“iconsys’ technology-independence and ability to deliver complex turnkey projects will be critical in helping both the Consumer Goods and Aerospace & Defence sectors modernise and futureproof operations.”

This is the message from Alex Smith, the control and automation specialist’s latest high-profile hire, brought in to maximise what he believes is a multi-million-pound opportunity to support companies operating in food and beverage, FMCG, and aerospace supply chains.

The new Head of Sales for Consumer Goods and Aerospace & Defence believes the Consumer Goods sector has seen unprecedented pressure from labour constraints, supply chain disruption and increasing regulations — and there is now a growing demand to introduce more automation, robotics and systems that can harvest real-time data.

He brings with him 15 years of global technical sales experience gained at Emerson, Cimlogic and Eyelit, with acute knowledge of IT/OT y deployment across highly regulated sectors, including aerospace and defence, consumer goods, medical, and automotive.

“It’s all about solving problems and delivering value, and that really resonates when you are talking to the customer about automation solutions,” explained Alex Smith, who has a degree in chemistry from Leeds University.

“In essence, we can make Consumer Goods and Aerospace companies digital ready. From our technology partner independence and key capability to carry out site assessments and functional safety consultancy through to system integration and full turnkey automation lines – it’s a tailored solution from start to finish, partnering with our customers over the entire lifecycle of their assets, from initial consultancy through to automation project design, delivery and ongoing maintenance.”

He continued: “iconsys has nearly 40 years’ experience of working in these sectors and, from my first few months in this role, you can tell there is an appetite from potential customers to see how we can help companies increase productivity, profitability and safety over the long term.

“Obsolescence is a big issue for the larger Consumer Goods companies. Lots of machinery is outdated, inefficient and not suitable for networking and real-time data collection. The challenge will be how we reverse this without the need for massive capital investment — and how that solution can be replicated across multiple production sites.”

“iconsys brings similar value to the Aerospace & Defence sector, where we support suppliers in improving productivity, compliance and energy resilience through tailored automation, electrification and digital transformation projects. The company’s ability to work within highly regulated environments and deliver cyber-secure, safety-critical solutions is already proving key to unlocking long-term OEM partnerships.”

iconsys provides its customer base with access to both consultative services (including sustainability, safety, digital transformation, cyber security and energy management) and lifecycle services (including automation solution design, implementation, installation, commissioning and ongoing maintenance).

The company, which is located at a state-of-the-art smart manufacturing facility in Telford, is increasing capacity to take advantage of £multi-million opportunities around sustainability, energy management, safety, obsolescence, digitalisation and cyber security in its key target markets.

This is being achieved through a major recruitment drive in engineering expertise and the appointment of new ‘Heads’ of Sectors to help develop collaborations with existing and new customers, with total staff expected to exceed 110 by April 2026.

Nick Darrall, Managing Director of iconsys, continued: “As a management team we’ve identified several key industries where our expertise, solutions and consultative and ‘lifecycle’ offers can be applied to deliver immediate and long-term benefits.

“Consumer Goods and Aerospace are both sectors that need a lot of support towards digitisation, and, in Alex Smith, we have the perfect lead to help support our expansion in this market. He is highly driven and is excellent at opening new doors, creating collaborations and partnerships that deliver true, tangible value. I’m delighted we’ve managed to attract him to our business.”

Alex concluded: “What would success look like in our first year? There are some immediate lifecycle and consultative projects we are close to sealing that will make a real difference to our clients.”

For further information, please visit www.iconsys.co.uk or follow the company across its social media channels.