You will (hopefully) notice the absence of one of the major stands at this September’s Cutting Edge Exhibition at the Conference Centre in Kettering.  Standard Engineering Ltd will be, for the first time in living memory, absent from Cutting Edge’s flagship event.  But, why?  Company Managing Director Keith Malyon says,

“Obviously not attending Cutting Edge is a decision not taken lightly.  We, and previously, Whitfield Wylie have always been strong advocates and supporters of the annual Exhibition.  We enjoy showing the machinery we build and like to meet up with both fellow suppliers and particularly customers we have met over the years.  We appreciate that when someone invests in equipment with us we have entered into a long-term relationship with a cobbler who may have used our wares for 20 years, or intend to use them for the next 20 years.  We enjoy the PR element of the exhibitions.  We are not naïve to turn up expecting to “sell, sell, sell!” all day long.  Our machinery is rarely an impulse purchase!

This year there has been a “perfect storm” of elements conspiring against our attendance this time around.  We are so busy at present we have had almost no opportunity to build a complete set of kit to take to the show.  I don’t like taking older or reconditioned machinery to Cutting Edge, as we always want to show our new stuff, and not machinery from 20 or 30 years ago.  What’s the point of that?

As well as building and supplying to numerous independents and multiples during 2014 we have this year built and supplied dozens of our free-standing bandscouring machines for various hospitals and factories.  At the same time we have been developing a more “entry-level” finishing machine to give us a more complete range of finishers, from this new finisher, through the ever-reliable 710, up to the all-singing, all-dancing 720.

We would love to be showing the new finisher at Cutting Edge, but, after reflection, realised we couldn’t commit to a 2-day event (or 3-day including set-up time), whilst at the same time continue our punishing build schedule.  Something had to give.  Unfortunately, at this time, and even though the exhibition is in our home town, we have regretfully had to forego the Exhibition.

We simply don’t have the kit, or the bodies to do everything we’d like to do.  Customers are often surprised when we tell them that we have about half a dozen frontline engineers and fitters, supported by a couple of administrative staff.  More often than not, people we speak to see seem to think we have a “cast of thousands” at our factory! 

This is never more noticeable than when prospective customers take the time to come and see us and are walked through the manufacturing process.  We introduce the customer to the time-served individuals who will be handling the building of the machine (we hope) they are about to order.  Usually they can’t believe that so few people produce such a large amount of equipment.  I can’t either, but I don’t tell them that, because they’ll want more money!

Hopefully by the time of next year’s Exhibition at Sandown, an easing off of production and a return to the normal 1-day event will mean we will be back in our rightful place at Cutting Edge.”