Harwin is a world-leading specialist in reliable and high-performance technologies for demanding applications. Space, avionics and subsea manufacturers count amongst their main customers. Founded in 1952, the company has been based in Farlington. It is a cornerstone of Portsmouth advanced engineering industry for over seven decades. As a family-owned business, Harwin has 350+ strong workforce and cultivated a strong sense of family and community within its operations.
“There’s still a feeling of it being a family business within the company, and part of the community.”” says Peter Schneid, VP of Marketing.
“Looking around the factory you can see multiple generations of the same family working here, and that’s something that’s long been a part of who we are. Harwin is settled here in Portsmouth. We’ve been important since the 1960s on this site, and we’ve expanded significantly in and around the local area.”
Harwin specialises in manufacturing high-reliability electronic components, particularly connectors used in critical applications such as avionics, unmanned systems, and underwater robotics.
“Anything where safety is critical, you are likely to find a Harwin connector,” explains Peter.
To meet the increasing demand for its products, Harwin is embarking on a significant expansion project at its headquarters in Farlington.
“We’ve reached somewhat the limit of our current site itself ” says Peter.
The new building which is sited next door is currently under construction. This four storey building will provide additional manufacturing space, offices, and warehousing facilities, enabling the company to scale its operations and accommodate future growth.
“This expansion will really propel us to the next level of growth,” Peter adds. “We have reached a level where we’re bursting at the seams. To achieve the ambitions that the company has, the new building will give us an extra 50% capacity.”
The new building will come online over the next couple of years. It will be purpose built and optimised for a manufacturing flow, with robotic lines and a warehouse.
Harwin is committed to sustainable practices and has implemented various initiatives to reduce its environmental impact.
“We’ve undertaken our first carbon audits and are beginning to change the way we operate the business for a greener future” says Peter. “Our new building will bring everything together and allow us to control our energy consumption more efficiently.”
The company has invested in solar energy, is exploring alternative energy sources, and is refining its manufacturing processes to minimize its carbon footprint. This is seen by the leadership at Harwin as key for the future of the company and is a view shared by employees and increasingly their customers.
Harwin recognises the importance of its employees and invests heavily in their training and development. A key challenge in the manufacturing and engineering sectors is attracting young engineers. To address this Harwin has set up its own academy and apprentice programme.
“We make a huge investment in training, to get people through the apprentice programmes,” says Peter.
The company’s apprenticeship program provides young engineers with valuable skills and experience, ensuring a pipeline of talented individuals to drive future innovation. Additionally, Harwin actively engages with local schools to inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists.
Peter stresses that the engineers of the future are software engineers and designers.
“Some of the hardest roles to fill are highly skilled, very specialist positions, and we need to do more collectively to make sure the supply in the job market matches the demands of advanced manufacturing companies. ”
The new building expansion will create an estimated 76 jobs and will allow Harwin to have a larger apprentice squad.
Harwin is a resilient company that has continued to invest. They have a five-year replacement cycle ensuring the only the latest equipment is in the business. They sell on equipment or lease and then return items back to the equipment manufacturers.
“This means when our engineers come to work, they’re always challenged because they’re always using the latest software, the latest equipment.”
The company take a long term view and research what the economy will be like in 10 or 20 years. Harwin are cautious and careful to pick its markets where they can add value, and where growth is projected.
“We are not in traditional consumer goods, but we wouldn’t rule it out. Our key focus is applications related to electronic vehicles, applications to commercial space exploration. These are industries with both strong growth and innovation with customers pushing what is possible.”
Harwin is often working with early adopters and groundbreaking companies. Their development cycles are often very long, where they’re prototyping a product until it becomes a commercially viable product, but it’s an investment in the future that pays dividends.
As Harwin continues to grow and innovate, the company stays focused on its core values of quality, reliability, and customer satisfaction.
“The future is bright, because we are proactively looking to where the next growth will come from,” says Peter.
By embracing emerging technologies and expanding into new markets, Harwin is well-positioned to shape the future of electronic components and contribute to the advancement of various industries.
Harwin is actively recruiting and developing talent across multiple engineering disciplines and runs an award-winning apprenticeship programme.