Labman Automation, near Middlesbrough, is no ordinary company

While the apocalyptic visions presented by the Terminator and the Matrix are a far cry from reality, one Tees Valley company has not only embraced the benefits of automation, it is breaking new ground in robotic engineering.

The picturesque village of Seamer, near Middlesbrough, may seem a strange location for a business at the cutting edge of automation concept, design and manufacture, but Labman Automation is no ordinary company.

It is evident from the design of their state of the art headquarters that is clad in huge slabs of timber – a building that would not look out of place on the edge of a Norwegian forest - they are far from run of the mill.

The huge open plan base of operations houses engineers and designers who sit alongside apprentices and senior management.

There are no hierarchical divisions at Labman and constant communication between the workforce is something that is enthusiastically encouraged.

Across one half of the building is a fully equipped climbing wall, a fireman’s pole has been fitted for employees to gain quick access to the shop floor, which boasts a table tennis table and outside a go-kart track.

Visitors would be forgiven for thinking they had ventured into a team-building retreat, but behind the fun activities every member of staff remains completely focussed on the job at hand.

That job is conceiving and creating some of the most amazing machines being used across a host of industries and sectors, something it has been doing since the company was set up in 1979 by Professor George Carter.

“Openness is very much encouraged here,” says Labman managing director Andrew Whitwell.

“We don’t have offices, we don’t have a hierarchy and nobody feels uncomfortable about approaching anyone else in the business.

“George did not want barriers between departments.

“He had worked at British Steel where anyone in the typing pool, for instance, had nothing to do with anything outside their own little department.

“This was something he wanted to avoid in his own business.”

Labman Automation was established by Prof Carter to specialise in building robots for teaching purposes.

Originally operating from his home, the company later moved to the Cadcam Centre, in Middlesbrough.

From left to right are Labman directors Christine Smith, Prof George Carter, Joe Whitwell and Andrew Whitwell

Mr Whitwell said: “Universities and colleges use teaching robots to aid students in learning about mechatronics, a multi-disciplinary field of engineering, which includes mechanical, electrical, control and computer studies.

“These small robots go through the motions of an operation, helping students to learn the associated tasks. In the same way that a software programmer would learns using a computer.”

By the mid-1980s, Labman was producing pharmaceutical robots for major customers such as GlaxoSmithKline, and the educational robot side of the business sold to a specialist manufacturer.

Mr Whitwell joined the company in 1991 and created the approved effective quality control, promoting the systems worldwide, which opened up lucrative markets for Labman in the USA, Australia and Europe.

This was quickly followed by a move to Stokesley Business Park, in North Yorkshire, and a rapid expansion as worldwide orders began to flood in.

Labman moved to its purpose built premises in Seamer in 2011 to accommodate its rapid growth.

Prof Carter remains a hands-on director of Labman and is also a visiting professor of design engineering at Durham University.

“We now employ around 40 people, mainly mechanical, electrical or software engineers,” said Andrew.

“Labman’s technology and knowledge is constantly evolving but what remains at the core of our business is a passion for innovation that meets our customers’ requirements wherever they are in the world.

“We are quite unique in the way we create our robots. “We build them to slot straight into our customers’ systems.

“They don’t need to buy a load of expensive new software or equipment; we create the innovation to smoothly fit into whatever system they are using.”

Apprentice Amy Nixon

Labman Automation can build a robot for anything.

Paint durability testing, subzero biological material harvesting and storage, food contamination analysis systems, powder feeding, liquid handling, vial capping and de-capping.

You name it and they can automate the process.

It is a company with a history of continuous improvement and its relentless focus on the future has helped it remain at the forefront of its field.

It’s not only the products that drive the company forward.

It is also incredibly passionate about future proofing itself and is absolutely committed to apprenticeships, currently employing five North East Chamber of Commerce engineering apprentices.

Jamie Marsay, Labman senior manager, said: “We have had some frustrating experiences with engineers we have taken on straight from university, but it has been quite the opposite with the apprentices.

“They are smart, eager and very keen to soak up as much knowledge as they can.

“They get to sample each element of the business at Labman and this helps them not only learn about the business, but also settle on an area where they and we feel their skills are most suited.

“We engage with schools in Stokesley, Egglescliffe, Yarm and Middlesbrough.

“We meet the students and explain the career opportunities that engineering offers and talk about what we do at Labman and it’s great to see how enthused some of them are.”

Labman works with leading names across many industries, pharmaceutical, bioscience and utilities through to universities and research centres.

It counts the likes of Akzo Nobel, GlaxoSmithKline and Unilever among its clients.

The company has supplied robots all over the globe, installing one within the Arctic Circle.

Engineer Ben Harrison

“This is in the Lapland area of Sweden, close to the famous ice hotel in Kiruna,” said Mr Whitwell.

“With temperatures as low as -25C, super-thermal underwear is packed whenever we visit.”

Going that extra mile for customers isn’t a problem for Labman and with an order book stretching 18 months into the future, it is obvious the value that clients place in the business’ service.

“Typically our customers will come to us with desired improvements to their processes,” added Mr Whitwell.

“This may be for higher throughput, increased productivity, cost reductions, improved accuracy, even retaining qualified staff - automating a tedious process often means resources can be used more effectively.”

“We look at requirements, share ideas and provide a summary of the bespoke robot that will meet their needs.

“Next we create a detailed report, including 3D solidworks diagrams, before building the robot.

“The customer is kept involved at every stage, right through to delivery.”

With the move to the new facility, Labman has ambitious plans to build on the success of recent years by working with more businesses and in new industries. With this will come with the recruitment of more engineers.

James Ramsbotham, NECC chief executive, added: “Having been put through my paces as a temporary apprentice at Labman, I was incredibly impressed with not only the machines being produced there, but also the standard of work through all levels of the business.

“It is a shining example of a business that is fully committed to training up its future workforce and ensuring that they buy into the ethos of the business and gain experience at all levels.

The Labman workforce

“The work that is being carried out engaging with local schools is a great example for other engineering businesses in our region, many of whom will have real concerns about future skill shortages across the sector.”

“The passion, innovation and initiative displayed by such a relatively young workforce is incredibly impressive and I have no doubt of Labman’s continued success.”