Technology suppliers get behind World Skills 2011

In Wrexham, on Monday, 13 June, Squad UK members make their final bid for a place in Team UK during a week-long intensive competition. The winner of the Team Selection event will be announced at the National Apprentice Awards Ceremony on 29 June. WorldSkills London 2011 gets underway at the ExCeL exhibition centre in just under four months, 5-8 October. To give UK competitors the very best chance of success in October, Nikken Kosakusho has announced it is sponsoring the NC Tooling, while Sandvik is providing cutting tools. Both organisations will continue to provide support and sponsorship right through to the final event in London, demonstrating their commitment to workplace skills and the importance of training for young people. Other technology suppliers sponsoring the event include Mori Seiki, Amada, RK International and Mitutoyo. At the event, Mori Seiki will provide support via 24 brand new design machines from its X Class range. These machines were introduced at the end of 2010. Amada is providing a Quattro CNC laser profiling centre and two HF, down-stroking CNC press brakes for the Sheet Metal Technologies activity. RK International will be installing 28 machines to support the Mould Making Skills, Manufacturing Team Challenge and Polymechanics/Automation skill competitions. Mitutoyo UK is supplying around 400 measurement instruments and co-ordinate measuring machines.