npd move to Samlesbury Studio

Preston-based product design and engineering consultancy npd Studio has relocated to a significantly larger workshop space at Two Acres on the A59 in Samlesbury - a move the business describes as a pivotal moment in its growth.

For a business that has spent over a decade turning complex briefs and concepts into real, manufacturable products, the move to Two Acres represents something more than a change of address.

It is, according to founder and chief executive Nathan Partington, a direct response to the scale and ambition of the work npd is now being asked to do.

"Our last studio was great, but it wasn't adequate for what we wanted to do and the projects we're taking on," says Nathan.

"We're getting a lot of enquiries now - not just to design products, but to build them, manufacture them, assemble them, and sell them back to the customer. We needed somewhere that could actually support that."

The new studio, described as a bigger and better space to design, build, prototype, and manufacture, with a dedicated workshop floor, sits just off junction 31 of the M6, making it easily accessible from across the North West.

The premises include a partitioned space for confidential client meetings, a clean design studio, and a purpose-built workshop equipped with an extensive 3D printing suite, including 25 large-format printers across FDM and SLA technologies.

Growing into Defence

The relocation comes at a moment of significant expansion for npd, most notably into the defence and security sector.

The consultancy is now an active supplier to BAE Systems' Typhoon programme, having delivered a complex avionics interface project.

npd holds JOSCAR registration, Cyber Essentials certification, and NPSA Secure Innovation Exemplar status - the accreditations that regulated defence primes require from their supply chain.

The business is also a member of Make UK Defence and the ADS Group, and has been working to deepen its relationships with Tier 1 defence contractors across the UK.

The new studio's security and access controls - gated, CCTV-monitored, with no shared tenancy - were a deliberate design choice to support this client base.

A Full-Lifecycle Model

npd's growth story is not just about new sectors. The business has evolved from a product design consultancy into what it describes internally as a full-lifecycle partner - staying embedded through design, manufacture, and market launch, rather than handing off at the prototype stage.

Its portfolio reflects that breadth. Current and recent projects span avionics for the Typhoon programme, a portable medical device for corneal diagnostics (Ocuwell), a smart city multi-sensor surveillance system (Terminus Technologies), and Arc Master - npd's own investment product, a golf putting training aid validated with biomechanics specialists Science and Motion and showcased at the PGA Show in Florida.

Alongside the studio move, the team continues to grow. Recent hires include Lloyd Potter, a Product Design Engineer who joins from SharkNinja, bringing consumer electronics design and  manufacturing expertise.

What Comes Next

For Nathan, the move is less about arriving somewhere and more about what it makes possible. "We needed somewhere that could actually do what we're being asked to do. Now we have it."

npd Studio is marking the move with a private opening event in May, with guest appearance Masterchef Professionals 2026 Winner who will be serving one of his dishes from the show at the event. Those interested in attending should contact [email protected]