A software company behind the world’s first robotic automated storage and retrieval system for hard drives is relocating within Hampshire to a dedicated R&D facility.
Lumico Digital has bought a freehold unit for nearly £500,000 at Daedalus Park, Lee-on-the-Solent, near Gosport, with a further £250,000 creating high-end laboratory space, a mezzanine floor with offices and other internal upgrades.
Co-founded by Steve Kennington and Stephen Briney in 2017, the start-up has been based for nine years at nearby Fareham Innovation Centre, home to 60 innovation companies.
The duo began their careers as graduate software developers at Xyratex in Havant, near Portsmouth, which was later acquired by Seagate, working on large-scale robotic test systems for the hard-drive industry.
With ten staff, and looking to increase headcount with new developers and administrative support, Lumico Digital becomes the 50th company to graduate from Fareham Innovation Centre.
The firm employs software, electrical and mechanical engineers who work on a range of projects for start-ups and enterprises, such as telematics, big data, cloud, IoT product development and automated production line systems, as well as mobile apps.
“We’re about solving business problems through software development, systems engineering and industrial automation,” Steve said.
Lumico Digital designed and manufactured a world-first robotics system which retrieves newly manufactured hard drives from storage stacks for automated shipment – it was designed and built from scratch at Fareham Innovation Centre in just 11 months.
It also created a virtual reality app for fellow centre resident SA Energy, which provides renewable energy solutions for domestic and commercial clients, so that customers can visualise their renewable power set-up in real world.
Steve added: “We’ve acquired a freehold mid-terrace unit at Daedalus Business Park, Centaur C3, and look forward to expanding the business still further.
“Our long-term commitment to the local area is clear – we’ve invested more than £750,000 in our new premises at Daedalus Park, with sterile laboratory space for R&D and production, and a mezzanine floor with offices.”
Steve paid tribute to Fareham Innovation Centre: “We wouldn’t have been able to grow in the way we did without the centre’s support – its springboard role cannot be underestimated.”
Stephen Brownlie is Centre Director at Fareham Innovation Centre, which opened in 2015 and is run by Oxford Innovation Space, the UK’s largest operator of innovation centres, on behalf of Fareham Borough Council.
He said: “More than 311 businesses have made their home here over the past decade, either permanently or as a stepping stone, including Lumico Digital, with 1,300-plus jobs created so far.
“Lumico Digital is our 50th graduate company to move out to larger premises – a number are now at Daedalus Park on our doorstep, a 65-unit scheme with R&D, industrial and office space for SMEs.
“For us, the Lumico Digital leaving represents a job well done. We provided the business, which was one of our first occupiers, with flexible workspace and strategic business support.
“In total, the start-up was able to move into nine offices of various sizes and two workshops in its time here, depending on operational requirements, and we wish Lumico Digital every success at its new home just up the road.”
Fareham Innovation Centre has 55 offices and 20 workshops, along with meeting rooms and a conference/events suite.
Daedalus Business Park is, like the centre, adjacent Solent Airport Daedalus, and is within the Daedalus Solent Enterprise Zone.
The area is rapidly becoming a thriving cluster for aerospace, aviation, defence and security, engineering and advanced manufacturing, with hundreds of high-skilled jobs being generated.
Latest construction includes a world-class search and rescue training facility for Bristow Helicopters and a 176,000 sq ft manufacturing facility being built for Eaton, a global leader in aircraft component manufacturing.
Across the road from Fareham Innovation Centre is CEMAST – Centre of Excellence in Engineering, Manufacturing and Advanced Skills Training, providing advanced engineering skills needed by local employers.
