The increased demand from manufacturers for improved productivity, reliability and safety is helping a Telford-based technology specialist to press the button on a £3m investment.
iconsys, which is one of the UK’s leading independent system integrators providing industrial automation, enterprise integration and sustaining services, has purchased a 17,500 sq ft site on Stafford Park to cope with its planned expansion and is in the process of fitting it out to be one of the region’s foremost Smart buildings
Backed by a £150,000 grant from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Marches Building Investment Grant Scheme, after refurbishment and expansion the company will benefit from a substantial increase in available manufacturing floorspace compared to its current site and will create a technology demonstration area, an amphitheatre for training and an office of the future for agile working.
The move to new premises will create ten highly skilled jobs and is part of the firm’s 2020+ growth strategy, which looks to increase turnover to £20m in five years by encouraging industry to adopt automation and digital technology.
“Manufacturers in the UK are increasingly switching on to the benefits of automation to improve their performance and profitability and that is resulting in a surge of orders for us,” explained Nick Darrall, Managing Director of iconsys.
“In order to cope with demand, we decided now was the right time to create a world class facility that will give us the platform to meet our current and future needs. Our new headquarters will be a central business core, giving our staff a truly Smart building that offers hotdesking, an inviting tech-enabled work café, agile working and a virtual reality area where we can showcase the latest in technology.
It’s about creating a welcoming workspace conducive to a healthy work/life balance, promoting a flexible, and enjoyable working environment, which is inclusive and accepting that not only fosters collaboration and innovation but also aids learning at all levels, enabling individuals to develop and grow.”
“We will be incorporating the latest collaborative cloud-based infrastructure software to create an advanced, suitable and well-connected working environment whereby employees are able to work either in the office or remotely with equal efficacy.”
He continued: “Outside the facility, solar panels will contribute to our energy requirements and there will be electric vehicle charging points to support sustainable transport. A large part of our 3.8 acre site is made up of mature woodland which and we will look to conserve and nurture to help offset carbon emissions and sustain wildlife.”
“We’ve appointed Forster & Tullett as main contractor and are working with BASE architects and workspace design agency iDEA to make our vision a reality. We expect to be in the building and fully operational by April 2021.”
The company’s 50-strong workforce of software, electrical and manufacturing engineers provide a full project management service to blue chip customers involved in a diverse range of industries including metals, automotive, marine, paper, fast moving consumer goods, food and beverage and logistics,
iconsys will work closely with each client to identify where automation and technology can help modernise an existing process through enterprise integration, industrial automation and sustainable services, where its experts will continue to provide support after the project has been completed.
Latest News