Advanced Manufacturing

More than 38,700 are employed in manufacturing in the Marches. Around half of those are involved in the areas of food and drink manufacturing, fabricated metal productions, rubber, polymers and machinery/equipment manufacturing – the Marches' biggest sub-sectors.

Telford is recognised as a beacon for attracting leading edge companies in the polymer industry and has been known around the world as “Polymer Valley” since the 1980s.

The concentration of plastics and polymers-related businesses creates opportunities for business development and collaboration across business areas. It is home to more than 100 polymers firms plus many others using plastics within their production processes.

Key polymer industry companies already in Telford include German-owned Bischof & Klein; the European market leaders in household disposables manufacture Cedo UK  and Craemer Environmental Systems, one of the world’s leading injection moulders.

The region also boasts a number of automotive component manufacturers, including the Tier 1 supplier Stadco , in Shrewsbury, machinery and equipment manufacturing and metal fabricators.

Other major manufacturing companies with an operational base in the Marches include: