FuturePrintTV Visits 42 Technology: Bright Minds, Collaborative Culture and Purposeful Innovation

Last week, the FuturePrintTV team visited 42 Technology at its headquarters in Cambourne, near Cambridge, for a fascinating day of filming, demonstrations and conversations.

42 Technology occupies a unique position within the FuturePrint community. It is not simply a technology supplier or traditional consultancy. It is a product design and innovation business that helps clients unlock new ideas, overcome complex technical challenges and turn promising concepts into practical, commercially viable solutions.

Its capabilities span areas including artificial intelligence, product development, manufacturing innovation, electronic systems, mechanical engineering, firmware, design and human factors. The company works across several industries, including industrial manufacturing, consumer technology, energy, life sciences, MedTech and industrial inkjet printing technology. This breadth of expertise creates an unusually rich environment for innovation.Learn more about 42 Technology.

What struck us most during our visit was the combination of deep technological competence with a playful, collaborative and energised culture.

The clue is in the company’s name. “42 Technology” is a nod to Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, in which the number ‘42’ is revealed as the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything. That reference captures something important about the business: it takes science, engineering and innovation extremely seriously, but does not believe the process needs to be overly formal or constrained.

The people we met were highly trained and technically accomplished, but also engaging, friendly and inspiring. There was a genuine sense of curiosity throughout the organisation - a willingness to ask questions, test assumptions and explore different possibilities.

Complex science and technology can sometimes feel inaccessible, especially when explained through layers of specialist terminology. The team at 42 Technology has the rare ability to take highly sophisticated ideas and communicate them in a clear, relatable and understandable way. This is enormously valuable when introducing new technologies, gaining internal support for innovation or helping customers understand how an idea can solve a real commercial or manufacturing problem.

Our filming explored several subjects shaping the future of industrial production, including mass customisation, smart factories, automation, robotics, artificial intelligence, digital workflows and the continuing expansion of industrial inkjet. We also saw demonstrations illustrating the breadth of the company’s capabilities and its willingness to explore technologies that could transform products and manufacturing processes.

While 42 Technology is already helping clients bring innovations to life, it is also developing exciting new ideas and technologies of its own. Some of these are moving closer to market and underline the entrepreneurial spirit within the business.

We left Cambourne feeling energised by the experience with these bright minds, their collaborative culture and purposeful innovation! 

It was an excellent day with a talented and welcoming team, and we captured some fantastic FuturePrintTV content along the way.

We look forward to sharing the interviews, insights and demonstrations very soon.

Stay tuned and check out the teaser below!