make significant improvements in object
feature detection and classification, they are not suitable for
every application, so careful choices need to be made.
Public perception of automation
Professor Tony Pipe, Deputy Director at Bristol Robotics
Laboratory, UWE, gave one of the keynote lectures,
discussing the Venturer autonomous car project. While
technological issues are crucial, Professor Pipe highlighted
the many other aspects to be considered, including human
attitudes to driverless cars and overcoming insurance
and legislative barriers. The second keynote lecture was
presented by Henry Harris-Burland, VP Marketing at Starship
Technologies, who discussed the challenges faced by his
company in bringing personal delivery robots to market,
including the attitude of the public.
Quality visitors
The exhibition also proved popular. While all visitors showed
a solid appreciation of vision technology, many were also
seeking vision solutions for real applications. As Marcel Krist
from Photonfocus observed: “This year delivered a higher
quality of visitors to our stand. The visitors were also more
knowledgeable, and the discussions we had have been
more specific.”
Event organiser, Chris Valdes, added: “We’ve had a very
positive response from speakers, visitors and exhibitors alike.
The Conference was consistently well attended throughout
the day, indicating the strength of the programme and
emphasising the importance that we place on making this
a truly educational event. We attracted visitors from many
different industries and featured exhibitors from all over the
world, including Canada, France, Germany, China and the US,
reflecting the importance of the machine vision market here
in the UK.”
www.machinevisionconference.co.uk
UK expansion at ProPak Philippines
Due to demand, extra space has
been added to the UK pavilion at
ProPak Philippines. Taking place
in Manila on 24-26 January 2019, this debut international
processing and packaging trade show for the Philippines
is the ideal platform from which to access a robust and
expanding market in one of Asia’s top growth performing
countries over the past 12 months.
To join the PPMA UK pavilion, contact
janette.lane@ppma.co.uk
www.propakphilippines.com
DIT grant
funding
available
Final call for Gulfood Manufacturing
Returning to the Dubai World Trade
Centre on 6-8 November 2018,
time is running out to book your
stand for Gulfood Manufacturing
2018. Showcasing solutions for the
complete spectrum of food and
drink manufacturing – from ingredients, processing, packaging
and automation, to supply chain and logistics – last year’s event
attracted more than 35,000 visitors and 1,600 exhibitors.
The PPMA is once again organising the highly successful UK
pavilion, so contact Janette Lane today for your
booking form.
janette.lane@ppma.co.uk
www.gulfoodmanufacturing.com
DIT grant
funding
available
9 www.ppma.co.uk

Seminars, training and networking
Forthcoming
5
july
Chairman’s Lunch – Motivating and
developing your staff
National Railway Museum, York
19
July
Effective Sales Skills for
Non-Sales People
Marriott Hotel, Northampton
10
July
NEW
17
july
NEW
18
July
Focused on the theme of staff development, join
our renowned Chairman’s Lunch for first class
networking opportunities at this historic venue.
Free for PPMA members
Advanced Selling Skills
Marriott Hotel, Northampton
This one-day training course is designed to help
individuals, business owners and sales teams to sell
effectively to the right people. Areas covered will
include: developing wider influence to persuade the
customer; handling objections; increasing closing
methods; and much more.
PPMA member rate £95 +VAT
Digital Marketing – Social Media B2B
Marriott Hotel, Manchester
This session will explore answers to the question
‘what is digital marketing’, before providing a
hands-on look at how to implement a digital
marketing strategy in your business. Areas covered
will include: social media; search engine ranking;
podcasts and streaming; and much more.
PPMA member rate £95 +VAT
Wellbeing Event
NIKKEN Innovation Centre Europe, Rotherham
This half-day workshop explores mental health and
how best to manage it, covering: what promotes
good mental health; what increases the risk to
our mental health; the new mental health core
and enhanced standards; interventions, tools and
resources; and much more.
8
aug
9
aug
30
aug
This one-day training workshop will help boost your
sales effectiveness, covering: conversation openers,
ensuring confidence when presenting price,
effective follow-up; and much more.
PPMA member rate £95 +VAT
Project Management
Forest of Arden Hotel and Country Club, Birmingham
This practical course offers tools and techniques to
those who have never been trained in running a
project, are working in a project support office, or
are new to the role of project manager.
PPMA member rate £95 +VAT
PPMA Safety Driving Day
Heyford Park, Oxon
Our safety and awareness driving day, brought to
you by Ultimate Car Control, is both educational
and fun.
Free for PPMA members
PPMA Golf Day
The Oxfordshire, Milton Common, Oxon
The perfect opportunity for members to entertain
clients and take part in a thoroughly enjoyable day
of 27 holes of golf and four competitions, at one of
the most exciting courses in the country. Including
a 9-hole Texas Scramble competition, 18-hole
Stableford competition, light lunch, plus a
three-course evening meal, the day concludes
with a trophy presentation.
£520 per 4-player team or £135 per person +VAT
Take part in Machinery Update’s PPMA Show Preview
By Gail Hunt, Editor of Machinery Update
The September/October issue of Machinery
Update will be dominated by the PPMA
Show 2018 Preview and so if you are
exhibiting at the NEC in September, you
must be part of it. You need to ensure visitors have
your name on their stands to visit list, so let us have
details of what you are showing, with a photograph,
and we will include it, free of charge.
Of course, if you are not exhibiting, you still need
to be in this 100-plus page issue as it is distributed
throughout the three days at the show, as well as
to our normal list of readers.
This issue will also include a feature on meat, fish
and other proteins as well as our regular sections,
so get in touch if you have a query on suitability.
Get your details over to us by Friday 10 August at
the latest, but earlier if you want a spot nearer
the front!
publishing@ppma.co.uk
10 www.ppma.co.uk

NEW for 2018
PPMA Show 2018 Preview
Countdown begins to the UK’s leading processing and
packaging machinery event
Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the
PPMA Show will return to the NEC
Birmingham from 25-27 September
2018 to showcase the latest innovations
in smart manufacturing, processing
technology and packaging machinery.
New this year will be the Enterprise
Zone, offering visitors a focal point for
learning, networking, discovery and live
debate.
Presenting the biggest and most
comprehensive line-up of production
technologies and solutions for the
food and beverage, pharmaceutical,
toiletries and FMCG sectors, visitors will
see 350 exhibitors representing 1,500
Celebrating industry excellence and recognising innovation and
smart manufacturing, the prestigious PPMA Group Industry
Awards ceremony and three-course gala dinner will move to
the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel at the NEC. Taking place
on the evening of 25 September, this key networking event will
be hosted by TV presenter and comedian Brian Conley.
To book your place, go to
https://bit.ly/2labm5m
brands, creating an unrivalled platform
to connect, engage and network with
suppliers and industry peers.
Experience and expertise
Dr Andrew Mint, Chief Executive
Officer, PPMA Group of Associations,
comments: “Our 30th anniversary
show comes at a time when UK
manufacturing is enjoying its longest
period of expansion since 1968 and
these positive signs will undoubtedly
boost confidence throughout our
sector. The PPMA Show 2018 looks set
to be one of the biggest and best to
date, where visitors can benefit from
Join us at the PPMA Group Industry Awards 2018
Featuring:
• Live workshops
• Presentations
• Interactive discussions
• Q&A sessions
• Panel debate
• Networking areas
• Free helpdesk and advice service
for start-ups and entrepreneurs
• British Plastics Federation
Presentations include:
• Keynote address by Lord Mark
Price, Minister of State for
Trade and Investment, former
Managing Director of Waitrose
and Deputy Chairman of The John
Lewis Partnership
• ‘The Future of Food
Manufacturing’, hosted by Craig
Leadley, Campden BRI
• Case studies offering real world
examples of manufacturing
best practice and excellence
in processing and packaging
production
an unsurpassed skill set of experience,
expertise and industry knowledge
and witness the latest processing and
packaging technologies in real-time
demonstrations.”
Dr Mint continues: “Having
consulted with exhibitors and show
visitors, we know that there is still a
tremendous appetite to seek out new
innovations, technologies and solutions
and to discover the unexpected. We
therefore look forward to opening the
doors of the PPMA Show 2018 and
celebrating its milestone anniversary
with some of the biggest and brightest
manufacturing leaders.”
www.ppmashow.co.uk
FREE visitor registration
To register for your FREE visitor badge,
go to
www.ppmashow.co.uk
11 www.ppma.co.uk

Impact of
Brexit on
product
safety and
certification
Member benefits
By Paul Taylor, Head of Industrial
Products (UK) at TÜV SÜD Product
Service, a global product testing and
certification organisation.
The UK’s vote to leave
the European Union has
brought about a period of
uncertainty for businesses in
Britain, Europe and around
the world, and the clock is ticking for
companies to minimise their risks. This
must of course begin with a confident
understanding of how Brexit will affect
product safety and certification for
products sold within, imported from,
and exported to the EU. All UK Notified
Bodies and EU Notified Bodies will also
be impacted beyond exit.
Given that negotiations are
still underway, conclusive advice
cannot yet be given. As transitional
arrangements between the UK and EU
are being established, we will identify
an appropriate certification strategy
for each of our customers individually.
Our intention is to provide continuous
product-to-market support, via a zero
impact service arrangement. However,
we do expect the outcome to include
transitional and long term Mutual
Recognition Arrangements (MRAs)
covering a range of matters related
to product safety and certification.
And, post-exit from the EU, the UK will
operate a separate regulatory regime
just like the rest of the world.
Currently, existing EU certificates in
the UK will remain valid as the status
of EU Notified Bodies (such as TÜV
SÜD) remains unchanged. All relevant
certificates for EU Directives, such as
Radio Equipment, issued by TÜV SÜD
globally will also remain valid beyond
Brexit.
At present, it is a requirement for
a Notified Body certifying against EU
standards to be based in an EU or EFTA
member country. Post-Brexit, this could
impact some Notified Bodies that are
only based in the UK, but this is yet to
be confirmed as negotiations are still
underway. Likewise, manufacturers
should consider whether their existing
Notified Bodies, based in the EU-27, will
have the legal capacity to meet future UK
certification requirements beyond Brexit.
Find out more
As the outcome of Brexit is still uncertain,
preparation for all eventualities is of the
utmost importance. We will be covering
this topic during our annual Customer
Day on 12 July, where there will be an
opportunity to put questions to our
experts.
www.tuv-sud.co.uk/customer-day
Get in touch
TÜV SÜD Product Service is a partner
of the PPMA Group. The Association
has partnerships with various service
providers, covering insurance, H&S and
employment law, recruitment, training,
litigation, technical advice, R&D tax
refunds and driver training. To access
any of these services at a preferential
PPMA member rate, contact
membership@ppma.co.uk
Nurturing the BEST
new talent
By Danny Reed, Education & Skills
Manager, PPMA BEST
PPMA BEST supports
young people looking
to explore and enter a
career in the processing,
packaging, machine vision, robotics
and automation industries, providing
a range of activities to engage and
inspire them.
In the 2017/18 academic year,
we have taken our message to an
even wider range of young people
than ever before, running four STEM
(science, technology, engineering and
maths) days and engaging with more
than 500 students. This number is set
to rise to over 800 by the end of this
academic year.
In the forthcoming academic
year, we will be running many more
STEM days in partnership with our
members, as well as repeating our
successful event at the Manchester
Museum of Science and Industry on
12 November 2018. We will also be
introducing new initiatives to help
our members engage with young
people, including an accredited
mentor training qualification. Finally,
we are hosting 60 students on
the second day of the PPMA Show
2018, where we will have our own
interactive stand.
To get involved or find out more,
contact
danny.reed@ppma.co.uk
www.ppmabest.org.uk
12 www.ppma.co.uk

Why the food and
drink industry
must be at
the forefront
of Brexit
negotiations
By Nicki Hunt, Director of Membership
and Commercial Engagement at the
Food and Drink Federation (FDF)
The food and drink
industry is the UK’s largest
manufacturing sector and
contributes £28.8bn to
GDP. Our sector will be the
hardest hit by Brexit, which means it is
vital that Government puts us first in
Brexit negotiations. Securing the best
possible deal for the food and drink
industry will benefit the UK’s £112bn
‘farm to fork’ supply chain and the
other industries that work so closely
alongside us.
Many of the food and drink
industry’s complex supply chains are
built on efficient just-in-time production
systems which utilise the fantastic
technologies that PPMA members
provide. They allow us to feed not
just our own country, but markets
across the globe that enjoy our world
renowned food and drink.
From a Food and Drink Federation
perspective, there are four key areas
that Brexit must deliver on: continued
access to labour; continued tariff-free
UK-EU trade in all agrifood and drink
products; continued access to EU FTAs
during and beyond the transition
period; and as frictionless as possible
trade that avoids delays and added
costs, and no physical border in Ireland
where the majority of goods traded are
food and drink.
In March, we welcomed the
announcement of a time-limited
transition period. It provided much
needed stability for business, meaning
the UK will continue to have access to
its valued EU workforce and continue
to enjoy frictionless tariff-free trade and
consistent regulation up until December
of 2020. But time is running out for us
to find a customs model that would
work for our industry. Tariffs aside,
the process of physically inspecting
food and drink imports and checking
documents and ID would cause chaos.
An average delay of two minutes at the
Port of Dover would result in a 17-mile
queue reaching Ashford.
One positive from all of this is that
collaboration across the entire food and
drink supply chain has never been more
important. Never before have so many
industries come together and spoken
with one voice. While we cannot be
sure what the business landscape will
look like in three years’ time, I hope
these relationships will continue to
persevere.
Welcome Sharon
We are delighted to welcome Sharon
Mason as our new Membership
Manager. Starting this summer, Sharon’s
role will be completely member-focused,
communicating the benefits available to
PPMA Group members and finding out
how we can better support you and your
business. To invite Sharon to visit your
business or learn how to make the most
of your membership, contact
sharon.mason@ppma.co.uk
T +44 (0)20 8773 8111
Free EEF roadshow
set to prepare
manufacturers for
Brexit
To help manufacturers prepare for
Brexit, the EEF is running a series of
Brexit Roadshows featuring insight
and practical guidance on trade,
migration and skills from prominent
government speakers and Brexit
experts. As an affiliate EEF member,
PPMA members can attend these
roadshows free of charge, simply by
registering.
Focusing on the impact of
Brexit in the West of England,
the next event is taking place at
Aerospace Bristol on 6 July and will
see Baroness Neville-Rolfe, former
Director of Tesco, former Minister at
the Department for Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and
Treasury, and a current Life Peer and
member of the EU Select Committee
in the House of Lords, deliver the
keynote speech. Spaces are limited
so register now for free at
eefevents@pagefield.co.uk
Could you be eligible for
an R&D tax refund?
The PPMA Group is pleased
to announce an exciting new
partnership with TBAT Innovation,
specialists in grant funding and
R&D tax credits. As well as offering
PPMA members a free one-day
workshop on eligibility for Innovate
UK grant applications, members can
also benefit from TBAT’s no-win
no-fee offer on R&D tax refunds.
To take advantage of
this exclusive member
benefit, contact
info@tbat.co.uk
www.tbat.co.uk
13 www.ppma.co.uk

Welcome new PPMA Group members
Active8 Robots
Active8 Robots is a consultant and
integrator of automation systems,
specialising in industrial and collaborative
robots. With more than 15 years’
experience providing automation solutions
to manufacturers, the company has
successfully deployed hundreds of projects
throughout the UK from single robot to
highly complex multi-robot solutions.
For more information, contact
Adrian Aggett:
adrian.aggett@active8robots.com
T +44 (0)1761 234372
www.active8robots.com
DC Norris
Specialists in bespoke industrial food
processing and packaging machinery for
over 45 years, DCN designs, manufactures
and installs full turnkey systems that
can cook and cool a large range of
convenience food products. The company
provides flexible, efficient and innovative
solutions to meet the full range of food
processing needs, from standalone items
to fully automated processing lines.
For more information, contact Ian Jones:
mail@dcnorris.com
T +44 (0)1767 677515
www.dcnorris.com
Hycontrol
Hycontrol supplies silo level measurement
and control technology, providing
application solutions for powders, pellets,
liquids and slurries to a wide range of
industries. Supplying overfill/overspill
protection systems and award winning
silo over-pressure safety systems, backed
by a team of experienced engineers,
the company aims to provide the best
engineered solution, without compromise.
For more information, contact:
sales@hycontrol.com
T +44 (0)1527 406800
www.hycontrol.com
ITI – International
TechneGroup
ITI solves complex engineering data
interoperability problems. Its CADfix PPS
solution quickly simplifies large MCAD
models of equipment and machinery
for integration with plant and process
design systems, or for customer delivery.
It provides a simplified model in a
significantly smaller and more manageable
file that saves valuable time and costs.
For more information, contact
Andrew Chinn:
andy.chinn@iti-global.com
T +44 (0)1954 234 300
www.iti-global.com/cadfix-for-processplant-and-ship-building
iXAPACK GLOBAL
iXAPACK GLOBAL is a 40-year-old, French
family-owned company specialising in the
design and manufacture of portioning,
checkweighers, flow wrappers, top load
cartoners and turnkey full automatic lines
for the food and cosmetic industries.
For more information, contact
Laurent Noiraud:
laurent.noiraud@ixapack.com
T +33 549 820 408
www.ixapack.com
James Mae
Industries
James Mae Industries is a UK manufacturer
of bespoke production equipment,
including the Compact © palletising system.
The company offers conveyors, special
purpose machines, assembly cells, robot
systems and control systems, and employs
electrical and mechanical designers, project
managers and a team of electrical and
mechanical fitters, as well as in-house
software engineers.
For more information, contact Dave Wood:
dave@jamesmaeindustries.co.uk
T +44 (0)7946 454188
www.jamesmae.co.uk
Lamonde
Automation
Established in 1982, Lamonde
Automation supplies a wide range of
automation products. It is the UK &
Ireland distributor for Automation Direct
& Weintek Labs (HMI), as well as being
a Control Techniques drives distributor.
The company’s core customer base is
comprised of machine manufacturers,
including a number of PPMA members.
For more information, contact
Duncan Stanton:
sales@lamonde.com
T +44 (0)203 026 2670
www.lamonde.com
Macsa id
Macsa id provides solutions to meet all
coding, identification and traceability
needs. By combining a range of hardware
and software technologies, services and
supplies, the company helps manufacturing
firms to secure their products, brands and
customers’ peace of mind.
For more information, contact
Neil Greatorex:
sales.uk@macsa.com
T +44 (0)1462 816091
www.macsa.co.uk
Micro-Epsilon
Micro-Epsilon develops and manufactures
precision sensors and measurement
systems for displacement, distance,
position, profile, thickness, temperature
and colour measurement. With more than
45 years’ experience, the company has
sensors and measurement applications in
almost all industries. From R&D and NDT,
to OEM or process control, Micro-Epsilon
is certain to have a solution for your
measurement task.
For more information, contact:
info@micro-epsilon.co.uk
T +44 (0)151 355 6070
www.micro-epsilon.co.uk
14 www.ppma.co.uk

Get in touch
Norduct
The UK’s only complete manufacturer
of modular, clip-together ductwork,
Norduct’s state of the art manufacturing
facilities and experienced staff allow
the company to respond to the most
demanding ducting projects on time,
first time, every time. Its unique, modular
ducting system makes the product
stronger, easier and faster to connect,
reducing installation time.
For more information, contact Claire Forrest:
claire@norduct.com
T +44 (0)1274 693630
www.norduct.com
Stellar Technik
Stellar Technik supplies after-market
spares for machine knives, punches and
punch and die assemblies. All products
are designed and manufactured in the
UK to tight tolerances using advanced
CNC machining technology. Serving the
food and pharmaceutical industries, the
company’s range is designed to perform
and last as well as the OEM product.
For more information, contact
Tom Newbery:
tnewbery@vesprecision.com
T +44 (0)1460 270650
www.stellartechnik.com
ppma.co.uk
ukiva.org
bara.org.uk
ppma-group
https://www.linkedin.com/company/ppma-group
https://twitter.com/PPMA_Group
@PPMA_Group
PPMA TV
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW0hgEalJv1jSjjpf-eoJUA
Membership Relations
membership@ppma.co.uk
Polar Systems
As manufacturers and suppliers of food
processing equipment, Polar Systems
provides bespoke systems for various
industries including shellfish and snack food
(including industrial popcorn and flavouring
systems), plus turnkey fruit and vegetable
processing from field to pack. The company
manufactures everything in-house, offering
high quality, robust, hygienic and easily
maintainable machinery.
For more information, contact
Adrian Gamble:
sales@polar-systems.co.uk
T +44 (0)1553 691472
www.polar-systems.co.uk
Universal Robots
Universal Robots is the leading provider of
collaborative robots (cobots) by units sold.
Its flexible robot arms can be used by all
levels of production staff to help increase
productivity, reduce injury and boost
morale. Based in Odense, Denmark, the
company has distributors in 50 countries
worldwide.
For more information, contact
Christina Hinze Jørgensen:
chjo@universal-robots.com
T +45 28 93 06 01
www.universal-robots.com
PPMA Show
scott.mckenna@ppma.co.uk
International Services
janette.lane@ppma.co.uk
Publishing and Advertising
david.chadd@ppma.co.uk
Marketing and PR
marketing@ppma.co.uk
PPMA BEST Charitable Trust
ppmabest@ppma.co.uk
Sharp Systems
Sharp Systems designs, manufactures and
installs bespoke processing and handling
systems for the food industry. Covering
the whole of the UK, the company
specialises in conveyor systems including
elevators, spirals, vibrators, and bulk
weigh systems and platforms to EN1090.
Its clients encompass fresh and frozen
food processors, bakeries, ready meal
manufacturers, confectioners and dairies.
For more information, contact Paul Sharp:
paul@sharp-systems.com
T +44 (0)1553 775050
www.sharp-systems.com
Join today!
For a PPMA Group membership
pack contact
christine.jordan@ppma.co.uk
15 www.ppma.co.uk

Actively helping our
members through
services, tools and
initiatives to thrive in an
increasingly competitive
marketplace