PICTURE BY TOM BANKS
Some of the SAM Project technical team ( left to right ): Ian Barrett , Adrian Morris , Richard Eynon , Roger O ’ Brien , Neil Taylor , Roger Thomas and Rita Potts .
In order to stay head and shoulders above the competition , the business had been considering buying a CNC Plasma cutting machine , but it represented a “ massive investment ” for a relatively small company .
However , it was able to buy a bigger CNC Plasma machine than had been first envisaged thanks to a SAM Project grant .
“ We ’ ve had wonderful support from the SAM Project ,” declares Katie . “ It wasn ’ t just the funding , it was the expertise that came with it . They came to the site and produced a report on how the grant would be used and it was absolutely spot on .”
The investment has made a “ massive difference ”. The company can now take on different types of work and doesn ’ t have to outsource jobs , with the machine saving turnaround time and making the business more cost-effective .
“ It ’ s like having two extra people on the shop floor ,” says Katie . “ It ’ s improved the skill-set of the workforce , opened up new avenues for the business , and that all adds up to us being more sustainable .”
Another Aycliffe company to benefit from the SAM Project is Pollite , one of three companies in the Harrison Group , established more than 150 years ago .
Pollite was incorporated in 2009 and gave the group a new dimension , using Glassfibre technology in the production of frangible aviation masts and products that are sold worldwide through civil and defence contracts with numerous airports .
The company ’ s main product is a frangible mast used on runway approaches , but it also makes windsocks and helipad approach masts .
To enhance its product portfolio , and gain market access globally , Pollite developed a new frangible concept for airport cameras towers , which can be up to 17.5m high .
However , the company needed additional technical and financial support to complete the concept . The answer was to tap into resources from the SAM Project , alongside the advanced structures division of a leading UK consulting company .
Due to the complexity of the new system , an external company also had to be brought in to validate the prototype . It all added up to a significant cost but Pollite successfully applied for a SAM Project grant to accelerate the development , and that was backed up by a technical review that was seen as a “ really useful extra pair of eyes ”.
“ Without the support from the SAM Project , there ’ s no doubt that the project would have been significantly delayed ,” says Peter Houghton , Harrisons Group finance director .
“ The support from SAM meant we were able to accelerate our project and get to a point where we could offer this enhanced product . It ’ s opened up new markets for us and definitely added to the sustainability of the business .”
Now , Roger O ’ Brien is confident that phase two of the project will be just as effective , with £ 1m in grants still available to help companies to introduce new products to the market , with fully-funded technical , process and design support also available .
“ The North-East has the largest reliance on manufacturing in the UK , with around 5,000 SMEs , so there ’ s huge scope for us to continue making an impact on the regional economy ,” he says .
“ Businesses have increasingly seen the need to localise the supply chain back to the UK , and that will open up new opportunities for our SMEs . But they have to embrace this advanced manufacturing technology because , if they don ’ t , their competitors will .”
The offer of world-class support is on the table – and the message from the SAM project team is simple : “ Come and get it ”.
18 | Aycliffe Business