Innovation Grant
Turnover Increase Forecast
New Jobs Created
With expertise from the University of Manchester and GM Business Growth Hub support, this advanced manufacturing business is developing AI-powered tools to boost productivity and reach new markets.
-
£22,500 innovation grant to part-fund a £34k project
-
83% turnover increase forecast
-
2 new jobs created
For more than three decades, Inspection Systems has been helping manufacturers around the world improve quality and efficiency on the production line. Based in Stockport, the company is a leader in machine vision technology for the flat glass industry – the sector that produces glass used in windows, screens and architectural panels. Its systems are used in production facilities from North America to Australia.
Now, with support from Greater Manchester’s innovation ecosystem, the company is integrating artificial intelligence into its flagship product for the first time, unlocking faster inspection, reduced waste and a clear route into new markets.
A bold leap into AI
“We pride ourselves on staying at the forefront of technological advancements and not being afraid to disrupt the market,” says Robbie Birrell, Director at Inspection Systems. “That willingness to push boundaries was what led us to explore the possibilities presented by AI.
The idea was to integrate a new artificial intelligence module into the company’s Eagle-I 4.0 inspection system to improve how it detects faults in glass after production. AI offered the potential for real-time, in-process feedback, allowing defects to be identified earlier and enabling producers to make live adjustments – cutting waste, improving accuracy and increasing throughput.
Support that opened new doors
“Our contact with GM Business Growth Hub was very much trying to find out and access local skills and talent to help us along the AI learning curve,” says Robbie. “AI for us is going to be a disruptive technology and it’s something we have to adopt.”
Through the Innovation Service, the company was introduced to the world-class expertise at The University of Manchester it needed to develop a vision and machine learning AI application that would plug into the existing software. With a £22,500 innovation grant covering two-thirds of the project’s cost, the company partnered with an AI expert experienced in industrial image processing and computer vision. A dedicated research associate, supervised by the academic, delivered a two-month development sprint to build the new AI module.
The module was trained using Inspection Systems’ existing library of visual assets, with a particular focus on patterned glass, which is significantly more complex to inspect than standard plate glass. The result is a plug-in component that enhances the current system’s performance and provides a roadmap for adaptation to other materials and sectors.
A joined-up innovation ecosystem
“What we’ve developed with the University will enable us to innovate further in the glass sector, as well as explore exciting opportunities in new markets, such as the food and beverage industry,” says Robbie.
The updated Eagle-I system was launched in early-2025. As a result of the project, Robbie is forecasting a turnover increase from £5 million this year to £10 £7 million next year, and the creation of two new jobs.
“There’s an extensive network of support available for businesses like ours,” says Robbie. “Being able to draw on local expertise and funding to help us along the AI learning curve has been pivotal in progressing our product development.”
Caroline Stanton, Head of SME Partnerships at The University of Manchester, says this is a great example of what can be achieved when industry and academia collaborate: “The University partners with businesses at every stage of innovation – offering student projects, internships and large-scale collaborations. Working with GM Business Growth Hub, we offer companies like Inspection Systems the expertise and facilities to turn ideas into commercial success.”
Looking to innovate? We can help
If your business has an innovative idea and the ambition to scale, GM Business Growth Hub is here to help you move faster. Contact us to find out how we can support your journey on 0161 359 3050 or bgh@growthco.uk.
Get in touch
Please contact us at 0161 3593050 or query below.
Take that first step and we’ll support you with whatever you need to succeed.
Sign-up to our newsletter
Insights, news, events and opportunities straight to your inbox.