Feature

Heat treatment in a challenging economic climate

12 months ago, as Covid restrictions eased, UK manufacturing was facing some significant challenges. As the country continues to grapple with price rises and an increasingly harsh economic climate, Roger Haw, Managing Director of Flame Hardeners, offers a personal overview of the current and future outlook for the sector.

07/10/2022 10:41:48

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The most significant impact has been the massive rise in the cost of energy, which has already increased by 35 percent and is set for a further increase of 60 percent. This can be ‘blamed’ in part on the
war in Ukraine, but it is largely due to the fact that energy is no longer a product but a traded ‘commodity’.

A major impact on the supply chain has been driver shortages, which still persist. Although there has been an
increase in driver applications and testing, there are still tens of thousands of vacancies across the UK. This has been influenced, in particular, by the numbers of mature drivers who have retired or changed careers during and since the pandemic.
The result is that supply of raw materials has become increasingly spasmodic.

Availability of raw materials continues to be an issue, again exacerbated in part by the war in Ukraine, and the situation is worsening. Flame Hardeners has customers who are
now experiencing significant delays in obtaining raw materials, which clearly has a knock-on effect on the supply chain.

This is driving manufacturers to look at alternative materials, although this has to be viewed as a long-term project...

Read the full article in DPA's October issue

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.