Member Article

Low carbon initiative for NE SMEs

A new low carbon energy facility is set to increase the turnover of SMEs in the region by over £6m and is planned to safeguard and create 350 new jobs.

TWI’s Technology Centre in Middlesbrough has secured £1.67m of funding to invest in renewable manufacturing technology and to improve competitiveness of North East engineering and manufacturing companies.

The open access site will provide manufacturers with business support with assistance ranging from specialist support staff to research, development and testing facilities.

Terry O’Neil, Associate Director of TWI, said: “We will give regional businesses access to world class fabrication technologies to enable them to adopt new design and manufacturing methods for the low carbon energy sector, such as off shore wind power.

“Companies using this service will benefit from sound technical assistance, testing and reports from the world leading authority in the area of materials joining technology, none of which would be normally available.”

With backing of One North East and the EU, the project will create 90 new jobs and safeguard 246 in regional SMEs.

Ian Williams, Director of Business and Industry, at One North East, added: “The project will help SMEs by improving their performance through resource efficiencies and TWI will introduce them to new technologies and innovations.

“They will reduce their waste through improvements to processes and products.”

For further information call TWI on 01642 216 320.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .