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George Osborne's cash boost for 3D printing at Ansty Park | George Osborne's cash boost for 3D printing at Ansty Park |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Chancellor George Osborne has announced £30 million of funding to develop 3D printing and aerospace technology in Coventry. | |
The money will be spent on creating a national centre for 3D printing at the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Ansty Park. | |
Mr Osborne promised to "unashamedly" back British manufacturing success. | |
The investment is expected to be match funded by industry to take the total to £60m. | |
It will include training for 1,000 engineering apprenticeships. | |
'Most advanced manufacturing' | |
The chancellor said the investment was part of the government's £2bn aerospace strategy. | |
"Coventry is at the centre of the British manufacturing industry and I want to make sure it is at the centre of British technology," he said. | |
"This investment will mean some of the world's most advanced manufacturing is happening right here." | |
Some £15m of taxpayers' money will fund a new aerospace technology centre at the MTC and £15.3m will help create a new national centre for additive manufacturing, more commonly known as 3D printing, | |
Clive Hickman, the centre's chief executive, said: "It's been bubbling for the last five or so years. Now it's become important for the industry and for the future. | Clive Hickman, the centre's chief executive, said: "It's been bubbling for the last five or so years. Now it's become important for the industry and for the future. |
"This investment is going to help us maintain our lead and will translate into jobs." | "This investment is going to help us maintain our lead and will translate into jobs." |
Dick Elsy from the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, the group which oversees the project, said the expanded site would be a "tremendous new resource" at "a very exciting time for manufacturing in the UK". | Dick Elsy from the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, the group which oversees the project, said the expanded site would be a "tremendous new resource" at "a very exciting time for manufacturing in the UK". |
Researchers and manufacturers on site will develop new materials for use in planes, jet engines and civil helicopters. | Researchers and manufacturers on site will develop new materials for use in planes, jet engines and civil helicopters. |
The centre for additive manufacturing will develop new products for aero-engines and aircraft landing gears, as well as automotive and medical devices. | |
Mr Hickman said: "It's quite a slow process at the moment but we're working with some very powerful lasers here... it's game-changing for the industry." | Mr Hickman said: "It's quite a slow process at the moment but we're working with some very powerful lasers here... it's game-changing for the industry." |
In the US, the technology has already been used by NASA to test 3D-printed rocket parts. | In the US, the technology has already been used by NASA to test 3D-printed rocket parts. |
Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said the news was "exciting" for the area. | |
"Once again, it underlines this region is at the heart of high-tech manufacturing and technology," she said. | |
"The site at Ansty was earmarked for these sort of ground-breaking, sophisticated industries and it would have been easy, through the tough economic climate, to relax the criteria there. | |
"But this announcement shows why it was so important to hold out for the right kind of use for the site." | |
Business Secretary Vince Cable said the funding would attract further investment and create "high-skilled, long-term jobs". | Business Secretary Vince Cable said the funding would attract further investment and create "high-skilled, long-term jobs". |
The centre, close to junction 2 of the M6, opened in 2011 with the announcement it would employ up to 250 people by 2014. | The centre, close to junction 2 of the M6, opened in 2011 with the announcement it would employ up to 250 people by 2014. |
About 700 jobs were lost when electronics firm Ericsson left the site in 2009. | About 700 jobs were lost when electronics firm Ericsson left the site in 2009. |
In November, Mr Cable announced government funding of £18m to create an "elite" technology training centre on the same site. |
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