Precision Technologies Group picks up China business award

The event was held at The Lowry Theatre, Salford, and the Greater China Business Award won by Precision Technologies Group recognises the company's significant contribution to developing business and network links with Greater China, including bi-lateral trade and investment. "We are delighted to have been recognised for our efforts with such a prestigious honour," commented PTG group business development director Neil Jones. "That recognition is all the more significant for us as we are founder members of the Manchester-China Forum, an initiative that is passionate about strengthening ties between the city region and China." Incorporating the brands of Holroyd, Binns & Berry, Crawford Swift and Holroyd Precision Components, PTG has established itself at the forefront of high precision machine tool design, build and supply. The PTG range includes ultra-precision grinding machines for rotor, thread and gear operations; rotor milling machines; heavy duty lathes; deep hole boring machines; friction stir welding machines and special purpose machine tools for the manufacture of precision components. Industrial sectors served range from aerospace, medical and mould tool and die to marine, power generation, mining, oil and gas, steel, high end and heavy automotive. The group was acquired by China's Chongqing Machinery and Electric Co (CQME) in 2010. However, Precision Technologies Group has been developing business connections with China and Taiwan since the 1980s. The business established a Chinese office in 2007 and has enjoyed increased sales to China year-on-year. In 2013, for example, a Zenith 400 helical profile grinder from PTG Holroyd Precision was purchased by one of China's leading manufacturers of refrigeration compressors. Valued at £1.16 million, the machine tool is capable of precision grinding screw compressor rotors of up to 420 mm in diameter. Similarly, Powerstir friction stir welders, from PTG Heavy Industries, have become a preferred choice for creating railway carriage panels for China's high speed rail network. A unique method of jointing metals by 'stirring' them together, friction stir welding (FSW) provides aesthetically pleasing, highly robust joints that are without the detrimental and sometimes unsightly effects associated with conventional welding. In a joint project with its technology partner, the China Friction Stir Welding Center, PTG Heavy Industries created a 30 by 4 m gantry Powerstir machine capable of producing, at over 15 metres in length, the longest ever single railway car panel weld in China. Since acquisition by CQME, significant investment has been made in Precision Technologies Group by its Chinese owners. This has included a considerable proportion of profits given over to the development of new products and markets, as well as investment in R&D, training and skills. CQME is focused on learning best practice, improving budgeting, design, technology, marketing, talent development and production processes. As such, it sends people to PTG for in-house training and to gain experience. Alongside this, PTG is developing programmes with UK universities to provide sponsored Chinese students with tailor-made study programmes. Philomena Chen, head of Asia Pacific Development for UK Trade & Investment North West said: "There was an outstanding level of entries for this year's Greater China Awards, across a wide range of sectors from advanced manufacturing to food production and from IT to chemicals. Our winner, PTG Holroyd, has struck an excellent balance between China and the UK in the areas of research, production and market penetration. The company has always shown great determination in the Chinese market, immersing itself in local culture and business practices as early as the 1980s when few businesses had the foresight to anticipate China's growth potential." Clive Drinkwater, regional director for UK Trade & Investment North West, said: "Exports from our region to Greater China in the 12 months ending September 2013 were around £2 billion, and China has been the North West's strongest growth market for several years. Our third biggest export customer, it has overtaken historically big markets such as Ireland and the Netherlands." The Greater China Business Awards are organised by UK Trade & Investment North West and sponsored by Finnair, HSBC and Klako Group. The awards were presented by Fred Charpentier from Finnair, with the Finalists announced by Consul General Pan Yundong. The winners received international flight tickets, courtesy of Finnair. Image: L to R - PTG's HR director, Don Whittle (left), and chief financial officer, Laurence Neary (centre), with Clive Drinkwater (right), regional director of UKTI North West