Birmingham City University and Barton Storage Systems Limited KTP 24_25 R4

A manufacturer of storage solutions is embedding digital design tools and creating an in-house design team to replace its current reliance on external contractors. This matters because many small and medium-sized manufacturers lack the internal expertise to develop new products quickly or protect their intellectual property. Without dedicated design resources, they often outsource development, which slows innovation and makes it harder to secure patents. Barton Storage Systems Limited, a UK manufacturer, faces exactly this bottleneck. If the project succeeds, the company will accelerate new product development and build a protected portfolio of intellectual property. The impact is primarily commercial and operational: faster time-to-market, greater control over design, and a stronger competitive position. For the wider manufacturing sector, this Knowledge Transfer Partnership demonstrates how embedding digital design can transform a traditional manufacturer without requiring a complete overhaul of its production line. The project is applied and commercially focused—it is not fundamental science, but it addresses a practical gap in how smaller manufacturers innovate.