Survey makes the case for toolmaking

A GTMA product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Apr 11, 2003

The GTMA, with the support of the DTI and the com-met 2005 project, is compiling the first ever fully comprehensive database on toolmaking activity in the UK.

As part of its initiative to raise the profile of toolmakers, the GTMA, with the support of the DTI and the com-met 2005 project, is compiling the first ever fully comprehensive database on toolmaking activity in the UK.

At the moment no-one has a complete picture of exactly how many people are employed in hands-on toolmaking or the roles that support it.

With firm figures to prove the sector's size and value the DTI will have a stronger argument with which to convince the Government to provide additional support.

Census forms have already been sent to over 2500 firms.

Preliminary responses show 1078 companies engaged in toolmaking, employing a total of 9935 hands-on toolmakers.

Both com-met 2005 and the GTMA are convinced that there are many other companies who are engaged in toolmaking, ie making press tools, plastic injection mould tools or prototype/rapid toolmaking, who have either not received forms or not yet responded.

Toolmakers' present statistical invisibility is partly due to the fact that the sector does not fall neatly into one of the SIC classifications that the Government uses.

Negotiations have begun with Eurostat, the body that controls the SIC classification system, to create a new category which would include all toolmaking activities and it is hoped legislation will be put before the European Parliament in 2005 to come into operation with the new SIC coding in 2007.

The GTMA and com-met 2005 urge every toolmaking operation in the UK to take this opportunity to stand up and be counted.

The census questionnaire, which is very brief, can be obtained from the GTMA.

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