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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)
More than £15m of public money will be used to set up a national centre for 3D printing technology in Coventry, the chancellor will announce later. Chancellor George Osborne has announced £30 million of funding to develop 3D printing and aerospace technology in Coventry.
The facility will be based at the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Ansty Park, George Osborne will say. The money will be spent on creating a national centre for 3D printing at the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Ansty Park.
The government is to provide a further £15m for the aerospace operations on the same site to be extended. Mr Osborne promised to "unashamedly" back British manufacturing success.
The funding is expected to be matched by industry to take the total investment to £60m. The investment is expected to be match funded by industry to take the total to £60m.
More jobs 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".
Mr Osborne said the extra funding would "drive innovation and lead the global race in technology, engineering and manufacturing".
"We are already the best in Europe for aerospace and I want to do even better," he added.
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 new national centre for additive manufacturing, more commonly known as 3D printing, will develop new products for aero-engines and aircraft landing gears, as well as automotive and medical devices. 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. In November, Mr Cable announced government funding of £18m to create an "elite" technology training centre on the same site.