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 £20m increase in orders, with several high-profile export contracts secured in the
EU, 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 £4.5m investment drive in new capital
equipment, automation, MRP systems and a Precision Tooling Academy to train the
toolmakers of the future.
“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 the Manufacturing
Assembly Network,” explained Tony Sartorius, Chairman of Alucast, one of the founding
members of MAN.
“A £20m 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’re also seeing lots of new
opportunities in electrification and light weighting.
He continued: “One of the biggest challenges the group is having is finding the right people
as we plan for more growth in 2024. We’ve created over 50 jobs in the last twelve 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.
Collectively, the group boasts £100m+ 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 & Net Zero
and Investment as being key to the future growth of the UK.
“We’ve certainly lived up to our MANifesto, with more than £4.5m invested over the last
twelve 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,”
added Tony Hague, Chief Executive of PP Control & Automation.
“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 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 twelve 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.
For further information, please visit www.man-group.co.uk or follow the
Manufacturing Assembly Network on LinkedIn.