Steel sector expert Chris McDonald has argued that the British steel industry has the ability to survive, in the face of tough competition from China, if it can rise to the challenge of becoming more agile and creative.
Speaking at a UK Steel EEF briefing in London, Mr McDonald, Chief Executive of the Materials Processing Institute (MPI), an innovation specialist leading a research institute, said the British steel industry must not be wedded to the past, but must embrace an innovation-led approach and be flexible, efficient and adaptable.
He added: “The Chinese steel industry is and will remain the big beast in the global steel ecosystem, but just as in the natural world, big beasts struggle to cope, with fast moving, smaller, operators and the UK has the opportunity now to transition to just that kind of steel manufacturing economy.”
He added: “It could be easy to fall into the trap of assuming that there is little space for a competitive UK Steel industry, but this would be to ignore not only what we do well, but what is happening around us right now.
“Where the UK specifically has an advantage over China is our ability to move and adapt quickly, our diversity and internationalisation and our access to demanding customers across a large, single European market. All of these are strengths that can help to keep the UK industry fit, agile and above all profitable.”
However, he cautioned: “This can only happen with the right kind of support. It is by the co-investment of the UK steel industry and UK Government, in UK innovation that we will continue to hold this place as the fast moving, opportunists of the steel world.”
The need for the British steel industry to evolve into a responsive, innovative animal, further strengthens the case for a Materials Catapult network of technology and innovation centres, designed to boost the UK’s business capabilities, said Mr McDonald.
MPI, along with other like-minded organisations, is in discussion with the Government about the Materials Catapult concept, which would enable British businesses, including steel and other materials manufacturers, to commercialise and upscale their innovations to help attract inward investment, make the leap to next generation production facilities and become international leaders in their fields.
As a not-for-profit organisation, Teesside-based MPI supports businesses working across a range of sectors, from steel and chemicals to energy and mining, with a range of facilities and research and development services.
In addition to its plant and laboratories, MPI also provides extensive product demonstration areas where engineering concepts are developed and proven.