Arden Dies recognized for digital transformation

Arden Dies, headquartered in Marple, Stockport, has been recognized with the Digital Transformation Award by the North West Family Business Awards. These awards celebrate the success and accomplishments of family-owned businesses across the region in all industries and sectors.

This recognition comes as Arden Dies celebrates its 60-year anniversary. Brothers Frank and Philip Poynter founded the business as a die-maker from the cellar of their family home in Stockport. Now, in its third generation of family ownership, the Arden Group of companies comprises die-making, engraving, and software arms and is one of the leading names in the packaging sector, employing around 300 people worldwide.

Martin Poynter, managing director of the Arden Group, said: ‘Ever since the early days of Arden, we’ve always strived to be at the forefront of technological innovation, committed to embracing new technology to better serve our customers and drive growth.

‘Our founder, my father Frank Poynter, was a trailblazer in the die-making industry and the first to adopt new laser technology in the 1970s. His vision for technology and innovation is an ethos we still hold today and this recognition reinforces our position as a leader in the sector and motivates us to continue pushing the boundaries of what's possible.

‘The Arden Group is proud to be a family business, built on strong family values, so it’s a real honor to be recognized in the North West Family Business Awards, during what is a very special anniversary year. This award is testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team, as well as a celebration of our family's legacy of innovation spanning over six decades.’

The judges were impressed with Arden’s forward-thinking culture and participation in the Made Smarter program, a government-backed initiative that supports manufacturers in adopting cutting-edge technologies and digital skills to boost productivity, drive growth, and create new jobs.

Since its involvement with the program, Arden has incorporated 3D printing into its manufacturing processes and is currently developing a cloud-based ERP system to streamline and automate its business operations.

In April of this year, the Arden Group completed the acquisition of Lasercomb Dies, a company specializing in die and tooling manufacturing for the packaging and carton industry. A few years ago, it underwent a major rebrand with a modern look and a new website.