November/December 2019

NEWS Toshiba Machine Co. Ltd. will change its corporate name to Shibaura Machine Co. Ltd. from 1 April 2020. TM Robotics, the official distributor of Toshiba Machine robots for EMEA, North and South America and Australia, will continue to supply the company’s wide range of six-axis, SCARA and Cartesian robots through its distributor network. The company was initially founded as Shibaura Machine Tool Co. in 1938. Toshiba Machine’s name change will reflect its formal separation from the larger Toshiba Corporation in 2017. While Toshiba Machine may be moving away from the name from April 1, 2020, the company aims for a seamless transition with no impact to business, customers or shareholders. Takahiro Mikami, president of Toshiba Machine, said: “To continue our evolution, our company will change its name to Shibaura Machine, and focus on providing customers with greater flexibility and responsiveness. We look forward to continuing our growth and industry-leading contributions to the markets we serve in the future. Even though the name is changing, our commitment remains the same. Our goal as Shibaura Machine is to be a supplier of the highest quality machinery and systems, one that is well-positioned to grow and contribute to the global economy for decades to come.” Nigel Smith, managing director of TM Robotics, said: “From April 2020, TM Robotics will become the official distributor of Shibaura Machine robots. The corporate name change will have no bearing on TM Robotics and our global distributor network, nor will it change the outstanding quality of the industrial solutions we offer – same robots, new name. TM Robotics customers can be assured that the quality of the robots we distribute will continue to be of the very highest that they are accustomed to. The same expert Japanese engineering will be present in every robot we supply.” BCAS, the UK’s trade association for the compressed air industry, has entered into a partnership with Reshoring UK, a new platform designed to connect manufacturers and suppliers across the UK’s engineering market. Developed through a collaboration between over 20 leading industrial engineering associations, the platform supplies businesses with a wealth of information that they can use to successfully determine a new supplier partnership. Businesses can target by industry, sector and region, with the results appearing on an interactive map; these points can then be interrogated to show more data and an individual company website link. Other functions of the website include a search box to find bespoke products and services, with plans in motion to further expand the website over 2020. Vanda Jones, executive director for BCAS, commented: “In a world of constantly changing legislation and standards, it pays to work with a supplier that can offer the right levels of support, backed by engineering and technical expertise. “As the only UK technical trade association open to manufacturers, distributors and end users of compressors, vacuum pumps, pneumatic tools and allied products, it is an approach we have always advocated - helping to connect our members with industry end-users to help specify, install, maintain and service their equipment. “We are therefore delighted to be partnering with Reshoring UK to help businesses source the right engineering expertise, that can help avoid downtime, save costs and maintain the highest safety standards.” Baroness Burt of Solihull, patron of Reshoring UK added: “This facility will support the high value and technical requirements of such industries as aerospace, automotive, rail, marine, energy and medical from conceptual design to complete product delivery for companies searching for UK-based support for their businesses.” The development of the Reshoring initiative is to encourage engagement with our manufacturing supply chain and to recognise the strength, skills and innovation available to manufacturers in the UK.” BCAS supports new UK-based supply chain development platform Toshiba Machine Co. Ltd. heads back to its roots 20 HYDRAULICS & PNEUMATICS November/December 2019 www.hpmag.co.uk Baroness Burt of Solihull: “This facility will support the high value and technical requirements of such industries as aerospace, automotive, rail, marine, energy and medical.”