A Somerset engineering company has highlighted what it sees as some of the challenges facing electric vehicle (EV) production in the UK during a visit to its factory by Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng.
Electrified Automation develops automated machinery and robotics to help companies - including London-listed EV manufacturer Saietta - scale production of electric motor products.
The business hosted Mr Kwarteng and local MP Ian Liddell-Grainger at its 11,00 sq ft factory at Beech Business Park in Bridgwater.
Electrified Automation said its managing director Jim Winchester had spoken to the minister about how research and design in UK manufacturing needed more support to prevent its economic value being exported overseas.
Mr Winchester said early-stage companies in the sector often end up being “saddled with debt” as they tried to grow, making them attractive acquisitions in deals which often resulted in t hem losing ownership of intellectual property.
He said: “The problem for UK manufacturing is that this creates a vacuum in the supply chain and we lose the economic opportunities associated with the scaling-up of new technologies to other countries."
Mr Winchester went on to say there was a skills shortage in the sector, with more qualified engineers and technicians needed to support the expansion of EV technology in the UK.
Mr Kwarteng, who also visited nearby nuclear power plant Hinkley Point C during his trip to Somerset, said: “Firms like Electrified Automation are at the heart of our plan to grow the economy and create good, high-skilled jobs.
“That is why we are continuing to back our nation of innovators, supporting them in their early stages of growth with innovation funding, and giving them the tools they need to create great British tech."
Electrified Automation was founded by Lloyd Ash in April 2020, after he sold his previous electric motor manufacturing venture, Devon-based Ashwoods Electric Motors, to US firm Dana Corporation.
Last year the business grew its headcount to more than 15 after picking up design work with “major aerospace manufacturers” and working with other automotive companies to find winding machine equipment, while it is also involved in the off-highway sector as well.
Mr Winchester told BusinessLive in October 2021 that Electrified Automation was also looking to develop its own ”next generation” platform of electric motors manufacturing.
The company said it had a “strong order book for 2022” and the support it had received from the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) - a government-funded enterprise organisation - had been “critical” in the development of its technology.
Ian Constance, chief executive of APC UK who also attended the visit, said: "We're incredibly proud to see what our APC funding has achieved and are looking forward to seeing how Electrified Automation continue to power forward.
"It is a great example of the benefits of investing in low-carbon innovation and strengthening the UK automotive supply chain. Their success is leading to growth and jobs while at the same time helping to decarbonise transport and lower harmful emissions.
"The electric vehicle transition is happening now, so we need to make sure we are supporting UK companies across the whole supply chain, to anchor manufacturing in the UK."
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