New website addresses SW UK engineering

A BEMA product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Feb 20, 2002

BEMA, the Bristol and Western Engineering Manufacturers' Association, has launched its new website.

BEMA, the Bristol and Western Engineering Manufacturers' Association, has launched its new website.

The organisation, which represents the interests of 300 engineering and manufacturing companies in the South West of England, and plays an influential role in the region's economic development, will be promoting its members' services nationally and overseas with the new site.

The site will be promoting the association's members by acting as a comprehensive database resource for engineers, manufacturers and specifiers, from all over the world, who are looking for suppliers of a vast range of engineering services, particularly in the subcontract market, a key sector of BEMA's responsibilities.

Visitors to the site will be able to freely search the database to find suppliers of a range of services from abrasive finishing to welding and wood moulding; and find specialists in areas such as brakes and suspension, EDM, CAD, filtration, honing, hydraulics, thermal coatings and a many more disciplines.

It is hoped that the site will particularly help boost the export potential of the South West's engineering and manufacturing sector.

Since 1936, BEMA has predominantly focused on developing trade and co-operation between its members.

Now, under the directorship of John Whitlow, the organisation will be promoting the huge range of services available from its members to the global engineering market.

Whitlow explains: "At a time when engineering and manufacturing have been hit particularly hard, we will be making every effort, not only to help members with support and advisory services, but by proactively helping them to bring in new business to broaden their customer base and improve their long-term prospects.

The web site brings together 65 years of BEMA's work to a global audience.

The South West has a long-established reputation for its engineering expertise, particularly in the aerospace and high-precision sectors.

By actively promoting the website as a gateway to an easily searchable source of supply of high-quality suppliers for virtually the entire range of engineering services available, we're hoping to make it one of the first ports of call for the engineering community by promoting it both nationally and internationally".

The bulk of BEMA's membership comprises small and medium enterprises.

By acting as an umbrella organisation for them, BEMA is able to help by providing access to a range of business services, training opportunities, and legal and regulatory guidance that may otherwise be cost-prohibitive.

In line with this ethos the web site is designed to benefit such companies.

Whitlow explains: "The subcontract sector has been hit particularly hard.

Many of these are smaller companies.

We're aiming to give them as much marketing clout as possible by promoting them via the site and through various other initiatives".

The organisation is to shortly release the results of its 2002 Economic Survey, a detailed survey of its members that assesses trends in the industry.

At the same time, BEMA is working with the South West Regional Development Agency on the Aerospace Task Force survey to assess the implications of the reduction in aerospace spending following last year's terrorist attacks in America.

Both surveys will be used to help decision makers assess the performance of engineering in the South West and help guide the direction of future development policies for the region.

BEMA is also helping to promote a subsidised trade mission for 18th-21st March for the annual National Manufacturing Week exhibition to be held in Chicago.

Whitlow concludes: "Throughout 2002, BEMA will be rolling out new services and initiatives aimed at helping maximise growth and generally improving the prospects of engineers and manufacturers in the region".