From January 2017, both will now be located on the Wellesbourne site in Warwickshire; the previous Southam headquarters building being vacated. The Permanent Trade Show will be moved in part to Wellesbourne.
Reflecting on 2016 business, group managing director Martin Doyle says: “It has been a challenging year dominated by Brexit-related uncertainty, but one that we have ultimately come out of very well. Like many we experienced a lull in early and mid-summer. I think buyers were simply waiting to see what happened after the referendum, but soon after, when things started to return to something like normality, we saw an upturn as confidence returned. Obviously as a net importer of machine tools we have had to wear the effects of the low sterling value but confidence has returned to the marketplace, we have recovered well and the order book into the first quarter of 2017 and beyond is optimistic.”
In addition, to create wider awareness of ETG and its products, the company has released details of a network of permanent machine displays located around the UK. Adds Doyle: “We plan to be located on the south coast and in the South West, Midlands, North West and North East. Engineering differs in these regions – aerospace, automotive, oil and gas – and our choice of demonstration machines will reflect this. Not forgetting of course the all-important general subcontract sector that is still a major part of what we offer.”
ETG is in the process of signing an exclusive deal a UK apprenticeship provider, and is also establishing relationships with likeminded associates within the industry to create up to half a dozen permanent regional demonstration facilities that will also act as a focus for customer training hubs and technical apprentice schools. ETG training will also be offered, for controls, machine operation and CADCAM.
