What CSD Automation does

CSD Automation (legal entity CAD Services Direct Limited, trading as CSD Automation and CSD Engineering and Automation) is a UK private limited company founded in 2007 by Chris Pykerman, headquartered in Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire, with a 12-person team of design engineers, build technicians, installation coordinators and support staff. The company designs, manufactures, installs and commissions bespoke industrial automation equipment — conveyors, tooling, handling and lifting equipment, robotics and special purpose machines — using Solid Works 3D CAD simulation, PLC control systems, RFID, and pneumatic and hydraulic components. Customers are predominantly enterprise UK manufacturers in automotive (Nissan UK, Jaguar Land Rover), logistics (Amazon), healthcare and pharmaceutical (NHS Trust, Boots), aerospace and defence, food and beverage, and general industrial processing. Dedicated product lines include the CSD Manipulators sub-brand and the CSD ManipuLift Parallel Arm (launched February 2024); after-sales support comprises Planned Preventative Maintenance, a spare parts service, and a Digital Service Platform powered by Makula Technology launched in May 2025.

The company operates an enterprise field-sales go-to-market with a Best Practice Evaluation preceding any quotation, exhibiting at MACH 2026 (UK's national engineering and manufacturing exhibition) and partnering with Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce for local business events. Pricing is bespoke, quote-based per project, with quotations valid for 30 days and payment terms of 30 days from invoice; the company is founder-owned, with no parent, subsidiaries or disclosed institutional investors, and no public revenue disclosure. It holds Cyber Essentials certification (2025) and a Made in Britain mark, signalling baseline enterprise-grade governance and provenance. Strategic emphasis over 2021-2025 has been productisation of lifting equipment, expansion of physical capacity, and the introduction of digital service infrastructure — moves that point to gradual scaling rather than a step-change in business model.

Name

CSD Automation

Legal name

CAD Services Direct Limited

Website

https://csdautomation.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CSD Automation is a UK-based bespoke industrial automation equipment manufacturer (founded 2007, 12 staff, Letchworth) designing, building and installing conveyors, tooling, lifting systems and special purpose machines for enterprise manufacturers in automotive, aerospace, logistics, healthcare and food and beverage.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Automation Equipment

NAICS

Machinery Manufacturing (333), Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513)

SIC

Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment (3590), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560)

akta.pro primary industry

End-of-Line Integration & Packaging Line Systems (IMAHAOAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conveying, Feeding & Accumulation Systems (Packaging Lines) (IMAHAOAK), Industrial Controllers & Control Systems (PLCs, PACs, CNC Controllers) (IMAHAHAH), Process Automation Instrumentation & Control (DCS, Valves, Actuators, Analyzers) (IMAHAHAM)

Keywords

• Industrial automation equipment
• Bespoke manufacturing machinery
• Conveyor systems
• Industrial lifting equipment
• Process automation solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Letchworth Garden City

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Bespoke Equipment Design and Manufacturing: Design, manufacture, installation and commissioning of bespoke automation equipment including conveyors, tooling, handling equipment, robotics, and special purpose machines for manufacturing clients.
2. Service, Maintenance and Spare Parts: After-sales support including equipment servicing with bespoke service packages, Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) schedules, and direct spare parts ordering. Digital Service Platform provides 24/7 access to documentation, support tickets, and spare parts ordering.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CSD Automation designs, manufactures, installs, and commissions bespoke industrial automation equipment for manufacturers. The portfolio spans process automation systems, industrial tooling, handling and lifting equipment, conveyors, robotics, and special-purpose machines, complemented by planned preventative maintenance, spare parts, and a digital service platform. Equipment is tailored to specific customer requirements across sectors including automotive, aerospace, healthcare, pharmaceutical, logistics, food and beverage, and industrial processing.

Product overview

CSD Automation is a UK-based manufacturer of bespoke process automation equipment offering a portfolio of interconnected products and services. The core portfolio consists of Process Automation systems, Industrial Tooling, Handling & Lifting Equipment (including the CSD ManipuLift™ Parallel Arm sub-brand), Industrial Conveyors, Industrial Robotics, and Special Projects. These are complemented by Servicing, Planned Preventative Maintenance, and Spare Parts support, as well as a Digital Service Platform (powered by Makula Technology) for customer self-service. The company designs, manufactures, installs, and commissions bespoke equipment for industries including aerospace, automotive, logistics, healthcare, pharmaceutical, and material processing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CSD Manipulators: A dedicated division offering bespoke industrial lifting and handling equipment including parallel arms, overhead masts, and wire rope manipulators.
• CSD ManipuLift

Products and services

• Process Automation Bespoke manufacturing process automation equipment designed to maximize control over production processes, enhance operator health and safety, and optimize finished product quality for industrial manufacturers.
• Industrial Tooling Custom jigs, fixtures, dies, cutting tools, and end-of-arm tooling including grippers and vacuum systems designed using 3D Solid Works CAD software for manufacturers.
• Handling and Lifting Equipment Bespoke handling and lifting equipment including novel lifting solutions, lifting jigs, and industrial manipulators designed for heavy, awkward, or delicate component handling in manufacturing environments.
• Industrial Conveyors Custom conveyor systems including Belt Conveyors, Roller Conveyors, Modular Belt Conveyors, Gravity Conveyors, and helical conveyors for moving goods efficiently through manufacturing processes.
• Industrial Robotics Collaborative robotic solutions and programmable automation equipment designed for specific business requirements, suitable for low to medium volume manufacturers.
• Special Projects Turnkey solutions for complex, unique automation requirements that cannot be met by standard equipment approaches, integrating multiple equipment types into bespoke systems for manufacturers.
• Servicing, Planned Preventative Maintenance and Spare Parts After-sales support including bespoke service packages, Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) schedules based on regular checks, and direct spare parts ordering to ensure equipment reliability and minimize downtime.

Quantifiable outcome

• Complete turnkey projects delivered on time for major automotive manufacturers
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Makula TechnologycoreTechnology or Integration · 1 May 2025Makula Technology powers CSD Automation's Digital Service Platform, an online portal providing simplified service and spare parts requests, instant access to machine documentation via QR code scanning, 24/7 availability, and built-in maintenance reminders. The platform helps keep customer operations running smoothly.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Rockwell Automation: Global industrial automation incumbent providing PLCs, motion control, and integrated automation software/platforms. Sets the platform standard against which CSD's bespoke PLC integration must interface.
• KUKA Robotics: Global robotics manufacturer and integrator supplying industrial robots and automation cells to automotive and general industry. CSD integrates third-party robots into its bespoke cells, making KUKA both a supplier and indirect competitor.
• Siemens Digital Industries: Dominant industrial automation supplier with PLCs, drives, and complete automation portfolios. Competes with CSD indirectly via preferred-vendor contracts at large enterprise customers.

Direct peers

• CKF Systems: UK-based bespoke automation integrator serving food, pharmaceutical, and manufacturing sectors with tailored robotic and conveyor systems. Closest UK comparable in size, model, and customer profile to CSD Automation.
• TM Robotics: UK distributor and integrator of industrial robots (Toshiba Machine) and bespoke automation cells. Comparable UK robot integration footprint, though more product-focused than CSD.
• Astech (Automated Systems and Technology): UK provider of bespoke automation, robotics, and special purpose machines for pharmaceutical, medical device, and consumer product manufacturers. Directly comparable in bespoke engineering service model and customer base.
• Robotics and Automation Group (RM Group): UK automation integrator offering bespoke robotic systems, conveyors, and special purpose machines to manufacturers. Directly comparable in scope, size, and customer mix.
• ATS Automation Tooling Systems: Global automation integrator designing, building, and commissioning custom manufacturing automation systems for industrial customers. Same end-to-end bespoke integrator model, though much larger scale.
• Schubert UK: UK arm of German packaging automation specialist producing bespoke top-loading packaging and conveyor systems for food, beverage, and pharma manufacturers. Comparable bespoke automation in overlapping verticals.

Emerging players

• Pilz Automation Technology: European safety and automation specialist offering control systems, sensors, and turnkey safety automation. Comparable in PLC and safety-instrumentation scope, typically delivering complete automation subsystems.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@csdautomation
• Facebookfacebook.com/SPECIALPURPOSEMACHINERY
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/csd-engineering-automation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CSD Automation