A prosthetic foot, a replacement knee and the winglet of a jet plane are some of the British manufacturing highlights featured at the official launch of the International Festival for Business today.
The launch takes place at St George’s Hall, Liverpool, where UK Trade & Investment is hosting The British Business Embassy.
Manufacturers will be taking centre stage with the Embassy, spotlighting Britain’s strength in manufacturing, advanced engineering, automotive and aerospace, reflecting the UK’s leading position in these fields, as well as, demonstrating continued competition globally.
On display will be an Embraer Phenom 300 business jet winglet and a Boeing 737 main landing gear door, both provided by Aeromet International. Chas A Blatchford and Sons, providers of prosthetic care in the UK for nearly 125 years, will be displaying an Elan foot and Orion knee.
Xtrac, manufacturers of transmission systems used in Formula One and rally cars, will be exhibiting an FI gearbox and hydraulics system.
EEF will be displaying iconic images of modern manufacturing.
Terry Scuoler, chief executive of EEF, said: “The IFB is a once-in–a-lifetime opportunity to showcase and celebrate the strength and vibrancy of British business.
“As one of Britain’s biggest success stories, employing 2.6 million people and accounting for 11% of GDP, manufacturing has a starring role to play.
“The products and images on display at the British Business Embassy are iconic and a snapshot of some of the best of British manufacturing.
“They demonstrate the ingenuity, creativity and diversity at the heart of ‘Make it Britain’, setting the scene for what this important festival is all about and instilling a sense of pride.
“They send out a strong message to the world about Britain’s trading capabilities and are a tribute to the entrepreneurial spirit of the host city, Liverpool, too.”
Cliff Hawkins, development director at Xtrac, said: “We’re delighted to have been chosen to fly the flag for Britain at the IFB.
“We are a British company that is respected the world over for our skills in manufacturing to precise specifications and designing high performance gearboxes for the highest levels of motorsport.
“Our levels of innovation continue to reinforce all that is great in the British design and manufacturing sector, helping the economy with our exports consistently running at 60-70% of the company’s turnover.
“Now celebrating our 30th anniversary, we continue to build on the successes achieved in some of the most arduous motorsport events, such as the Le Mans 24 Hours, Dakar and the Indianapolis 500, where every car on the grid uses an Xtrac gearbox.
“Advances made in these motorsport arenas have allowed us to secure advanced engineering contracts in the Aerospace, Automotive, Defence and Marine sectors with a highlight being the supply of the 7 speed paddle shift gearbox in the Pagani Huayra supercar.”
