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HOT
NEWS
FMCEC
COUNCIL FIRST IN BRUSSELS
Council
members made history for the FMCEC in June. They held
their first ever official Council meeting outside
the UK when they met in Brussels. The two-day programme
featured a series of informational and policy talks
set up by FMCEC Director of Member Services, Tim Faithfull,
and Administrator, Sharna Gollogly. Chief Executive
Rob Oliver stated "It was good for Council members
to meet Commission officials and lobby
organisations in Brussels face-toface. So much of
our work is now centred on European legislation that
it's essential to keep abreast of developments on-the-spot
and make the most of personal contact opportunities."
In addition to meeting with the CECE Secretariat team
of Pierre Juliens and Guy Raymackers, the group also
received presentations on the CBI's Brussels-based
British Business Bureau and the engineering lobbying
organisation Orgalime. A tour of the European Parliament
building was also included in the programme.
click here for the President's
views.
WELCOME
TO EIGHT NEW MEMBERS
Benford
Ltd
Dawson Construction Plant Ltd
Edwin Lowe Ltd
KAB Seating Ltd
Kay-Dee Engineering Plastics Ltd
Kobelco UK
Liftmaster
Uniturn Engineering Co Ltd
RAYCO
CONSULTANTS
Good
to hear from former FMCEC Component Suppliers Committee
Chairman, Ray Roberts. After successful spells at
the helm of Danfoss and Sterling Hydraulics, he has
a new venture - Rayco Consultants. His management
consultancy services are available to anyone who needs
help with the hydraulics market. Contact him on Tel
/ Fax: +44 (0)1823 444745 or ray@rayco.freeserve.co.uk.
RESEARCH
& DEVELOPMENT
Government money is available for R&D projects
for small and medium sized enterprises (SMES) via
the Smart programme. Smart awards are given (on a
competitive basis) for bright ideas with a commercial
potential. Your local Business Link should be able
to provide details. If not, contact the FMCEC offices
or take a look at www.london-innovation.org.uk.
PLANT
THEFT
The
Plant Theft Action Group (PTAG) met for the first
time earlier this year at the Home Office in London
- Tim Faithfull represented the FMCEC. Under the Chairmanship
of Kevin Clancy, members include representatives from
the insurance industry, the Equipment Register, the
police, the Home Office, the Construction Plant-hire
Association and various manufacturers - including
FMCEC members JCB, Caterpillar and CompAir
The
registration of new equipment was discussed at length.
The PTAG is already committed to a mandatory registration
scheme and it was concluded that plant should be defined
as "any construction plant/equipment which was
selfpropelled and used on road". It was agreed
that a registration fee to cover administrative costs
should be levied. but no form of road tax applied
to these vehicles. It was felt that manufacturers
already provided sufficient information for a registration
document, but that dealers and purchasers would have
to be educated in the need to register and the benefits
of so doing.
The
Plant Theft Research Report was also discussed. The
police had not noticed any significant change to the
theft of large equipment over the last two years probably
due to the lower profit margin achievable, caused
by the influx of cheap imports (non-compliant machines)
and the increased likelihood of a tracking device
being installed. The voluntary Code of Practice had
gone some way towards meeting the Report's recommendations
for manufacturers. Any immobiliser would have to be
tested for reliability and durability to the same
standard as the rest of the equipment, without affecting
the final quality of the product.
It
was noted that registration numbers of some plant
equipment were being taken from the Internet and the
police would like to know what benefit this could
be to anyone - if you have any ideas, please contact
Tim Faithfull. The Equipment Register has been targeting
the problem with agricultural plant in Farmers Weekly
- and Construction News regularly publishes the top
twenty thefts. The Report's recommendations needed
to be emphasised to manufacturers and importers, suggesting
that they should comply with the Code of Practice.
The
next PTAG meeting is scheduled for 14 November 2000.
For further
information contact Tim Faithfull via tim@admin.co.uk.
COMPETITION
ACT
If
you need to make sense of the current Competition
Act (1998) there are a series of OFT explanatory booklets
available: Making a complaint, What your business
needs to know, Under investigation and How your business
can achieve compliance. Free copies available from
the FMCEC offices.
BUYERS
GUIDES
Long
time industry press and PR man, Roger Lindley, showcased
his new CMLDIR BUYERS GUIDES at the Intermat show
in France and reported good levels of interest. These
Intemet guides cover both the Construction and Mining
Industries. Take a look at www.cmldir.com - and send
your latest product information to newsdesk@cmldir.com.
ADVICE
FOR SMALL FIRMS
The
DTI's Information Society Initiative (ISI) provides
small businesses with impartial advice on using Information
and Communications Technologies. To contact your nearest
Centre call the ISI Info-Line on +44 (0)845 715 2000
- between 8.00 am and 10.00 pm seven days a week.
DATA
PROTECTION ACT
The
Act came into force on 1 March 2000 with 18 months
allowed for transition. All organisations handling
data need to register annually under the Act. Guidance
and FAQs can be found on www.dataprotection.gov.uk
and the full text can be downloaded from www.hmso.govuk.
FUTUREVISION
The National Conference and Exhibition for Business
Support, organised by the Business Link Network Company,
will be held on 2-3 October 2000 at the Hilton Metropole
Hotel, NEC, Birmingham. Helpline - Tel: +44 (0)1635
572640.
ADVERTISING
Did
you know you can advertise in Newsline? Very competitive
rates, eg quarter page (text + picture), FMCEC members
FREE - nonmembers £75.00. Further details contact
Kim Fitzpatrick - kim@admin.co.uk.
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