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Editorial comment
A growing skills gap
S
kills shortages in engineering are cation in schooling systems. Encouraging
“
already affecting the performance young people to think of engineering as
of western businesses. A survey by a career choice for the future is essential
the Royal Academy of Engineering last year – nothing less.
with Henley Management College, ques-
Pressing matters
tioning 444 UK companies from start-ups
This issue of ISMR is heavily focused on
to internationals, highlighted shortages of
presses and pressing technologies, with a
suitable engineering graduates and specific
particular accent on hot forming techniques.
gaps in problem-solving skills, application
ISMR visits German press manufacturer,
of theory to real-life problems and breadth
Walter NEFF GmbH, and discusses new
and ability in maths.
forming processes and technologies with its
Yet the comparative dearth of engineers in
managing director, Oliver Doermann
the West is happening at a time when engi-
(see page 16). It also examines investment
neering skills are needed more than ever.
levels, industry trends and new forming/
“Any country that undervalues its engi-
product technologies for presses and auto-
neers is effectively undermining its prosper-
mation with specialist Swedish manufac-
ity and relinquishing its ability to make a
turer, AP&T (see page 24).
contribution to human progress,” said Dick
We also look at a number of coil process-
Olver, Chairman, BAE Systems, during an
ing and coating technologies, with trips
address at City University in November
to a German steel service centre
2006.
(page 30), the latest report from the European
“The danger for western economies is that
Coil Coating Association’s last Congress
the engineering skill level of the off-shored
(page 44) and the development cycle of a
work will rise and rise until only very high
leveler.
level R&D remains at home – if that,” he
We are also pleased to bring you the con-
continued. “The steel industry is moving
cluding part of our report on news, orders
east. China is making 70% of the world’s
and new product/technology launches from
“
photocopiers at 5% of the UK’s wage rates.
the EuroBLECH 2006 exhibition in Hanover
If industries and skills are to be retained,
(page 56) as well as a preview of the forth-
then they need to be supported and encour-
coming BlechExpo exhibition.
aged. Countries – like companies - need to
decide what is core and what is non-core
– what can be outsourced and what
needs to be retained in house.”
Some European gov-
ernments seem to have
grasped the extent of the
Please click
skills gap but it is an
issue that reaches down
here to see 2007
Sara Waddington
to fundamental and
international
basic levels of edu-
Editor
diary of events
I SMR says
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