Baggage Handling Control Systems

Control systems specialist, Autotech Controls Ltd, is celebrating the award of a major contract for Jaguar Land Rover. The company, headquartered in Luton, will supply control systems to one of the car maker’s plants in the West Midlands.

Commenting on the project win, Andrew Robinson, Managing Director of Autotech, said, “We’re absolutely delighted to have secured this contract, which is the largest single order we have ever received. Along with major projects currently underway for a variety of other clients, this order means that we’re looking to recruit a number of skilled people including system designers, software engineers, project managers and site personnel.”

Tata Motors, the Indian group that owns Jaguar Land Rover, is reportedly committed to investing £5 billion in product development, creating thousands of new jobs. Bought by Tata for £1.5 billion in 2008, Jaguar Land Rover is responding to the growing demand for luxury brands as global economic confidence returns.

Autotech, which will be working with the UK subsidiary of the Dutch-owned production automation supplier, VDL Steelweld, is currently working on numerous other projects for Jaguar Land Rover, including computer simulation of robotic work cells, controls for overhead electric monorail conveyor systems, various floor conveyor systems, robotic glazing systems and vehicle painting facilities – as well as having recently delivered the complete body shop controls for the new and hugely successful Jaguar XJ at the Castle Bromwich plant in Birmingham.

Established by MD Andrew Robinson in 1996, Autotech has worked with most of the automotive giants including Ford, Bentley, BMW, Honda, Nissan, Peugeot, Rolls Royce, Saab, Toyota, Vauxhall and Volvo. The firm – which employs more than 100 people from its offices in Luton and Birmingham to work throughout the UK and Europe – is also heavily involved in the logistics, airport, food & beverage and manufacturing sectors, with blue-chip clients that include BAA, Coca-Cola, Kimberly-Clark, Mars, Procter & Gamble, Royal Mail, Siemens, UPS and Zara.