Over 50 of Britain’s top manufacturing companies have made it through to the finals of the UK’s largest and most rigorous industry awards programme. Delivered by The Manufacturer in partnership with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), The Manufacturer MX Awards (TMMX Awards) exist to encourage, benchmark, and celebrate manufacturing excellence, with every stage of the programme providing value for participants, whatever their excellence maturity.
The finalists will compete across 11 categories ranging from innovation and sustainability, through to supply chain, leadership and staff engagement, with one company being crowned the overall Manufacturer of the Year 2023. They then go through to the second round of judging and the independent judging panels will be able to undertake site visits and the judging day face to face. Returning again this year is the Manufacturing in Action category, where finalists are chosen from companies that The Manufacturer editorial team have visited in the last 12 months.
Commenting on this year’s programme, Managing Director of The Manufacturer, Grace Gilling said: “Firstly, it has been the best year for entries which has made for a really fierce competition at this first round. In particular, there have been an unprecedented number of entries in Operational Excellence, Product Innovation & Design and Young Manufacturer of the Year. I am always delighted to see companies returning year or year, treating it for the continuous improvement programme that it is.”
The Manufacturer MX Awards gala dinner and ceremony, the culminating event of The Manufacturer Live 2023, will be held at the Exhibition Centre in Liverpool on 15 November and is always a true celebration of the best of British manufacturing.
Entry and judging are at no cost to the participants, and it could not be possible without the generous support of The Manufacturer MX Awards headline sponsors RS Group and category sponsors: Autodesk, JLR, MHP Consulting (a Porsche company) and SugarCRM.
Emma Botfield, Managing Director of RS UK & Ireland, said: “The manufacturing sector has faced unprecedented turbulence in recent years, when factors including the pandemic, supply chain disruption and Brexit, have all been significant contributors. These challenges have been tackled head-on by many organisations who have shown the agility and resilience not just to survive, but thrive and grow.
“We’re thrilled to be headline sponsor of this prestigious event, helping to champion these organisations who have shown that in the face of adversity, flexibility and a willingness to embrace change is key to successful evolution,” she added.
Peter Flinn, Past President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) said: “This year’s TMMX shortlist shows again the widespread interest in manufacturing excellence. Companies both small and large are competing to be recognised as the best in their field, using the rigorous judging process that TMMX is known for. Through this process, IMechE actively encourages manufacturing – the means by which engineering ideas are tuned into reality for the benefit of everyone.”
Last year Sheffield’s Gripple, manufacturer of wire joiners and tensioners for agriculture, and suspension solutions for construction, was crowned The Manufacturer of the Year and came away with multiple awards, including Young Manufacturer of the Year 2022.
Gordon Macrae, Gripple’s Special Projects Manager said: “The Manufacturer MX Awards are the most prestigious manufacturing awards in the country, so it was a real honour for us to win five categories. The entry process and judging criteria are, quite rightly, rigorous and the judges really do put you to the test when they visit, but we were so pleased with the feedback we received and have used this to continually improve our operations.”
“Even though I wasn’t studying maths or science, I knew I was interested in the logistics of manufacturing and that I could be an asset to a manufacturing company. So, to other girls out there, if you’re not a STEM student, don’t be disheartened and follow your dreams; you CAN make a difference,” said Natasha Lyth, Young Manufacturer of the Year 2022, Sustainability Manager, at Gripple.
Here at The Manufacturer we believe it’s more important than ever to encourage, benchmark and celebrate manufacturing excellence – so we are delighted to announce the shortlist nominations for The Manufacturer MX Awards 2023.
The Manufacturer MX Awards 2023 shortlist:
See further details here
Achieving Customer Value (sponsored by SugarCRM)
Druck, a Baker Hughes business
Foam Engineers
Janus International Europe
Protolabs
Rotec Hydraulics
Whirlpool UK Appliances
International Trade
Bradbury Group
Briggs of Burton
European Springs & Pressings
Kelvin Hughes Limited trading as HENSOLDT UK
MasterMover
MPE
Paralloy
Sontronics
Leadership & Strategy (sponsored by MHP Consulting (a Porsche company))
Druck, a Baker Hughes business
Hyde Engineering
JLR
Lander Tubular Products
LISI AEROSPACE Rugby (BAIUK)
Yunex Traffic
Operational Excellence
Bentley Motors
JLR
Leyland Trucks
NGF Europe
The Park Encirc
Lander Tubular Products – Birmingham Facility
LISI AEROSPACE Rugby (BAIUK)
Mercian Labels
People & Skills
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
Evtec Automotive
MPE
Sheffield Forgemasters
Whirlpool UK Appliances
Yunex Traffic
Product Innovation & Design (sponsored by Autodesk)
BAE Systems Maritime Services
Druck, a Baker Hughes business
GKN Aerospace
Foam Engineers
MasterMover
MPE
Vestatec
Smart Factory
AML Sheffield
BMW Hams Hall Motoren
Brompton Bicycle
Ford Motor Company
Warburtons
Supply Chain Excellence (sponsored by JLR)
Foam Engineers
Gill Group
Lander Tubular Products
TSP Engineering
Yunex Traffic
Sustainable Manufacturing
British Sugar
Fourstones Paper Mill Co
Janus International Europe
Pilgrim’s UK
Ricardo
The Traffic Group
Willerby
Young Manufacturer of the Year
Alice Quinn, 3M
Beth Wiles, Foam Engineers
Callie Lindsay, Druck, a Baker Hughes business
Conor Murphy, JLR
Holly Mason, Goodfish Group
Jordon King, Delta Fire
Taahir Patel, Lisi Aerospace Rugby (BAIUK)
Tristan Champ, Plastic Omnium Automotive
Manufacturing in Action
Chivas Brothers
Haleon
Leonardo
LUSH Cosmetics
Nim’s Fruit Crisps
OX Delivers
The Park Encirc