Connect

A part of Funded by Led by

Inside

ConnectPage 1

Introduction and welcome

Page 2

Page 3

Page 4

Page 5

for engineers and business leaders

Introduction

01

Manuflex Ltd

ND Precision Ltd

PDS Projects

CKT Aero & Automotive

Engineering

BGF (Business Growth Fund)

Martech Systems

The Aerospace and Advanced Engineering iNet has now been

running for 18 months and we have been face to face with over

300 businesses. Now that the worst of the recession is over, the

challenge most often reported by iNet members is the lack of

skilled people to drive growth and innovation. It seems that good

CNC setters are scarcer than hen’s teeth and motivational

managers, who have the ability to retain good people, are in

equally short supply.

Many iNet members are seeing enough business opportunity to

enable them to fly high but their wings have been clipped due to

lack of the right staff. Investment in new equipment and facilities

shows real commitment to growth but without the right staff it is

not enough. One effective strategy is to grow your own talent and

this is now more achievable than ever before for SME businesses.

UWE Bristol and a number of regional colleges have established

the Higher Apprenticeship scheme that allows young people to

gain a higher education qualification whilst in work. This presents

SME businesses with a fantastic opportunity to build a capable

team to fit their exact requirements. Contact the iNet team for

more information.

Continuing on the subject of growing your own, the iNet offers

direct in-house assistance to promote innovation within your

business. Workshops on Innovative Leadership, Ideas Generation

and Market Planning can be the catalyst that focuses your team

on creating your future, rather than dealing with the problems of

today. If you don’t cross the start line you cannot finish the race!

Flying High – or have your

wings been clipped?

want to lose control of their business, which is

why we only ever take a minority stake.

We recognise that to succeed, companies

need more than just money: confidence and

capabilities are critical too. Alongside our

investment we provide practical and strategic

support directly through the investment team

and wider BGF infrastructure, through

non-executive involvement at board level,

and through access to our broader networks.

BGF is an independent company with capital

of up to £2.5 billion, backed by five of the

UK’s main banking groups - Barclays, HSBC,

Lloyds, RBS, and Standard Chartered. This

means we work closely with the banks and

through our investments we can often help to

unlock bank debt for companies. But, BGF is

managed completely autonomously with a

wholly independent management team. BGF

is one of a range of initiatives designed to

forge a new relationship between the banking

sector and UK businesses, and works in

close collaboration with the British Bankers’

Association as well as other key business

organisations across the UK.

02

BGF has been established to help Britain’s

fast growing smaller and medium sized

businesses. BGF provides long-term equity

investment for those growing companies that

today do not have enough access to this

source of capital. Growth potential is the key

criteria, and our investments will be used to

fund a wide variety of business plans from

simply increasing working capital to making

a strategic acquisition, from new capex to

increase capacity to a step change in sales

and marketing, from an export drive to new

product development. BGF invests between

£2m and £10m in return for a minority stake

in a business.

We typically invest in privately owned,

profitable companies with a turnover between

£5m and £100m. BGF invests in all sectors

of the economy with the exception of financial

services and property, through its local

investment teams and offices across the UK.

As these investments are made directly from

BGF’s balance sheet we are able to take a

long term view.

We are investors, not lenders; we provide

equity, not debt. As equity investors we can

look to the longer term prospects of a

company and ensure it is properly capitalised.

Banks, quite rightly look to a shorter period

and are focussed on repayment of their debt.

Their credit and risk criteria are naturally very

different to that of an investor who can

consider a broader range of factors.

Equity investment is an alternative that we

would encourage fast growing smaller and

medium sized businesses to consider.

Successful entrepreneurs tell us that they

don't want ever more debt.

What they do want is a long term partner with

access to new ideas, experience and relevant

networks. They also tell us that they don't

If you would like to know more about how BGF could support your business, please

contact Paul Oldham paul.oldham@bgf.co.uk, Regional Director for the South West

and South Wales. www.bgf.co.uk

Business Growth Fund

Paul Oldham and Matt Waller, CEO of Benefex, thefirst investment made by BGF

Manuflex is delighted to be working with iNet as part of its Sales and Marketing

programme. As a well established sheet metal fabrication company based in

Somerset; Manuflex has embarked on a programme to get its story in front of a

wider audience as the company’s expertise lies in making things and admits it

is poor at presenting itself to new customers. iNet providers have dissected

what is good about the business; Good engineers, excellent problem solvers,

strong integrity and helped the areas that need improving, Sales and marketing

planning, producing supporting materials (website update and brochures).

To date the strategy is coming together well and the Manuflex team are

responding very positively to the challenges laid before them. The programme

is being actioned at a time when the Company is very busy but this

emphasises how important getting the sales and marketing programme is to

the business. The plan is to present the business to a limited number of new

customers and at least one new sector.

03

Manuflex Limited

ND Precision Products Accomplished and leading suppliers of aerospace electronic and electrical connector tooling, N D Precision

Products based in Devon UK, supplies injection mould and multi-stage progression tools to the industry’s

leading connector designers and manufacturers.

Their innovative tool design engineers cater for lean

manufacturing companies producing low volume and

wide product range connector systems, for defence,

aerospace and formula one applications.

Interchangeable mould tool inserts designed for

quick in-cycle product changeovers ensure machine

downtime is minimal. Multi-impression tooling with cavity

switch over sprue designs enable a variety of connector

designs to be produced in just one tool. A recent

project for a major connector manufacturer in the UK

achieved a reduction in tool change-over / down time

from two hours to five minutes.

Accredited with ISO9001:2008 and members of the Gauge & Toolmakers Association (GTMA) and the West

of England Aerospace Forum (WEAF), quality is assured. N D Precision Products would like to thank iNets

South West for their continued support across many aspects of their business. On discussing their

involvement in this process earlier this week, Managing Director Nick Squire stated that “iNets resources

and advice have strengthened our manufacturing capabilities as we try to improve and take our business to

the next level”.

For more details visit: www.ndprecisionproducts.co.uk

Currently Manuflex has 20 principle customers operating in 4 distinct areas – Engineering Equipment,

Marine, Electrical and Medical. These are diverse areas but involve manufacturing principally from mild steel

and stainless steel. Currently Manuflex is about half way through the planned programme of support and the

consultants involved have all been excellent but most importantly have all listened to what the

company needs are rather than imposing what they think might be needed. Manuflex expects this

programme to be the start of an ongoing process and would like to take this opportunity to thank those who

have helped to date.

CKT Aero and Automotive Engineering Ltd have been in business for over ten

years. The company designs and manufactures OEM light aircraft exhausts

for the Rotax series of engines. As they extend the range of engine systems in

our programme we welcome the opportunity to collaborate with engine

manufacturers. Over 2000 Systems are in service around the world with a

proponderance in export markets. They offer to prime aerospace customers

their engineering experience of the industry and our capacity for the

production of their components whether single items or quantity production.

Their in-house capabilities include: pipe and tube manipulation from ¾in. up to

3in diameter and down to 1D bends and in all materials including Titanium.

Welding by NADCAP tested A8-10 qualified welders, including automatic

seam welding; presswork, sheet metal work, tool making and assembly.

Examples of the wide range of sub-contract components and assemblies they

manufacture are: aircraft tow bars, pedal boxes, crank assemblies, fuselage and

wing panels and access doors, structure panels with flanged lightening holes.

Currently CKT also manufacture the seats for the B-N Group Islander and

Defender aircraft. The company also manufactures heritage parts for

automotive clients, including Aston Martin and Bentley Motor Cars.

CKT have a robust supply chain of reliable suppliers which they use to

enhance their in-house facilities. They are always seeking additional

business and welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular

engineering requirements.

Visit their website for a fuller view of CKT’s range of products or email them with your requirements.

04

PDS projects

CKT Aero & Automotive

Engineering Ltd

Based in the South West of the UK, PDS Projects is a specialist fatigue & damage tolerance engineering

consultancy servicing mainly the aerospace industry. PDS Projects was established in 2002 by Dr Paul Sodzi,

an engineer with over 24 years of continuous practical experience in the aerospace industry. The company

now consists of a team of 20 and with plans to double this by 2013, not to mention several potential new

contracts in the fatigue & damage tolerance and sonic/acoustic Fatigue market, a little extra assistance will

therefore be needed.

Currently providing F&DT reporting for QuEST, Assystem, Airbus & Dassault, the plan is for PDS to expand its

current proposition to encompass new markets.

“Developing and growing PDS Projects has always been the plan, but time constraints have made this a

challenge” said Paul. “Although I have only just joined the iNet programme, I can already see the benefits,

especially in the customer relationships area. We are also planning to expand our market to include Europe

and the Far East, and the iNet programme will be invaluable for assisting with this. I feel that we have the

experience, qualifications, and skills, to rise to the challenges of new opportunities in the UK, Europe, Asia

and the world marketplace. PDS have proved their reputation for delivering high value, tightly managed

projects of all sizes over the years. Our plan is to use iNet to help us to increase our profitability, grow the

business and find new markets”.

05

Martech Systems

Martech, part of the CodaOctopus Group, is ateam of innovators, engineers & technologistswith extensive expertise inelectronic system designand manufacturing.

Utilising their core electronic

skills, together with software

and mechanical development

capabilities, Martech is involved

in a diverse range of projects.

Specialising in complex

technological challenges for

applications in the defence

aerospace and oil & gas

industries, Martech focuses

primarily on special test

solutions, custom instrumentation, and product development.

With roots in defence research, Martech also works with clients in, nuclear power, medical,

pharmaceutical, and subsea industries, which together with the defence and aerospace sector share

common expectations for design integrity, reliability and robustness in ‘mission critical’ applications. Recent

and ongoing projects include a custom test solution for gas sensors manufactured by a major aerospace

manufacturer destined for use on Joint Strike Fighter. Based on NI LabView with a large amount of custom

electronic and mechanical hardware, the system will be used in the production process and is the second

major test system we have developed for this client. Drawing extensively on their mechanical capabilities,

design and manufacture of their Chemical Decontamination Unit continues at a pace. Used to remove

chemical agents from high-tech equipment such as helmets with sophisticated electronics worn by

Eurofighter Typhoon pilots, the CDU was originally developed in response to a requirement from DSTL, the

UK’s defence research laboratories. The initial design and manufacturing phase is nearing completion and

the CDU will then undergo extensive testing and evaluation.

Working alongside two suppliers to international navies, we have developed a custom control system for a

sonar calibration solution. Destined to be installed on a number of vessels for a major overseas navy, the

first system will go into service later in 2012. Martech are also developing and manufacturing a number of

special test solutions which will be used in military vehicle wiring and electronics in a production line

environment. Incorporating CAN-BUS technology the test rigs enable vehicle cabs to be tested

independently of the main chassis.

Since 1988, Martech’s success has been built upon a reputation for quality and reliability together with a

flair for delivering innovative solutions to challenging problems. Martech is extremely flexible and adaptable

to the constantly changing requirements of our customers.

For more information, please email them at martech@codaoctopus.com or telephone +44 (0)1305 770440.