It’s hard to believe that it’s been a year since the last one, but it’s nearly time for the Wrexham Business and Community Awards 2025! We’re proud to announce that we are once again finalists for the “Made In Wrexham” award, which celebrates outstanding manufacturing or production companies based in Wrexham. It recognises excellence in quality, innovation, and contribution to the manufacturing industry, both locally and across the UK. This award also honours the businesses keeping traditional skills alive while embracing new technology and driving Wrexham’s reputation for producing great things.
We thought it’d be good to give you a peek behind the scenes at (an abridged version of) our application!
Who We Are:
We are a family-run business proudly rooted in Wrexham and recognised internationally as a pioneer in textile automation and robotics. From humble beginnings in sewing machine refurbishment, we have grown into one of the UK’s most innovative suppliers of automated textile equipment.
Through our in-house brands, Advance and Sewbotics®, we design and build bespoke conveyorised sewing systems, robotic automation cells, and automated pattern sewers entirely in-house, delivering unique turnkey solutions. Our machines serve industries from fashion to aerospace, helping customers boost productivity, reshore production, and embrace sustainable manufacturing.
Our Sewbotics® projects have gained attention from the MTC, central government, and UKFT for groundbreaking applications of robotics. We have proudly represented Wrexham as a centre of manufacturing excellence at national events, placing the region on the map as the home of modern textile automation.
Our impact reaches far beyond Wrexham. We now export to over 25 countries, with high-profile clients including Barbour, Bentley, and DFS. We’re recognised for both technical expertise and outstanding service. Despite our global reach, we remain proudly Wrexham-based, employing and training local people, supporting local suppliers, and showcasing Wrexham as a hub of advanced manufacturing.
Our Wrexham Story:
AE Sewing Machines proudly embodies Wrexham’s textile heritage while driving its future in advanced manufacturing. Wrexham has been a centre for textiles since the Middle Ages, from traditional weaving through to flannel and garment production at Granby and Redwither. Not so long ago, everyone in town either worked in the industry or knew someone who did. We proudly carry that legacy forward.
Our story began with John, a skilled sewing machine technician who had worked in Wrexham’s factories for years. When production moved abroad and many local jobs were lost, he was determined to keep the industry alive. What started with one man repairing machines has grown into a family-run business designing, building, and programming cutting-edge automation systems that are reshaping the future of textile manufacturing.
What We Do:
Through our in-house brands, Advance and Sewbotics®, we provide innovative solutions to help companies overcome skills shortages, achieve net-zero goals, and stay competitive. We’ve broken new ground by applying robotics to complex textile applications ranging from glasses cases to classified defence and aerospace projects.
Our equipment is built in-house in Wrexham to the highest standards. Jigs are prototyped and refined until flawless, programs rewritten until robots run seamlessly, and the whole team sometimes has to get involved to help building machine framework. As with most things in life, the proof is in the pudding (or, in our case, in the production figures). Exceptional design quality is reflected in the results: our conveyors increase productivity by up to 70%, while Sewbotics® robotic cells have consistently boosted output by over 150%. Every project has led to repeat orders, proving the effectiveness of the equipment and cementing our reputation as a trusted supplier of world-class machinery.
Most importantly, we represent the very best of Wrexham’s spirit: innovation, resilience, and community. With demand for our technology growing, we’re planning to double production capacity, grow our team, and continue positioning Wrexham at the heart of advanced manufacturing in the UK.
Fingers crossed we go home with an award this year, but even if we don’t it’s an honour for us to be finalists once again.
