Sewtec Automation

Based in Wakefield, Sewtec Automation is a high-tech engineering company. It not only invents but designs, manufactures, installs and supports highly specialised, bespoke machinery and robotics for production lines in sectors like food, pharmaceuticals and personal care.

 

Growing global

While Sewtec can trace its heritage back to the late 1800s, the business in its current form was established in 1982. But it was in 2017 when Leeds-based private equity firm, Endless LLP, saw a company with huge scope for greater growth into the global market and supported a management buyout.

Endless specialise in helping businesses define a new direction; spotting solutions or opportunities they couldn’t before and providing both the money and support to help achieve these. It was clear that Sewtec Automation was already a true Yorkshire success story and a fantastic example of highly skilled British manufacturing – why not share it with more of the world?

In the four years since Endless’ involvement, Sewtec has evolved and developed in a number of ways.

Investment into research, development and training has attracted some of the best engineering minds in the industry to the business. As a result of this, headcount is now at 115, up from 70 with further growth expected, which has helped the firm in meeting its ambitious growth plans.

There has also been physical expansion into a new building and operations. In September 2020, Sewtec seamlessly transitioned into its new state-of-the-art headquarters in Wakefield.

The 75,000 square foot facility more than doubled the size of its previous seven disparate sites, as well as bringing them together in one place, enabling the business to provide solutions for even more of the big multinationals from all over the world.

In fact, a significant proportion of Sewtec’s sales are now exports, with clients including Tata, Huhtamaki, Nestle, Greencore, Purina, and Imperial Brands.