Fast-growing Gloucestershire automation engineering firm and SGGBA International Business of the Year 2022, ALS Mechatronic, has appointed a new operations director to its board.
Blake Harrison joins the team at its Winchcombe headquarters to 'lead business operations through the company's next stage of growth'.
Established in 2002, ALS Mechatronic specialises in the design, build and installation of bespoke factory automation systems; container handling machinery; control systems; vision inspection systems; and robotics, to automate repeatable, labour-intensive manufacturing processes with machinery and software.
He will oversee the development of the company's second facility — an 18,000 sq ft site just over the Worcestershire border in Redditch — which is set to house its CNC machine shop, enabling full machinery automation line assembly for quality assurance and testing ahead of worldwide shipping.
Andrew Steward, who founded ALS Mechatronic and is the company's managing director, said: 'With over a decade of manufacturing experience and a proven track record for developing ‘lean manufacturing’ businesses to highly profitable, efficient, and sustainable organisations, Blake’s strong commercial achievements, strategic planning and leadership qualities are exactly what ALS needs to transition the company to its next stage of growth.
'I am looking forward to seeing how the business now develops with Blake on the team.'
Harrison added: 'I am joining ALS at a very exciting time. The business is growing at a fantastic rate and has assembled a strong, highly skilled team of unique individuals. The challenge for me which I am relishing, will be to ensure we can continue this same growth trajectory, while improving productivity, project management and profitability and that our customers regard us as the industry benchmark for quality, price, technical capability, service and innovation.'
Alongside streamlining productivity and maintaining high quality standards, one of Harrison's key responsibilities will be to ensure ALS Mechatronic continues to be a great place to work for its 40-strong staff team.
