Optio Systems was formed through the combination of two marketleading companies, DSL and Datastor, each with almost 50 years of experience producing process control systems for manufacturing customers in the animal feed, paints, and specialist chemicals sectors. The company is trusted by some of the largest companies within its industries, supporting more than 200 installations of its software around the world with a particular focus on the UK, Ireland, and North America. Many factories operate with PLC and SCADA, which shows its user a screen and logs data. This technology, however, does not manage batching logic, enforce cross-contamination rules, handle traceability, run production planning, or integrate with an ERP without months of custom engineering that must be reinvented from scratch for every site. This means that, while usable, these processes do not offer the efficiency, supportability, and scalability that such high-pressure environments demand. This is a challenge that Optio Systems, named the Control Systems and Automation Solutions Company of the Year 2026, has met head-on. “Our latest control system, Imperium⁴, does all of this, already built in,” Josh told us. “Designed specifically for animal feed, paint, and speciality chemical manufacturers within one platform. It’s 50 years of innovation in a single product, and we are continuing to develop it!” Imperium⁴ is an innovative, browser-based, process control system developed by Optio Systems. Simple and intuitive, Imperium⁴ offers users end-to-end control, with API-based integrations to all their other business systems. The system is scalable and expandable, works with all plant and major PLCs, and provides the user with reliable software for life, complete with a comprehensive suite of integrated, add-on modules for complete process control. This solution is paired with an engineering mindset that shapes Optio Systems’ approach to client service. “We are engineers first,” Josh explained. “Too many vendors treat commissioning as the finish line, but we treat it as the beginning. We understand feed mills, paint manufacturing, and chemical processes, and we are still there when things change with round-the-clock support that keeps our customers running. We are motivated by the efficiency, production, and success of our customers.” Responsible for steering Optio Systems, Josh Chilton has been interested in the factors that make a business successful from a very young age. After graduating from the University of Leeds with a first-class honours degree in economics and finance, he stepped into the industry with a job at the global investment bank Holihan Lokey, helping companies of all sizes across Europe to complete acquisitions and raise capital. After two years, Josh took a role at a mid-market private equity fund based in London, focusing on UK-based companies with the scope for significant operational improvement. During this time, Josh was involved in ten acquisitions, five financing processes, and sat on the boards of three companies. Despite this, however, he felt that he remained too far removed from the real value creation of business. “So, after five years and reaching the role of Investment Director, I spent two years studying for my MBA at London Business School,” he shared. “As I was coming to the end of this programme, I was approached with the exciting opportunity to manage, integrate, and grow the two UKbased software companies, DSL and Datastor, that would later become Optio Systems. This felt like the perfect opportunity to deploy the business learnings acquired over years of working with many different companies in many different industries with many different leaders.” Today, Josh leads Optio Systems with a clear direction, strategic vision, and a focus on the things that truly matter. In the twelve months since he started, Josh has completely transformed the businesses that he inherited, improving customer service, project delivery, and the company’s go-to-market approach, culminating in the rebranding of the business as Optio Systems in January 2026. In recognition of this, he has earned the Tech Business Transformation MD of the Year 2026 award and shows no signs of slowing this upward trajectory down now; over the next three years, he aims to continue improving the business and to grow revenues by 40%. This is a significant jump that Optio Systems will earn by continuing to deliver excellence to its existing customers, whilst attracting new customers from new industries around the world. Contact: Josh Chilton Company: Optio Systems Limited Web Address: www.optio-systems.com Email: Sales@Optio-Systems.com Phone: +44 (0) 1159 813700 In the high-pressure environments of manufacturing animal feed, paints, and specialty chemicals, an effective operating system is essential. No company understands this more than Optio Systems, a leading global provider of process control systems that help manufacturers across a wide range of industries to streamline operations, reduce downtime, and maintain consistent product quality with full traceability. We spoke with Managing Director Josh Chilton for more information, as both he and his team are recognised in the Managing Director of the Year Awards 2026. Tech Business Transformation MD of the Year 2026: Josh Chilton & Control Systems & Automation Solutions Company of the Year 2026: Optio Systems Optio Systems Limited
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUyMDQwMA==