The latest
Make UK Executive Survey 2026 highlights a clear shift in strategy, with 68% of manufacturers planning to increase investment in new product development. The finding reflects wider changes across the sector as companies respond to rising customer expectations, cost pressures and the need for greater resilience.
Manufacturers are under increasing pressure to deliver fast, adaptable solutions while managing supply chain uncertainty and sustainability demands. These challenges are reshaping how products are developed, with speed and flexibility now critical to competitiveness.
“Product development goes beyond simply creating new products. It’s about designing smarter, more productive, and more resilient systems from day one,” says Matthew Aldridge, managing director at
igus UK.
A key trend is the move towards agile engineering. Traditional development cycles are proving too slow, prompting manufacturers to adopt iterative design approaches that enable continuous improvement. This allows issues to be identified earlier, reducing redesign costs and accelerating time-to-market.
Digital tools are also playing a central role. Advanced modelling and simulation enable engineers to test and refine concepts before physical production, helping to shorten development cycles and improve reliability.
At the same time, integration into automated systems is becoming a priority. Modular components and plug-and-play solutions are simplifying deployment, allowing manufacturers to increase flexibility and respond more quickly to demand while controlling costs.
Productivity is now a defining factor in development decisions. Design choices are assessed not only for performance, but for their impact on uptime, maintenance and operating efficiency. Lightweight design, energy efficiency and simplified systems are helping to reduce downtime and labour dependency.
“We’ve seen that the most successful manufacturers have moved past short-term performance metrics and now place greater emphasis on total lifecycle performance,” Mr Aldridge explains.
This shift is encouraging wider adoption of low-maintenance, ready-to-install components, including lubrication-free technologies that improve reliability and reduce servicing needs. Embedding productivity into product design from the outset is enabling more cost-effective, resilient systems.
Sustainability is also becoming integral to development strategy. Manufacturers are focusing on material efficiency and energy reduction, alongside longer-lasting components that reduce the need for replacement and minimise environmental impact.
Lightweight engineering and advanced materials are helping lower energy use without compromising performance, while durable designs extend product lifecycles. Increasingly, reliability and sustainability are closely linked rather than treated separately.
High-performing manufacturers are taking a more integrated approach, combining innovation speed with long-term operational performance. There is a growing emphasis on total lifecycle value, where durability, efficiency and reduced downtime deliver greater savings than low upfront costs.
Early collaboration is another emerging trend. By working more closely with suppliers and engineering partners, manufacturers can reduce design risk and accelerate implementation.
As the sector evolves, success will depend on balancing speed with long-term performance. Those able to integrate productivity, flexibility and sustainability into development strategies will be best placed to compete.
The next generation of manufacturers will not only innovate faster, but deliver smarter, more resilient systems designed for efficient operation over their full lifecycle.