March/April 2020

| 0 8 | March/April 2020 www.smartmachinesandfactories.com | NEWS | The biennial co-located events; Smart Industry Expo, Drives & Controls, Fluid Power & Systems, Plant & Asset Management, and Air-Tech Exhibitions – have been rescheduled to January 25th-27th 2021, due to the COVID- 19 outbreak. These extra months will help give the industry the space to recover and the opportunity to present their technologies, innovations and solutions in an upturning market with no restrictions on travel. The events will continue to be co-located with MACH. DFA Media Ltd, organiser of Smart Industry Expo and co- located shows, says it has been actively monitoring and following advice regarding the Coronavirus outbreak (Covid- 19) over the past weeks. As a consequence, it has decided that Smart Industry Expo and its co-located events will be postponed and rescheduled for 25th-27th January 2021, which will take place alongside MACH Exhibition. Managing director of DFA Media, Ian Atkinson, organiser of the co-location of events, commented: “As the effects, actual and projected, of Coronavirus have become increasingly evident across all aspects of our lives both here in the UK and across the globe, it was necessary, as a responsible events organiser, to take the necessary steps to ensure the health and wellbeing of all our exhibitors, contractors and visitors (many of whom face travel restrictions), which is our top priority.” He added: “It is therefore with reluctance that we have taken the decision to postpone the event until January.” However by working closely with its venue partners, THE NEC, Atkinson said DFA Media has been able to secure rescheduled dates for these events in January, alongside MACH, explaining: “Current modeling projections suggest that the virus will peak in around June and decline thereafter during the following months allowing our exhibitors the opportunity to present their technologies, innovations and solutions in an upturning market with no restrictions on travel.” He added: “The rescheduled date provides clarity and ensures we have time and space to deliver the same high- quality event we promised, providing a safe and secure environment conducive to business, networking and career development for the manufacturing sector that we serve.” For a full overview of the January 2021 event please turn to page 40. Smart Industry Expo and co-located shows rescheduled to take place on 25th-27th January UK to do this is for existing specialist manufacturers to share their drawings, specifications and expertise with non- medical manufacturers so they can make the parts to the right quality standards: “While manufacturing can be ramped up, we must also remember that engineering will play an important role once these parts arrive at the NHS.  Clinical engineers will be needed to oversee the process of installing these parts on the wards and even building some of the hand-held ventilators for use by clinical staff.” Meese added that the NHS should look at placing senior clinical engineers in charge of coordinating the supply chain between device manufacturers and hospitals to ensure consistency and best practice is maintained: “The Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ Biomedical Engineering Division represents over 3000 engineers from across the healthcare engineering sector, many of whom have the expertise to assist in this process. It is in times of such crisis that engineers consistently play a leading role in ensuring the health and safety of our society.” CPI appoints new CEO CPI, part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, announced recently that its Chief Executive Officer, Nigel Perry MBE FREng will step down at the end of March 2020. Frank Millar, CPI’s Chief Operating Officer has been appointed his successor and will take on the role of CEO from April 2020. Perry steps down after 17 years at CPI where he has grown the organisation from inception to a leading provider of innovation services employing over 450 scientists, engineers, business specialists and support staff. Under Nigel’s leadership, CPI has provided thousands of businesses and partners with support and services to accelerate the translation of research and ideas into viable manufacturing processes and innovative new products. Perry commented: “I am incredibly