Start-Up Spotlight: ARMEXIS

ARMEXIS is the UK’s only independent designer and manufacturer of tracked armoured vehicles, focused on preserving and advancing a sovereign British capability in a strategically important area of defence manufacturing.

Operating from its Research and Development Centre in Harrogate, ARMEXIS has built a specialist team dedicated to the design, development and production of next-generation tactical armoured platforms. The company combines engineering innovation, practical manufacturing experience and a clear mission to deliver robust, adaptable vehicles for demanding operational environments.

Although headquartered in the UK, ARMEXIS is attracting growing interest from defence, security and government customers across Europe, the UK and wider international markets, including engagement from the UK Ministry of Defence. As order interest develops, the company is preparing to scale its engineering and production capacity in a controlled and sustainable way.

The ARMEXIS team currently consists of around 15 employees, with future expansion planned as the business moves from development into production. Potential sites in South, West, and North Yorkshire and Tees Valley have been identified as part of ARMEXIS’ short, medium and long-term manufacturing strategy.

We spoke with Olivia Price, GROUP Chief Operating Officer at ARMEXIS, about how the company is using SOLIDWORKS to support its engineering workflow, accelerate product development and strengthen its position as an emerging UK defence manufacturer.

ARMEXIS design process

Olivia: “At ARMEXIS, our design process is highly structured but also deliberately iterative. We use a version of the double diamond process, where we first explore and challenge a wide range of possible solutions before narrowing those ideas down through CAD, engineering review, testing and practical manufacturability assessments.

“SOLIDWORKS plays a central role in that process. It enables our engineering team to explore multiple design routes quickly, test assumptions and refine concepts without slowing down innovation. For a business operating in the armoured vehicle sector, where safety, reliability, performance and manufacturability are all critical, that ability to move quickly while maintaining engineering discipline is extremely valuable.”

What are your top 3 SOLIDWORKS tools/features?

Olivia: “It is difficult to choose just three, because SOLIDWORKS is such a broad and capable platform, but three areas have been particularly valuable to us.

“Firstly, Configurations are extremely useful. They allow our engineers to explore different design options within the same model environment, which is particularly important when developing families of vehicles, assemblies and components with varying dimensions, layouts and performance requirements.

“Secondly, Sheet Metal is integral to our design and manufacturing process. Within armoured vehicle development, it is essential that geometry is not only accurate, but also realistic from a production perspective. The sheet metal tools help us design components that are manufacturable and practical, while saving significant engineering time.

“Thirdly, Simulation has been a major benefit. Our platforms are large, complex and designed for demanding operational environments. Physical testing is essential, but it can also be time-consuming, expensive and difficult to conduct safely at every stage of development. The ability to conduct virtual testing and assess design performance earlier in the process has been a real advantage for the engineering team.”

About a project

Olivia: “At ARMEXIS, we design, manufacture and deploy tactical armoured vehicles for demanding operational environments. The most challenging and rewarding part of this work is that every vehicle is made up of a large number of highly specialised systems, structures, assemblies and components, each of which has to perform reliably as part of the wider platform.

“Our team has been focused on developing a range of tactical armoured vehicles capable of being deployed across different territories and use cases. In our industry, safety is always the first priority. These vehicles must be designed to protect occupants, perform in harsh conditions and operate reliably in scenarios where failure is simply not an option.

“SOLIDWORKS gives our team the tools to explore, iterate and develop solutions at pace. One of its strongest qualities is that it allows engineers to focus on solving complex design problems rather than being constrained by the software. That is extremely important for a company like ARMEXIS, where innovation, speed and engineering accuracy all have to work together.

“The ability to use simulation throughout the design process has also been critical. It allows our team to assess real-world manufacturing and assembly considerations, including design for manufacture and design for assembly, before committing to production. That helps ensure that what we design can be built, tested and deployed effectively in the environments for which it is intended.”

Would you recommend the SOLIDWORKS for Start-Ups scheme?

Olivia: “We would absolutely recommend the SOLIDWORKS for Start-Ups Scheme. For an early-stage manufacturing business, access to professional, industry-leading design software can make a significant difference.

“The scheme allowed ARMEXIS to access the SOLIDWORKS portfolio without the immediate upfront investment that would normally be required. That meant we could focus more of our resources on engineering, product development and building our armoured tracked vehicle capability.

“For a business like ours, the value is not just in the software itself, but also in the ecosystem around it, including technical support, training and the confidence that comes from using a platform widely recognised across industry. It has helped us accelerate development and create a stronger foundation for future growth.”

Would you recommend SOLIDWORKS?

Olivia: “Yes, we would. SOLIDWORKS is a comprehensive and highly capable platform and it gives our engineering team access to a wide range of tools that are directly relevant to the type of complex mechanical design we undertake.

“It is also widely used across the engineering and manufacturing sectors, which makes collaboration with suppliers, partners and external specialists far easier. For ARMEXIS, that common language is important. It helps improve communication, reduce friction and support a more efficient development and production process.”

Working with Visiativ

Olivia: “Our experience of working with Visiativ has been very positive. Their SOLIDWORKS engineers have been knowledgeable, responsive and supportive whenever we have required technical assistance.

“At our research and development site, we previously experienced an issue with one of our workstations, and Visiativ’s engineer, Graeme Billingsley, attended site the next day to help resolve it. That level of responsiveness is important to a business like ours, because downtime within an engineering environment can quickly affect progress.

“From a commercial perspective, Liam Nuttall has also been excellent to work with. He has handled our enquiries professionally and consistently, and we have found him to be reliable, helpful and solutions focused. As we continue to grow, having a trusted SOLIDWORKS partner who understands our needs is extremely valuable.”

What’s next for ARMEXIS Group?

Olivia: “ARMEXIS is entering an important growth phase. We have developed a sovereign UK capability in tracked armoured vehicle design and manufacturing, and our focus now is on scaling that capability in a controlled, professional and sustainable way.

“Over the next 6 to 12 months, we expect to expand our engineering, production and operational capacity as we progress customer interest, pre-production activity and future vehicle programmes. As that happens, we will need to continue investing in the tools, systems and partnerships that allow our team to work efficiently and to the right technical standard.

“SOLIDWORKS will remain an important part of our engineering environment and based on the support we have received to date, ARMEXIS sees Visiativ as a trusted partner for future growth.”

Learn more about ARMEXIS on their website.

Find out if you could join the SOLIDWORKS for Start-Ups Scheme.

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