Welcome to January’s Engineering Echo!
That’s the new name for our monthly newsletter, we send this out to our regular contacts but like to share on here too so you can see what we’ve got up to recently and what’s caught our eye.
Industrial strategy progressing
How will having an industrial strategy impact you if you’re a manufacturer?
All the news from MAKE UK suggests that it’s going to give confidence to the sector which is great news. And with the new chair, Lord Harrington, in place at MAKE UK he’s already started the lobbying so perhaps the progress will be speeded up somewhat (everything crossed on that score).
One of the areas that piqued our interest was around the UK being the place for research and development to get new products made or new markets entered. Despite all of the challenges the sector has faced over the last decade, and let’s be honest there’s been a few humdingers, UK manufacturers are still innovating in an impressive way.
Bennett Engineering are fortunate to see that on a weekly basis; whether it’s modifications to processing lines to make new products, new machinery to produce something new in an existing factory or extending production capabilities. There’s investment going on that’s centred around doing things better, faster, and also at a lower cost (essential in the operating conditions of today).
The survey findings showed some powerful figures like ‘57% of respondents saying they will increase investment in response to a long-term industrial strategy. In addition, 43% of companies believe such a strategy will lead to increased productivity.’ That will be a great result for us all.
Bennett Engineering are busy working with a range of customers this month, it’s brilliant to see that renewed confidence as we start a new calendar year (and how is it nearly the end of January already?). And everyone is improving, testing, innovating and creating.
If you need our help to design, manufacture, build, commission and install then here’s a reminder of how to get in touch:
☎️ 01332 419220
📩 info@beneng.co.uk
Busman’s holiday?
Hands up if you watch ‘Inside the Factory’ 👋
We’ve been inside some amazing factories, manufacturing bases and processing places this year; last week’s ‘flapjack’ tour got a thumbs up from us. Did you see it?
It was really good to see the process from the start to the beginning (something we like to see when bought in for a project). It was also good to see the variation of automation and manual labour; the oat mixture needed to be hand pressed into the trays whereas the ovens were really smart. To avoid the hotspots that ovens have this clever bit of kit at this bakery automatically moves things around to ensure consistent baking of the flapjack.
The real question is as engineers who work with manufacturers is watching this programme a bit of a busmans holiday?
Have you got an eggbeater?
Since moving to our industrial unit our tool collection has grown.
An old faithful tool is our Stanley hand drill which is referred to as an eggbeater due to their distinct crank-operated mechanism.
Since the 1800s Stanley tools have been prized for their precision and durability. With those beautiful steel gears and finely crafted wooden handles we wouldn’t be without our old fashioned drill.
Whilst today they might be considered a collectors item our still gets wheeled out for certain little jobs that require a less ‘powered’ approach and some spot on accuracy which we know our Stanley will deliver.
Without a doubt these crank-operated mechanism tools are iconic in the design, highly practical, reliable and smooth in their operation.
Hands up whose still using their eggbeater?
The cold spell
Image source: TikTok
For those of you who’ve visited us here at Unit 5 you’ve noticed it’s a little chilly. And we might have wheeled out some well known phrases to describe to each other how cold we’re finding it each day.
‘Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey’ is definitely one that’s been used!
In true Bennett Engineering style Seleena went off to find out where the saying came from.
You’re probably well aware that cannonballs were stored in piles on ships but did you know the brass frame or tray was called a monkey?
And when it was cold the brass would contract which meant the cannonballs would ‘spill’ off their holder and start rolling about on deck.
Hence the now popular saying when it’s cold that is nothing to do with real live monkeys and everything to do with what a bit of useful kit was called.