North West Manufacturing, Materials & Mobility R&D Companies Directory

Leyland Trucks is a major UK-based manufacturer of commercial vehicles and a subsidiary of PACCAR Inc. The company specialises in the development and production of heavy-duty trucks, with a recent strategic focus on transitioning from internal combustion engines to battery electric and range-extender vehicle platforms. Their work involves integrating advanced electric powertrains, automating production lines for zero-emission vehicles, and conducting large-scale operational trials to support the decarbonisation of the road freight sector.

Less Common Metals is a specialist manufacturer and supplier of complex alloy systems and rare earth metals, serving as a critical link in the global permanent magnet supply chain. Their work has evolved from initial feasibility studies into UK-based rare earth magnet production to leading complex, circular economy initiatives that integrate recycling, material processing, and industrial scrap reclamation. They bridge the gap between raw material sourcing and high-performance automotive and energy applications.

Createc develops integrated robotic and sensing systems for hazardous environments, particularly nuclear decommissioning and industrial inspection. Their technologies combine radiation mapping, autonomous navigation, and AI-driven analysis to enable remote operation and improve safety and efficiency.

Crompton Technology Group is a specialist manufacturer of advanced composite components for the aerospace industry, focusing on fuel pipes, transmission shafts, actuation struts, and pressure vessels. Their work has evolved from developing nacelle systems and transmission shafts to pioneering next-generation complex composite components and cryogenic hydrogen storage tanks, aiming to reduce weight and emissions in aircraft.

Holiferm is a biotechnology company specialising in the sustainable production of biosurfactants, particularly sophorolipids, using a novel gravity-based separation technology. Their process significantly reduces manufacturing costs and environmental impact compared to conventional petrochemical-derived surfactants, enabling wider adoption in personal care, cleaning, and agricultural applications. The company has progressed from feasibility studies to pilot validation and commercial demonstrator plants.

Safran Nacelles is a major aerospace manufacturer specialising in the design, integration, and production of nacelle systems for civil aircraft. Their R&D activities focus on advancing composite manufacturing techniques, structural efficiency, and the integration of multifunctional materials to improve propulsion performance and reduce aircraft fuel consumption. The company consistently collaborates with leading UK universities and aerospace primes to drive innovation in high-rate, cost-effective nacelle assembly.

Entrust Microgrid develops smart electric vehicle charging systems integrated with microgrids and battery storage, aiming to reduce grid connection costs and enable high penetration of renewable energy. The company has evolved from demonstrating a public fast charging system to exploring community charging hubs in developing countries and is now advancing AI-enhanced energy flexibility for microgrids with connected smart homes.

TT Electronics is a global provider of engineered electronics for performance-critical applications in the aerospace, defence, and industrial sectors. Their work focuses on power conversion, sensing, and control technologies, with a recent strategic shift toward developing high-voltage power systems for the next generation of more-electric and all-electric aircraft.

Cygnet Texkimp is a micro/small enterprise specialising in advanced composite materials and coating technologies. The company develops and manufactures materials and processes for aerospace, automotive, and hydrogen mobility applications, with a focus on improving performance and sustainability. Their grant history shows a progression from nacelle systems to ceramic matrix composites, hydrogen storage, and fuel-cell vehicle integration, always as a consortium partner.

Digital & Future Technologies develops AI-driven solutions for healthcare and logistics, specialising in continuous non-invasive cardiac monitoring using machine learning and autonomous drone systems for medical sample transport. Their work has evolved from analysing ECG signals with Google's Deepmind to deploying drone networks for NHS pathology services and creating drone light shows for the creative sector.

Forth Engineering develops robotic systems and solutions for inspection, repair, and maintenance in extreme environments such as nuclear facilities, oil and gas pipelines, offshore wind farms, and water networks. Their work spans underwater acoustics, friction stir welding, pressure vessel robotics, X-ray blade inspection, nuclear waste sorting, and soft robotic pipe inspection, evolving from knowledge transfer partnerships to lead-driven collaborative R&D projects.

Nuvia is an international nuclear engineering and project management contractor specialising in decommissioning, waste management, and radiation protection services. The company integrates advanced robotics, machine vision, and digital modelling to improve safety and efficiency in hazardous environments. Their work has evolved from traditional nuclear engineering into the development of autonomous systems, smart dosimetry, and sustainable waste encapsulation technologies.

Fuuse (formerly Miralis Data) develops smart charging and energy management software for electric vehicles and fleets. Their technology spans battery health algorithms, V2X bi-directional charging, and logistics optimisation, evolving from EV charging feasibility to integrated energy resilience solutions. They collaborate extensively with local authorities, NHS, and industry partners on real-world demonstrations.

CGA Simulation is a deep technology company specialising in synthetic data, agent-based modelling, and digital twins for smart cities, transport, and defence. Their work has evolved from early virtual reality and brain-computer interface projects for wellbeing to advanced simulation platforms like ALEAD for autonomous vehicle training, and most recently to quantum-enhanced optimisation for sustainable transport. They consistently lead collaborative projects with academic and public sector partners, applying AI and simulation to real-world challenges.

M&I Materials Ltd is a specialist manufacturer of high-performance dielectric fluids and functional materials designed for demanding thermal management and electrical insulation applications. Their work has evolved from fundamental research in functional ceramics to the development of advanced immersion cooling technologies for electric vehicle batteries and electric aviation propulsion systems. By collaborating with major automotive and aerospace OEMs, the company integrates its proprietary fluid chemistry into complex electrified powertrain architectures.

HyProMag specialises in recycling rare earth magnets from end-of-life products, using a patented hydrogen processing method (HPMS) developed at the University of Birmingham. The company focuses on creating a UK-based circular supply chain for neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets, targeting applications in electric vehicle motors, wind turbine generators, and loudspeakers. Their work has evolved from scaling magnet extraction processes to establishing demonstration supply chains for automotive and wind energy sectors, with growing industrial partnerships.

Sigmatex is a specialist manufacturer of carbon fibre textiles and advanced composite materials, providing high-performance reinforcement solutions for the aerospace and automotive sectors. Their work focuses on developing 3D woven structures, thermoplastic composites, and automated manufacturing processes to improve structural efficiency and reduce production costs. Through extensive collaborative R&D, they have evolved from fundamental material research to enabling high-rate, sustainable composite manufacturing for next-generation mobility platforms.

NEMA is an aerospace electromechanical systems developer specialising in actuation, magnetic flux imaging, and active magnetic bearings. The company designs and manufactures parts to AS9100 standards, evolving from fault-tolerant actuation for unmanned aircraft to developing market-ready active magnetic bearing systems for aerospace turbo-machinery, in collaboration with industry and academic partners.

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is a UK public sector research establishment that provides advanced analytical, computational, and modelling expertise to industry. Through its Hartree Centre and other facilities, it collaborates with commercial partners to solve complex technical challenges in fields ranging from quantum computing and nanomaterials to battery technology and satellite communications. Its work focuses on translating fundamental scientific research into practical industrial applications through collaborative R&D.

LPW Technology specialises in the development and supply of high-performance metal powders and advanced powder management solutions for the additive manufacturing industry. Their work focuses on ensuring material traceability, quality assurance, and the industrialisation of metal 3D printing processes, particularly for the aerospace sector. Through a history of collaborative R&D, the company has evolved from fundamental alloy research to developing sophisticated digital systems for powder recycling and process monitoring.