Campervan manufacturer secures Mercedes-Benz partnership

By Antao Greer Communications

28 Jun 2024

Crozier Campers 2 Small.jpg.jpg

A Made-Smarter backed campervan manufacturer has secured a ‘transformational’ partnership with Mercedes-Benz after investing in new technology.

Crozier Campers, based in Lancashire, is now part of the automotive brand’s Bodybuilder programme.

It means the Poulton-le-Fylde company can order pre-registered Sprinter vans directly from the factory in Germany to convert and sell.

Mercedes-Benz agreed to the collaboration following Crozier’s £40,000 investment in leading edge design software and CNC machinery which was supported by a £20,000 grant from Made Smarter’s North West adoption programme.

Conor Crozier, founder and managing director, said: “We are thrilled to have established a formal partnership with Mercedes-Benz. Accreditation to its Bodybuilder programme is a transformational boost for our small business and is a direct consequence of the support of Made Smarter.

“For a small business, navigating the investment in new technology is very difficult. Made Smarter has backed us all the way, accelerated us years ahead, and changed our business forever.”

The company was launched by engineer Conor in 2020. Its team of six designers, engineers and carpenters, produce a range of conversions from day vans like Volkswagen Transporters to full size off-grid tiny homes in Minibuses.

Crozier turned to Made Smarter to help solve its capacity challenge caused by its reliance on subcontracting some parts of production.

Adopting an Apollo 1325 CNC for the precision cutting, milling and drilling of sheet wood, metal and plastic, and Autodesk Fusion 360, a cloud-based CAD, CAM, CAE, and PCB software platform, Crozier brought all production back in-house.

With complete control, the company has been able to reduce build times of its Beyond range from eight weeks to seven and increase capacity by 50 per cent. This is forecast to grow profits by 25 per cent over the next three years.

The technology has created a new production role and freed up its team to work on R&D projects and devote more time to social media marketing which has given the business international exposure.

The software enables the business to reduce wood waste which is used to create biofuels and donate to local woodworkers and artists. This supports Crozier’s 2027 net zero target.

Commenting on the partnership, Donna Edwards, director of Made Smarter’s Adoption Programme in the North West, said: “I am delighted that Crozier Campers has reaped such immediate and substantial benefits from adopting new technology.

“We supported Conor and the team firstly through our digital transformation workshop process to help identify potential technologies to overcome their challenges, and armed them with a digital roadmap and a grant to adopt those solutions.

“We look forward to offering them our ongoing support as they drive forward their growth ambitions.”

Launched in 2019, Made Smarter has engaged with 2,500 manufacturers, with hundreds receiving support through grant funding, impartial technology advice, leadership, and skills training to help transform their businesses.

The programme has delivered 334 technology projects in the North West, which are forecast to create 1,550 jobs, upskill 2,772 existing roles, and increase North West GVA by £242m.

Latest news

1

VARS Technology team up with debt resolution specialists to fight fuel theft David Nichol John Garnett Aydan Jones and Laura Tilley

VARS Technology team up with debt resolution specialists to fight fuel theft

12 Sep 2025

2

University of Lancashire unveils Preston campus installation to celebrate name change University of Lancashire new feature

University of Lancashire unveils Preston campus installation to celebrate name change

12 Sep 2025

3

PM+M welcomes ten new apprentices for 2025 intake Lucy Field, Kate Walsh, Ellie Fisher, Zainab Aswat, Reece Jones, Aisha Bibi Patel, Finley Vila, Uzair Zariwala, Richard Prest, and Charlie Harrison

PM+M welcomes ten new apprentices for 2025 intake

11 Sep 2025

4

ROCCIA strengthens commercial division with senior appointment Andrew Grove

ROCCIA strengthens commercial division with senior appointment

11 Sep 2025

5

Final call for investors: Rossendale community solar project must hit target by November Gary McEwan managing director of Interfloor

Final call for investors: Rossendale community solar project must hit target by November

10 Sep 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs
Sub36 Deaf Village Social1200
Networking
17 Sep 2025

Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs

The Deaf Village, Blackburn, BB2 5EN

10:00 - 12:00

LBV124 September/October Launch Event
MBP Arc Cinema Preston Opening 205
Networking
18 Sep 2025

LBV124 September/October Launch Event

The Arc Cinema, Preston, PR1 2BL

08:30 - 10:30

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Longridge Soap Box Derby
Screenshot 2025-06-10 090035.png.png
LBV Hub Fundraisers
14 Sep 2025 - 14 Sep 2025

Longridge Soap Box Derby

Berry Lane, Longridge, PR3 3WH

10:00 - 16:30

Preston Tech Connection - The Ultimate Tech Quiz!
Preston Tech Connection Sept 25.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Sep 2025 - 16 Sep 2025

Preston Tech Connection - The Ultimate Tech Quiz!

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
17 Sep 2025 - 17 Sep 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation
Chorley Council breakfast event new
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation

Worden Hall, Leyland, PR25 3DH

08:00 - 11:00

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September
Sept Freelancer (1).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Speed Networking with BNI
2.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
24 Sep 2025 - 24 Sep 2025

Speed Networking with BNI

Chorley Football Club, Chorley, PR7 3DU

16:00 - 19:00

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September
TMM Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September

Chorley, PR7 2SL

18:00 - 20:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV 123 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin