Manufacturer creates poppy making machine
Wakefield-based Sewtec Automation has secured a new contract to design and manufacture a bespoke automation system for the Royal British Legion’s poppy production facility.
The new contract comes during the Legion’s centenary year, having been supporting serving and ex-serving armed forces personnel and their families since 1921.
The manufacturer has utilised the latest technology available within the industry for the Legion’s in-house manufacture of poppies with the new machinery automating the assembly of paper poppies, transforming reels of paper and pre-made stems into the famous two-petal poppy, worn by millions of people each year as a symbol of remembrance.
The project is being managed by a specialist team of Sewtec engineers and is set to be installed in time for the the charity to produce poppies for use during its 2022 appeal.
Ian Walch, Sewtec Automation’s managing director said: “We are extremely proud to be working on a project for the Royal British Legion, who provide vital support to current and former military personnel and their families. The Sewtec team has invented a powerful solution designed to deliver reliable and accurate assembly of the poppies.”
Simon O’Leary, assistant director of fundraising at the Royal British Legion added: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Sewtec Automation to produce a bespoke and innovative design solution that will safeguard our mass paper poppy production for many years to come.
“We produce around 30 million poppies annually and these are distributed to communities across the country via our dedicated volunteers and partner organisations. Every poppy makes a difference to the lives of our armed forces community.”
