When James Walsh set up Sytronix in Lancashire in 2021, few would have predicted that within three years the company would be holding a world computing record and making a name for British engineering in high-performance computing.
The milestone came when Sytronix topped the Blender benchmark with its dual 9965 and 9755 systems still holding the record today, albeit by narrower margins than at launch, but by a significant lead, nonetheless. Blender is widely regarded as a gold-standard performance test by film studios, game developers and animation houses worldwide.
For Walsh, the achievement is about more than numbers. It reflects a belief that advanced design and intelligent engineering can put the North West on the map in an industry often associated with Silicon Valley and Asia.
“People told me serious computing hardware only came from overseas,” said Walsh, founder of Sytronix. “We’ve shown that isn’t the case. Britain has the talent and the ideas to compete.”
Innovation over brute force
While major global firms invest billions in R&D, Walsh and his team have built their success on smarter engineering rather than brute force. Instead of pushing hardware to its limits through overclocking, Sytronix focuses on design efficiency, delivering both performance and energy savings.
“Some of our biggest breakthroughs have come from everyday conversations over a brew,” Walsh explained. “It’s about asking the right questions, not having the biggest budget.”
A North West success story
Sytronix’s growth is also a story of regional opportunity. Based in Lancashire, the company designs and assembles its systems end-to-end under one roof, prioritising high-quality parts from the UK and Europe instead of high-volume production suppliers in East Asia; something rare in today’s global market. Many of its engineers and specialists are local lads, united by the belief that British manufacturing has a key role to play in advanced technology.
Clients from across industries — from research labs to creative studios — are already switching to Sytronix systems, with some able to halve energy usage and dramatically reduce server footprints as a result.
Looking ahead
Sytronix is now expanding into AI systems and advanced computing platforms, with the aim of establishing itself as a trusted British alternative to global incumbents.
“We’re proud of what we’ve achieved so far, but this is only the beginning,” Walsh said. “Every step forward is proof that innovation doesn’t have to come from a select few global businesses; it can and does come from right here in Lancashire.”
Founded in 2021 by engineer James Walsh, Sytronix is based in Lancashire and holds the world #1 position on the Blender CPU benchmark with its dual 9965 and 9755 systems. The company designs and manufactures high-performance computing solutions for the entertainment, research and technology sectors.
To learn more Visit: https://www.sytronix.co.uk
