UK's WAWWA invests £120,000 in automated fabric cutting system

en.Wedoany.com Reported - UK textile manufacturer WAWWA has recently completed a digital investment, introducing an automated spreading and cutting system to address bottlenecks in its production caused by manual fabric cutting and the outsourcing of approximately 35% of processes. The company stated that the new system is expected to save over 90% of the time required for spreading and cutting, while nearly halving fabric waste during production.

This investment marks the latest phase of WAWWA's digital transformation, involving two related technology projects with a total investment of £120,000, of which £60,000 came from a grant under Made Smarter North West, the UK's smart manufacturing program. The initiative, backed by the government, aims to help small and medium-sized manufacturers adopt digital technologies. WAWWA began working with Made Smarter in 2024 to develop a digital investment roadmap and received a £10,000 grant to purchase a Vetigraph CAD/CAM system, replacing manual pattern-making processes with digital tools. The system has reduced pattern storage requirements by 90%, shortened grading time by 75%, and improved fabric utilization, enabling the company to increase product variety without adding staff.

Building on this, WAWWA secured a £50,000 grant, following recommendations from the University of Salford's Northern Engineering and Robotics Innovation Centre, to purchase an automated spreading and cutting system. The new equipment integrates with existing software, streamlining the workflow from design to cutting and boosting in-house production capacity. Made Smarter's support also includes leadership training and the opportunity to trial automated cutting technology with another manufacturer.

WAWWA's long-term plans include further integrating digital systems into production and inventory management, as well as expanding its retail operations in Manchester. The company is one of more than 2,500 manufacturers in the region collaborating with Made Smarter North West.

WAWWA Production Manager Charlie Pyatt said: "Technology has been a key part of this journey, but it's only one piece of the puzzle. Made Smarter gave us the time and support to step back, better understand the business, and focus on changes with the greatest impact. It has helped us become better leaders, connect with other manufacturers and experts, and provided us with a roadmap that still guides our future direction."