Best Factory Award winners revealed

Aimia Foods, Haydock, which makes consumer and trade branded beverages took the coveted overall Toyota Material Handling Factory of the Year prize. Aimia also added Best Household & General Products Plant, Best SME and People Management Awards. Siemens MR Magnet Technology, Eynsham; Renishaw, Stroud and Entek International, Newcastle scooped the other three main sector awards: Best Engineering Plant, Best Electronics & Electrical Plant and Best Process Plant. In the category prizes, Benson Box, Leicester picked up the Skills Development Award. Cummins Power Generation UK, Ramsgate took the Most Improved Plant accolade. Vernacare, Bolton won the Judges' Special Award and Analox, Stokesley the Health & Safety accolade. There were also Highly Commended wins for Bott, Bude; Sony UK Technology Centre, Bridgend; Colt International; General Mills Berwick, Berwick-upon-Tweed; Stannah Stairlifts, Andover; and Arla Foods, Lockerbie. Max Gosney, Works Management (WM) editor said: "Our winners showcase the UK's under celebrated strength in niche manufacturing sectors. From companies making vending machine products to battery separators and gas sensors there are world leaders in our towns and cities that are unknown to the man on the street." Gosney added: "Our winners excel because they have clear strategies, outstanding processes and a belief in empowering and inspiring their people to deliver. The Best Factory Awards, run in partnership between WM and Cranfield School of Management, took place at London's Park Lane Sheraton Hotel and attracted an audience of over 300 manufacturing leaders. The awards included an address from new manufacturing minister Michael Fallon. See the full list of BFA winners below: 2012 Best Factory Award winners 1)Factory of the Year 2012 Winner: Aimia Foods Sponsored by Toyota Material Handling UK 2)Best Process Plant Winner: Entek International Highly Commended: Vernacare Sponsored by Schaeffler 3)Best Engineering Plant Winner: Siemens MR Magnet Technology Highly Commended: Cummins Power Generation UK Highly Commended: Stannah Stairlifts 4)Best Electronics & Electrical Plant Winner: Renishaw Highly Commended: Sony UK Technology Centre 5)Best Household & General Products Plant Winner: Aimia Foods Highly Commended: Arla Foods UK Highly Commended: Benson Box 6)Best SME Sponsored by Zurich Winner: Aimia Foods Highly Commended: Entek International 7)People Management Award Winner (joint): Aimia Foods Winner (joint): Entek International 8)Skills Development Award Sponsored by EAL Winner: Benson Box Highly Commended: Siemens MR Magnet Technology 9)Supply Chain Award Winner: Siemens MR Magnet Technology Highly Commended: Stannah Stairlifts 10)Most Improved Plant Sponsored by PP Electrical Systems Winner: Cummins Power Generation UK 11)Health & Safety Award Sponsored by IOSH Winner: Analox Highly Commended: Cummins Power Generation UK Highly Commended: Sony UK Technology Centre 12)Innovation Award Sponsored by Epicor Winner: Siemens MR Magnet Technology Highly Commended: Analox 13)Energy & Environment Award Winner: Entek International Highly Commended: Sony UK Technology Centre 14)Judges' Special Award Sponsored by Cranfield School of Management Winner: Vernacare Highly Commended: Benson Box Highly Commended: Bott Highly Commended: Colt International Highly Commended: General Mills Berwick