TPi January 2010

news business & market

Recession has taken its toll on engineering but is the end in sight?

Sales manager to build eastern Europe presence Radius Systems, a manufacturer of plastic piping systems for utility infrastructure applications, is continuing its expansion drive with the appointment of Eddy Lewoski as regional sales manager for eastern Europe. Mr Lewoski has over 20 years’ experience in export markets for the industry and, although based in the UK, will be responsible for growing Radius Systems’ business in European markets like Poland, the Ukraine and Russia. Mr Lewoski’s background incorporates extensive work on electrofusion and compression fittings for the gas and water industries worldwide, as well as training installation engineers. He has an advantage when it comes to local languages, being fluent in Polish, Ger- man and Spanish, additionally speaking some French and basic Japanese.

In two to three years, when companies expect financial constraints to have eased, they once again anticipate a skills shortage in the engineering and technology profession. professional development will beneeded to re-engage the skilled engineers lost during the recession. Without a concerted effort now, it is likely that the UK will quickly experience a greater shortage of engineering skills than before the recession.” The Skills and Demand in Industry report can be viewed online, at www. theiet.org/publicaffairs/education/skills- survey2009.cfm?type=pdf The Institution of Engineering and Technology – UK postmaster@theiet.org www.theiet.org “Retraining and

The recession has taken its toll on the engineering and technology sector, but the end could be in sight, according to the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). The IET’s annual Skills and Demand in Industry report shows that only 31% of employers (compared to 63% last year) are planning to recruit staff over the next 12 months. Of the companies surveyed, 40% said they were concerned about losing their skills base because of the recession. A third of those companies not recruiting this year named financial constraints as the primary reason. However, only 12% thought that this would be a problem in two to three years, fuelling speculation that the recession is coming to an end. The survey also reveals a reduction in the recruitment of postgraduates entering engineering roles (down from 24% to 12%). This could be an indication that companies are cutting back on research and development and not diversifying their business. As a result, companies that have notmaintainedR&D investment may lose out when the economy picks up. Nigel Fine, chief executive of the IET, commented, “Unlike other surveys, ours is entirely focused on engineering and technology and gives a clear viewof what is happening in this sector. The results show that although financial constraints are preventing many companies from recruiting, it appears the situation will ease over the coming years and that the end of the recession may be in sight.

Radius Systems Ltd – UK sales@radius-systems.co.uk www.radius-systems.com

Gates Corporation acquires Hydrolink Group Gates Corporation has announced its acquisition of the Hydrolink Group of Companies. Hydrolink is a fluid engineering company focused on the oil and gas markets in the Middle East and CIS regions, and maintains branches that have engineering services, inventory and service centres. Since 1988, when Hydrolink first began operating in the United Arab Emirates, the company has provided customers in the oil and gas market with a comprehensive range of engineering, fabrication, testing and service operations for fluid power products in the rapidly developing Persian Gulf region. Founded and headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Hydrolink has expanded to twenty locations in the Middle East and CIS regions. The collective market size for fluid power products in this region is estimated to be worth around US$480mn per annum. The acquisition allows Gates to accelerate its market penetration for fluid power products in these high-growth regions.

Gates Corporation – USA www.gates.com

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Hydrolink – United Arab Emirates info@hydrolinkgroup.com • www.hydrolinkgroup.com

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January 2010 Tube Products International