BEC Group supports the Best of British

 We are thrilled to announce that we shall be supporting the Best of British South Pole expedition. Fortnum and Masons are supplying the hamper at the end so we are going to lend the best of British engineering knowledge to help the team create a new type of tent.


The brief from Manley Hopkinson, Team leader of the expedition (bottom right) has been to help prototype a a tent that can withstand the conditions in the Antarctic whilst being lightweight and versatile enough to repair if the 'the worst comes to the worst'.

The team (pictured right) will need all the help they can get as the walk 460 miles unaided and unassisted. They are challenging for Scott's record which is currently held by the pesky Norwegians. They need sponsorship to make the attempt so we are helping by developing the new tent which will hopefully help them achieve their goals.

To appreciate the full scale what they are trying to achieve and follow their training progress click here

Shorlisted for Innovation

B.E.C Group, the design, mould tooling and manufacturing firm based in New Milton, has been shortlisted for the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Award by the New Forest Business Partnership.

The Award, sponsored by ExxonMobil, is one of just six to be won and will be awarded to the business that is leading the way in product development or business practice.

The Awards open to all businesses in the New Forest and run by the New Forest Business Partnership, seek to recognise local businesses for their efforts in particular areas. There are six categories which include best new business, customer service, online technology, sustainable business and the coveted ExxonMobil award for innovation and entrepreneurship. The winners will be announced at an Award ceremony on 24th November 2009 at Carey’s Manor Hotel, Brockenhurst.

Mark Elvy, Business Manager at B.E.C Group said “We are very excited to be shortlisted for this prestigious award. Much of our work as engineers involves working with others to take an idea and develop it into something tangible..and profitable! This is what we’ve done with Bohle, the international glazing firm and it’s great to receive recognition for it. Winning the Award would be the icing on the cake.”

Chris Conway, Purchasing Manager for Bohle re-iterated this by saying “I’m glad B.E.C Group has been shortlisted for this award. Bohle’s new Verigauge tool, designed to measure both the thickness and depth of glass in situ, is a great example of how businesses working together use innovation to solve everyday problems in the field and is likely to become a ‘must have’ item for every glazier. They are true experts in their field and I hope they go on to win!”

B.E.C Group has a long history working closely with their customers from inventors to multinational organisations - they developed the first ever credit card machine with RACAL, now in the science museum and more recently helped develop the RUROC helmet currently used by F1 champions Brawn GP pit crew.

Contact me for more info

AFCB get a roasting from Rochdale

OK so it was one of the worst results of the season so far - click the heading to get a full match report.... if you dare!

Pictured are Graham Blake (holding the match ball) and Geoff Elvy the original founders of B.E.C Group. They started the business as toolmakers over 30 years ago and now it's one of the only remaining 'in house' tooling and manufacturing facility in the South of England.

Graham, a long suffering season ticket holder at AFC Bournemouth said "It was a good turnout but a poor result, we just didn't look good going forward" Alongside him was the man of the match Alan Connell and Grahams' Grandson. Geoff said "We always enjoy sponsoring Bournemouth Football Club, they have great facilities and it's always well organised... pity about the result as we are doing well this season already. We have sponsored the ball for about 10 years and I think this is only the second time they have lost!"

For more information on tickets go to AFCB official Website

B.E.C Group sponsors the ball at AFC Bournemouth

We're back at Dean Court this weekend and hoping for a big turnout for what is going to be a very competitive game against Rochdale. B.E.C Group have been avid supporters of the Cherries for a long time and have sponsored the ball since 2002. As a local manufacturing firm we're passionate about supporting local sports and it's fair to say we're football mad...

We'll let you know how we get on!! Come on the Cherries!!

New Plastic protective helmet proves winner for Brawn GP

B.E.C Group would like to congratulate Jenson Button and all the Brawn GP racing team on winning the F1 drivers title and the constructors title in their first ever season....it’s unprecedented!

B.E.C Group designed and manufactured the injection tooling required for the Brawn Pit Crew helmets at their factory in Hampshire, also manufacturing the plastic parts, including the outer shell, used in producing this unique full-face protective helmet.

For more information or if you require design, mould tooling and manufacturing expertise like this then go to www.becgroup.com or contact us directly:

Local sponsorship improves conversion rate

B.E.C Group, the design, mould tooling and manufacturing firm based in New Milton, have announced a sponsorship deal with Bournemouth RFC for the 2009/2010 season.

The association forms part of the company’s strategy to raise the profile of what the local area can offer in terms of manufacturing, as well as continuing to support sports and events within the community. Historically the company has sponsored specific events like the ball at Bournemouth FC or Christchurch regatta.

Geoff Elvy Director of B.E.C Group said “We have always supported local sporting events or clubs since we began as toolmakers 30 years ago. It is a great way to bring people together and also to raise awareness of our company in the local community. To date our support has been fairly ad-hoc so this partnership with Bournemouth RFC enables us to give continued support over the year to a fantastic organisation, whilst helping us to achieve our strategy.

Bournemouth RFC has an excellent youth programme with great facilities and this is proving essential when attracting new sponsors like B.E.C Group. There is a growing trend in UK companies addressing their purchasing strategy and moving away from sourcing abroad. Manufacturing and engineering companies across the South of England possess huge amounts of experience and expertise and this makes them competitive. They can offer services to potential customers that the Far East cannot. Raising awareness of this can only help the wider community in difficult times whilst benefiting the youth sports projects championed at Chapel Gate.

Jeremy Ramsden, the clubs commercial spokesperson said “I’m happy to accept B.E.C Group onboard for the 2009/2010 season as they have been great supporters of local sport and Chapel Gate in the past and we will look to build on this support for the future. It’s a prestigious achievement for Bournemouth Rugby Football Club to attract this high profile client into our ever expanding portfolio of sponsors. We anticipate taking them on a stimulating journey with us and I speak for both club and the members alike in expressing great pride in our new association.”

The first home league game is on the 5th September 2009 at Chapel Gate and B.E.C Group will be out in force to support the team for the opening match.

B.E.C Group joins BuyDorset

B.E.C Group has joined the BuyDorset scheme.

The BuyDorset website has been developed to bring together Dorset business to offer the Dorset community excellent value for money from local businesses, there are over 28,000 businesses trading in Dorset providing a whole range of products and services BuyDorset’s role is to promote the local business to the local community thus supporting Dorset people. The aim is to get Dorset people to use Dorset businesses.

The sharp ones among you will have noticed that our factory actually resides in Hampshire, however given that there is no scheme at present promoting Hampshire Businesses we thought we would go next door. Given that a large majority of the workforce live in Dorset and we are right on the border the guys at BuyDorset didn't seem to mind.

We are offering our fellow BuyDorset members an exclusive deal to celebrate bringing our Design, Mould Tooling and Manufacturing services to Dorset. We will be offering our Design expertise for free to businesses who are members of BuyDorset and commision Injection Tooling orders in 2009.

Have a look at our website to see what we can offer you too.... http://www.becgroup.com/

Top Story: Budget is renamed 'Fudgeit'

I have started this blog so many times hence it being posted so late after Wednesday's umm... annoucement? It just turned into a rant and got me all upset.

So I have decided not to write anything to complex...(I'm started to tense up) or anything of serious note other than the government have again failed to support the only people to get us out of a recession, namely small to medium sized businesses.

Again, they have made the figures fit their philosophies, solely for political gain (my teeth are clenched) when they should be working on behalf of the people. No tangible help for the manufacturing industry, about the only industry able to effect growth output in the short term, to halt the slide towards deflation.

Whilst we are trying to support inventors and innovation they are trying to give themselves a bonus for turning up to work??? Call me ridiculous but isn't that called wages? (my right eye is twitching and my fingers hurt from typing too hard) OK OK calm down....

Basically they have totally lost it, encouraging people to spend and create debt to drive the mirage a growth economy. It all goes pear shaped because finally somebody says "hang on... I'm not lending you anymore money because there's not a hope in hell you're going to pay me back" then everbody stops lendng because well basically they didn't have any money in the first place and any money they did have they have spent it because the government told them to....

"Oh but hang on what will happen to my Utopian ideal that there will be continuous growth in the UK economy... I've had 10 years and there's more growth I know there is...." whines Presdient Brown. No you idiot you must have been locked in the cupboard by school bullies at the time everybody else did GCE Economics which clearly states that can't happen..... "but my 10 years ..." yes you dribbling baffoon probably realistically 7 years growth in line with the world economy but a babboon with a limp could have been CoE whilst that was happening.

'Oh look we made loads of money this year, what shall we do with it?' Asks deputy CoE
'Let's spend it all because we'll all have loads of money for ever because I say there will be infinite growth and in my GCE Economics lessons nobody said that couldn't happen...... says babboon with limp.

(I'm about to explode and also I have ranted alot)

I'll leave you with a picture (top) which I think sums it all up.....

An award winning product

Congratulations to our friends at Curventa for winning a prestigious Good Design Award 2008 for their work on the Ruroc Helmet.

We are proud to have been part of taking this innovative British collaboration project all the way from product consultation, mould tool manufacture through to full scale plastic injection production. It has been a very steep learning curve for all involved and only now are we beginning to see the fruits of our labour!

Although origionally designed with skiers and snowboarders safety in mind the concept is so origional that is is being applied across a range of sports, from BMX, motorcross even to Formula1!! Below is the back page of the Times showing the new helmet launched to coincide with the very first ever night race, can you tell which one??

Check them out at the race in Shanghai this weekend and see how many teams you can spot who have the helmets??

B.E.C Group is now uniquely placed to offer the Tooling design and manufacture expertise for helmet construction and production. Our experience dealing with this projects makes us one of the very few British manufacturers still invovled in Helmet design.

Combine this with the innovation and creativity used to take this product to market we should be the first people you call if you are thinking about designing new safety equipment especially in the sports industry.

Call us now on +44 (0) 1425 613131

or email info@becgroup.com