Manufacturing Excellence Awards 2014 shortlist announced

Twenty-one companies have made the shortlist of this year’s National Manufacturing Excellence (MX) Awards.

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ Manufacturing Excellence Awards is a business improvement programme that has been helping UK manufacturing companies enhance their performance for over 30 years. This year marks the launch of a new, streamlined online process which, while maintaining MX rigour, facilitates gaining individually tailored expert advice. MX is widely recognised in the business world for promoting the very best of UK manufacturing, and the process is free to enter.

Christopher Simpson, Chairman of the Manufacturing Excellence Awards Executive, said: “These companies demonstrate the breadth of advanced and successful manufacturing businesses in the UK.”

“Apart from the opportunity to win a highly valued MX Award, it is also good to see many companies taking advantage of the MX programme with expert advice and feedback provided by our assessors.”

Award categories

Companies have applied to be assessed in the following eight categories:

• Innovation in Products and Processes;
• Business Development and Change Management;
• Sustainable Manufacturing; Partnership with Education;
• Logistics and Operational Efficiency;
• Customer Focus;
• People Effectiveness;
• and Financial Management and;
• Best SME.

After assessment by business experts during July, the finalists will have the opportunity to present to a panel of eminent judges at One Birdcage Walk, before the winners of the MX Awards 2014 are announced at a prestigious ceremony on Tuesday 30 September at WMG, University of Warwick.

Shortlist for 2014

The 21 shortlisted companies are:

• Altro Ltd: Letchworth-based flooring manufacturer;
• BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd: Defence, security and aerospace company, based in Blackburn;
• Brother Industries (UK) Ltd: Electronics and electrical equipment company based in Manchester;
• Building Adhesives Limited: Tiling adhesives and grouts manufacturer, based in Stoke-on-Trent;
• Coca-Cola Enterprises: Wakefield-based operations of international drinks manufacturer;
• Cummins: Diesel engine manufacturer, based in Darlington;
• Elster Water Metering Ltd: Luton-based water and energy meter manufacturer;
• Graphic Plc: Manufacturer of high technology Printed Circuit Boards, based in Crediton;
• Loadhog Ltd: Sheffield-based transit packaging innovator;
• Mabey Bridge Ltd: Chepstow-based manufacturer of steel bridging, infrastructure, wind turbine towers and heavy plated structural steelwork;
• Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group: Cambridge-based aircraft maintenance, modification and design company;
• MBDA: Stevenage-based missiles systems company;
• Mech-Tool Engineering Ltd: Darlington-based manufacturer of products that protect people and plants from blast, fire and heat hazards;
• Meggitt Polymers and Composites: Loughborough-based manufacturer of seals for aircraft and oil platforms, as well as flexible fuel tanks and coatings;
• Meltech: Blackburn-based company which manufactures cable coiling machinery, wire annealing furnaces, and continuous copper and aluminium extrusion equipment;
• Selex ES Limited: International electronics and information technology business, based in Luton;
• Subsea Technologies Ltd: Aberdeen-based subsea engineering business;
• Tek-Tanks Ltd: Supplier of water, waste and diesel fuel tanks to the Marine Industry, based in Alton, Hampshire;
• Tharsus: Engineering and contract manufacturing company, based in Blyth Northumberland;
• VerdErg Connectors Limited: Bromborough-based manufacturer of specialist equipment for offshore energy sector and;
• ZF Lemforder: Birmingham-based company that assembles corner units - suspension, drive shaft and brake assemblies for three Land Rover models.

Sponsors

The 2014 MX Awards are supported by the Department for Business and Innovation (BIS) and the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) together with the ERA Foundation, Lombard, NatWest, Grant Thornton, WMG, Renishaw, AESSEALS, the MTC, Hexagon and Power Panels.