New additive innovation centre completes building stage

The Digital Manufacturing Centre (DMC) is a new multi-sector digital manufacturing production and innovation hub, said to be aligned with the UK’s industrial strategy focused on advanced manufacturing and productivity.

The new venture, led by engineering consultancy specialist KW Special Projects (KWSP) and part funded by the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP), has reached the first phase of construction. It will provide manufacturing solutions that will enable customers to get products to market faster and with better optimised parts.

Opening in the first quarter of 2021, the bespoke, multi-million pound, 2,000m² facility is based in the heart of the technology park’s engineering centre. It is claimed the new facility, created by a range of cutting-edge and leading innovation partners, will create more than £9 million GVA (Gross value added) income for the area.

Staff at the DMC will use a range of polymer and metal additive manufacturing technologies to enable high-quality production and scalable growth.

Kieron Salter, CEO of parent company KW Special Projects and the DMC said: “It’s a dream come true to finally show the world what the DMC will look like, what technologies we’ll use and where our UK home will be at the heart of the Silverstone Technology Cluster.

“When we open the facility will be full of engineers, specialists and machines delivering complex and innovative solutions for the most advanced industrial customers, but the construction phase is critical and one I wanted to show everyone.”

He continued: “The DMC is open to any sector that can benefit from high performance additive manufacturing (AM), and we’re on track to make a change in the UK manufacturing industry for the better. Providing engineering expertise, an agnostic approach to technologies we use focusing on the best application for our clients, as well as a wealth of experience in additive and engineering.”

While being deliberately sector non-specific the business will target automotive, aerospace, defence, industrial and medical industries both in small- and large-scale projects, it is also said to be technology agnostic offering a full range of materials and process.

Customers of the DMC will benefit from the centre’s engineering expertise, choosing the correct material and technology and engineering support for the application based on their needs and specifications including technical requirements and full product lifecycle analysis.

Digital Manufacturing Centre www.digitalmanufacturingcentre.com