Leading injection-moulding manufacturer
Heyside Group is set to significantly expand its production capacity following a £500,000 investment that will see the Oldham-based business move from traditional manual processes to a fully modernised, automated manufacturing operation.
The family-run company, which produces high‑volume PVC injection‑moulded components for the traffic management, utilities and infrastructure sectors, has secured the investment through a loan from the
Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) loan fund. The capital injection is expected to increase the firm’s production capacity by up to 60% over the next three years, generating up to £4.8 million in additional annual revenue and marking a substantial uplift on its current £8 million turnover.
A large proportion of the funding is being channelled into automation. The transition is designed to reduce downtime, improve product consistency and open opportunities for Heyside in new markets, including rail, defence and international sectors. Around half of the loan has already been used for new tooling to replace older compression moulding equipment, enabling component manufacture to be brought onto modern injection lines and improving both repeatability and overall efficiency. The investment also includes the purchase of a new robotic arm to support Heyside’s wider automation strategy.
The company has been supported throughout the process by the
Greater Manchester Business Growth Hub, which has connected Heyside to academic partners such as the
University of Lancashire and the
University of Salford.
Latest technological advancesThese collaborations provide expertise in materials, automation and robotics, helping the firm align its manufacturing processes with the latest technological advances. Oldham Council has also contributed to the upgrade with a £10,000 technology grant, used to install an automated feed system that further enhances the facility’s automation capabilities.
Matt Pryce, managing director of Heyside Group, said: “The GMCA loan supports us in our three major ambitions: to expand our export activity, to grow our product development capability, and to expand into new materials. Everything we’re doing now, in both increasing our production capacity and diversifying what we can produce, is laying the foundation for a future where we are seen as the ‘go-to’ choice for injection-moulded products and recycled PVC pellets.”
Founded in 2011, Heyside Group now employs 55 people and recycles around 300 tonnes of plastic per week at its Oldham manufacturing site. The latest investment marks a major step in the company’s long-term plan to boost productivity, develop new product ranges and strengthen its position within the UK’s injection‑moulding industry.