Made in the Midlands members were treated to a networking event with a difference courtesy of Forward Industrial Products Group.
Eschewing the event’s traditional format, Forward opted neither to host the networking at its base in Tyseley Business Park, nor to have it over breakfast.
Instead, the event was transferred to the iCentrum building at Innovation Birmingham campus and breakfast was changed for brunch.
Keith Johnstone, Forward sales manager, gave a presentation to members outlining the company’s ethos and its strategy of Source, Supply and Integrate.
He explained how Forward - which takes its name from Birmingham’s motto - worked with its customers by helping them source the MRO (maintenance, repair and operating) parts they needed for their operations.
Utilising an extensive database and pairing it with more than 100 years’ of combined experience, the company belief is that if a part exists, they will find it, supply it and integrate it, thereby keeping vital production processes operational.
In addition to standard parts, Forward can also manufacture and supply safety-critical special fasteners and turned parts.
Integration of stores ensures that parts are easily located when required, thereby minimising any delays to the production process.
Mr Johnstone outlined how the smooth running of a manufacturing operation was vital in order to prevent delays and costly hold-ups in maintenance cycles.
Members attending the event were also given a demonstration of the sourcing capabilities of Konecranes’ Agilon material handling solution.
Forward have exclusivity within the fasteners industry for the use of Agilon, which is a modular inventory and management system that can be used across a variety of different sectors.
Members attending the event included: The Acme Spring Co, AMCO Services, Banelec, Encompass Group, FBC Manby Bowdler, Filtermist International, Gibbs Metal Recycling, Gleeson Recruitment, Gotronic, Grove Design, Hexagon Metrology, Hydrastore, In-Comm Training, Jungheinrich UK, LineView Solutions, The Manufacturing Technology Centre, Metal Craft Industries, Midland Deburr & Finish, Minster Micro Computers, Nufast, Pallite, Recycling Management, Siemens, Sims Metal Management, Smart-Space, TLM Laser, Vero Software and Winster.
Martyn Cleaver, Managing Director, Forward, said: “Congratulations to Made in the Midlands for once again putting together a great event. It was so good to see so many people here and to see so many enjoying themselves.”
Shaun Stephens, Business Development Executive at Smart Space, said: “This has been my first event and I’ve really enjoyed it. I’ve spoken to a lot of interesting people and I’ve be reporting back to my company how good an experience this has been.”