UK manufacturing to overtake China in £22bn compressor market

Lontra and Shield join forces to boost efficiency in UK manufacturing sector

Lontra has partnered with Shield Group Engineering in a knowledge-sharing agreement which will work to refine prototyping and manufacturing techniques to achieve competitive component designs for the global marketplace. The first joint project will focus upon the manufacture of an industrial compressor based on Lontra designs to address a global market worth £22 billion.

The partnership has been made as a result of the stiff competition from overseas firms which are securing a vast percentage of UK manufacturing jobs, with the EEF recently voicing its concerns over the decline in overseas orders for UK manufacturing services. The companies believe the partnership could help to propel Britain’s manufacturing sector back into the global market. The collaboration between Lontra and Shield aims to aid Britain’s manufacturing sector, providing it with a vital platform for international growth.

Shield Group Engineering already supplies components to Jaguar Land Rover, Caterpillar, Aston Martin, and JCB. The partnership further cements the reputation of the Midlands area as a key manufacturing hotspot in the UK, revealing the importance of local business collaboration as Britain looks to restore its global dominance within the sector.

Steve Lindsey, founder and chief executive of Lontra and designer of the Blade Compressor, said: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to partner with Shield, we located our research headquarters in the Midlands to benefit from proximity to such world-class organisations. Shield Group engineers will be able to provide us with invaluable input into streamlining the design of our product, improving the consistency of parts to further improve compressor reliability, and lowering the overall cost of production. This will give Lontra’s compressor and even greater competitive edge, with its proven efficiency and reliability joined by even lower production costs and simple assembly and maintenance.”

Chris Shield of Shield Group, said: “Recent reports have focused on UK manufacturers losing out to emerging markets but this is not a foregone conclusion. We have demonstrated that we can outperform emerging markets on price by using smart machining techniques and investing in the latest machining technology. Made in Britain continues to mean something, and today’s partnership is a key step in getting it back on track. Lontra’s superior compressor design combined with our state of the art technology and manufacturing techniques is a world-class partnership.”