In its ongoing effort to produce more original kids properties and enhance its service capabilities, UK-based production company Factory has converted its existing Manchester-based RED Studio into a new, more advanced model-making studio called Factory Creative Engine.

The facility will provide state-of-the-art character creation services to Factory’s clients and support the company’s current production slate, which includes Coolabi co-production Clangers and JAM Media’s Becca’s Bunch.

To help integrate set building, puppets, models and creature creation with 2D, 3D CGI, stop-motion and live-action production methods, Factory Creative Engine also offers a temperature- and climate-controlled technical studio and laboratory to house its growing 3D-printing capabilities and CO2 laser cutters.

The studio will create 40 or more new jobs in the Manchester area, and follows Factory’s acquisition of UK-based Rollo Rights (Off the Leash, Mr Benn) in August. That move helped initiate the launch of Factory Rights, the studio’s new licensing and brand management division aimed to strengthen Factory’s development and production of original IP.

Factory Creative Engine also arrives after the company tapped former Coolabi director of production and development Zoë Bamsey as its first-ever COO.