Membership

The International Institute of Metalforming is a body dedicated to the professional development of its members within industry and academia. It has a world wide membership ranging from student & technical apprentice to senior industrial managers with a lifetimes experience.

Membership categories include: Fellow, Member & Affiliate/Student. All applications for membership are vetted by a panel comprising experts from both industry and academia.

To apply for a membership application download the application form here IIM_Application_Form or contact the Institute.

Forming the future

In the UK we must establish a recognisable representative body and accreditation underpinned by activities concentrated on leading edge metalforming technologies. If we are to stimulate the market for metal formed products we must foster in our workforce an expectation of a challenging fulfilling work environment. We need to have metalforming companies competing for talent, with the best facilities and tools. Through promoting this vision we will re-establish pride as the driver for working in the metalforming industry.

While decision makers tend to wait and see what others do, and 'others' are doing the same, it is difficult to take the metalforming industry to a new level. Failure to recognise new technologies that need to be implemented to remain competitive in a world market stifles growth. A barrier to utilization of modern process control technology in metalforming is not its complexity, cost, or suitability - It is the inability to properly understand how to apply new technology and train employees. Effective training takes people through how? to why? Understanding the Return on Investment (ROI) and the concept of value added is the way to build efficiency into everyday operations through empowering the workforce.

The future of metalforming in the UK relies on maintaining a leadership position by being better at producing formed metal parts for technically demanding products.

To accomplish this we need an education and accreditation system that produces a workforce technologically ahead of the work environment.

The UK metalforming industry generates an estimated turnover of £26bn. It provides employment for c.25,000 people, and many more in the supply chain and indirectly. The metalforming companies are dispersed throughout the UK with the largest clusters in West Midlands, South Yorkshire, NE England, Mid Scotland, and South Wales. The broad diversity of products influence all aspect of our lives. This is a vibrant industry with the potential for significant growth by harnessing the latest technologies. The goals for component manufacture are lighter, stronger, and greater complexity; achieved by better materials and innovative forming techniques.

The IIM has a key role to play in providing resources and helping people develop careers in the metalforming world. The IIM membership is a community with a broad skills base, the right place for exchange of views and sharing of best practice.