LEP deal launches plans for large-scale test facility at TWI
07/08/2015
Plans to expand TWI capabilities in large-scale engineering testing have been boosted with the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) awarding the organisation £1.75 m from the Government’s Growth Deal to develop new capabilities at its laboratories at Granta Park, Cambridge.
In a deal to complement recent regional growth funding, which allowed three new buildings to be established at TWI’s South Cambridgeshire site, this agreement with the LEP will allow modification and refurbishment of an existing building and the introduction of specialist fabrication and testing equipment. These facilities will enable the development of technology for the fabrication of complex structures and the testing of larger pipes and components for the organisation’s international base of industrial members, which includes well-known oil & gas, power generation and aerospace companies.
Neil Darwin, Chief Executive of the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough LEP, said: “TWI is one of the world’s foremost independent research and technology organisations, focusing on manufacturing, fabrication and whole-life integrity management technologies. This new investment will help it stay at the forefront of technology development through the purchasing of specialist fabrication and testing equipment and the creation of this cutting-edge facility. We look forward to seeing work getting underway very soon.”
Chief Executive of TWI, Christoph Wiesner, said: “We are delighted that the Local Enterprise Partnership is supporting the expansion of our operations. This refurbishment will update a historic laboratory and allow us to offer a complete testing service for both new and existing members.”
As part of the deal, TWI will also run a technology transfer programme for small- and medium-sized enterprises. It will offer product and process reviews and technical help for manufacturing companies looking to improve their operations or to expand in the area.
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