Manufacturing collective notches up £20 million sales boost

Ian Knight and Tony Hague, both PP Control & Automation

A manufacturing collective that thrives on bringing work back to the UK has enjoyed a major sales boost. The Manufacturing Assembly Network (MAN), which consists of six sub-contract manufacturers, an electric motor consultancy and a specialist engineering design agency, has seen a £20 million increase in orders, with several high-profile export contracts secured in the European Union, the Middle East, and the Far East.

Customers from across automotive, aerospace, construction, electrification, and renewables have decided to back British innovation and quality and this has led to more than 50 new jobs being created across member companies. These new opportunities are being reinforced by a £4.5 million investment drive in new capital equipment, automation, MRP systems and a Precision Tooling Academy to help train the toolmakers of the future.

Tony Sartorius, chairman of Alucast, one of the founding members of MAN, said: “Despite really difficult trading conditions and high inflationary pressures, UK manufacturing has continued to defy the odds, and this is reflected in the performance of MAN. A £20 million boost in sales is some achievement and we believe this highlights a change in purchasing attitudes where customers are now looking for more strategic partnerships and suppliers who can add value throughout the entire process.

“We are also seeing lots of new opportunities in electrification and light weighting. One of the biggest challenges the Group is having is finding the right people as we plan for more growth in 2024. We have created over 50 jobs in the last 12 months, but still have lots of positions available.”

The Manufacturing Assembly Network works together to encourage collaboration, best practice sharing and to promote UK manufacturing. It is made up of Alucast, Brandauer, FluxSys, Grove Design, James Lister & Sons, KimberMills International, Nemco and PP Control & Automation.

Pictured right: Martin Haynes, managing director of Alucast

Collectively, the Group boasts £100 million-plus annual sales, employs more than 900 people and exports products to over 50 countries from its 17 factories. In May last year, it responded to the Government’s faltering strategic vision for industry by delivering the MANifesto, its own blueprint for making the country globally competitive. Bosses highlighted four key pillars of people, international trade, sustainability and ‘net zero’ and investment as being key to the future growth of the UK.

Tony Hague, PP Control & Automation chief executive, said: “We have certainly lived up to our MANifesto, with more than £4.5 million invested over the last 12 months. This has ranged from the purchase of a high-pressure die casting machine and automated SMT assembly equipment to new forging simulation software, high-speed presses and, in our own case, the latest automated cable harness production technology. Investment has been in people too, with many of our members committed to developing apprentices and offering opportunities to graduates through our work with WMG at the University of Warwick and other academic institutions. We can‘t stand still — how we harness skills and technology to deliver more productive businesses will be crucial to building on a successful 12 months.”

He concluded: “One of our member companies — Brandauer — has even worked with In-Comm Training to launch and grow the UK’s first-ever Precision Tooling Academy. It has done this for the good of industry and to ensure we have the volume of toolmakers the UK is going to need to be a world leader once again.”

The Manufacturing Assembly Network plans to host its largest-ever Design & Make Challenge this year, a STEM-focused competition that aims to inspire Year 10 and Year 11 students to consider a career in engineering and manufacturing.