A large open access innovation and technical support facility for the low carbon energy manufacturing sector is set to increase the turnover of small and medium sized regional companies by over £6m, creating and safeguarding nearly 350 jobs in the process.
TWI’s Technology Centre in Middlesbrough has secured £1.67m of funding from One North East to extend the Renewable Energy Manufacturing Technology (REMTEC) initiative. The project is improving the technical capabilities and business competitiveness of North East engineering and manufacturing companies.
The focus is on using innovative materials and joining technologies for the production of new products and processes. It will improve manufacturing competitiveness and the ability to successfully engage in regional, national and international supply chains.
Manufacturers for the energy and other related sectors will be able to tap into intensive business support, with assistance ranging from access to specialist support staff to research, development and testing facilities. This will include state-of-the-art specialist techniques such as a Reduced Pressure Electron Beam Welding which can halve production costs and increase production speeds by 5 to 10 times.
It will also concentrate on identified areas of opportunity including advanced fabrication of wind towers and foundations, composite fabrication for large wind turbine blades, combustion component coatings for biomass and dual-fired plants, solar energy systems, and anti-fouling coating development.
The project is being part financed by £1m from the European Regional Development Fund 2017-13, matching the £670,000 from One North East’s Single Programme. Contributions from participating SMEs make up the remainder of the £2m initiative.
“We will give regional businesses access to TWI’s world class and leading edge fabrication technologies to enable them to adopt new design and manufacturing methods for the low carbon energy sector, particularly in areas such as off-shore wind power,” explained Terry O’Neill, Associate Director at TWI.
“We have a waiting list of SMEs looking for TWI technology transfer assistance. TWI experts will help these companies with product and process reviews to identify opportunities, exploit innovation and resolve technical problems. We will follow these up with direct support to explore the feasibility of new ideas and the application of alternative technologies and solutions.
“Companies using this service will benefit from sound technical assistance, effective testing and reports from the accepted world leading authority in the area of materials joining technology – none of which would normally be readily available to them.”
With ERDF funding, the project is set to create 90 new jobs and safeguard 246 others in regional SMEs. It will also generate £6.24m in new turnover and protect existing sector turnover up to £16.4m. Beneficiaries will also have access to equipment and technologies in TWI’s centre, for use across established and emerging industry sectors.
One company already to benefit from the project is Cottam Brush, which worked with TWI to explore alternative manufacturing processes for steel wire brushes used in magnetic flux leakage pipeline inspection applications. The objective was to reduce costs and implement new production methods which could be used in product development.
“Our region has a real chance to exploit sustainable energy manufacturing opportunities,” added One North East Director Business & Industry Ian Williams. “The REMTEC project will help small and medium sized enterprises by improving their performance through process and resource efficiencies, R&D and playing an important role in establishing technology capacity in this rapidly developing market.
“TWI will introduce them to new technologies and innovations and dissemination of research and licensing information. The project will also help them reduce waste though improvements to processes and products.”
The ERDF Competitiveness Programme 2007-13 managed by One North East is bringing over £250m into North East England. Its emphasis on enterprise and business support is encouraging SMEs to develop, grow and innovate. The REMTEC investment is in line with the agency’s long term strategy for new low carbon industries.
TWI works across all industry sectors, offering consultancy and training services in welding, engineering, and all aspects of materials joining, fabrication technology development and technology transfer. It operates an international network of 3,500 companies in over 60 countries - 50% of these are active in oil, gas and other energy sectors.
The project delivers Business Growth Facilities and Environments funding as part of Solutions for Business, the Government’s package of publicly funded business support designed to help companies start and grow.