Packed to the rafters!

Over 500 visitors attend Seco’s ‘Inspiration through Innovation’ Open House.

Seco Tools (UK) has reported that its recently-held ‘Inspiration through Innovation’ Open House (23rd & 24th September 2015) was a phenomenal success with over 500 visitors attending the event over the two days.

Billed as being one of the UK’s premier advanced manufacturing best-practice events the Open House, held at Seco’s state-of-the-art Technology Centre in Alcester, had something for everyone and, judging by the high numbers attending, certainly captured the imagination of UK and Irish manufacturers.

Now in its second year Inspiration through Innovation was the ideal venue for Seco to promote its own new, advanced and innovative cutting tools, customer-focused services and process improvement solutions to visitors. Of particular interest was Seco’s unique Custom Tool manufacturing operation where bespoke cutting tool solutions are designed and manufactured in-house.

The Open House also provided the perfect location for over 30 of Seco’s Technical Partners (comprising leading machine tool builders and best-in-class CAD/CAM, work-holding, cutting fluids, automation and inspection and measurement specialist suppliers) to showcase their latest technologies.

Commented Mike Fleming, Seco’s Sales & Marketing Manager:

“We were delighted by the response from our Technical Partners. Last year’s event was supported by 15 partners – this year the number rose to over 30 Partners…which is just fantastic and demonstrates that Inspiration through Innovation has, in a relatively short time, become a ‘must attend’ event.”

In addition to Technical Partner exhibits and a number of innovative machining and cutting demonstrations taking place throughout the two days, a series of short high-impact seminars covering a wide range of contemporary manufacturing issues and topics were organised and which pulled in the crowds.

Specific seminars covered the latest trends in the automotive industry; advanced roughing strategies; productivity in machining (turning) steel; reducing vibration during machining operations, and best-practice machining of titanium; stainless steels and nickel-based alloys. All proved popular and were well attended – so much so in fact that for many there was standing room only.

Commented Richard Jelfs, Seco’s Managing Director:

“Last year we held our first ‘Inspiration through Innovation’ Open House. It was well attended with some 300 visitors attending.

“This year we wanted the event to be bigger and better. We invited more Technical Partners to become involved…we increased the number of machining demonstrations and made sure they were more innovative, more challenging and, as a consequence, more appealing to visitors…and we ensured that our best-practice seminars were even more relevant and incisive.

“Our objective with Inspiration through Innovation was to create an inspiring and practical event that was truly customer-focused and that demonstrated to visitors and partners alike that significant improvements in productivity and performance are best achieved through collaboration and by sharing best practice.

“The feedback from this year’s event, from visitors, Technical Partners and the media demonstrates that we achieved this objective and, certainly as far as visitor numbers were concerned, we exceeded our own expectations.”

Such has been the success of Seco’s ‘Inspiration through Innovation’ event that it has already been approached by a number of companies wishing to become involved and exhibit at the 2016 Open House.