State-of-the-art digital gas meter calibration rig officially opened by Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham
We welcomed Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, Arooj Shah, Leader of Oldham Council and Alain Dilworth, Programme Manager for Made Smarter North West, to a special event with our customers and partners at our offices earlier this month.
At the event, Mayor Andy Burnham officially unveiled our new, state-of-the-art gas meter calibration rig which doubles our testing capacity, creates new engineering roles and cements our place as one of the UK’s most advanced flow measurement facilities.
The digital system automates certification and data acquisition, and is capable of testing flow meters from 0.25 to 4,000 cubic metres per hour. Its modern software interface enables real-time analysis and data capture, improving accuracy and reducing reliance on legacy expertise.
A process that once took a full day can now be completed in a few hours, significantly increasing throughput and opening opportunities to serve new customers across the UK and beyond.
Our impressive new rig was developed by our engineers with support from Made Smarter North West, the government-backed technology adoption programme.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “Advanced manufacturing has always been at the heart of Greater Manchester’s story, and companies like Stream Measurement show how this globally recognised strength will continue to play a vital role in our future. By investing in advanced technology and upskilling their workforce, with the support of Made Smarter, they’re not only growing their own business but strengthening Oldham’s position in the regional economy as we kickstart the next decade of prosperity.
“What we’re seeing here is exactly the kind of innovation and ambition that our city-region is known for: businesses using new technology to boost productivity, create skilled jobs, and build a more sustainable industrial base. Stream’s success demonstrates why Greater Manchester remains one of the best places in the UK for engineering and manufacturing to thrive.”
We’re on a digital transformation journey here at Stream, with ambitious plans to triple turnover to £6 million through continued investment in premises, people, processes and equipment.
Over the past three years, we’ve worked closely with Made Smarter, developing a digital roadmap, securing a £20,000 grant to implement new technology, and building leadership capability through the Leading Change for Digital Champions (LCDC) programme.
Robert Allan, Operations Director at Stream Measurement, said: “Made Smarter gave us the confidence to modernise one of the most critical parts of our business and invest at a scale we couldn’t have achieved alone. The new technology safeguards existing contracts, strengthens our capability, and creates a platform for future growth.”
Five new engineering roles are being created as we expand our capacity and capability to meet rising demand from customers and we are upskilling our existing team, including our apprentices, to ensure they can operate the system.
Apprentice engineer Joe Hewson said: “Being trained on the new rig has been a huge opportunity. It’s state-of-the-art technology that gives me and the other engineers skills that will be vital for the future of the business.”
This new rig supports our ISO 14001, 9001 and 45001 accreditations and our commitment to sustainability, reducing waste and extending the lifespan of refurbished flow meters.
Commenting on the partnership, Alain Dilworth, Programme Manager for Made Smarter North West, said: “It has been fantastic to have played a part in Stream Measurement’s digital transformation. It is a great example of what can be achieved when ambition is matched with the right guidance and support.”
Launched in 2019, Made Smarter is a UK Government-backed programme designed to help manufacturing SMEs adopt digital technologies and develop the leadership and skills needed to drive sustainable growth.