Solihull robot manufacturer lands part of £300m funding boost

A Solihull manufacturer is set to receive part of a £300m government and industry fund.

Through the Manufacturing Made Smarter Challenge, the government will invest £147m – backed by further funding from industry. The first £50m of the funding is being allocated to 14 manufacturing projects involving around 30 small or medium businesses, 29 larger enterprises and nine universities, with the rest of the funds due over the next five years.

Solihull-based ATS Applied Tech Systems’ WeldZero project will explore the use of robots, sensors and automation to improve accuracy when welding metal parts on a production line. The machines will also collect and feedback to help improve the manufacturing process, leading to stronger and higher-quality parts, as well as quicker production, in industries including automotive and construction.

Sharma said: “Increasing productivity is vital for any business, and having the right new technologies in place can help manufacturers make better products to compete and thrive.

“By helping manufacturers to reduce costs, cut waste, and slash the time it takes to develop their products, this multi-million pound uplift will help fire up the cylinders of productivity as we build back better from the pandemic.”