Sheffield-based IntelliAM has announced a major expansion of its commercial partnership with the well-known bakery brand, Hovis Limited.
The AI partnership contract, which represents a ninefold increase on the original agreement, will involve the full implementation of the IntelliAM platform across multiple manufacturing sites. It will also include the incorporation of IntelliAM smart sensor interfaces across production lines, along with ongoing consultancy services intended to deliver measurable improvements in reliability, productivity, and asset availability.
The anticipated productivity enhancements are expected to achieve a full return on investment within the first year, speeding up Hovis’s transition towards AI-powered, proactive manufacturing proficiency.
In September 2024, IntelliAM, which is based in Sheffield, secured an initial contract with Hovis to provide reliability consultancy services across three key sites. That project successfully provided gap analyses, criticality assessments, and customised maintenance strategies that facilitated targeted, data-driven improvements to production reliability.
Chris Bradley, Chief Operations Officer of Hovis Limited, commented: “We are pleased to be making this next step investment in IntelliAM’s services and AI platform, following a detailed analysis of the outcomes from our initial engagement.”
Tom Clayton, Chief Executive Officer of IntelliAM, added: “This expanded contract represents a significant milestone for IntelliAM, validating the commercial value of our AI-driven solutions. We are proud to be deepening our relationship with Hovis and to be helping them lead the way in transforming UK manufacturing productivity. IntelliAM exists to transform productivity in the manufacturing industry. We are committed to powering a new industrial revolution through artificial intelligence and machine learning – helping manufacturers tap into billions of machine data points to enable intelligent asset management and deliver transformational change.”
The news follows IntelliAM’s Connected Performance Summit, co-hosted with SKF last week at the Cutlers’ Hall in Sheffield, which explored how connected technologies and AI-driven maintenance are converting modern manufacturing. The event gathered over 150 senior decision-makers from prominent food and drink brands, including Hovis, Mars, PepsiCo, and Diageo. Aquis-listed IntelliAM, established in 2023 and built on the robust technical foundations of Sheffield-based 53 Degrees North, works with a quarter of the world’s top 100 Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCGs) companies and half of the top 12 food and beverage manufacturers.
Image source: Hovis
