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Engineers identify the UK’s top 10 manufacturers
November 24, 2011
Ten UK companies receive Manufacturing Excellence Awards at London ceremony
24 November 2011
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers identified the UK’s top ten manufacturers at the prestigious Manufacturing Excellence Awards held in the Dorchester in London last night (Wednesday 23 November).
Stephen Tetlow, Chief Executive of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers said:
“The success of these companies is encouraging for UK manufacturing as a whole.
“But the Manufacturing Excellence programme is not just about celebrating manufacturing success around the country, but about providing practical advice for businesses to support them on their journey during these difficult economic times.” 
Rotherham-based mechanical seals manufacturer AESSEAL was the overall winner, with Sheffield-based transit manufacturer Loadhog picking up the coveted best small to medium enterprise award.
The award ceremony was compered by Alistair Campbell, and attended by Mark Prisk MP, Margaret Beckett MP as well as a host of other top business names.
The full list of winners:
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers Award for the Overall Winner:
AESSEAL plc.
Rotherham-based mechanical seal manufacturer AESSEAL was rewarded for its outstanding efforts on customer focus, its motivated and enthusiastic staff and its excellent relationships with local schools. The company was also seen as particularly robust given its high number and diverse range of customers.
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers Award for Best Small to Medium Enterprise
Loadhog Ltd.
Sheffield-based transit packaging manufacturer Loadhog won for its innovative business ideas including every employee owning shares in the company, the abolition of job descriptions and its strong focus on promoting sustainability.
Barclays Corporate Award for Financial Management
Pipex px®
Pipex is a family-run business from Plymouth which won following its hard work to synchronise its finance and sales teams in order to maximise company profits, as well as for its focus on keeping management costs as flexible as possible in order to maintain healthy cash flow.
Arup Award for Sustainable Manufacturing
Agfa Graphics Ltd.
Agfa Graphics’ Leeds plant was rewarded for its efforts to eliminate waste, encourage biodiversity, generate its own heating and source its own water. The plant sent its last skip of general waste to landfill in June 2010 and now has a policy of zero general waste to landfill.
The ERA Foundation Award for Best Partnership with Education
MBDA UK Ltd.
MBDA won the award for the work it does to promote engineering in local primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities; as well as for its highly effective work experience scheme.
WMG Award for Logistics and Resource Efficiency
Draeger Safety Ltd.
Draeger Safety UK manufactures life-saving safety equipment for a range of industry sectors and won for its success at reducing machine changeover and the introduction of a new and very successful web-based system.
Institution of Mechanical Engineers Award for Customer Focus
AESSEAL plc.
AESSEAL won for its fantastic efforts to guarantee customer satisfaction, with the ability to perform orders quickly, due to the 24/7 nature of its operation.
Lombard Award for Business Development and Change Management
Leyland Trucks
Leyland Trucks was rewarded for successfully adapting to the global shift in demand and adapting its products to meet local customer needs. The company’s success has also been recognised by its parent company PACCAR, which has asked Leyland Trucks to lead on the company’s planned investment in Brazil.
Power Panels Award for People Effectiveness
Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier’s Derby plant has faced a difficult year. Despite this, the train manufacturer has worked hard to maintain staff morale by focusing on training and developing skills – including encouraging staff to help with the development of products and the company’s excellent and hugely popular apprenticeship scheme.
Autodesk Award for Innovation in Products and Processes
Carl Zeiss NTS Ltd.
Carl Zeiss NTS is a global manufacturer of scanning electron microscopes based in Cambridge. With competition from Japan and the US, the company has focused on introducing new techniques and operating procedures in order to improve efficiency and productivity.
PwC Award for Most Improved Company
Survitec Group-RFD Beaufort
The Northern Irish inflatable life craft manufacturer won due to the profound structural, cultural and behavioural changes it has introduced in the past two years leading to huge improvements in service and quality for its customers.
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ Manufacturing Excellence programme is the most successful and long established manufacturing support programme in the UK, and the only one that provides a detailed benchmarking and assessment process to help improve manufacturing businesses.
As part of the Manufacturing Excellence programme, companies can get a free consultancy package worth £20,000. Companies that enter are asked to conduct an in-depth self assessment and those who complete one or more of the eight parts receive a free, bespoke and confidential benchmark report. The best companies in each module receive a free visit from a team of expert assessors who verify the audit responses and offer practical advice and suggestions for the business. The winning companies in each category then receive an award at the Manufacturing Excellence Awards.
Manufacturing Excellence is supported by PwC, Autodesk, PP Business Improvement, The ERA Foundation, Lombard, WMG, Arup, and Barclays Corporate.