Industrial robotics specialist Sewtec Automation has made two senior appointments as the company continues to implement its transformation and growth strategy.
Mark Dignum has joined as production director, whilst Charles Boswell has been hired in the newly created role of head of quality.
Sewtec Automation designs, manufactures, installs and commissions complex industrial automation systems for global blue-chip clients in the pharmaceutical, medical, food and beverage, personal care, pet care and tobacco industries. In excess of 85 per cent of the company’s sales are exports.
Last year, Sewtec Automation’s turnover more than doubled to a record £28m with EBITDA of £9m and the company aims to achieve a turnover of £50m by 2023
Mark arrives at the company from specialist equipment supplier AUS where he was operations director for nearly two years. Prior to that, he held senior operations and manufacturing roles with companies in the furniture, healthcare and FMCG industries.
With proven capabilities in lean manufacturing and change management, Mark will be responsible for maximising productivity across Sewtec Automation’s manufacturing processes.
Charles was previously quality, health, safety and environment manager at specialist steel manufacturer MTL Advanced. He has more than 25 years’ experience in the mechanical and industrial engineering industry.
With significant expertise in environmental, quality and health and safety as well operations management, Charles will be key to ensuring the company’s ability to maintain exceptionally high standards as it increases its development of inventive and bespoke automation solutions.
Based in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, Sewtec Automation employs 116 people. In order to further enable the delivery of its growth strategy, the company recently relocated to a new 75,000 sq ft design and manufacturing facility near junction 40 of the M1 and estimates the new site will create an additional 70 high-skilled jobs.
Welcoming the pair to the business, Sewtec Automation’s managing director, Mark Cook, said: “As we further enhance our capability to design, manufacture and commission inventive automation solutions for a range of global industries, it is vital that our quality and productivity also continually improve.
“Mark and Charles are both excellent operators who will enable us to achieve that important objective. They will both play important roles in the ongoing delivery of our transformation and growth strategy, and we look forward to them contributing directly to Sewtec Automation’s continued success.”
Sewtec Automation’s ongoing business transformation and fast growth follows a successful management buyout in August 2017, which was backed by Leeds-headquartered private equity firm Endless.
