SSC Laser Cutting has shared its opinions on the ways British manufacturing can compete in the current economic climate in a whitepaper focused on propositions which the industry can make in order to drive global exports.
In todays economy, where the value of the pound has fallen by almost 15 per cent in the past year, the cost of imported consumer goods is rising, but UK metal manufacturers are finding that their products and services on now more competitive at an international level.
The paper suggests that we are at a turning point for UK manufacturing, and states that smart decisions must now be made in order to remain competitive with the rest of the world and guarantee a stable future.
One way in which the industry can benefit is to outsource production of specialised parts to laser cutting companies. While setting up laser cutting operations can cost an individual organisation millions of pounds, partnering with a subcontractor can grant immediate access for metal manufacturers across the country.
Andy Hume, group sales manager at SSC, said: Laser cutting is an extremely specialised form of precision engineering and supports the UKs £12.4 billion automotive industry and £9.5 billion steel industry each year.
Domestic laser cutting is integral to keeping those industries active in the UK and we are seeing more and more customers make the decision to use our services rather than attempting to deliver this in-house especially as laser cutting capabilities are continuing to improve and new technology such as fibre lasers and tube lasers are being introduced.
This is a clear solution for smaller manufacturers, who could otherwise be priced out of importing parts and components.
As one of the largest laser cutting providers in the country, SSC works with customers from a wide range of industries, including automotive, aerospace, defence, electronics, construction and retail.
Outsourcing its laser cutting has already proven successful for SSC client, Allet Mowers. Austin Jarrett, managing director, said: My customers see the value in specialised, niche products and are prepared to pay for them to be made in Britain.
While our priorities used to be to own large pieces of capital equipment with finite capacities, our focuses are now to stay nimble, be quick to respond and be creative. This gives our seasonal business the opportunity to fluctuate without building wasteful inventory.
We now outsource to companies such as SSC which invest in high-capacity, high-accuracy equipment and work alongside their expert teams to meet customer demands.
For more information about SSC Laser Cutting, or to read the whitepaper in full, please visit www.ssclaser.co.uk or call 01889 270 241.