Wood manufacturers recognised by Made Smarter Awards

The scheme has been launched to mark the fourth anniversary of the pioneering Made Smarter adoption programme, a government-funded and industry-led initiative helping SME manufacturers digitalise, decarbonise and drive growth.

Logs Direct, kiln-dried wood manufacturers based in Lancaster, Playdale Playgrounds, a playground equipment manufacturer based in Ulverston, and Crystal Doors, a manufacturer of bespoke vinyl wrapped furniture, based in Rochdale are among the first 19 gold award winners. 

A further 21 manufacturers achieved silver and 118 got bronze for their committed approach to digital transformation.

“The Made Smarter adoption programme is a huge success story for UK manufacturing,” said Donna Edwards, director of Made Smarter’s North West adoption programme. “It has inspired leadership and evoked change in hundreds of businesses through technology and new skills. 

“Digital transformation can be hard, particularly in the current climate and given the challenges the sector has faced in recent years, so it is right we recognise the hard work, dedication and forward-thinking nature of these businesses and their employees. They have embraced digitalisation to become a leading example of UK manufacturing excellence. 

“We are delighted to launch our first Made Smarter Awards and hope that recipients will wear them like a badge of honour to inspire others around them.”

Logs Direct, a manufacturer of winter fuel products based in Lancaster, worked with Made Smarter to invest in a real-time kiln monitoring and heat-recovery system, which will improve productivity, efficiency and product quality.

The solution is forecast to increase growth by 15%, create five new jobs, significantly reduce energy use and introduce new eco-friendly products.

"We are truly honoured and surprised to receive our Made Smarter award,” said Liz Foulds, finance director at Logs Direct.

"Made Smarter has been instrumental in allowing us to move forward with a greener, more efficient and cost-effective drying process, and given us the confidence to look at the next steps of improvement."

Playdale Playgrounds invested in a state-of-the-art Smart CNC routing machine, which links with CAD and nesting software, and its ERP system.

The integration of the design and manufacture processes has allowed it to achieve significant improvements in efficiency, output, productivity, reduce material use, tooling and downtime, and improve quality. 

"We are extremely grateful to the Made Smarter programme,” said Paul Mallinson, technical and operations director for Playdale Playgrounds. “Adopting technology is an essential part of our digital strategy. Their expertise and support has accelerated our future state and ambitions to become an entirely digitally integrated factory.

“In such a competitive market we need to be able to manufacture faster and more efficiently.”

To date, the north-west programme has provided specialised support to over 2,500 businesses. Its advisers have imparted expert, impartial technology advice and digital transformation workshops to help create a digital roadmap, skills support and leadership training, and grants towards technology projects.

Some businesses have adopted technologies that enable them to integrate systems, capture and analyse data, and even create simulations of their plants and processes. Others have adopted 3D-printing, automation, and robotics to solve business challenges and meet increased demand.

These investments have created 1,300 new manufacturing jobs, upskilled 2,400 existing roles and added over £209m in gross value added (GVA) for the north-west economy. Businesses are also benefiting from improved productivity and revenue, increased exports and lower energy bills, and a reduced carbon footprint.