Surface World March 2019 SW_March_2019_LR | Page 26
BCF: THE BRITISH COATINGS FEDERATION
BCF members out in force to support
launch of Surface Engineering Advanced
Coatings Leadership Forum in Parliament
Representatives from the
surface engineering and
coatings sectors met with
parliamentarians, academics
and Lords to recognise the
importance of the sector
in driving manufacturing
growth in the UK post-
Brexit, at a launch event
in the House of Lords,
hosted by The Lord Whitby,
President of the Surface
Engineering Association.
The sector has ambitious plans to grow to
£25 billion by 2025, and in turn create over
50,000 new jobs in British manufacturing.
BCF members present at the event were
AkzoNobel, BASF, Fujichem Sonneborn,
Indestructible Paint, Jotun Paints, Paint
Services Group and Schloetter Company.
The BCF is one of six associations and
professional bodies behind the initiative, and
will continue to support the important work of
the leadership forum, to stimulate a higher
take up of apprenticeships, to ensure the
sector maximises its relationships with
academia and KTNs to deliver on innovation,
and embrace digital manufacturing.
“Our goal is to promote to Government, and
wider stakeholders, the importance and
economic potential and impact of surface
engineering, advanced coatings and
materials finishing” commented Tom Bowtell,
CEO of the BCF at the launch event.
The sector is
estimated to be
worth £11 billion to
the UK economy
today, with an
indirect impact on
£140 billion of GDP.
The British Coatings Federation is the
sole Trade Association representing
the UK paints, printing inks, powder
coatings and wallcoverings sectors
in the UK. For further information,
visit www.coatings.org.uk or contact
Tania Morrill [email protected]