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National Composites Centre to be built on Bristol's SPark
17 March 2010
SPark, the Bristol and Bath science park, will be home to the
UK’s National Composites Centre (NCC) - a brand new research
facility for composite materials, which are increasingly used to
improve efficiency in the aerospace, automotive and wind turbine
industries.
The National Composites Centre Steering Board confirmed the
state of the art centre’s location at a conference in Bristol
today, attended by Business Minister Ian Lucas and hosted by the
South West Regional Development Agency (RDA) and the University of
Bristol.
The conference was held to encourage major manufacturers to join
companies such as Airbus, AgustaWestland, GE, GKN, Rolls-Royce and
Vestas to become National Composites Centre partners and
supporters.
The centre will be an independent, open-access facility for the
design and rapid manufacture of high quality composite products.
The 70,000 sq ft (6,500 sq m) building will provide the very latest
in design and a high-tech manufacturing facility, all in one place.
More than 200 leading industry researchers and academic experts
will be based at the centre, working together to speed new
technologies through the design and laboratory phases and into
production.
The decision to base the NCC in Bristol was made last November,
along with the announcement of £16 million in public funding. When
this £16m (comprising £12m from the Department of Business,
Innovation and Skills and £4m from the South West RDA) is combined
with other public and private funding, the total investment will
come to over £25 million.
Speaking at the launch event in Bristol today, Business Minister
Ian Lucas said:
“The National Composites Centre will play a major role in
maintaining the UK’s lead in the development of composites. These
light-weight, high performance materials are key to cutting the
environmental impact of industries that have traditionally been
heavy carbon emitters. This new centre will help create the
conditions to support long term growth in the low carbon
sector.
“SPark is an ideal location for the NCC, where it will be
surrounded by cutting edge research and development by some of the
world’s most innovative firms.”
Professor Guy Orpen, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and
Enterprise at the University of Bristol, and Chair of the NCC's
Steering Board, said:
"Today's conference will outline our vision for the new
centre. It will be an independent, open-access national
facility that delivers world-class innovation in the design and
rapid manufacture of composites, and enables their widespread
industrial exploitation.
"The centre will also be an international hub, linking activities
across all industrial sectors in the UK in research, education and
training, technology transfer and incubation of new enterprises
using advanced composite materials."
Graham Harrison, Director of International Business, South West
RDA (Regional Development Agency) said:
“The fact that major industry players such as Airbus, GKN,
Rolls-Royce and Vestas, with interests in renewable energy,
aerospace, automotive and marine sectors, are already on board with
the National Composites Centre shows just how important the
facility will be. Since the announcement of the NCC last November,
new partners Agusta Westland and General Electric (GE) have pledged
their support.
“Today is about telling the rest of the manufacturing industry
just how much will be on offer here - from state of the art
computer design suites to on site manufacturing facilities. What’s
more, it’ll be situated on one of the UK’s biggest science
parks - a hub for innovation and high-tech research.”
Ian Chatting, Vice President, Vestas Technology UK Ltd and NCC
Steering Board Member, said:
“Composite materials are a key technology enabler for the
provision of modern renewable energy systems. Vestas have more than
40,000 wind turbines installed worldwide and all depend on
composite structures to deliver efficient, affordable, reliable
power to our homes. We are pleased to support a national centre
which brings together the significant expertise that we have in the
UK under one roof and is so aligned with our own technology
activities.”
Dave Dawson, Technology Executive - Purchasing, Rolls-Royce
and NCC Steering Board Member said:
“Composite materials are playing an increasingly important role
right across our portfolio – from aircraft engine casings to tidal
generation turbine blades. But we need to understand the
possibilities better, so that Rolls-Royce can become an intelligent
specifier and intelligent customer of composite components. We see
the NCC as an important vehicle for achieving this goal and for
helping us work with our strategic suppliers.”
Tonianne Dwyer from Quantum, the organisation developing SPark,
said:
"The location of the National Composites Centre at SPark is the
first step in making this science park an international hub for
ground breaking research and development. We look forward to
working with our colleagues in the NCC when their facility opens
next year."
BIS Minister Ian Lucas also announced today an expansion of the
National Skills Academy for Process Industries to include emerging
process technologies - achieved through two new hubs for
Biotechnology and Composites backed by £2.4 million investment from
Government.
The new hubs will be based in the North East and South West
respectively and are being expanded to help businesses across the
country in the Biotechnology and Composites sectors to ensure that
they have people with the right skills in the right place at the
right time.
The expansion of the National Skills Academy for Process
Industries goes alongside the creation of new National Skills
Academies in five sectors, with £12m public investment over four
years to be matched by the private sector.
Following the latest round of bids for National Skills
Academies, new academies will be developed in rail engineering,
logistics, and green building services.
While the NCC will not be fully operational until 2011,
activities will get under way before then via centres of excellence
around the UK, including the University of Bristol’s Advanced
Composites Centre for Innovation and Science (ACCIS).
A planning application for the NCC will be made to South
Gloucestershire Council in April.
Notes to Editors
1. The NCC is supported by £16 million of public sector
investment, comprising of £12m from the Department of Business,
Innovation and Skills (the Strategic Investment Fund announced in
the last budget) and £4m from the South West RDA. Other funds from
public and private sectors will take the total funding to over £25
million.
2. The NCC is a not for profit company based at and owned
by the University of Bristol. The Steering Board is made up of
industry members Airbus, Agusta Westland, GE, GKN, Rolls-Royce and
Vestas
3. An animated ‘fly-through’ of the SPark development, to
be built at Emersons Green, is available on DVD (contact
below).
4. The South West RDA announced a further £10 million
investment in SPark last month. This takes the total RDA commitment
to £40 million – its largest single investment.
5. Once complete, SPark will bring over 6000 skilled
Research & Development jobs, in over 77,000 sq m (820,000 sq
ft) of new research facilities on the 22 hectare site.
6. The South West RDA works for and promotes a modern,
stronger and more resilient economy across South West England.
Our work involves creating better jobs, successful businesses,
more prosperous cities, towns and villages within an economy that
uses less carbon and will still be thriving in 20, 50 and 100 years
time.
Find out more at www.southwestrda.org.uk.
7. To view the press notice announcing the latest round of
National Skills Academies please go to www.bis.gov.uk.
For media enquiries, contact Kierstan Lowe at Spirit Public
Relations
Email: klowe@spiritpublicrelations.co.uk
Tel: 0117 944 1415
www.spiritpublicrelations.co.uk.