Central Group, a North West electromechanical firm, has obtained £700K funding to enhance its digital strategy and job creation.
- The funding comes from NPIF II – FW Capital, part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, to boost growth and technology advancements.
- This investment will lead to the creation of eight new jobs and collaborations with Liverpool universities on innovative projects.
- Central Group, led by the Sutton brothers, applies advanced AI and predictive analytics to optimise machinery performance.
- The funding is crucial for Central Group to transform from a reactive to a proactive business model, driving economic growth in the North.
Central Group, an electromechanical specialist based in Knowsley, has been awarded a £700K investment package aimed at enhancing its digital transformation efforts and contributing to regional job creation. The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II), managed by FW Capital, is backing this initiative. This fund provides essential resources to small and medium-sized businesses across the North of England, fostering innovation and local economic development.
With more than 50 years of expertise, Central Group excels in supplying, installing, and maintaining industrial electric motors, generators, and related equipment. The company has built a reputation as a leader in the rotating machinery sector and collaborates with top-tier Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) like ABB, Nidec, Innomotics, and Siemens.
The funding facilitates the creation of eight new jobs and supports collaborative efforts with Liverpool University and Liverpool John Moore University. These partnerships focus on developing an AI-driven prognostic health management system to advance diagnostics and maintenance optimisation for industrial drives.
Central Group is a family-run business now managed by the Sutton brothers, Shaun and Tim, who assumed control in 2001. Their profound expertise in motors, pumps, drives, and alternators underpins the firm’s ability to deliver cutting-edge solutions that distinguish it from competitors.
Shaun Sutton, Managing Director at Central Group, emphasises the transformative potential of integrating advanced AI algorithms and predictive analytics into mechanical systems. “We are revolutionising our industry by improving the reliability and performance of critical assets, enabling predictive maintenance that can avert mechanical failures before they occur.”
This investment enables Central Group to transition from a reactive framework to a proactive one, enhancing its capacity for forward planning and continuous monitoring. Such advancements are expected to bolster the North’s economic landscape while offering key technological solutions to major machine manufacturers and other industrial stakeholders.
The NPIF II funding supports Central Group in pioneering technological advancements and fostering economic growth in the Northern region.
