Express & Star Business Awards 2026: Meet the finalists - Manufacturing Champion

The shortlisted finalists have been announced for the Manufacturing Champion category of the Express & Star Business Awards 2026.

The award, sponsored by Safran Electronics & Defense, celebrates top manufacturing firms in the region.

Judges have been looking to see growth, commercial performance and efficiency, talent and training development, sustainability and environmental impacts and investments in research and development and returns on investment.

CJ Tool & Mouldings

Stourbridge-based CJ Tools & Mouldings is a leader in precision injection moulding and tool design.

Based in Mill Race Lane, the company combines 40 years of technical expertise with strategic automation and workforce development to deliver sustainable, world-class UK manufacturing excellence.

The firm has successfully transformed itself from a traditional subcontractor into a modern, forward-thinking manufacturing partner. Its success is rooted in a commitment to its people and a new strategic focus on becoming a value-added partner, reflected in its new brand - ‘We Are CJ’.

The company’s strengths include outstanding commercial and operational performance, evidenced by achieving Platinum Supplier Status with Dennis Eagle. It boasts high reliability, maintaining a 99.5 per cent on-time delivery rate and a process capability index (PPK) over 1.25, which has positioned its facility for global business.

CJ focuses on talent, encouraging long-term careers and internal promotion, contributing to an average length of service of 11.2 years.

The company is also future-focused, partnering with Warwick University to lead its digital journey and roll out the E-Max ERP system, which is expected to save the office team 22 to 25 hours weekly.

In sustainability, new moulding machines reduced electricity usage by 32 per cent. Additionally, its regrinding policy and use of recycled materials accounted for 18.5 per cent of total output in 2025, with plans for a five per cent increase in 2026.

Innovation is a major strength, highlighted by being granted a first trademark for its ‘Just Add Wood’ product and applying for a first patent, marking a game-changer’ move into owning intellectual property (IP) and managing the whole process from sketch to shelf. The firm is also investing in automation and exploring AI initiatives for greater speed and accuracy.

Exol Lubricants

Exol Lubricants is the UK’s largest independent lubricants manufacturer, with more than 40 years of expertise, serving various sectors including automotive, commercial, agricultural, marine, and industrial.

Based in Wednesbury, the company produces top-quality products like engine oils and hydraulic fluids from its advanced blending facilities and technical laboratory.

The business is known for its commitment to quality, sustainability, global growth and customer service. Its strong export strategy has led to outstanding overseas growth in more than 45 countries across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

Promoting the 'Made in England' aspect as a signifier of quality was key to this success, culminating in Exol winning the King’s Award for International Trade in 2025 - one of the most prestigious business accolades.

Looking ahead, the company plans to develop further into the Asian and African markets.

Exol is committed to sustainability, investing in environmentally responsible practices such as installing MCS-accredited solar panels at its HQ (estimated to save £1,195,264 over 25 years), using an eco-friendly barge for transport, and implementing a waste-reducing pigging line.

Recent investments include buying land next to its HQ to build a new production facility, which will increase capacity, efficiency and packaging capability. The expansion will also include a dedicated training centre, supporting long-term workforce capability and staff continuity. Furthermore, Exol's R&D strategy focuses on developing specifications to future-proof its products for the latest engine technology, adhering to standards like ACEA.

Haywoods Contracts

Haywoods Contracts combines growth, manufacturing innovation, skilled in-house training and practical R&D, delivering bespoke UK-made solutions while investing in people, sustainability and local supply chains.

The Burntwood based business achieved significant growth over the last year, increasing turnover from £1.5 million to £1.6 million, with online sales growing by 20 per cent.

Haywoods specialises in finding solutions where standard products do not exist, earning a reputation as the company people turn to for difficult or unusual manufacturing and installation challenges, such as developing an innovative locking roller blind system for West Brom Markets.

The company prides itself on being a 100 per cent UK manufacturer, exclusively using UK suppliers to maintain quality control and support local supply chains. Operational effectiveness is a key focus, including working with a local packaging company and improving processes for online order fulfilment.

Future talent and team development are central to its model; Haywoods invests in local people through apprenticeships, having supported 15 over 20 years.

Haywoods also demonstrates environmental responsibility by investing significantly in recycling paper, cardboard, and metal, diverting waste from disposal.

The business is currently investing in research and development (R&D) with two applications in progress, including a custom screw fit installation model for Perfect Fit pleated blinds, used on projects like the London School of Economics. Haywoods is known for solving technical challenges and manufacturing products that others cannot easily provide.

Jenks & Cattell Engineering

Jenks & Cattell Engineering combines 140 years of heritage with modern manufacturing excellence.

The Willenhall based company specialises in sheet metal production, including metal pressings, laser cutting, welded assemblies and CNC machining - all delivered from a single site.

Its strategy is built on sustainable, profitable growth through diversification and targeted investment, managing commercial risk by limiting any single sector to less than 25 per cent of turnover. The approach has yielded strong commercial results, with turnover growing from £11.1m in 2022 to £13.7m in 2023, and maintaining stability at £11.5m in 2024. Pre-tax profit has also been robust, remaining over £1.0m annually during this period.

The business maintains operational effectiveness by focusing on strategic recruitment - creating a leaner, highly productive organisation. The firm continually invests in advanced technology like AMADA laser cutting, robotic welding and CNC machining, with its AMADA laser stated to be one of the top three most utilised and efficient in Europe.

Jenks & Cattell is committed to sustainable manufacturing, through key initiatives including LED lighting, heat recovery and a zero-landfill recycling system.

Through sustained profitability, strategic recruitment, world-class equipment utilisation, people development and environmental responsibility, the business continues to strengthen its market position and invest confidently in the future of UK manufacturing.

Meet the sponsor: Safran Electronics & Defense

For more than 100 years, Safran Electronics & Defense has been at the forefront of aerospace, defence and space technology, designing and manufacturing advanced systems that support customers on land, at sea, in the air and in space.

Today, with 19,000 employees across five continents, the company continues to play a vital role in helping strengthen safety, capability and technological innovation around the world.

At the heart of its UK operations is the Actuation Global Business Unit, headquartered in Wolverhampton for more than 20 years. The site has a proud engineering heritage and has grown into one of the region’s largest manufacturing employers, spanning more than 400,000 square feet across six buildings dedicated to engineering, manufacturing, laboratory and office operations.

The Wolverhampton campus supports five specialist value streams including nacelles, high lift systems, global defence systems, machining and aftermarket services. The technologies developed and manufactured here support some of the world’s leading aerospace and defence programmes, where precision, performance and reliability are critical.

What makes the site unique is the breadth of expertise brought together in one place. Advanced engineering teams work alongside manufacturing specialists, logistics experts and technical support functions to deliver highly complex solutions for global customers. Shared services including machining, chemical processing and facilities management create an integrated environment where collaboration and continuous improvement are part of everyday life.

Alongside Wolverhampton, Safran’s Banbury site serves as the Composites Centre of Excellence for the Actuation GBU. Banbury designs, qualifies and manufactures advanced aerospace composite products for military and commercial applications, specialising in lightweight tubular and structural components.

The site has developed a strong reputation for taking innovative ideas from early-stage development through certification and into high-volume production. Its expertise in composite manufacturing continues to help shape the future of aerospace engineering, with more than 400,000 components currently flying worldwide.

Across both sites, investment in technology and operational excellence goes hand in hand with investment in people. From experienced engineers and manufacturing specialists to emerging

talent beginning their careers, its teams are united by a shared commitment to quality, innovation and collaboration. Across the company’s Wolverhampton and Banbury sites, more than 1,600 colleagues are employed.

Safran Electronics & Defense is proud to offer an environment where people can contribute to meaningful projects that have a real impact across the aerospace and defence sectors. Whether developing advanced flight systems, supporting critical defence capability or pioneering new manufacturing techniques, every role plays a part in delivering excellence.

As the industry continues to evolve, so does Safran. By combining innovation, expertise and a strong sense of purpose, its teams continue to help shape the future of aerospace and defence manufacturing in the UK and beyond.