Picon and Engineering alliance take up metric issue in the UK and Europe

Working on behalf of its members, many of whom are SME mechanical engineering firms, Picon and the Engineering and Machinery Alliance (EAMA) has asked industry minister Margaret Hodge to fight the possible ban on the use of imperial measures in literature and on products. This ban, which could come into effect from 2010, would apply to products destined for both EU and non-EU markets.

Having joined the powerful Europe-wide engineering lobbying organization Orgalime, EAMA is already lobbying on this issue in Brussels. 

Picon chief executive John Brazier said: ‘We had an extremely sympathetic hearing from the minister and were able to discuss ways to mitigate some of the unintended consequences of policy on our members. The metric issue is one, where for example it would make it much more difficult for us to export to the USA. The others were family friendly policies, manufacturing’s poor investment record, regionalization and regulation/red tape. We expect to progress each of these areas over the next 12 months.’

‘However, as the proposed metric directive demonstrates, so much of the legislation affecting our companies starts off in Brussels so we need to be involved at the earliest stage of the process.’

Mr Brazier continued: ‘Orgalime is well resourced and well respected, representing over a quarter of all EU manufacturing, and that level of membership helps to open doors at the Commission and other institutions. It also creates the necessary pressure for high quality analysis and strong policy engagement, which is what we want to be able to offer our members.’