SME furniture and joinery manufacturers are investing in digital technologies to improve productivity, create new jobs and strengthen competitiveness with support from Made Smarter.
Manufacturers producing commercial furniture, sofas, bespoke interiors, specialist joinery and handcrafted leisure products are among those embracing automation, digital design software, CNC machinery and advanced manufacturing systems after grants from Government-backed programmes in the North West, South East and Yorkshire.
They include Saxon Furniture, based in Bolton, Greater Manchester, which has invested £125,250 in an in-house CGI content pipeline and Morf configurator platform, backed by a £50,000 Made Smarter grant. The investment will enable the commercial furniture manufacturer to enhance the customer buying experience through interactive 3D visualisation while reducing product development times and bringing CGI production in-house.
Managing Director Matt Deighton said: "Made Smarter's support has 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."
In Cheshire, Glyngary Joinery, a manufacturer of premium quality timber windows and doors, invested £200,000 in a Soukup Crafter MK2 machining centre, hydraulic corner clamps and beading machinery, supported by a £20,000 Made Smarter grant. The investment is forecast to upskill eight employees while increasing output and improving manufacturing efficiency as the business pursues ambitious growth plans.
Director Joe Trueman said: "This investment, supported by a Made Smarter grant, has enabled us to introduce precision technology into our production process, increasing output, improving efficiency and helping us meet growing demand. It's an important step in our five-year growth plan to expand from 20 to 40 employees and increase turnover from £2 million to £6 million while supporting window installers across the UK."
Forest Sofa, based in Salford, has invested in a CNC fabric cutting machine to improve manufacturing efficiency, increase cutting accuracy and support the continued growth of its upholstery business.
Managing Director Tommy Thornber 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."
In Leeds, Hue Interiors secured a £13,000 grant towards a £26,000 augmented and virtual reality project. The investment in new computer hardware and specialist furniture design software will improve integration with the company's CNC machinery and manufacturing processes, helping the bespoke furniture manufacturer reduce manual input and improve production efficiency.
Co-owner Tom Daykin said: "As a bespoke furniture manufacturer, every project is different, so anything that improves accuracy and reduces duplication is a huge benefit. The new system will allow us to move more seamlessly from design through to production, reducing manual input, minimising errors and helping us deliver projects more efficiently for our clients."
Also in West Yorkshire, Cedarwell, a specialist joinery manufacturer, secured a £12,000 grant towards a £24,000 investment in a CNC drilling machine. The technology will improve precision, productivity and manufacturing efficiency while allowing the business to automate repetitive tasks and focus on more complex bespoke joinery projects.
Owner Paul Brown said: "The Made Smarter grant will be a catalyst for growth at Cedarwell. With our new CNC technology, we will be able to automate repetitive tasks and focus on the complex, bespoke joinery that defines our business. We're very thankful for the funding; it will be vital in modernising our production and securing our future."
In Lancashire, Rustic Tubs, which manufactures handmade wooden hot tubs and plunge pools, has invested £8,000 in a Creality K2 Plus Combo 3D printer and Autodesk Fusion 360 software, supported by a £4,000 Made Smarter grant. The technology will help the business streamline product development, manufacture bespoke pool filtration components in-house and improve production efficiency.
Andy Walsh, Founder, said: "Made Smarter's support has given us the opportunity to explore 3D printing and digital design tools that can help streamline product development of more efficient pool filtration systems, and improve the way we manufacture. The project has great potential to help us grow and we expect to create one new job and upskill two existing roles, which will strengthen the business's digital capabilities and support future growth."
As well as grant funding, Made Smarter offers SME manufacturers a range of support, including digital transformation workshops, impartial technology advice, leadership and skills training, and a digital internship programme.
To learn more about how Made Smarter can help your business innovate and grow, visit www.madesmarter.uk.
