To mark National Manufacturing Day on 28th September 2023, Sapcote Engineering, part of the i3 Group, proudly opened its doors to valued customers and suppliers for a tour of their newly upgraded facilities where they saw first-hand how the investments we have made have boosted our advanced manufacturing capabilities.

  • From its 12000 sqft factory and offices facility in Broughton Astley, Leicestershire, Sapcote Engineering has been designing, manufacturing, installing and maintaining advanced manufacturing systems, special-purpose machinery, and factory infrastructure platforms and conveyors.
  • Customers include Hozelock, PepsiCo / Walkers Crisps, Unilever, JCI, United Biscuits, Thomas Dudley and Unilever.
  • A second 3000 sqft facility includes the Digital Twin & Simulation Hub, a Sales Hub, and an R&D centre for the development of digitalisation in manufacturing systems.
  • Local councillor Michael Mullaney inaugurated our new facility by cutting the ribbon as we celebrated the company’s achievements and growth.

Transformation under i3 Group Solutions

Our acquisition of Sapcote Engineering in 2021, while ensuring its legacy, has brought about a transformation:

Capability investment:

The acquisition of two businesses into the Group – New Intelligence and Cambridge Automation Simulation to leverage advanced technologies in the design and manufacture of advanced manufacturing systems.

Additionally, our investment in systems modernisation of ERP / MRP has marked a significant leap in our operational capabilities.

Investment in the team:

We have expanded our team with 10 additional new staff in engineering, SHEQ, finance, HR, IT, design, project management, operations and a dedicated continuous improvement team. We have also upskilled employees with internationally accredited qualifications and training.

Factory investment: 

Adopting state-of-the-art technologies like 3D Scanning, Digital Twinning, and Simulation, we’ve optimised our production capabilities and throughput. The factory has also undergone a transformation with Lean and 5S principles, including the build of new mezzanine floors for additional storage and work areas and internal configuration for optimised production flow, providing a better, cleaner working environment.

Investment in the future – Apprentices programme:

Currently, at Sapcote Engineering, we are mentoring 8 apprentices in fields like management, mechatronics, and welding, collaborating with top regional universities, colleges, and training providers. Our dedicated mentoring programme ensures these apprentices are not just trained but nurtured, priming them as tomorrow’s industry leaders. In empowering the next generation, we’re ensuring a bright future for our company, and the manufacturing and engineering sectors.

National Manufacturing Day was not just a celebration of manufacturing but allowed us to reflect on how far we have come as a businesses, and acknowledge our team’s dedication to innovation, growth, and excellence and remain committed to pushing the boundaries of engineering and manufacturing in the UK and beyond.