IM Export Services Limited has doubled its daily manufacturing capacity after working with experts from Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) through the University of Warwick’s Innovation Lighthouse programme, funded by Bromsgrove and Redditch Council.
The Innovation Lighthouse programme helps SME manufacturers improve productivity through expert support and match-funded grants. As part of the programme, IM Export Services partnered with WMG to improve workshop efficiency and support growing customer demand. Following site visits, WMG recommended redesigning the workshop layout and replacing older workstations with modern benches.
The company has since installed eleven new workbenches, creating dedicated workspaces for each team member. The improvements have streamlined production and doubled the company’s capacity to build timber cases and crates each day.
Councillor Matt Dormer, Leader of Redditch Borough Council, said: “It’s great to see IM Export Services benefiting from the Innovation Lighthouse programme and achieving such impressive results. Redditch has a strong manufacturing heritage, and this success shows how the right support can help local businesses grow, become more productive and strengthen their future prospects.”
Dr Federico Melotti, Principal Engineer in WMG’s SME Group, added: “It has been a pleasure to work with IM Export Services. This project shows how targeted operational improvements can make a real difference for an SME manufacturer by improving efficiency, productivity and supporting future growth.”
IM Export Services has provided export packing and timber packaging solutions for more than 20 years, serving the engineering, manufacturing, aerospace and defence sectors. The company plans further workshop improvements throughout 2026.