Automation control specialist Transicon has strengthened its presence across the north of England as it predicts growth in manufacturing digitalisation in 2026.
The Telford-based engineer, which works with manufacturers in the aerospace, automotive, metals, plastics and environmental sectors including household names such as Muller, BMW and Tata Steel, has appointed Laura Hayton as its new head of business development for the north.
Laura, who has worked in the engineering industry for nearly 20 years, brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and expertise to the company and will provide first-hand support to businesses as they look to innovate and modernise their production lines.
The move follows a recent Make UK report on manufacturing digitalisation which highlighted that the UK majorly lagged behind other countries worldwide but that if the gap were to be fixed, the UK GDP could be £150 billion better off by 2035.
Jennifer Hughes, General Manager at Transicon, said: “There’s a huge opportunity for manufacturers here in the UK and every day we see companies that are committed to digitalisation.
“The challenge is that bridging the gap between old systems and new technology is genuinely difficult and there are often multiple solutions making it difficult for businesses to know where to start - and that’s where we are looking to provide more support.
“We expect to see growth in the number of businesses investing in digitalisation throughout 2026 and beyond and Laura’s appointment will allow us to be far more pro-active in supporting these manufacturers and helping them find the right solutions to futureproof their production lines and drive greater productivity.”
Laura, who has worked across the industry supporting SMEs and global players will support manufacturers looking to upgrade systems including GM80 PLCs, implement mechatronics solutions, and integrate modern technology into existing production lines.
She said: “I'm really pleased to be expanding Transicon's presence across the north supporting businesses that are committed to driving productivity through planned, strategic system upgrades rather than reactive maintenance.
“The reality for many businesses is they're facing a triple challenge with ageing equipment, depleted spare parts supplies and fewer engineers who understand legacy systems. This combination creates significant operational risks for production facilities, but the hope is our team can work with manufacturers and help identify systems that can be modernised before they become business-critical.”
In addition to Laura’s appointment, Transicon has also created four other roles across its engineering and sales teams to support additional demand.
The company, which was set up in 1967 and is based at Queensway Business Park, has built a formidable reputation for its work manufacturing bespoke automation and control systems incorporating AC Drives, DC Drives, Servo Drives, PLC and SCADA Systems.
