Amada UK commits to next generation

November 2013: Amada UK has demonstrated the company’s commitment to the next generation of engineers by celebrating its third year as lead sponsor of the Sheet Metal Technology competition at the Skills Show 2013.

As a programme comprising hundreds of events and thousands of young people, the Skills Show is the UK’s largest skills and careers event. A total of 82,147 attended the Birmingham NEC on 14-16 November, up more than 16% on the previous year’s total, as young people travelled from across the country – all hoping for the opportunity to transform their lives.

Visitors to the Skills Show 2013 were encouraged to try hands-on experiences across the event, which aimed to help unlock their potential, consider their futures and explore further education, skills and apprenticeships. This year, Amada expanded its ‘Have-A Go’ stand by installing the latest F1 linear drive 4kW laser profiling centre along with two HFE II press brakes.

“As the competitors are judged on the quality of their work it is only right to provide the very latest technology on which to best showcase their talent,” say’s Simon Scott, Amada UK’s Skills Show organiser. “The technology in the marketplace is improving every year and the Skills Show needs to keep pace with it.”

The laser and press brakes were operated and maintained by Amada’s own apprentices during the competition. The apprentices taught visitors how to fold the famous Amada biplane, allowing them to keep the fruits of their efforts as a future reminder of the show, the technology and a potential career in manufacturing.

Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg MP, was among the visitors to the Amada stand who showed great delight in making a biplane and taking it away as a keepsake. Other visitors to the event included HRH The Princess Royal, Shard engineer Roma Agrawal, and the show’s patron, Theo Paphitis.

“On the Amada stand we exhibited many creative examples of the sheet metalwork our machines are capable of producing,” says Mr Scott. “For instance, we displayed the inner chassis of a Morgan Aero 8 sports car, manufactured by bonding together laser-cut aluminium panels. We also had a green road-side fibre broadband cabinet, and a sturdy set of drawers and workbenches.”

The show’s Chief Executive, Ross Maloney, commended the efforts of the competition sponsors for helping generate such a successful event: UK

The Skills Show is supported by the European Social Fund with additional funding from the Skills Funding Agency, and features involvement from the National Careers Service.