AN AIRCRAFT seating manufacturer and a packaging specialist, both from South Wales, have received recognition at a prestigious national manufacturing awards ceremony in London.
The awards, organised by Make UK, the organisation which represents over 20,000 manufacturing businesses, were held to recognise the achievements of companies from across the UK.
Safran Seats GB came out on top in the Health, Safety and Wellbeing category, with judges praising the company’s approach, describing it as a “real culture of care”.
A culture which has seen management at the Cwmbran-based firm make efforts to recognise employees’ existing mental and physical health conditions and the signs of when they may need assistance, providing support when necessary.
They’ve also used AI to identify potential ergonomic issues for workers, particularly around repetitive manual handling operations, and developed technology to help minimise the risks of injury or related health problems.
Tri-Wall UK were also crowned during the black-tie event, held aboard the Dixie Queen paddle steamer on the River Thames, taking home the honour in the Business Growth and Strategy category.
Judges lauded the company, who are headquartered in Monmouth with multiple locations across the UK, for their impressive growth strategy, which has seen them go from posting significant losses in 2016, to a considerable eight-figure profit in 2024.
The firm’s client-centred approach has reaped several rewards in recent years. From during the pandemic, when they secured a contract to package and help ensure the safe distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, to acquiring new sites in Chesterfield and the north east of England, all of which has contributed to their overall growth and success.
Janis Richards, Region Director for Make UK in Wales, said: “These awards are a testament to the dynamic companies and individuals working within engineering and manufacturing.
“The sector remains at the heart of creating wealth in Wales and as we grow our economy there will be a bright future for companies and individuals that make the most of their talent.”
Dafydd Davies, Industrial Vice President of Safran Seats, said: “We are honoured to celebrate being awarded the make UK national award for Health, Safety and Wellbeing, the award not only recognises the strong drive for continuous improvement, but is also testament of the hard work, dedication and collaborations of all of our Safran employees.”
Gavin Peters, CEO of Tri-Wall UK, said: “I am immensely proud of how far we have come and the tremendous growth we have achieved across the UK through both organic development and acquisitions.
“From a single business in South Wales in 2017 only manufacturing heavy duty corrugated packaging to now, operating seven sites from Swansea to Newcastle with a multi-material product range including timber and conventional corrugated, along with providing our customer centric solutions driven philosophy.
“Winning this award is a testament to the dedication, innovation, and hard work of our entire team. As we move forward, we remain committed to evolving and improving to better serve our valued customers.”
Mark Fergusson, Head of Client Engagement, Tritax Big Box REIT plc (sponsors of the Business and Growth Strategy award) said: “Congratulations to the well-deserved national winners of Make UK’s 2024 Business Growth and Strategy Award. At Tritax Big Box, we partner with manufacturers across the UK to deliver the critical infrastructure they need to serve their customers and deliver on their strategic objectives.
“We recognise the amazing contribution that these companies make to the UK – driving innovation through R&D, generating millions of jobs, investing in skills and delivering products that make lives better.
“We are delighted to have sponsored this important Make UK award, which shines a light on those manufacturers at the forefront of innovation, who have delivered on bold and dynamic growth strategies.”
