Members of Made in Midlands have been highlighted in a newly published analysis of the strength, health and vibrancy of manufacturing across all regions of the UK.
The UK Manufacturing Outlook is a 240-page publication summarising the state of industry across 15 key sectors, all regions of the UK, dozens of technologies and research areas, and hundreds of investment-focused news stories.
Formerly titled the UK Manufacturing Review, the book has been published annually since 2015 until a temporary hiatus in 2020. The publication is now back with a bang with an updated title, focus and design.
It also now includes a Mid-Sized Champions section which profiles 16 examples of British manufacturers who are innovating, exporting, growing or otherwise blazing a trail for others to follow.
Among these champions are Made in the Midlands members PP Control & Automation and Coba Group.
.jpg)
Tony Hague, CEO of PP Control & Automation, has also contributed an article in which he says the chronic supply delays, caused before Covid but exacerbated by the pandemic, is an overdue and golden opportunity for companies that manufacture goods. But will we act?
“It often takes a seismic shock to challenge beliefs, strategies and ideologies that we align to,” he notes.
_1.jpg)
Mentions of Made in the Midlands members can be found throughout the book, from large automation and machine tool providers such as KUKA Robotics Systems, Yamazaki Mazak and Engineering Technology Group (ETG) to SMEs like Brandauer, Lesters, Rayden Engineering, Rowan Precision and Tooling 2000.
The significant contribution the Midlands makes to UK manufacturing and national GDP (the highest among all the regions) is reflected in its outlook being split across two articles – East and West.
The article on how ‘success is getting harder to hide in East Midlands’ reveals how a raft of opportunities in established and emerging markets mean future growth is almost guaranteed for the region.
.jpg)
Key sectors highlighted include automotive – particularly around Formula 1 and motorsport, chemicals and renewables. Investments worth hundreds of millions of pounds are also mentioned, such as the UK’s largest aluminium can factory being built in Kettering by Ball Corporation. Once operational, the plant will employ 200 people and produce upwards of 1 billion cans annually.
The West Midlands now has the largest mobility R&D environment in the UK and is heavily invested in the electrification of transport. That’s unsurprising given it hosts a third of British car production and a 46,500-strong workforce.
The article on how the ‘West Midlands is gaining momentum on the road to Electrification’ makes the size of the opportunity clear while highlighting the supply chain challenges brought about by such a dramatic change in direction.
.jpg)
Despite the challenges, supply chain collaboration is much stronger in automotive, especially in relation to emerging technologies and ensuring related funding flows down to SMEs, according to Andrew Mair, Chief Executive of the Midlands Aerospace Alliance.
Could addressing that help lift UK aerospace out of its current holding pattern? You’ll have to read the article to find out.
Copies of the UK Manufacturing Outlook 2022 can be ordered here.