How to grow from £7m to £70m using digital technologies

Published: 02 March, 2023

The keynote address at the inaugural Talking Industry Live event taking place in April will be presented jointly by Dr Megan Ronayne, head of industrial technologies and manufacturing at Innovate UK KTN, and Mike Hague-Morgan, executive director of Autocraft Solutions Group. Together they will explore how Autocraft – a leading OEM for the manufacture, remanufacture and assembly of internal combustion engines and electric vehicle batteries – transitioned from being a traditional manufacturer using hand tools and paper-based systems, to a high-technology company with world-class quality, repeatability and digital traceability.

Since Hague-Morgan led a management buyout of Autocraft in 2010, its revenues have soared from £7m to £70m, and its number of employees has risen from 98 to more than 400. Much of this growth has been a result of digitalisation and adopting Industry 4.0 technologies. Innovate UK’s innovation ecosystem, including Innovate UK KTN and the Catapult Network, played a key role in the company’s digital journey.

In the Talking Industry Live keynote, Ronayne and Hague-Morgan will explore how Innovate UK collaborated with the powertrain manufacturer, providing funding and the vision to help it on its digitalisation journey. They will give a practical, real-life insights into how other companies could achieve similar transitions. The presentation will take the form of an informal, interactive discussion.

The presenters will look at how businesses can expand by adopting and implementing advanced technologies. They will explore the current understanding of digital processes by UK manufacturers, the opportunities available via funding, knowledge and innovation networks, and explain the potential benefits, including improvements in quality, productivity and upskilling.

Dr Megan Ronayne is an expert in industrial technologies and manufacturing, with more than 20 years of experience in the field. At Innovate KTN, she leads a team that provides support and funding for innovative manufacturing projects in the UK.

Mike Hague-Morgan has more than 30 years of experience in the manufacturing sector. At Autocraft, he oversees a global company that provides bespoke engineering for some of the world's leading automotive manufacturers.

Talking Industry Live will bring together experts from the manufacturing and engineering sector to discuss the latest trends, innovations, and challenges facing the sector. It will be held on 25 April at the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry, UK. For more information and to book a place at the event, please visit the event Web site.

Dr Megan Ronayne (left) and Mike Hague-Morgan: keynote speakers at Talking Industry Live

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