Automation supplier strengthens North West presence

Automation and control supplier, Beckhoff UK, has expanded its coverage of the UK by opening a new office at Bruntwood SciTech’s innovation campus, Alderley Park, Cheshire. The office, which will function as the company’s software centre, allows Beckhoff to more easily reach customers in the Midlands, North of England, Scotland and Ireland.

Beckhoff’s office will be based in Glasshouse, a vibrant workspace and technology hub at the heart of the Park, where they will be able to work and collaborate alongside other innovative firms specialising in areas such as AI, fintech, and software development.

It will house a dedicated training centre where the company will run regular training sessions on its TwinCAT product range. This will include Beckhoff specific topics such as TwinCAT Analytics and TwinCAT HMI plus complimentary workshops like source control and the deployment of software across multiple machines.

The new office will also have several demonstration walls, where visitors can see how Beckhoff’s technology, such as its XPlanar and XTS, work with the company’s software offering to enable superior automation and control.

“The North West is known for being a leader in some of Beckhoff’s core industries, like pharmaceuticals and processing, so it made perfect sense for us to have a physical presence here,” explained Beth Ragdale, product manager at Beckhoff UK. “Choosing Alderley Park as our new home was an extremely easy decision. It’s home to thousands of innovative companies, some of which we already have relationships with, and others that we want to get to know.

“Closing the skills gap, particularly in software, is hugely important for us. The new office also gives us access to new talent from universities across the North West, which will help us contribute to this further,” continued Ragdale.

Nestled within 400 acres of parkland, Alderley Park provides cutting-edge, flexible lab and office space, complemented by links to universities and the NHS via Bruntwood SciTech’s partner network, the UK’s largest dedicated property platform serving the growth of the nation’s science, tech and innovation sectors.

Mark Julian, Associate Director for Bruntwood SciTech - a joint venture between Bruntwood, Legal & General and Greater Manchester Pension Fund - said: “The Alderley Park ecosystem has been specifically tailored to support the growth and development of ambitious and innovative businesses like Beckhoff. In joining the Park’s thriving, growing network, they’ll have access to a broad range of like-minded businesses and organisations both at Alderley Park and nationwide across Bruntwood SciTech’s customer ecosystem to unlock and access collaboration and growth opportunities.”

Beckhoff would like to encourage anyone interested in visiting its new office for training, demonstrations or just to chat, to contact Beth Ragdale on b.ragdale@beckhoff.com. Alternatively, you can find out more about Beckhoff’s product offering at beckhoff.com.