Subcontractors welcome

Guy Mollart heads up the family-owned Mollart group of companies, which in the UK takes in Mollart Engineering, Chessington, Surrey and, Resolven, South Wales; and Bencere, Stratford-upon-Avon. There are also a number of overseas operations – Canada, China, USA and Germany. The Mollart group encompasses the manufacture of deep hole drilling machines, the manufacture and sale of Botek deep hole tooling, manufacture and sale of hole finishing tooling (Bencere), and subcontracting, taking in deep hole machining and added value operations at both Chessington and Resolven locations. Image: Guy Mollart heads a machine tool, tooling and subcontracting operation, and is spearheading the Manufacturing Technologies Association's subcontractor recruitment drive And it is subcontracting that is the focus of Mr Mollart's attentions in his new role of MTA vice president, with special interest in business and events, which he has held since the end of last year, although he has only recently adopted a higher profile. The Manufacturing Technologies Association has as members machine tool manufacturers, machine tool importers, tooling and work holding suppliers, and Associate Members covering such areas as software, finance sourcing and industry subcontractors. Currently, the MTA's membership has few subcontractors – but a boost to those numbers is planned, following the MTA's MACH exhibition held in June, which, for the first time, had a dedicated UK subcontractor zone. Mr Mollart's efforts are now aimed at accelerating growth in that segment of membership. GIVING SOMETHING BACK "I had been asked for some time to take on this role and I thought it was time to put something back into the industry after all the years of having taken from it," he explains. "Particularly in the area of exports, I have been appreciative of the MTA's efforts, especially in China, where I took my first steps with the MTA's support – they did a fantastic job." And although China is more a market for machine tools, Mollart now exports £3.5 million worth of its £5 million subcontract machined work around the world, with its focus on the oil industry. This turnover equals the amount generated by machine tool sales, with a further £2 million added by its tooling business. "I now have a strong management team here [Chessington] and at Resolven, so I can now offer more time to the MTA. My first involvement was with MACH, as a member of the exhibition committee, and I am now excited about my role. I think we have some ideas to fashion; have very positive messages that we can get across to UK manufacturing industry and a new message to subcontractors about how we can help them, and which are also the future of our association. " Mr Mollart believes that his company is a particularly good role model, having, as it does, feet in both camps – machine tool manufacture and subcontracting. So how will the MTA expand its subcontracting membership? Well, at a high and longer term level, discussions with other trade associations are taking place that may result in an en bloc boost to the MTA's ranks, although this is far from imminent, it is noted. But clearly discussions between associations do take place, as instanced by the recent tie-up between the MTA and the British Gear Association (see box item). Image: Mollart's Resolven site, the site of much recent investment In a related comment, Mr Mollart believes that manufacturing does require a more unified front in its representations to government, which, as he says, is a large element of an association's activity. Interestingly, it is now almost 20 years since Lord Michael Heseltine, Conservative President of the Board of Trade at the then Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), stood up and called for trade association rationalisation, saying he would only deal with a single association in each sector. The MTA was recognised early on as a strong association and has had the ear of government, with the new Business Secretary, Dr Vince Cable, and the Minister for Business and Enterprise, Mark Prisk, both attending the MTA-organised MACH 2010 exhibition in June. But for individual subcontractors, the MTA represents "engineering and excellence" and, as such, can offer those companies a relevant home. And, in a move that can be seen as reaching out to a larger audience, the association's annual dinner is likely to see some changes. Chairing the committee on this, Mr Mollart suggests that ideas under consideration are that it could: be "zinged up a bit", with extra content added; made to appeal to a wider audience; be opened up to non-members, perhaps other associations; be held at a larger venue; and, perhaps, be held outside London – the dinner did, after all, move from its established home of The Grosvenor Hotel, Hyde Park, this year. It will remain a black tie dinner, however, but will aspire to have broader appeal as a manufacturing and engineering industry event. "We have got to get the message across that, although the Manufacturing Technologies Association has its roots in machine tool manufacturing, it is now a broader club and seeks to be broader still." So having engaged with a wider audience, including subcontractors, what can and will the MTA do for them? "The work we have done so far indicates that training and education are the main areas of help, with this including apprenticeships. But, speaking for myself, for Mollarts, through the industry networking opportunities that belonging to an association brings, we have won subcontracting work from people that I didn't know before November 2009. And the social side of the association's activities, the annual dinner and AGM, for example, are part of that networking opportunity." KEY ASSOCIATION ATTRIBUTES Looking at it from his own company's requirements of an association, Mr Mollart sums up the offering as one that: helps guide a company through the steps when applying for education and training grants, for instance; provides functions/business events that companies can attend and meet people with similar concerns and experiences; organises events where government policy, thinking or advice can be heard and discussed; offers business development opportunities, via networking or, for example, through export services. On the latter point, Mr Mollart notes that UK company attendance at foreign subcontracting exhibitions is not high and may be an area where the association could help. He accepts that the MTA does not have a fully developed package to roll out to subcontractors. Indeed, he says: "I am in listening mode". But he does wish to underline the seriousness that the MTA places on attracting and supporting UK subcontracting companies. The association does already offer its existing membership appropriate services; some of those will be a fit for subcontractors, others may require modification, while there may be others still that need to be created – buying clubs; marketing, sales and management development, for example. MTA staff will be getting out and about to discuss membership with companies over the coming months, but there's nothing to stop interested companies from contacting the MTA, of course. Box item Growing association Mr Mollart says that he is seeing membership enquiries on a weekly basis and that the MTA has also recently formed a close working alliance with the British Gear Association (BGA), with the organisations sharing events and developing closer ties. The BGA has over 70 members, taking in OEMs such as BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce (Derby), NSK Europe; subcontractors, such as Flame Hardeners, Allen Gears, Hindle Gears; universities, such as Nottingham and Newcastle; machine tool suppliers Wright Manufacturing Systems and Holroyd; plus the Ministry of Defence. The MTA is already the secretariat for the nine-member Federation British Hand Tool Manufacturers (www.mta.org.uk/trade-associations/FBHTM), and the former BHECTA members have now formed a tooling group within the MTA, while retaining the BHECTA legal framework. First published in Machinery, August 2010