SMC is the largest pneumatics company in the world, employing some 12,500 people globally.  This R&D driven company specifically focuses on developing products that directly meet their customer’s needs.

The company provides affordable pneumatics components (compressed air) to the manufacturing and automation industries throughout the UK and globally.  Its manufacturing base is at Milton Keynes and has a network of sales engineers working in the UK including N Ireland, tasked with providing automation based solutions for industry and identifying companies whose workforce could benefit from new or additional sector specific training. The company has an impressive client list drawn from a variety of sectors including electronics, automotive, food, pharmaceutical and process control, to name but a few.

To remain competitive in the global market, the UK manufacturing industry, like many others, constantly has to change to keep ahead.  Technological advancements (such as automation) are moving so quickly that it is difficult for the learning requirements to keep pace thus, a skills gap is generated.  SMC is focused on minimizing this skills gap by providing specific training solutions to the manufacturing industry that will ultimately bring greater output for the province.  

SMC initially teamed up with the Technology & Innovation Centre to deliver training on a local basis, with SMC providing the trainers and the college providing the training environment.  However, the alliance continues to grow and develop with the college now providing “Train the Trainer” programmes as well as a generic training package to SMC’s clients that supports the manufacturing process.  The SMC training programme leads to an NVQ Level 2 CVA standard qualification and graduates have the opportunity to further develop their skills through NVQ progression in specialised learning areas within the college.

Martin says, “We work closely with our clients to deliver focused and specialised, technology driven training so that they can derive business efficiencies, whether that be energy saving, cost or productivity.  We have invested extensive time and energy in developing our alliance with the team at the Technology & Innovation Centre in Bangor and are currently looking at further projects that will strengthen this relationship and enable us to respond rapidly to N Ireland’s industry needs.”       

For further details contact Martin Bevan: on 01908 563888 or mbevan@smcpneumatics.co.uk.