UK manufacturing 2023 – a year in pictures

Posted on 20 Dec 2023 by Joe Bush

UK manufacturing has had an eventful year. Here, we look at some of the biggest stories to hit the headlines in 2023.


TMMX2

The Manufacturer MX Awards 2023 winners: best of British manufacturing industry announced

The winners of The Manufacturer MX Awards 2023 were announced at a black tie ceremony and gala dinner in Liverpool, the culminating event of The Manufacturer Live in November. Click here for the full story.


Britishvolt

Britishvolt collapses into administration

Britishvolt, a battery technology startup that was planning to build the UK’s largest electric vehicle battery manufacturing facility in Northumberland, announced that it went into administration in January, resulting in the majority of the company’s staff being made redundant. Click here for the full story.


Advanced Manufacturing Action Plan

UK government unveils Advanced Manufacturing Plan

The UK government unveiled its Advanced Manufacturing Plan, a 47-page document setting out the actions being taken to position the country as the go-to place to start and grow a manufacturing business. Click here for the full story.


JCB Hydrogen

JCB hydrogen world first makes international debut

JCB’S £100m project to produce super-efficient hydrogen engines was given its international debut at one of the world’s biggest construction equipment fairs. Click here for the full story.


OMNIFACTORY University of Nottingham

World first, multi-million manufacturing OMNIFACTORY opens at the University of Nottingham

The new £3.8m facility, which has opened at the University of Nottingham, will revolutionise the world of manufacturing, making it more efficient and cost-effective. Click here for the full story.


Fractory

Fractory named in FT’s 1,000 fastest-growing European companies

Fractory, the Manchester-headquartered manufacturing business, is placed 32nd in the latest Financial Times ranking of Europe’s 1,000 fastest growing companies. Click here for the full story.


Daredevil Grandad

Daredevil granddad breaks world speed record with eco invention

Graham Sykes, a self proclaimed ‘nutty inventor’ and precision engineer based in Bedale Yorkshire, propelled himself into the record books with his mind-boggling steam rocket bike, ‘The Force of Nature’. Click here for the full story.


Schneider

Schneider Electric partners with ArcelorMittal on low-carbon steel

ArcelorMittal and Schneider Electric announced a partnership whereby ArcelorMittal will supply Schneider Electric with XCarb recycled and renewably produced steel for its electrical cabinets and enclosures. Click here for the full story.


Automation

Global robot report highlights UK’s urgent need to increase automation

The UK remains the ninth largest manufacturing nation in the world, with a £183bn output. But our seat at the top table is looking precarious as a result of our slow adoption of industrial automation. Click here for the full story.


Huel

Huel to open manufacturing site in Milton Keynes

Huel, the nutritionally complete food brand, announced the planned opening of a new manufacturing site within the PLP Milton Keynes business park in January 2024. The site will produce Powder and Hot & Savoury ranges for UK and EU customers, and help to accelerate the production of the ready-to-drink ranges. Click here for the full story.


Browns

Manchester printing company presses forward with growth plans

Manchester based Browns Print, one of the UK’s largest print manufacturers, is set to increase efficiency and production capabilities thanks to £2.42m of asset financing from Lloyds Bank. Click here for the full story.


CCEP

Coca-Cola bottling site in Sidcup starts production

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) GB is extending the roll out of plastic bottles with attached caps with production starting at its manufacturing site in Sidcup, South-East London. The packaging development will help improve recycling rates and prevent waste across its entire portfolio of products. Click here for the full story.

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