Southgate Global, a leader in equipment and servicing solutions for packing and fulfilment operations, has opened its first UK-based Innovation Lab in Staffordshire – marking more than a quarter of a million-pound investment in the region.
Based eight miles east of Stafford in Hixon, the strategic location is near the UK’s logistics heartland and follows a six-month search for the optimal location by Southgate. The dedicated facility, with an initial team of nine Southgate experts, is designed to help logistics, fulfilment and manufacturing businesses solve operational challenges, test new ideas and accelerate the development of practical workplace solutions.
The Innovation Lab brings together product development, fabrication and testing capabilities under one roof. It also strengthens Southgate’s ability to design, develop and evolve equipment and solutions that improve productivity, reduce operational costs and support safer, more sustainable ways of working.
The new site is Southgate’s first in-house small-batch and prototype manufacturing capability and marks more than a £250,000 investment locally in product development, prototyping and operational innovation. Its opening reflects Southgate’s investment in the region and continued commitment to helping customers overcome the increasingly complex challenges facing modern operations.
As the third largest manufacturing region, which generates well above the national average of its regional output from the sector,[1] the West Midlands is a popular choice for leading UK businesses’ production hubs.
Gavin Rawson, Head of Logistics at Southgate, said: “The Innovation Lab gives us the strategic location, space, tools and expertise to work even more closely with our customers to solve real operational challenges.
“Whether that’s improving productivity, enhancing ergonomics, reducing waste or supporting sustainability goals, the facility allows us to rapidly develop, test and refine solutions before they’re implemented in live operations.
“Our customers don’t just need products; they need practical solutions that deliver measurable results. The Innovation Lab strengthens our ability to bring those solutions to life more quickly.”
It comes as businesses across the UK navigate significant economic change, including the rising cost of employment, increasing customer expectations and growing pressure to improve efficiency. Organisations are more than ever looking for smarter ways to optimise workflows, remove operational bottlenecks and support their sustainability and ESG objectives, with the right equipment, consumables and machinery to meet specific demands.
The site is a dedicated environment where ideas can move quickly from concept to reality. Customers can work alongside Southgate’s engineering and operational specialists to explore challenges, evaluate potential solutions and develop equipment tailored to their specific requirements.
The facility supports everything from early-stage concepts and proof-of-concept designs through to prototype development, small-batch manufacturing and operational testing. By bringing these capabilities in-house, Southgate can shorten development times, accelerate innovation and provide customers with greater visibility throughout the design process.
The Innovation Lab also serves as a centre for collaboration, enabling Southgate’s teams, customers and industry partners to share ideas, evaluate emerging technologies and explore new approaches to operational improvement. As the facility continues to evolve, Southgate plans to expand its customer engagement activities, creating opportunities for demonstrations, workshops and collaborative innovation projects focused on the future of logistics and fulfilment.
Southgate Global is a leading specialist in packaging equipment, consumables, servicing and operational solutions for logistics and fulfilment operations. Combining engineering expertise, sector knowledge and a consultative approach, Southgate partners with organisations to improve productivity, reduce costs and optimise operational performance across their logistics and fulfilment operations.
[1] https://www.bdo.co.uk/en-gb/insights/industries/manufacturing/regional-manufacturing-outlook
