Advanced Manufacturing ​

“TotalSim is now a group of companies based around aerodynamics and fluid mechanics. The companies cover sports aerodynamics, vehicle testing, design of aerodynamics for road and race car, specialist engineering codes and producing high end Olympic cycling clothing. The company started in Brackley in 2007 with 7 people and has now grown to 65 worldwide with offices in Silverstone, Daventry, Japan and USA.”
Rob Lewis, Managing Director, TotalSim

West Northants is rapidly emerging as a powerhouse for advanced manufacturing, driven by a thriving ecosystem of high-tech enterprises, cutting-edge research, and strategic investment. Anchored by the Silverstone Technology Cluster (STC), the region is home to world-class companies and innovation hubs that are shaping the future of engineering, motorsport, and defence technologies.

Northamptonshire itself is home to over 1,500 high performance technology companies, with a combined turnover of more than £2bn per year. You can read about just a few of them over on our case studies page, here.

The area boasts a roster of globally recognised firms including:

• Cosworth – pioneers in high-performance powertrain and electronics technologies
• Silverstone Park – a leading technology and advanced engineering campus
• Mavis Technologies – manufacturing Smart Glasses designed for the visually impaired and blind
• Diamond Hard Surfaces – innovators in advanced coatings and materials
• Mercedes-AMG F1 Team – a global leader in motorsport engineering
• TotalSim – experts in computational fluid dynamics and simulation
• XCAM – manufacturers of bespoke scientific camera systems
• Blue Skies – a sustainable food producer with advanced processing facilities

The West Northants Economic Growth Strategy further reinforces this momentum, identifying Advanced Manufacturing and Defence as priority sectors for investment and development. The strategy outlines a bold vision to attract inward investment, support business scale-up, and enhance skills and productivity across the region

West Northants benefits from close ties with leading educational and research institutions, such as Cranfield University and the University of Northampton. These institutions have historically contributed to the region’s engineering and manufacturing capability by providing cutting-edge research and a skilled workforce.

West Northants has the ideal infrastructure in place to support innovation and business growth in the advanced manufacturing sector.