Tech businesses Jaltek, The Structural Battery Company, BeyondMath and SEBi all say the opportunities to network and identify potential new market partners and collaboration are behind their decision to join the STC’s membership.

Jaltek, based in Luton, is an electronics manufacturer which supports customers in the UK, predominantly in the aerospace and defence sectors but also medical, automotive and space.

Business Development Manager Jack Groom stated: “We’ve joined to network with the right people – ideally, we are looking for customers, but also to network with suppliers and to build the brand in automotive and other sectors that the STC promotes.

“We’ve attended a variety of business breakfast events and been able to network quite freely which is a big benefit – people can explain who they are and what they are looking for.

“In the six months since we joined, we have definitely grown our network and identified potential new customer leads.”

The Structural Battery Company designs and manufacturers battery systems that can be integrated into the overall structure of a vehicle, helping with lightweighting and overall build integrity.

Director Oliver Burstall explained: “We have a vision of decarbonising transportation and there are 50 or so niche vehicle manufacturers in the UK who don’t have the opportunity to electrify.

“The STC gives us the opportunity to find and help those sorts of companies and ensure they have a future that isn’t based solely on internal combustion.

“We’ve so far attended a number of STC events, from management of data, smart factories, Industry 4.0, which are giving a better understanding of the markets and how our services might fit.”

Start-up business BeyondMath takes an AI-first approach to creating simulation tools to improve how systems and products are designed and engineered so as to reduce cost, time to market and environmental impact.

Cofounder Alan Patterson said: “We founded BeyondMath to make a difference, to engineer and simulate more efficiently – at significantly greater speeds, lower costs, at larger scale, and with reduced environmental impact.

“After an introduction to Pim (van Baarsen, STC CEO), we were confident the Silverstone Technology Cluster would help us connect with the right people and open doors to potential customers.”

Rob Kirk, Head of Business Development, continued: “As a start-up, creating awareness of our brand, technology and product offering across multiple sectors is very important.

“The STC has a fantastic reputation and provides opportunities for networking, qualified introductions, collaborations, industry exposure, and access to market knowledge and technology landscape insights.”

SEBi is an innovative engineering hub based across two sites in Chesham and High Wycombe, where its 15 design engineers, tooling, moulding and machining experts turn conceptual ideas into practical manufacturing output.

Joint Managing Director Jim Wetherell commented: “SEBi have joined the STC to keep ahead of latest market developments, such as new manufacturing sustainability requirements and to hopefully meet our working partners of the future.

“Our team of designers, toolmakers, mould technicians, CNC programmers and operatives and project managers are dedicated to and experienced in finding solutions that work.carl 

“That may be sourced internally but very often we know the best client solutions come from working with outside partners.”

By Carl McKellar