The course focussed on advanced manufacturing and advanced materials - two areas where the UK has a leading edge - and was intended to educate the visiting specialists about the challenges UK engineering firms face when marketing their products overseas.
Specialists from Brazil, China, Czech Republic, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Romania, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand and the USA came together to learn about new technologies and areas of excellence in the region's engineering sector in order for them to promote the North West's expertise on return to their own countries.
The North West is the nation's leading manufacturing region, accounting for £18.9 billion GVA and 12.8% of UK turnover in the sector.
Advanced engineering covers a wide range of engineering capability from component manufacture, through design to advanced control systems. It underpins industries ranging from nuclear to food processing, biotechnology and ICT.
The Advanced Flexible Materials sector is particularly strong in the North West with nearly 500 companies active - from manufacturers of protective workwear to specialist companies.
Mini Gears was chosen by UKTI as one of the top North West companies in the subcontract manufacturing sector, along with CHK Engineering in Crewe, Leyland Trucks in Lancashire and Jaguar Land Rover in Halewood. The commercial officers also met representatives from the North West Aerospace Alliance and the North West Automotive Alliance on their trip.
Delegates were taken on a tour of Mini Gears' manufacturing plant to see the full range of capability the company offers and how it has continued, despite intense global challenges, to invest heavily in the type of machinery necessary for today's market requirements.
Mini Gears Chairman Paul Darwent and Managing Director, Phil Darwent explained how the company had embraced the global price competition by setting up overseas sourcing facilities in China and India and purchasing a manufacturing plant in the Czech Republic.
The delegates learned how the company's traditional product range of specialist gears, racks and machined parts had been augmented with the overseas sourcing and manufacturing. The product range now includes castings, forgings, stampings and fabrications. The name 'Components Worldwide' had been introduced to reflect the wider product range and the company's international focus.
Since the visit the company has already been in contact with some of the delegates who have been assisting the Sales Team with advice on how to do business in their countries.
