SMEs are an integral part of the UK’s manufacturing landscape. Accounting for over 90 per cent of all manufacturing businesses, SMEs contribute 25 per cent of GDP each year and play a crucial role in the export of billions of pounds of goods to Europe and beyond.

The pressure on global supply chains has been well-documented during the last three years, particularly as the Covid-19 pandemic took hold. But as the world begins to ease restrictions and normal life returns, businesses and consumers alike have observed how prices continue to be on the rise, driving up inflation and increasing the cost of living.

With the country now emerging from the pandemic, manufacturing businesses are anticipating a healthier, more productive future. However, other factors, such as fallout from Brexit – have yet to fully subside, with a shortage in the supply of labour threatening to place a ceiling on recovery and growth.

So, what’s the current picture facing manufacturing SMEs in the UK?

In August 2021, John Penrose, MP  for Weston-Super-Mare, backed the Institute for Prosperity’s 10-point plan for the revival of the UK’s manufacturing industry after Covid and Brexit, citing the ‘big, structural changes to our education system, our economy, and our society’ that are needed to reverse ‘the long, low decline of British manufacturing’.

At Hone-All, we’re passionate about the health and potency of the UK’s manufacturing sector, recognising it’s strong capacity for growth and success in a challenging global marketplace.

Our Director, Andrea Wilson, is a strong advocate for the appointment of a national Commissioner for Manufacturing, so that a dedicated official can assume responsibility for promoting and representing the sector’s interests, across Government departments and overseas in international trade deals.

However, appointing the right person to this post is crucial. So, what attributes should a Manufacturing Commissioner offer?

All steel tube manufacturers have many considerations to make. It all begins with attention to detail.

Detail in this realm means balancing multiple contrasting variables including: the initial design requirements; the specification of the material; the quality of the machine; the cost of manufacture; and the required quality of the final product are the main areas.

Whether you're manufacturing cylinders for use in engines, hydraulic systems, or industrial machinery, it's crucial to make sure that they are reliable, function smoothly, and stand the test of time. That means ensuring that their surfaces are honed. In this article, we'll examine how honing is used in cylinder manufacturing and who you can turn to for help with the process.

CNC honing is a specialised manufacturing procedure used to finish a wide range of industrial and machine components. Here are answers to five of the most frequently asked queries that we receive about CNC honing:

It's common for companies to use third party accountants, solicitors, and IT providers when they don't have teams of experts in-house. However, in recent years, manufacturing companies have realised that they can also benefit from working closely with precision engineering firms to handle parts of their manufacturing process. What advantages could your business gain from using Hone-All's subcontract machining services?

The impact of coronavirus on supply chains in 2020/21 has been immense. What started as a problem for China rapidly evolved into a global catastrophe, with supply chains experiencing considerable disruption due to trade restrictions and material shortages.