Gloucestershire-based automation engineering company ALS Mechatronic has appointed Blake Harrison as operations director to its board.

Blake is set to lead business operations through the company's next stage of growth - streamlining productivity to ensure the company's high-quality standards are maintained while continuing to make ALS Mechatronic a great place to work for its team of now 40 employees.

ALS Mechatronic - based at Greet, near Winchcombe - was set up in 2002 and specialises in the design, build and installation of bespoke factory automation systems, control systems, container handling machinery, vision inspection systems and robotics; typically automating with machinery and software, repeatable labour-intensive manufacturing processes.

Blake will be based at the company's headquarters, a 20,000sq.ft. manufacturing facility, and will oversee the development of the company's new second site, an 18,000 sq. ft facility in Alcester, Warwickshire, which will house its CNC machine shop and will enable full machinery automation line assembly for QA and testing ahead of shipping to its worldwide customer base.

Andrew Steward, founder and managing director for ALS Mechatronic, said: "With over a decade of manufacturing experience and a proven track record for developing 'lean manufacturing' businesses to highly profitable, efficient, and sustainable organisations, Blake's strong commercial achievements, strategic planning and leadership qualities are exactly what ALS needs to transition the company to its next stage of growth. 

"I am looking forward to seeing how the business now develops with Blake on the team."

Commenting on his appointment, Blake said: "I am joining ALS at a very exciting time. The business is growing at a fantastic rate and has assembled a strong, highly skilled team of unique individuals.

"The challenge for me, which I am relishing, will be to ensure we can continue this same growth trajectory, while improving productivity, project management and profitability and that our customers regard us as the industry benchmark for quality, price, technical capability, service and innovation."

Back in 2021, ALS won a prestigious Queen's Award for Enterprise, which recognised the company for its excellence in international trade.