Applied Integration - 20 years of innovation driven by bold ambition and a relentless vision
Applied Integration is proud to be celebrating its 20th anniversary — a remarkable milestone made possible by a bold vision, a relentless drive, and an unwavering dedication to the highest standards of quality and customer service. Since our founding in 2005, we have been determined to establish ourselves as a leading provider of automation solutions across a range of demanding and highly regulated industries, including defence and pharmaceuticals. As we reflect on two decades of progress, we take great pride in the milestones that have shaped our journey and brought us to this incredible point. At the same time, we look ahead with determination and excitement to the challenges and opportunities that await us — all while maintaining our focus on advancing automation and innovation for the benefit of our customers, our partners, and the industries we serve.
The Early Days
Applied Integration was founded in 2005, when four friends and colleagues — Garry Lofthouse, Lee Raywood, Graham King, and Roy Coleman — decided to combine their years of experience to build something new. With a shared belief in the growing demand for smarter, more reliable automation solutions, they took the leap and officially opened the doors to Applied Integration. What happened next still feels like a defining moment in our company’s history: within just 24 hours of launching, Applied Integration had secured its very first consultancy contract. That early success brought a huge sense of momentum and reinforced the belief that there was a real appetite for the expertise and services the team had to offer. The pace didn’t slow. What was originally scoped as a five-year business plan — designed to give the company a steady foothold in the industry — was surpassed in just nine months. Rapid growth, new opportunities, and strong partnerships followed in quick succession, giving the fledgling company the platform it needed to start thinking even bigger. By 2006, Applied Integration was already expanding its reach into the oil and gas sector, delivering advanced safety systems that supported some of the industry’s most critical operations. These weren’t just small wins; they were complex, high-stakes projects that put the company firmly on the map as a trusted partner in safety and automation.
Breaking into the Defence Market
In 2007, a pivotal opportunity arose through a meeting with Northrop Grumman, a global leader in defence technology. This meeting led to Applied Integration securing its first multi-million-pound defence contract, marking a significant step forward for the business. Securing this contract was more than just a commercial win; it was a validation of our technical expertise, our processes, and our people. It placed the responsibility for supporting national security in the hands of a relatively small but highly capable and tenacious team based in North Yorkshire. From this point onwards, Applied Integration became a trusted supplier to the defence sector, delivering high-integrity software and hardware solutions to some of the UK’s most sensitive and mission-critical programmes.
Expansion and Investing in New People
By 2008, the company’s continued growth demanded the expansion of our team. Applied Integration began recruiting dedicated specialists to support our growing portfolio of complex projects. Among these early hires were individuals who continue to play an integral role in our business today — testament to the strong culture and commitment that underpin our organisation. These new team members brought with them a wealth of experience and fresh perspectives, helping to strengthen our capabilities and cement our reputation as a trusted partner to some of the world’s most exacting industries.
Diversifying our Defence Work
As our presence within the defence sector has grown, Applied Integration has been entrusted with an increasing number of mission-critical programmes, supporting some of the UK’s most vital defence and national security initiatives. Our work has included the development and delivery of highly specialised systems for submarine platforms and other defence technologies that play a crucial role in safeguarding national interests. These projects demand the highest levels of precision, security, and technical expertise, and we are proud to have earned the trust of some of the most respected organisations in the sector.
Due to the sensitive nature of this work, much of what we do remains confidential. However, what can be said is that our involvement in these programmes has not only shaped the evolution of our technical capabilities but has also reinforced our reputation as a reliable, trusted, and discreet partner in environments where failure is not an option. Operating in such high-stakes sectors requires an uncompromising commitment to quality, security, and delivery — commitments we uphold in every aspect of our operations.
This continued dedication has been recognised by our partners and customers through numerous industry awards and accolades. Among these, we are particularly proud to have been recognised by Rolls-Royce with their prestigious ‘Going for Gold’ Bronze Tier award — an acknowledgment of excellence within their supply chain. This award reflects more than just operational performance; it signifies our ability to consistently meet the exacting standards expected by one of the world’s foremost engineering and defence organisations.
We have been recognised by the Australian Government as a key supplier of defence control systems and were honoured to attend a major defence event in Adelaide. Additionally, the UK Government has acknowledged our position in the industry, inviting us to the top 100 defence suppliers forum held in the House of Lords to discuss upcoming defence projects and explore potential areas of collaboration. These recognitions have further solidified our standing in the global defence sector and reflect our growing reputation for excellence and innovation.
These honours are not simply milestones; they represent the trust our partners place in us to deliver complex, safety-critical systems with precision and integrity. They also reflect the sustained efforts of our people, whose technical skill, discipline, and attention to detail underpin every project we undertake. As we look to the future, our defence work remains a cornerstone of our operations — a responsibility we carry with the utmost seriousness and pride.
Diversifying Operations and Innovations
Over the years, our work has evolved and diversified significantly. In 2017, we launched our sister company, Applied Scientific Technologies, with a clear focus on developing innovative solutions for scientific environments such as laboratories and research centres. This period of rapid growth prompted further investment in both our people and our infrastructure, allowing us to expand our team with new specialists and strengthen our expertise across disciplines.
Our ambitions didn’t stop there. In 2019, we established Automation Talent Recruitment, a dedicated recruitment arm focused on sourcing top-tier automation specialists from across the country, further broadening the scope of our services.
As our team expanded, so too did our facilities. What began as a bare-bones office and warehouse has been transformed through extensive renovation into a purpose-built space tailored to our specific needs. We have developed bespoke laboratory mock-ups and secure, private office areas to accommodate some of our most sensitive projects. This growth — in both people and environment — has been remarkable. Today, we are proud to employ a team of 80 and continue to seek out new talent to support our ongoing evolution.
But We Aren't Stopping Here
As Applied Integration has continued to grow, so too has the scale and complexity of our projects. Today, we are proud to deliver some of the most advanced and bespoke automation solutions across highly demanding industry sectors, all while upholding the highest standards of quality and precision. Looking ahead, our ambition is to go even further — to continually push the boundaries of what is possible in automation and deliver truly exceptional projects. Whether within the defence sector or the commercial arena, we welcome the challenges the future will bring and are eager to overcome them. The future is full of opportunities, and this is only the beginning.
