Made Smarter’s technology adoption programme has marked its fourth anniversary by helping its 250th SME manufacturer to invest in new technology.
With a total of 275 projects funded, the investment is worth £18M, including £5M funded by the government-funded and industry-led initiative and £13M from businesses themselves.
Made Smarter, which was launched in 2019 to help SME manufacturers digitalise, decarbonise and drive growth, is now looking towards further success in 2023.
Manufacturers involved with the scheme are forecasting their investments will create almost 1,300 new jobs, upskill 2,400 existing roles and deliver an additional £209M in gross value added (GVA) for the North West economy over the next three years.
Made Smarter has helped manufacturers adopt technologies which enable them to integrate systems, capture and analyse data, and even create simulations of their plants and processes, others are using 3D-printing, automation and robotics to solve business challenges and meet increased demand.
By supporting many of these businesses to take their first steps towards digitalisation, Made Smarter is also paving the way for more advanced technologies coming quickly down the track such as the industrial metaverse.
Among the latest manufacturers to invest in technology using match-funding from Made Smarter are Airframe Designs, specialist engineers based in Blackpool who are investing in 3D scanning technology to support the launch of their new AFD-3D division which will supply 3D engineering and manufacturing services to the aviation, defence, space, marine, nuclear, rail and automotive industries.
Garry Sellick, Aiframe’s manufacturing manager, said: “The technology and innovation that the scanner brings is game-changing, enabling an efficient seamless integration of geometrical point data between our design, analysis and manufacturing teams and with our customers. The support from Made Smarter has been fantastic and accelerated our ambitious plans.”
Other SME manufacturers securing support from Made Smarter Kendal bicycle component manufacturer Ratio Technology; CNC Robotics, a robotics integrator based in Bootle; Lake District Farmers Ltd, meat manufacturers and suppliers based in Ulverston; Protea Limited, manufacturers of analysers for the control and monitoring of emissions gases, based in Middlewich; Kings Fine Cooked Meats, manufacturers of cooked meats based in Wigan, and Orb Interiors, manufacturers of kitchens, based in Salford.
Since 2018 the Made Smarter programme has supported more than 2,500 businesses on their digitalisation journeys, offering fully funded support including expert, impartial technology advice, digital roadmapping workshops to help manufacturers take their first steps to transform their business, and skills development.
