A UK provider of cloud-based manufacturing execution systems (MES) has posted a record year just 12 months after its acquisition by Eyelit Inc. Bracknell-based Mestec has seen sales grow by over 40% this year, as more manufacturing companies use its solutions to create smarter factories that improve productivity, OEE, quality and compliance.

The business has created more than 15 new jobs because of its growth, with the workforce now totalling 26. Plans are currently in place to grow this figure again over the next 12 months. One of the key drivers for future expansion will come through the footprint of its US-parent and ability to deliver new opportunities in North America.

“We’ve already won our first three pieces of business in that part of the world since the acquisition, which is definitely something we want to build on,” explains general manager Mark Carleton. “Our SaaS-based solution is configured for each client and works best where there is a level of production complexity and compliance required. This has seen us build up strong client bases within the aerospace and defence, automotive, electronics, food and beverage, and medical sectors, delivering operational performance benefits to the likes of Sheffield Forgemasters, Siemens and Thales.”

He continues: “What makes us different is the time we take on the shop floor to understand all the different processes and labour issues, generating a clear picture of where our technology can make a real difference. It allows us to deliver the fastest deployment times in our industry, meaning customers can be enjoying cost and time savings within a matter of weeks/months.”
For further information www.mestec.net

A Herefordshire father and son team has overcome personal adversity to develop a software platform that can change the way the world’s designers and engineers make products. Ryland and Michael Johnson leveraged each other’s talents in manufacturing and software engineering to create CloudMilling, the industry’s first and only cloud-native CAM solution.

The enterprising duo’s efforts attracted the interest of some of the sector’s biggest solution providers before US-based industrial software company PTC recently acquired their company. Both experts will remain in the business, working collaboratively with PTC’s developers across the world.

“CloudMilling has been a real labour of love and it has taken more than 10 years to get to where we are today,” explains Michael Johnson, who studied at Loughborough University and endures severe disabilities because of complications during birth. “As an experienced pattern maker with 40 years in the industry, my dad knew there was a real need to change the way CAM software operated, so we set about developing a platform that could sit in the cloud and would eventually offer two- to five-axis tool paths that could support virtually any design job in a matter of seconds.”

He adds: “Our solution means that engineers don’t need massive investments in hardware and can cut paths using just their iPad or a mobile. The aim is to make the whole process easier, faster and more accessible. Trying to get the simulation right – especially at this complex level – was the hardest task, but we believed we’d mastered that when we heard about interest from overseas.”

PTC has approximately 7000 employees across 80 offices in 30 countries. As part of the agreement, CloudMilling will become CAM Studio, with availability to Onshape users expected shortly.
For further information www.ptc.com