Manufacturing and engineering firms that are developing new innovative ideas, and delivering high quality products and services, were celebrated at the Made in Northern Ireland Awards 2023. Held last week at the Titanic Hotel in Belfast, guests heard from Sam Turner, chief executive of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre, a £98m industry-led innovation centre funded through the Belfast Regional City Deal at Queen’s University Belfast. The event was sponsored by Cleaver Fulton Rankin, Deloitte, MCS Group and Strategic Power Connect. Vision Fabrications sponsored the drinks reception.
Digital Engineering/Technology Award
Winner: Raptor Photonics
The judges were impressed with Raptor’s cutting-edge technology, combined with its high level of service and manufacturing quality, putting it in a strong position to continue its upward growth.
Manufacturing Apprenticeship/Training Scheme Award
Winner: The Almac Group
Now in its seventh year, Almac’s annual apprentice intake encompasses five different courses, operating across five different areas of the business and delivered in partnership with Southern Regional College, Ulster University and the Open University.
Shortlisted:
Mallaghan
Greiner Packaging
Export Award
Winner: EDGE Innovate
The judges were impressed with the work EDGE Innovate has done with its network of more than 70 overseas dealers and partners to alleviate barriers to market such as cost increases and component supply issues.
Highly Commended: Circular Group
Shortlisted:
Crust & Crumb Bakery
InspecVision
Medical, Life Sciences and Healthcare Award
Winner: Leckey
Leckey employes a full clinical team and includes them as integral members of the R&D process working alongside its designers, production and quality engineers, resulting in a range of innovative products.
Shortlisted:
Seating Matters
Axial3D
Food and Drink Award
Winner: Crust & Crumb Bakery
The judges were impressed with Crust & Crumb Bakery’s aim to consolidate its logistic and transportation routes to counteract the substantial impact of haulage overheads in the past year, strengthening its own fleet of lorries to increase internal distribution capacities.
Shortlisted:
Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt
The Boatyard Distillery
Manufacturing Innovation Award
Winner: Kane Engineering
Seeing an opportunity with the rapid increase in the number of Electrical Vehicles in the UK, Kane has designed a range of switchgear products for the for EV charging infrastructure schemes and has successfully launched it EvoPillar brand which the judges said was a really great pivot success story.
Highly Commended: Greiner Packaging
Shortlisted:
Bluefield Houseboats
Seating Matters
Decom Engineering
Apprentice of the Year Award
Winner: Orla Donnelly, Mallaghan
The judges felt Orla’s exceptional understanding of design and manufacturing processes, completing projects ahead of schedule, to an extremely high standard and with minimum supervision, make her the stand-out apprentice this year.
Shortlisted:
Anastasiya Kovtun, The Almac Group
Breandan McCann, Mallaghan
Conor Dallas, Mivan
Louis Johnston, Greiner Packaging
Ethan Magowan, Mallaghan
Jonathan Hawthorne, Greiner Packaging
Manufacturer of the Year (under £25m)
Winner: Raptor Photonics
Raptor Photonics has seen an annual growth of 19 per cent since 2021 with revenues of £13.5m last year, with margins and profitability remaining very strong. This was hailed as a significant achievement despite difficult trading conditions and, with the company picking up some very important volume OEM contracts, helped Raptor win the award.
Highly Commended: Seating Matters
Shortlisted:
CK International
Vision Fabrications Limited
Off The Wall Creative
Bluefield Houseboats
Leckey
Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt
KME Steelworks
Water Tecnik
Manufacturer of the Year (over £25m)
Winner: Encirc
Encirc produces more than four billion glass bottles and containers each year, with the capacity to fill 500 million litres of bulk-shipped beverages. The judges were particularly impressed with Encirc’s commitment to sustainability, aiming to create the world’s first zero carbon glass bottles by 2030.
Highly Commended: Decora Blind Systems
Shortlisted:
Crust & Crumb Bakery
O&S Doors
Greiner Packaging
McAvoy