Yorkshire Forward Investment Gives CenFRA Chance To Live On
Europe's leading centre of robotic and automation excellence, CenFRA, has announced that it has secured firm funding from Yorkshire Forward until at least March 2011.
As a result, the Doncaster-based organisation is now in a position to implement its ambitious new business plan, which has been formulated to help it achieve self-sufficiency as early as autumn next year.
Regional development agencies across the UK have been faced with difficult decisions, which have placed organisations, including CenFRA, under funding pressure. Many MPs from within and outside the Yorkshire area had also expressed their concern over CenFRA's future. However, Yorkshire Forward has now recognised the benefits it is bringing to the vital food and drink industry and has agreed to continue its financial support for the company.
CenFRA's managing director, Steve Blazye, said he was "thrilled" by Yorkshire Forward's decision to continue investing in the enterprise, and added: "We have been overwhelmed by the support received from both Yorkshire Forward and Members of Parliament, who have expressed their belief in the CenFRA initiative and the vital role it plays in helping ensure the long term sustainability of the UK food and drink manufacturing sector.
"We are confident that we will not only meet our chief business objectives but also strengthen our relationships with customers, suppliers and academic links."
Yorkshire is the UK's largest food and drink manufacturing sector with over 15,000 companies in the region, including well-known brands such as Nestle, Heinz and Coca-Cola.
To support this crucial sector, Yorkshire Forward established CenFRA in 2007 to help producers attain a sustainable cost base by providing a fully independent resource to help the UK's food and drink manufacturers identify cost effective automated systems.
Since its formation, CenFRA has built a reputation within the industry for providing quality advice and guidance on the latest available technologies which can assist in improving production and factory efficiencies. Its bespoke simulation capabilities and modelling design have proved invaluable to numerous businesses, which have been able to save hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Yorkshire Forward's David Marlow said: "Yorkshire Forward is committed to supporting innovation and strongly believes that the manufacturing sector is the foundation to a strong economy. Yorkshire Forward is delighted that it has been able to continue to support CenFRA in its vital role in helping food manufacturing companies remain competitive and successful."
Item last updated: Thursday September 09 2010 11:10
Europe's leading centre of robotic and automation excellence, CenFRA, has announced that it has secured firm funding from Yorkshire Forward until at least March 2011.