Exeter-based Mantracourt celebrates 50 years

Over the last 50 years, Mantracourt has grown into a manufacturer of strain bridge measurement instrumentation, specialising in micro high-performance electronics. Its innovative products offer invaluable solutions across all key industries where wired solutions are impractical, dangerous or cost-prohibitive.

The celebration event kicked off with networking and an insightful presentation by Robert Badcock, Managing Director of Mantracourt. The presentation spotlighted some of Mantracourt’s biggest achievements from the last half-century, including the use of its earliest high-tech temperature and humidity measuring monitors on one of America’s satellites in 1985, winning ‘The Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade’ in 2009, launching the X24 range for hazardous environments in 2017 and the 2020 launch of the B24 Bluetooth system.

The morning ended with a tour of Mantracourt’s state-of-the-art factory. In 2023, in line with its growth strategy, the firm invested £500k in a new pick and place line to boost production output by 50 per cent and reduce carbon output by 1.5 metric tonnes per year. The new line is just the latest factory productivity and sustainability upgrade, following new on-site machinery and solar panel installations in recent years.

“Our investments now are setting us up for another 50 years of innovation and delivering excellence for our customers,” explained Badcock. “Our objective is to continue growing in line with our business plan and build on our already solid reputation for being a truly collaborative partner with our customers.”

“This includes responding effectively to industry challenges, such as supply chain disruptions and component shortages, by having effective in-house manufacturing and testing capabilities and achieving net zero status by 2030.”

“Sustainability has been central to our strategy since 2016 but it’s about more than just going green. For example, investing in a new pick and place line has increased our ability to meet customer demands and adapt to changing market conditions. By 2025, we are predicted to be shipping 250,000 products per year. Increasing business means more job opportunities at our Exeter facility, in turn promoting wider local community growth.”

Mantracourt is very active in the local community in Exeter. For example, the company has previously teamed up with charity Action for Children, sponsored the Exeter Chiefs Women’s rugby and, recently, welcomed students from local schools to its facility, inspiring future generations to pursue careers in STEM.

The day ended with a sneak peak at the next stage in Mantracourt’s evolution, which you can expect to hear more about in the near future.