Seven-figure backing for 'game-changing' metals project in Redcar

The Tees Valley Combined Authority Cabinet and Mayor Ben Houchen have signed off a seven-figure investment to bring a “game-changing” metals project to Redcar.

The £4.6m injection will enable manufacturer Liberty Powder Metals to develop speciality alloy metal powders for uses like 3D-printed car parts.

A further £4m for the scheme, forecast to cost £9.83m, will come from Liberty and CASCADE, its UK government-funded research and development initiative.

The project will operate from the Materials Processing Institute in South Bank, giving Liberty access to scientific expertise from the not-for-profit research and innovation centre.

A key part of the scheme, its ‘atomiser’, will function on an open-access basis to allow for collaborative research programmes. According to Liberty, there are currently just two such machines in the UK.

Mayor Houchen said: “This investment will give Teesside the chance to compete in a potentially huge new global market.

“Staying ahead of the curve on new technologies like speciality metal powders, and the 3D printed products they’re used in, could create a whole new industrial cluster and many jobs for local workers.”

He continued: “The fact that a company as big as Liberty has chosen to bring this project to the Tees Valley shows that we are a real magnet for research and development and foreign direct investment.

“It just shows that if we keep backing our job creators, innovators, entrepreneurs and risk takers, private investment will flood into our area to develop future-proof industries like this one.”

Redcar and Cleveland Council Leader Cllr Sue Jeffrey, Cabinet Member of the Tees Valley Combined Authority, commented: “This is great news today for Redcar and Cleveland and the Tees Valley coming as we reach the third anniversary of the closure of SSI.

“This is investment in the metals industry of the future, proving that the sector continues to have great prospects here in the Tees Valley.”

She added: “It brings with it not only the promise of high skill jobs now, but of many more to come benefiting both our ready-made highly skilled workforce and our young people currently in education and training and hoping to get jobs locally.”

Liberty Powder Metals is part of London-headquartered industrial group Liberty House.

Liberty Steel UK chief exec Jon Bolton said: “As a group we are committed to revitalising the metals and engineering industry through innovation and we’re very proud to partner with the Tees Valley Combined Authority and the Materials Processing Institute to take forward a game-changing technology that will build a bright new future for these sectors in the UK and worldwide.”

The CEO at Materials Processing Institute, Chris McDonald, said: “The Institute can bring a high level of scientific expertise to this project with our capabilities in advanced materials.

“We are delighted to support Liberty in the next phase of its powder metals project, which is essential for the continued development and refinement of additive manufacturing processes.”

Hartlepool Borough Council Leader Cllr Christopher Akers-Belcher, the Combined Authority’s portfolio lead for Education, Employment and Skills, said the deal is “fantastic news for the area”.

He explained: “Liberty is operating at the cutting edge of development in this fast-moving field and I am proud that this funding will play a part in helping them to further advance their work and put them at the forefront of this industry.

“This funding will not only assist Liberty to stake their place in this international market, but will help shine a spotlight on the work being done in our region, bring further business to the area and give scope for yet more expansion in due course.”

He added: “The potential future benefits to the Tees Valley are projected to be a further £60 million of investment and the creation of up to 70 additional jobs beyond 2025.”