Hymid has been chosen by ModMyPi to manufacture its Raspberry Pi cases. The South West Manufacturing Advisory Service Ltd (SWMAS) was approached by Jacob Marsh (an Exeter University Civil Engineering Masters student who was seeking a manufacturing partner) and recommended Hymid for their Design for Manufacture expertise.
The company, which opened a sister company – Hymid R&D – last year, is about to go into production making cases for ModMyPi for the Raspberry Pi computer. Marketing Manager, Vickie Broadbent, explains that Raspberry Pi computer is an ultra-low-cost credit-card sized computer which has been developed to encourage children to learn computing and programming.
“The designs have been finalised and a prototype made and we’ve just commissioned the mould tool. Production will take place in our Brixham factory. We’re very excited about being involved in this project, especially as five per cent of the profits are going to the Raspberry Pi Foundation.
We’re very pleased with the case which has been entered into the Plastic Industry Awards and we’re hoping it will encourage more children to take up computing.”
And Vickie added that many clients are keen to keep manufacturing in the UK which is contributing to Hymid’s success – last year the company’s turnover was up and EBIDA was 12%.
“We’re expanding into new markets, especially medical and electronics. We’re also looking for opportunities in offshore and renewables sectors. We’re part of a wider supply chain working with national clients and local companies.”
Hymid will be celebrating our 15th year in 2012 and we’ve seen much recent success taking on new clients and expanding into new markets. We are now on a recruitment drive and planning on moving to new, larger premises…watch this space!
Mayor of Torbay, Gordon Oliver, added: “I’m delighted Hymid is expanding and recruiting new staff. As a council we are committed to encouraging and supporting companies to deliver jobs. We will do all we can to support job creation and business growth.”

JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Inspector for the mould shop
Reporting to: Systems Engineer
Job Purpose:
To visually inspect plastic products to ensure quality standards are met.
Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:
1. To visually inspect products to ensure the quality meets the required standard by comparing the products with samples and pictures
2. To sort the rejected products by defect
3. To record the findings
4. To pack accepted products into boxes for dispatch
5. To wear personal protective equipment as provided
General
1. To comply with the policies and procedures of the Company, especially those relating to health and safety and equal opportunities where there are legal responsibilities for both the individual and the Company.
2. To carry out any other duties, commensurate with the grade of the post, that may reasonably be required to ensure the efficient and effective operation of the business.

This job description was prepared in April 2012. It may be updated regularly after consultation with the job holder.

HYMID MULTI SHOT LTD

Temporary Inspector – additional information

It is a three month temporary position within the Quality Dept.

No eating or drinking will be allowed in the inspection room

Mobile phones are not allowed to be used in the inspection room

Applicants with experience with AVX, Nortel, Centrax, Bookhams or similar would be welcomed.

There will be no overnight work

There is no heavy lifting (nothing over 15 kilos)

As we enter Climate Week 2012, Hymid looks back on the past year feeling rather smug about its vastly improved eco-credentials…

From adopting lean manufacturing techniques (thanks to SWMAS), the company-wide rolling out of in-house technical training & optimising long-running jobs (hat-tip to AST Technology) to the purchase of regrinders, installation of energy-efficient lighting and upgrades to the compressed air system (thumbs up to Business Link!)

All of which has resulted in less waste throughout the entire moulding process – less scrap material (more recycled) and of course, huge savings in our energy bills! What can Hymid achieve by next years’ Climate Week, I wonder?

Hymid were please to be runners up in the Sales & Marketing and Business Growth categories at the ceremony held at the International Riviera Conference Centre, Torquay.

Two shot injection moulding specialists Hymid Multi-Shot have been shortlisted in not one but two categories in the Herald Express Business Excellence Awards, announced in print today!
Hymid are poised to receive accolades in Sales & Marketing and Business Growth at the English Riviera Centre on Friday 10th February. Watch this space!

Got an idea for making crutches easier to use? Do you or anyone you know of use crutches – Richard Child, Technical Director of Hymid R&D would like to hear from you!

Richard recently graduated from University College Falmouth with a first class honours degree in 3D design and has since set up Hymid R&D as an ideas hub for the independent living sector.

Based at the Paignton Innovation Centre, South Devon College, Hymid R&D is focused on revolutionising the independent living industry by adding value through design.

Richard says “It is clear within the independent living sector, that end users and industry professionals are aware of all the issues and problems. However, if they have an idea about how to solve a problem, what do they do with it? It’s these ideas that Hymid R&D are looking to develop. We want to work with communities, end users and industry professionals to solve problems through inclusive design. Our mission is simple; to nurture innovative ideas into existence”.

Richard is currently working on a product for the crutches market. If you or someone you know has ever used crutches, then he wants to hear about the problems you faced or are facing.

Getting products to market is one of the biggest challenges faced by all designers particularly in the independent living sector and we wish Richard every success with his new venture.

To get in touch with Richard and for more information, visit http://www.hymidrandd.co.uk/idea. Like all good entrepreneurs, Richard has also embraced social media at http://www.facebook.com/hymidrandd and http://www.twitter.com/hymidrandd

In 2011 the UK Government consulted with industry on the ‘Patent Box’; a proposed tax regime of 10% for profits arising from patents. The scheme is integral to the Government’s commitment to establishing the most competitive corporation tax regime in the G20 (The Group of Twenty Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors).

This has now come a step closer, with the publication on 6 December 2011 of draft Patent Box legislation. Although this is subject to further technical consultation, it is expected that the new rules should be effective from 1 April 2013 and phased in over a five year period.

Patent Box is an incentive for UK companies to retain and commercialise existing patents and to develop new innovative patented products by providing a headline rate of corporation tax of 10% for profits attributed to patents. As a result of the consultation exercise, existing as well as new IP will be eligible for the 10% tax rate.

All businesses within the scope of corporation tax will potentially be eligible to participate. A business must hold a qualifying patent (either a granted UK or European patent) and receive income relating to that patent, either in the form of a patent licence or patent income embedded in the sale proceeds of a product covered by a patent.

The scheme will start from 1st April 2013 and is likely to be phased in over several years, with the full benefit coming into effect a few years down the line. Companies should be considering their product pipelines now, with a view to obtaining relevant granted patent rights before the commencement date.

With many thanks to Malcolm Lawrence, CEO Avidity IP
malcolm.lawrence@avidity-ip.com

The draft Finance Bill 2012 legislation not only includes good news on the new Patent Box as described above, but also changes to R&D tax reliefs.
On R&D, the Chancellor had already given large companies an early Christmas present in his autumn statement by announcing introduction in 2013 of a credit which can be recorded against cost, i.e. ‘above the line’.

The other R&D changes had largely been trailed, including the good news for Small or Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) on the increase in the rate of relief and abolition of the PAYE & NI cap on the repayable credit. The changes for innovation set out in the draft legislation for Finance Bill 2012 are generally welcome with the patents covered being more widely defined and the ‘routine’ profits that are excluded being reduced to 10% (from 15%) and the SME relief for R&D going up to 225% and the cash recovery being extended.

It is perhaps disappointing that the Government is missing the opportunity to immediately consult on how to design the reformed R&D relief as an ‘above the line’ credit with the consultation delayed until Budget 2012 (draft legislation containing the changes to implement an above the line R&D credit will be published in Autumn 2012, with confirmation of the final design of the scheme anticipated in Budget 2013 and legislation in Finance Bill 2013).
Source – Tax news from PwC