Based in Dukinfield, Greater Manchester, Northpoint Ltd is a manufacturer of powder coating solutions for both decorative and functional applications. The company invested £66,000 in a new cloud-based ERP system, supported by a £20,000 grant. This project is expected to create two new jobs and upskill 22 existing employees. 

Dominika Dziedzic, Project Manager, said: “We are currently undergoing significant transformation, moving away from a highly manual and paper-based system. The implementation of the new ERP system will modernise operations and is anticipated to open opportunities for the company to expand into new markets.

“The investment is a big step forward for our business, helping us modernise how we work and improve efficiency. It’s also given us more confidence to grow and explore new opportunities.

“Our experience with Made Smarter has been really positive. We really valued the ongoing support, including being invited to various workshops to help us manage and get the most out of the implementation.”

Based in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, Micro Can Limited manufactures specialist metal packaging solutions for a range of industries. To increase capacity, improve productivity and support future growth, the business invested £216,000 in a new laser cutter and press brake, supported by a £20,000 Made Smarter grant. The project has created two new jobs, safeguarded three existing roles, and generated more than £1.4 million in additional turnover.

Warren Stanley, Managing Director, said: “Bringing cutting and bending capabilities in-house has revolutionised Micro Can. We can now develop, test and refine ideas at a pace that was unimaginable before, giving us a real competitive advantage. The results have been transformational, and we couldn’t have achieved them without the support of Made Smarter.”

Based in Denton, Greater Manchester, Visual Architects Ltd is a manufacturer of creative interiors. To expand its manufacturing capabilities and meet growing customer demand, the business invested £175,000 in two 3D printers, a Kings FGF 1800 Pro and a Kings SLA 1000 Pro, supported by a £50,000 Made Smarter grant. 

Lefteris Angelidis, CEO and Creative Director, said: “Working with Made Smarter has been a transformative experience. Its support enabled us to invest in advanced fabrication and automation technology that is helping us revolutionise how we design and produce immersive environments. This upgrade is not only increasing our efficiency and creative capacity but also supporting new job opportunities and upskilling within our team. Made Smarter’s guidance has given us the confidence and capability to scale innovation at a whole new level.”

Ultimat Defence Limited is a manufacturer of protective and defence-related textile protective products, and police training equipment, based in Wigan, Greater Manchester.

As part of the company’s move to a new production facility, it invested £73,000 in a GraphCut Elite 4022 cutting system, supported by a £20,000 grant. The project has already helped upskill three staff and is forecast to create up to six new jobs.

Ian Carlisle, Director, said: “We pride ourselves on designing, manufacturing and supplying the best equipment we can to our global customer base. To achieve this, year on year, we reinvest funds back into the business to help retrain our loyal team of employees with new skills and provide them with the best machinery and equipment available. This ethos helps us remain at the forefront in our market and we are proud to keep manufacturing alive in the UK.”

R&B Switchgear (Manchester) Ltd is a manufacturer of electrical switchgear and power distribution equipment, based in Heywood, Greater Manchester. The business invested £42,000 in a Trotec Speedy 400 laser engraving system, supported by a £20,000 grant. The project is forecast to create six new jobs and upskill four existing roles.

Tommy Thornber, Head of Manufacturing, said: "The investment in our new Trotec Speedy 400 has significantly improved our manufacturing efficiency and strengthened our in-house capabilities. It allows us to reduce lead times, improve consistency, and maintain greater control over quality, helping us deliver an even better service to our customers. The support from Made Smarter has been invaluable in helping us bring this technology into the business and continue investing in our future growth."

Massey & Harris (Engineering) Ltd is a manufacturer of playground equipment, based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The business invested £9,000 in the Unleashed Inventory Management System, a cloud-based ERP solution, supported by a £4,565 grant.

Matt Richardson, Product Manager, said: “The Unleashed system will give us real time visibility of our stock and orders across the business for the first time, replacing a largely manual process. For a manufacturer like us, where we’re managing bespoke and standard componentry and a wide range of projects, the visibility is genuinely transformative. Production, programming and stock are now being handled by the Unleashed system, removing a significant administrative burden from the team, freeing up time, and giving us a much more reliable foundation for growth.

“Investing in the right technology at the right time is critical for a business like ours, and Made Smarter made that decision much easier. The grant support was meaningful, but just as valuable was having access to the expert guidance that helped us identify the right solution for where we want to take the business. We’re confident that this investment will improve how we operate day to day and support the roles and team.”

Saxon Furniture Limited, based in Bolton, Greater Manchester, designs and manufactures furniture for the commercial interiors sector. To enhance its digital capabilities and improve the customer buying experience, the business invested £125,250 in an in-house CGI content pipeline and Morf configurator platform, supported by a £50,000 Made Smarter grant.

Matt Deighton, Managing Director, Saxon Furniture Ltd, said: “Made Smarter’s support has once again been invaluable. This new project will allow us to bring world-class CGI and 3D visualisation technology in-house, giving customers an interactive way to explore our handcrafted furniture from every angle and customise designs in real time. It will dramatically reduce our reliance on costly traditional photography, shorten product development cycles, and give us the ability to launch new designs far more efficiently. The team at Made Smarter has been incredibly patient and supportive throughout the process, and we’re hugely grateful for their belief in our business and the opportunities this funding will unlock for our future growth.”

Maker Industrial Products Limited, part of the Rakem Group, is a contract toll manufacturer based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The business invested £43,000 in an integration and automation platform within the Salesforce ecosystem to support the next phase of its digital transformation, backed by a £20,000 Made Smarter grant. The project is forecast to create three new jobs and upskill seven existing roles.

Philippa Glover, Managing Director of Rakem Group, said:  “With the help and support of Made Smarter, we have been able to invest in an integration and automation platform that will form the foundation of our digital strategy. This is just the start of our journey as we continue to develop the tools and systems needed to support long-term business growth and create a more efficient and scalable operation for the future.

“The investment reflects Maker Industrial’s commitment to innovation, productivity and skills development. It forms part of a wider strategy to build a more connected, agile and digitally enabled manufacturing business, with future phases focused on strengthening our commercial capability, finance systems and ERP infrastructure.”

Plastube Limited is a manufacturer of cable management products, based in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester. The business invested £12,000 in upgrading a semi-automatic assembly machine into a fully automated production line, supported by a £6,000 grant. The project is forecast to create a new job.

Simon Barrow, Managing Director, said: “With rising wage and energy costs, we have to find efficiencies wherever we can. Moving from a semi-automatic to a fully automated process frees up a team member to focus on other tasks, increasing productivity and helping us remain competitive.

“Made Smarter supported us throughout the application process, making it straightforward and easy. The grant has enabled us to complete the project, which will help increase sales and support future growth.”

Kane International Limited is an electronics manufacturing business specialising in test and measurement equipment, based in Atherton, Greater Manchester. The business invested £63,000 in a Europlacer EP710 solder paste printer, supported by a £20,000 grant.

Jonathan Hoole, Managing Director, said: “This investment has enabled us to continue the manufacture of printed circuit boards (PCB). It has brought about significant efficiency improvements, and upskilled our T-Level students and apprentices who use the technology. We are grateful for the support and guidance from Made Smarter.”

PP Graphics is a manufacturer of large-format specialised graphics, based in Worsley, Greater Manchester. The business invested £46,000 in a customer portal and full systems integration project, supported by a £20,000 grant. The project is forecast to create one new job and upskill nine existing roles. 

Andrew McIntyre, General Manager, said: “The new software is a vital part of our automation journey. Artwork is the lifeblood of our business. Getting customer artwork press-ready with minimal back and forth improves scheduling, efficiency and right-first-time performance.

“It also gives customers a much smoother experience, allowing them to place orders, upload artwork and manage campaigns through a single portal.

“Made Smarter has been excellent from day one. The team made securing the grant straightforward and stress-free, and I hope this is the start of a long-term relationship.”

Identity Printing is a print manufacturer specialising in garment digital printing, based in Denton. The business invested £45,000 in a Resolute DTF UV Faux Embroidery System supported by a £20,000 grant. It is forecast to create three new jobs and upskill two existing roles.

Leo Stanley, Business Development Director, said: “Working with Made Smarter has been a really positive experience. The support has helped us invest in new technology that will make a real difference to the way we operate as a business. It allows us to expand our product range, improve efficiency, and offer our customers something more innovative within garment decoration. It also supports our plans for growth, including creating new roles within the business and upskilling members of our existing team.

“For us, the grant has helped make a significant investment more achievable, and the Made Smarter team has been very supportive throughout the process. It has given us the confidence to keep pushing forward with automation, new technology and product development.”

Arden Dies Limited is a manufacturer of cutting dies and tooling solutions for the packaging industry, based in Stockport. The business invested £227,000 in a rubbering robot, supported by a £50,000 grant. The project is forecast to upskill three existing roles.

Sarah Poynter, Operations Director at Arden Dies, said: "Investing in this new rubbering robot is another important step in our digital transformation journey. The technology will help us improve productivity, increase consistency and create capacity within the business, while supporting our ambition to remain at the forefront of die manufacturing in the UK. Made Smarter has played a significant role in helping us embrace new technologies and develop the skills needed to maximise their impact."

Brightside Brewing Company Limited is an independent craft brewery based in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester. The business invested £22,000 in a Carbo 6300 inline CO₂ sensor, supported by a £11,000 grant. The project is forecast to upskill three existing employees and support business growth through improved market access.

Carley Friedrich, Director, said: "While we're best known for our cask ales, we've spent the past two years refining our keg brewing processes to expand our range of premium gluten-free lagers. This investment is the final piece of the puzzle, giving us greater precision, consistency and quality throughout production. Made Smarter was instrumental in making the investment possible. It's a market-leading piece of technology and a significant commitment for a business of our size. Now it's installed and already delivering results, we're in a much stronger position to grow our keg offering, reach new customers and continue building our reputation for quality beer."

D & M Pattern and Tooling Ltd is a manufacturer of tooling, patterns and precision-engineered components, based in Heywood, Greater Manchester. The business invested £47,000 in a Smart CNC panel saw, supported by a £20,000 grant. The project is forecast to create three new jobs.

Matthew Hall, Co-owner, said: “The investment has had a massive impact on the business. It has transformed the way we manufacture certain products, allowing us to cut thicker materials directly rather than producing multiple components and bonding them together afterwards. The result is a faster, more efficient process that has strengthened our capabilities and opened up new opportunities. Made Smarter has been invaluable throughout the process. The support has helped us invest in technology that will drive future growth, while freeing up resources that can be reinvested elsewhere in the business."

Forest Sofa Ltd, an upholstery manufacturer, based in Salford, invested £48,000 in a GraphCut Elite 4025 CNC fabric cutter, supported by a £24,000 grant. The new technology will substantially increase production output and streamline the fabric cutting process, enabling the company to reduce lead times and strengthen its position in the market. The investment will improve operational efficiency, increase turnover and enhance its ability to respond quickly to customer demand. The project will also upskill an existing employee to operate and manage the new CNC technology, while the anticipated growth in production will support the creation of two new positions within the business.

Nick Shepherd, Managing Director of Forest Sofa Ltd, said: “This investment demonstrates our commitment to continuous improvement and securing the long-term future of manufacturing at Forest Sofa. The support from Made Smarter has enabled us to embrace advanced technology that will improve productivity, shorten lead times and strengthen the service we provide to our customers. Just as importantly, this investment creates opportunities for our people through skills development and the creation of new jobs as the business continues to grow.”

Orrell Filtration Limited is a manufacturer of filter sleeves, bulk bags and consumables for dust extraction, based in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester. The business invested £42,000 in a Vetigraph automated spreader and heavy-duty laying table, supported by a £20,000 grant. The project is forecast to create three new jobs and upskill two existing roles.

Owen Connah, Co-Owner, said: “This investment is bringing much needed modernisation to our factory floor. Staff have quickly taken to the new system that allows us to increase production output potential in our very limited floorspace, which is impossible without technology investment.”