Heritage craft manufacturers forge digital future with Made Smarter support

Heritage craft manufacturers are embracing digital technology to protect traditional skills and scale their businesses, whilst cutting waste, with support from Made Smarter North West.

From blacksmiths and architectural ceramics specialists to luxury clothing makers and glass studios, businesses rooted in craft are adopting tools such as digital design, 3D scanning and automated manufacturing through the government backed technology and skills adoption programme.

For many heritage manufacturers, the challenge lies in balancing centuries old techniques with the demands of modern production, including larger projects, tighter deadlines and rising material costs.

Digital tools are helping businesses improve efficiency, reduce waste and take on more complex work while keeping skilled craftsmanship at the heart of their operations.

Grace Forge Sculptures, a blacksmithing and metalwork business based in Penrith, produces bespoke gates, railings, architectural metalwork and large scale public sculptures using traditional forging techniques.

As projects became larger and more complex, owner Ellie Barden found that paper based designs and manual measurements began to slow approvals, increase material waste and reduce capacity.

With support from Made Smarter, Grace Forge has invested in CAD software, 3D scanning, rapid prototyping and large format plotting to strengthen the design and planning stages of projects before fabrication begins. The technology allows the business to create accurate digital designs, produce scale prototypes and generate full size templates in-house, improving workshop precision and client confidence.

Ellie Barden said, ‘Working with Made Smarter has been a really positive experience for us. When you are still mid-journey as a small business, having that kind of structured support and encouragement makes a real difference. It is not about replacing what I do by hand, it is about making better decisions before I start making.’

The investment is forecast to reduce material waste by up to 50% and cut rework by up to 20%, while helping the company compete for larger architectural and public sector commissions.

A similar journey is underway at Darwen Terracotta, the Blackburn based manufacturer specialising in architectural terracotta and faience used in the restoration of historic buildings and contemporary architecture.

The company combines heritage ceramic craftsmanship with modern digital technology to produce bespoke components for projects across the UK and internationally.

Since engaging with Made Smarter in 2018, Darwen Terracotta has accessed digital strategy advice, skills programmes, a digital internship and technology consultancy to explore tools including 3D scanning, digital sculpting, additive manufacturing and robotics. As a result turnover has almost tripled to £6.7 million and headcount increased from 43 to 51.

Siddique Rasul, digital project manager at Darwen Terracotta, said: ‘Made Smarter gave us the space, support and expertise to explore new technologies in a structured way, while bringing our people with us on the journey. Digital transformation isn’t about replacing traditional skills. It is about understanding what the tools can do, testing them properly and building confidence before scaling.’

The same approach is emerging across other heritage craft sectors.

Private White VC, a luxury menswear manufacturer based in Manchester, has explored digital cutting technology through Made Smarter to modernise its product development process.

Known for producing handcrafted garments using locally sourced materials, the company previously relied on manual paper templates to cut patterns for new designs. Introducing automated cutting technology for sample development is expected to accelerate production, reduce material waste through automated pattern nesting and free skilled cutters to focus on bulk production.

Daedalian Glass Studios, a multi-discipline glass and design studio based in Poulton-le-Fylde, has also worked with Made Smarter to strengthen its digital capabilities. Through the Leading Digital Transformation programme, the company developed a digital strategy and invested in data and systems integration technologies to improve workflow visibility, coordination and decision making across the business.

Donna Edwards, programme director of Made Smarter North West, said: ‘Heritage craft manufacturers are a vital part of the UK’s industrial story. Many of these businesses are built on generations of skill, creativity and specialist knowledge, producing high value products where craftsmanship remains central to the process.

‘What Made Smarter is showing is that digital technology can strengthen those traditions rather than replace them. It is about protecting those skills for the future and helping businesses grow, compete and pass their knowledge on to the next generation.’