SEA News & Press
Want to save money on your energy bills?
Have a look at your energy bills and you will see an item on your bill, CCL – Climate Change Levy. It adds a significant amount to your bill but since 2014 there has been an exemption for manufacturers in mineralogical and metallurgical industries,...
read moreAn important update – A new date for the Surface Engineering Gala Dinner & Awards
Due to the ongoing situation with COVID-19, we have had to move the date of Surface Engineering Gala Dinner & Awards. The evening will now be held on Friday 19th March 2021 at the Park Regis, Birmingham. This prestigious biennial event will recognise, reward and...
read moreWatch: Surface Engineering Processes Video
Imagine a world without cars, aeroplanes, trains, computers, mobile phones, medical implants, buildings, electronics, in fact virtually no manufactured products – that’s a world without surface engineering. Surface Engineering is vital to the success of...
read morePRESS RELEASE: SURFACE ENGINEERING LEADERSHIP FORUM
Surface Engineering Leadership Forum (SELF): Apprenticeship Standards. Over the past 2 to 3 years, members of the Surface Engineering Leadership Forum team have been involved in several trailblazer groups, to help put together apprenticeship standards for engineers...
read moreSurface Engineering Gala Dinner & Awards – Deadline for entries extended!
The Surface Engineering Gala Dinner & Awards will take place on Friday 2nd October 2020 at Park Regis, Birmingham. Why should you enter? Receiving a Surface Engineering Award will not only ensure your organisation will have the kudos of being an Award winning...
read moreCould you benefit from instant access to expert business support?
Whatever the size of your business, when you need legal or business advice, this can come at considerable cost. From legislative issues through to employment law, engaging expert advice isn’t always straightforward. However, for companies working in the surface...
read moreCOVID-19: A Guide to Temporary Homeworking for Businesses
Updated 24/3/2020 COVID-19: a guide to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and furloughed workers As part of their plans to tackle the impact of COVID-19 on UK business, on Friday 20 March the government published their initial guidance on their Coronavirus Job...
read moreCitation’s coronavirus business toolkit
UPDATED - 19/03/2020 Citation’s Coronavirus Business Toolkit With daily increases of confirmed cases of the new coronavirus – known as COVID-19, our partner, Citation, has put together some essential resources that can help safeguard your business against COVID-19,...
read moreINDESTRUCTIBLE PAINT PRESENTS COATING INNOVATION; Totally chrome free Ipcote range development at Innovate UK/KTN leading trade & academia event
Indestructible Paint Ltd., which has a global reputation for the development and manufacture of protective paints and coatings, has now highlighted its innovative work in developing a totally chrome free Ipcote product for aerospace and gas...
read moreThe Good Work Plan: How SEA Members Will be Affected
‘…the biggest shake-up of employment law in a generation.’ In response to the challenges caused by the considerable growth in the use of casual working and self-employed arrangements, the government is currently rolling out an extensive programme of...
read moreManufacturing Technology and Management MSc – Developing technical and operations specialists in materials processing
Cranfield Masterships® - Master’s level apprenticeships The Manufacturing Technology and Management MSc address the knowledge, skills and behaviour requirements of the Materials Process Engineer degree apprenticeship standard (Level 7). The Materials Process Engineer...
read moreAre you settling for the second best?
ARE YOU SETTLING FOR THE SECOND BEST? For many high precision industries such as aerospace, medical, automotive and defense, industrial parts cleaning plays a crucial role in quality assurance during the production process. Inadequate degreasing can have a disruptive...
read moreBREXIT, REACH & SURFACE ENGINEERING (BREASE)
REACH has been widely recognised as one of the most burdensome pieces of legislation for SMEs and if you add to that the uncertainty of BREXIT, then you have the potential to cause massive disruption to all UK and EU Manufacturing supply chains. That might sound far...
read moreNew member, Unic International, helping companies meet VOC reduction targets
We are delighted to announce Nottingham-based Unic International has become a member of the SEA. Founded in 1982, Unic International is an award-winning UK manufacturer of spray gun cleaners, solvent recyclers, can and drum crushers, paper compactors, aerosol crushers...
read moreWelcome to new member Hitachi
We would like to welcome Oxford-based Hitachi High-Tech Analytical Science as a SEA member. As part of the Hitachi High Technologies Group, Hitachi High-Tech Analytical Science has over 45 years’ experience in providing high-tech analysis solutions for the industrial...
read moreSilver and Silver compounds: classification proposal by Sweden as reprotox cat 1B
The SEA has recently received the following information from the European Precious Metals Federation: Recently, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published the intention of Sweden to classify silver metal as: Skin Sens. 1, H317 Muta. 2, H341 Repr. 1B, H360FD...
read moreDo any of your processes rely on the use of chromates?
Do any of your formulations contain chromates? Aerospace and Defence supply chains are impacted You may use potassium dichromate, sodium dichromate, or chromium trioxide in conversion coating or in the passivation of stainless steel. Or perhaps you use paint or...
read moreNew website same great trade association
There’s no point in asking whether you have seen our new website, as you are already visiting it! But have you taken a good look? The menu remains the same but we have a great new design. We have introduced easy-to-navigate content and a new-look ‘find a member’...
read moreIncrease in Climate Change Levy Rates
Although there is still a lot of uncertainty for UK business in 2019, there is some good news for businesses which have already signed up to the Climate Change Agreement (CCA) – the percentage of discount for holders of a CCA went up on the 1st April 2019. Businesses...
read moreMade for Space event – discover the opportunities for the surface engineering sector
The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) will be holding a Made for Space conference on 2nd and 3rd May 2019 at Ansty Park in Coventry. A must attend event for anyone who is involved in the surface engineering sector, this two-day intensive conference will be...
read moreBenefits of SEA Membership
“I don’t want to belong to any club that will accept me as a member” So said Groucho Marx, and we must admit, he may have had a point. Membership of any club or association is a bit like the curate’s egg – good in parts, not so good in others. There will always be...
read moreSurface Finishing
The surface finishing industry and the trade association that supports it A strong trade association is incredibly important for any industry, and this is especially true for the surface finishing industry. With the enormous amount of legislation and regulations that...
read moreSurface Finishing Legislation
Dissecting Surface Finishing Legislation For those running businesses, it’s not just the day to day running of the operation that concerns them, but also the many laws and regulations that need to be complied with. Whether dealing with taxes or employment issues,...
read moreElectroplating Chemicals
Keeping on top of the rules surrounding electroplating chemicals Rules, regulations, guidance, legislation. Businesses working in the surface engineering and finishing industry have to carry out their day to day operations whilst ensuring that they comply with a...
read moreTrade Associations
Five reasons why you should be a member of our Trade Association Since the 16th Century Trade Associations have – in one guise or another - represented their members at all levels of business. From the earliest Guilds that protected the interests of merchants and...
read moreREACH Compliance
Are you sure you're REACH Compliant? For those working in the surface engineering industry, you will more than likely have heard about the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulations. This piece of legislation governs the...
read moreThe Surface Finishing Industry
How the SEA influences the issues that affects the surface finishing industry It seems like there is always some new piece of legislation or new guidelines that companies across the whole of the surface finishing sector have to comply with. But when these pieces of...
read moreEPR 2016 is coming
The Environmental Permitting Regulations (England and Wales) 2016 (or EPR 2016) are on their way and members of the Surface Engineering Association (SEA) need to be ready. Last year the Welsh Government and DEFRA decided that it was necessary to consolidate all of the...
read moreREACH and the impact of Hexavalent Chromium
Since 2007, the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals) Directive has been in force across the EU. The aim of the Directive is to ensure the safe use of chemicals throughout the supply chain, and to provide a high level of...
read moreREACH – What’s happening under this legislation
under this legislation? Follow us: REACH - What's happening under this legislation? As anyone working within the surface engineering and heat treatment sector will know, the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) Regulations have...
read moreOfficial launch of the Surface Engineering Leadership Forum
The Surface Engineering Leadership Forum (SELF) was officially launched at the House of Lords on Monday 11th February 2019. SELF explained SELF has been set up to promote the surface engineering sector, and to ensure that it continues to grow and achieve a competitive...
read moreSix new substances added to the Candidate List
The Candidate List of substances of very high concern (SVHCs) for authorisation now contains 197 substances. Helsinki, 15 January 2019 – ECHA has added five new substances to the Candidate List due to the carcinogenic, toxic to reproduction, persistent,...
read moreECHA reorganises to help take on new tasks and face future challenges
The reorganisation aims to support the implementation of ECHA’s new strategy, step up work in key areas, allow efficient and flexible ways of working, and enable ECHA to take on more responsibilities. Helsinki, 10 January 2019 – Together with the revision of ECHA’s...
read moreUpcoming inspections to check compliance with REACH registration obligations
Inspectors, working together with customs authorities, have started checking the compliance of importers and manufacturers with REACH registration obligations as part of an EU-wide Forum enforcement project. Helsinki, 9 January 2019 – The inspections are part of...
read moreZVO’s review on periods for chromium trioxide upstream approval applications
After the recent discussion in REACH committee concerning the review periods for upstream applications, ZVO has now compiled a Position Paper on this matter. The use of chromium trioxide became subject to authorisation by inclusion in Annex XIV of REACH. The...
read moreA successful Gala Dinner and Awards for the SEA
Held at the 5-star Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel, in the Free Trade Hall in Manchester, this year’s SEA gala dinner and awards evening was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended. This was the second time the SEA Awards have been held jointly with the CHTA, and we were...
read moreHexavalent chromium, nickel and cadmium and reducing exposure in electroplating
Over the last few years, the REACH Directive and Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) have been “big news” in the surface engineering sector. Under REACH, the use of certain chemicals listed as SVHCs has been placed under a number of restrictions, thus...
read moreBATF commission portrait in memory of former President
The British Allied Trades Federation has commissioned a portrait in memory of one of their most influential and long serving decision makers, C H Plenderleith, known to all as Bob, who sadly passed away late last year aged 96. He was an active member of the...
read moreThe HS&E Committee – An Important Update
For over 40 years, the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has been looking after the welfare and safety of the UK’s workforce. A national, independent organisation that oversees work-related health, safety and illness, helping reduce work-related deaths and serious...
read moreThe REACH Cross Sector Group
The REACH Cross Sector Group - who they are and what they do. As anyone working in the surface engineering sector knows, the REACH Directive has been at the top of the agenda for quite some time. Impacting on our sector and many others, the Directive...
read moreSEA members contribute to world-leading research
Those who work in the surface engineering industry, and especially those who carry out electroplating processes, will already know about the short and long-term effects of substances of very high concern (SVHC). The REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and...
read moreThe Horizon 2020 Project
The Horizon 2020 Project - what it is and how does it impact on surface engineering? What is the Horizon 2020 Project? The Horizon 2020 Project is the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. It is the biggest EU research and innovation programme to date...
read moreMeet the 2016 Award Winners
The biennial co-sponsored event of the Surface Engineering Association and the Contract Heat Treatment Association was held at its new venue, the Midland Hotel Manchester on 30th September 2016. The fantastic event, which has continued to increase in stature and...
read moreThe Surface Engineering Association
How the Surface Engineering Association works hard for its members The Surface Engineering Association plays a pivotal role in the surface engineering and finishing industry. Anyone working in the industry will reap a number of great benefits by being a member of the...
read moreEPR Consolidation Update
Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 are to be updated to consolidate the various amendments made since its publication, as well as taking into account any revisions made to...
read moreThe Surface Engineering & Heat Treatment Industry conference – an event you shouldn’t miss
If you work in the surface coating, metal finishing or heat treatment industries, then the 2015 Surface Engineering & Heat Treatment Industry conference is the event for you. In partnership with the Contract Heat Treatment Association (CHTA) and the Wolfson Heat...
read moreContact the SEA
We are here to help!
If you are interested in joining the Surface Engineering Association or would like some further information about us that you cannot find on our website, then please complete the contact form and we will get back to you.