Manufacturing support body Made Smarter has named its latest wave of 39 businesses to win support - and they range from a climbing wall maker to a superyacht furniture specialist.
Government-backed Made Smarter says it has now helped 300 manufacturing businesses to secure a total of £6.5m in funding, which has in turn sparked £16m in private sector investment over the past five years. That cash has supported technologies ranging from artificial intelligence (AI) to sensors and robotics.
Made Smarter says the support has helped to create almost 1,600 jobs and secure and upskill more than 2,800, and will ultimately add £242m to the region’s economy over the next three years.
READ MORE: All the latest stories from Britain's manufacturing sector
In its latest round of 39 projects - listed in full below - food and drink manufacturers supported include Harbourside Products of Maryport, Northern Pasta Company of Kendal, Brightside Brewing Company from Radcliffe, Just Bee Honey from Trafford, and Chandley Ovens in Hyde.
Allison Metcalf, managing director of Studio Bakery in Clitheroe, used the support to plan for growth and ultimately to invest in a new cutting machine.
She said: "Working with Made Smarter has been transformational for our bakery business. At a time where we were rapidly expanding, they were there to support us. New technology has increased our productivity and made us more efficient. We're now able to meet our increased orders and we're ready for the next stage of our expansion.”
The scheme has also helped lifestyle product manufacturers to adapt industrial technologies - including Saxon Furniture of Bolton, Weaver Dane of Northwich, and Neal Jones Furniture from Lancaster.
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Contour Campervan Furniture, a campervan converter and designer and manufacturer of bespoke furniture in Kendal, adopted CNC machinery after working with Made Smarter.
Co-founders Caitlin Green and Tom Lake said: “This technology has enabled us to bring production of our birch plywood campervan furniture in-house. We can now produce more, have improved quality control over our product, and are able to innovate and create new products much more quickly. This has helped us to create jobs, made us a more profitable company and significantly reduced our lead times for our shipped flat-pack campervan furniture.”
Sports and leisure manufacturers who have worked with Made Smarter include Foams 4 Sports of Ashton-under-Lyne, A & D Sports of Rochdale and climbing wall manufacturer Kong Climbing of Keswick.
Paul Ward, general manager of Kong, said: “We are now better equipped to tackle challenges, explore new opportunities and make a lasting impact in our field.”
Donna Edwards, director of the Made Smarter Adoption Programme in the North West, said: "I am incredibly proud of what the Made Smarter team has achieved over the last five years. These milestones are simultaneously a moment to celebrate, as well as a reminder that our work is by no means done.
“Our mission is to engage with the thousands of manufacturers out there who we are certain could benefit from our support. As such we are redoubling our efforts to reach more businesses, and to inspire and inform them about the benefits of technology adoption.
"For many this may be helping them take the first step to digitise manual and paper-based systems or using sensors to capture vital production data. But for others with a digital infrastructure in place, they may be ready for more sophisticated, boundary-pushing technologies such as analytics, machine learning and AI, which are evolving at unprecedented speed.
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"Digital isn’t coming – it’s arrived. Adopting technologies at the right time and in the right way is the key to unlocking real benefits for industry, society and the planet."
All the companies named in the latest round of Made Smarter support
Cheshire and Warrington
Weaver Dane, a bespoke kitchen and bedroom furniture manufacturer in Northwich
Cumbria
Kong Climbing, a climbing wall manufacturer, based in Keswick
Contour Campervan Furniture, a campervan converter and designer and manufacturer of bespoke furniture based in Kendal
Crown Woodworks, bespoke cabinetry and joinery manufacturer, in Carlisle
Harbourside Products, food manufacturers in Maryport
Northern Pasta Company, a food manufacturer based in Kendal
Solway Group International, manufacture of showjumps, stable and yard equipment based near Carlisle.
Greater Manchester
Brightside Brewing Company, a family run brewery, based in Radcliffe
Chandley Ovens, manufacturer of commercial bakery equipment, based in Hyde
Just Bee Honey, producers of vitamin honey products, based in Trafford Park
Liversidge (Windows & Double Glazing) Ltd, a manufacturer of doors and windows, based in Oldham
Saxon Furniture, sofa and chair manufacturers, based in Bolton
Stream Measurement, a manufacturer of flow meters, based in Oldham
Thomas Storey Fabrications Group, steel manufacturers in Manchester.
Foams 4 Sports, safety equipment manufacturer, based in Ashton-under-Lyne
Glossop Cartons, manufacturer of printed carton board packaging, based in Stockport
Mactapes, a textile manufacturer, based in Stalybridge,
Promac Precision, an engineering firm, based in Royton, Oldham
Surface Pro, a bespoke joinery and shopfitting manufacturer, based in Eccles, Salford
Vecom Sillavan Metal Treatment, specialists in metal surface treatment, based in Bury
A & D Sports, a manufacturer of gym equipment, based in Rochdale,
Alphin Pans, manufacturer of bakeware and cookware, based in Delph
Avamco, a solid surface manufacturer, based in Wigan,
Lancashire
Agenda Boxes & Packaging, manufacturers of packaging products, based in Nelson
Beagle Orthopaedic, manufacturers of orthopaedic equipment, based in Blackburn
Evertaut, manufacturers of stadium and auditorium seating, based in Blackburn
Studio Bakery, an artisan bakery specialising in traybakes and cakes, based in Clitheroe
N & J Aluminium Linings, manufacturers of aluminium linings and accessories for 4x4 vehicles, based in Clitheroe
Bailprint Labels, manufacturers of self-adhesive labels, based in Chorley
Carvansons, a fragrance manufacturer, based in Haslingden, Rossendale
Crozier Design, trading as Crozier Campers, a campervan converter, based in Poulton-le-Fylde English Trading Company, a manufacturer of contract textiles and soft furnishings, based in Chorley
Neal Jones Furniture, manufacturers of super yacht and residential furniture, based in Lancaster
Northern Hi-Tec, trading as NHT Electronics, an electronics manufacturer, based in Lancaster
Polycover, a flexible packaging materials manufacturer, based in Blackpool
Liverpool city region
Bibby Precision Engineering, a component manufacturer, based in Bromborough, Wirral
Spice Kitchen, a spice product manufacturer, based in Liverpool
Liverpool Laser and Tube, a metal product manufacturer, based in Knowsley
NJC Thermal covers (海角视频), manufacturers of insulation covers, based in Kirkby