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INNOVATION EXPRESS TOLD “INNOVATION, FLEXIBILITY AND SCOPE” KEY TO SUPPLYING BIG BUSINESS
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Posted on:
09/03/2010 | Client Name: Transport iNet
In the first event of its kind, small and medium sized businesses from the East Midlands boarded the Transport iNet’s “Innovation Express” this week. Twenty companies offering engineering, design and manufacturing services to the transport sector were given a tour of operations and an audience with Bombardier engineers to find out what the global leader in rail technology is looking for from suppliers and how they can gain a competitive advantage.
Three groups of businesses joined the specially organised bus tour to the Bombardier site at Derby and were given an overview of operations by Jon Seddon, Director of Strategic Programmes, Bombardier Transportation, a tour of the manufacturing facility and a group session with Bombardier Transportation’s Head of Engineering and key design and R&D engineers.
Due to the bespoke solutions required for each of Bombardier’s projects, businesses were told that those who can demonstrate new technology, the ability to work from limited specifications and offer a quick turnaround are likely to be viewed more favourably. In addition, flexibility, scope, the use of precision manufacturing technologies and an ability to deliver concurrent processing and design work provide a competitive advantage.
Jon Seddon, said: “Activities such as this are crucial for us to understand what the region’s small businesses can offer by way of innovative design and technology and for us to explain our needs. Although we have a procurement process in place for sourcing suppliers, we are always keen to hear from businesses with novel ideas which can help us to improve our offer to customers and save time and money in the design and construction of trains and associated component parts.”
John Frodsham, the Transport iNet Project Director, said: “The Innovation Express is the first event of this nature that the Transport iNet has organised and intends to bring small and medium sized businesses together to network with one another and to meet a large organisation such as Bombardier to see where opportunities lie. It is vital that we continue working to connect transport businesses and encourage them to share ideas and knowledge to succeed.”
Les Donald, Instrumentation Engineer from Derby based Richmond Measurement Services, said: “It was a useful insight into the workings of a large organisation such as Bombardier. It is notoriously difficult for businesses like ours to get a foot in the door and events like this open up face-to-face dialogue and give a direct point of contact. Even though it is likely to be a long time before it translates into orders it is useful to understand what the engineers are looking for so we can demonstrate our offering in the most effective way and play to our strengths.”
The Transport iNet, which is based at Loughborough University, is funded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The aim of the iNet is to share expertise and stimulate the research and development of new products, services and processes across the five transport sectors, rail, marine, automotive, motorsport and aerospace.
ENDS
For further information please contact Rachael van Oudheusden at Willoughby PR on 0115 924 7132 or email rachaelv@willoughby-pr.co.uk
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