Automation, 4IR and renewables to drive growth of mechanical equipment sector

The UK’s second biggest manufacturing employer has opportunities for growth according to the new sector report. Manufacturing as a sector enjoyed an excellent year in 2017 and with a 2.8% expansion, it has seen its fastest growth since 2014, and well above the sector’s average annual growth rate.

Encouragingly, the healthy performance was broadly based across sub sectors, but as the industry continues to thrive, the strong global economy is also bringing investment back online, and pushing the UK’s £11 billion mechanical equipment manufacturers to keep up with the digitalisation and modernisation of the supply chain.

Intelligent manufacturing, the rise of automation and other Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies, and increasing demand for renewable energy equipment are central to the future growth and success of the UK’s mechanical equipment industry. In an industry worth £11 billion to the UK economy in terms of Gross Value Add (GVA), growing sector exports internationally is also vital to secure the long-term success.

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Key opportunities for Mechanical Equipment Manufacturers

While automation, digitalisation and the renewables sector are longer term, global trends, there are also a number of near term opportunities which mechanical equipment manufacturers should grasp in order grow their market share and output, according to the report. Three of these are:

1. After sales market

The nature of mechanical equipment products – namely their role as a capital investment by other businesses – means they tend to have longer lifespans than products in other branches of manufacturing. This has led to the after sales industry, and “servitisation” business models growing in importance for the sector.

2. Global construction equipment industry

The global construction equipment market is set to grow to a value of $180.7 billion by 2021. This would equal a 7% compound annual growth rate since 2015, and represents a major opportunity for specialised construction equipment manufacturers in the UK.

3. New financial models – leasing

Purchasing mechanical equipment represents an important investment in terms of future productivity, but may not always be viable. This has led to some big companies in the mechanical equipment market starting to use their size, and financial clout, to offer finance plans in order to increase their sales and revenues, and to provide an additional service to clients.

According to the report, UK government schemes including the Clean Growth Strategy, and carbon budgets which have the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050, will see renewable energy technologies rapidly grow in importance. Mechanical equipment manufacturers, and specifically specialised oil extraction equipment manufacturers will need to adapt and focus on the equipment needed for the production and distribution of renewable energy equipment – for example, hydro‐electrical turbines, fuel cells and biomass systems.

Trading goods and services

The report emphasises that trade is essential to the mechanical equipment sector’s standing and performance. Some 55% of all UK firms are classified as either an importer and/or exporter of goods and services. This is considerably higher than the manufacturing average at 33.5%, and the mechanical equipment sector is one of the most export intensive, with almost half of its demand generated from overseas sales.

In 2017, the sector generated £33 billion from exports and since 2000, the sector has seen foreign demand for its goods increase by almost a half (46%). Despite this, the sector has seen its trade position deteriorate as other countries, both developed and developing, have expanded their mechanical equipment industries at the expense of the UK.

Martyn Jenkins at EEF said:

Our sector bulletin shines a light on the often less heralded mechanical equipment sector, highlighting its role as a critical pillar in manufacturing and wider UK economy.

The success of the sector in continuing to evolve its production processes in the digital age, as well as seek out new markets abroad stands it in good stead for the future. That said, policy makers must continue to support this vital sector by ensuring the UK business environment is cost competitive, trade links are retained and the longstanding productivity issue is addressed.

Paul Brooks, Head of Manufacturing at Santander Corporate & Commercial said:

Santander is dedicated to helping UK manufacturers invest for growth and to expand. We’re particularly focused on helping manufacturers capitalise on export and international trading opportunities and with over half of mechanical equipment sales coming from overseas, we see this as another massive opportunity.

We have dedicated expertise and global insights that can truly support niche manufacturers such as mechanical equipment firms grow through exports, as well as take advantage of wider social and economic trends like automation, robotics and smart tech.

The mechanical equipment sector, and the development of machinery, was behind one of the greatest advances in human history, the Industrial Revolution. While the sector has gone into relative decline since then, its importance and standing in UK manufacturing remains critical, given that nearly every workplace in every industry uses some form of machinery in production. Mechanical equipment manufacturers will therefore need to adapt and put greater emphasis on producing innovative and modernised equipment fit for the 4IR world.

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