Engineering news
The Welsh government has pledged £20 million to establish an Advanced Manufacturing & Research Institute in the country, which will help it secure a major role in the development and design of future aircraft wing technology.
The institute has been developed by the Deeside Enterprise Zone Advisory Board, AMRC Sheffield, Swansea University, and Coleg Cambria in conjunction with SMEs and large companies.
It will have a strong focus on advanced manufacturing sectors including aerospace, automotive, nuclear and food. The facility will target collaborative R&D, advanced manufacturing techniques and production processes, training needs and skills across industry.
The institute will operate as a single entity, split between a proposed 4,500sq m R&D facility in Broughton and a 1,500sq m networking, training, business development and advice facility in close proximity to the Deeside Industrial Park.
Both centres will be open access and outward looking, actively seeking collaborative partnerships with industry and academia partners locally and internationally.
Economy secretary Ken Skates said: “The institute will deliver game-changing support to key manufacturing companies as well as multi-sector supply chain companies and the broader SMEs economy.
“It is geared to increase productivity, commercialisation, innovation and skills development to ensure a thriving competitive industry base that will be a catalyst for growth and jobs across the supply chain in Deeside, North Wales, the Northern Powerhouse and further afield.”
The in principal funding from the Welsh government will support an initial £10 million investment from project partners to develop the institute.
Airbus has confirmed that it will be the first tenant for the centre. Working with AMRC Sheffield as the key partner it involves the R&D test phase for new wing technology, called “Wing of the Future” which includes the prototype and delivery of design, engineering and a wing demonstrator at Broughton.
The R&D project will support Broughton’s ability to secure the manufacture of these new wings in the future, which will help towards safeguarding thousands of jobs up to 2030.
Head of the Airbus plant in Broughton, Paul McKinlay, said: “This new institute will allow us to develop the industrial systems and processes which allow us to become even more efficient when manufacturing future products, and stay ahead of the competition.”
A development board, supported by a development director, is to be appointed shortly and will undertake formal due diligence and finalise the industrial requirement leading to final investment decision. The outcome of that work will confirm the specification and location of the facilities and is expected by summer 2017.