Keeping It in Britain: The Story of Multimac’s Revolutionary Car Seats

A Family Problem Becomes a Business Solution

In a world where manufacturing increasingly moves overseas, one British company stands as a testament to homegrown innovation and quality. Multimac, based just outside Birmingham, has spent three decades perfecting something that didn’t exist before: a car seat that safely holds three or four children in a single row.

The story begins with a simple parenting dilemma. When Minty Macliver’s parents welcomed their fourth child, they faced a frustrating reality: they’d need to buy a seven-seater vehicle just to transport their family. But Minty’s father, an engineer, asked a logical question: if a back seat can comfortably fit three adults, why can’t it accommodate four children who are much smaller?

Rather than accept the status quo, he decided to design a solution himself. His four children became the first test subjects for what would eventually become Multimac—the world’s only multiple child car seat.

Innovation Meets Persistence

Creating something entirely new comes with challenges. Since Multimac was the only multiple child car seat in the world, and all safety regulations were written for single seats, the approval process became a 13-year journey. The company finally began selling in 2009, and today holds patents that protect their unique design from copycats.

Now serving as Operations Director, Minty Macliver carries forward her father’s vision with pride. “It’s all patented, so no one else can copy and it’s just us that make one,” she explains.

The Midlands Manufacturing Network

Multimac’s commitment to British manufacturing runs deep. The company doesn’t just assemble in the UK—every component comes from local suppliers scattered across the Midlands. Trimmers in Coventry, who also work with the automotive industry, handle assembly. Other key suppliers are based in Redditch, Bedford, and Wednesbury—all within easy reach of the Birmingham headquarters.

“I love the fact that you can point to any part on the Multimac and I can tell you, I can probably tell you the name of the person that made that part,” Minty says. This level of connection and control is something she values deeply. When everything happens locally, quality remains consistent and problems get solved quickly.

British Quality, Global Appeal

While Multimac proudly serves British families, approximately 40% of their business comes from exports. The seats have found homes in Ireland, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, South Africa, New Zealand, and beyond. Interestingly, international customers share the same appreciation for British manufacturing as domestic ones.

“Our whole ethos is safety and quality and the fact that everything is made in the UK just screams quality,” Minty notes. “Even customers overseas love the fact that it is British-made.”

Every Multimac that leaves the facility carries a metallic Made in Britain sticker on the front, and the logo appears on packaging as well. It’s a badge of honor the company wears proudly.

Part of Something Bigger

Multimac is one of approximately 2,200 companies in the Made in Britain community—a network that represents more than individual businesses. It’s a movement of people passionate about keeping manufacturing alive in the UK.

“It’s really sad, so many companies now are having things made in China, in India,” Minty observes. “And it’s nice to know that there is this community of people that are passionate about still manufacturing in Britain, and really we should champion it as much as we can.”

A Message to British Manufacturing

When asked what message she’d share with other British manufacturers or those considering entering the industry, Minty’s response is straightforward: “Keep it in Britain because we’ve got to save our local workers, haven’t we? Keep the quality up, keep the control up. We’ve got to look after our people, our skilled workers, because we have so many of them in this country.”

It’s a philosophy that has served Multimac well for three decades. By solving a real family problem with British engineering, maintaining local manufacturing relationships, and never compromising on quality, the company has created something truly unique—a product that exists nowhere else in the world, made right here in Britain.

In an era of global supply chains and offshore production, Multimac proves that British manufacturing isn’t just surviving—it’s innovating, thriving, and setting standards that the rest of the world wants to follow.