£35m Engineering Innovation Centre to boost regional industry
31 October 2019
A new state-of-the-art teaching and research facility which engages directly with industry and provides students with real-world experience has officially opened at the University of Central Lancashire.
The Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC) is the largest single investment in Lancashire’s education infrastructure to date, giving students the opportunity to work on live engineering projects.
Facilities at the centre include an additive manufacturing lab for 3D printing; advanced manufacturing workshop; intelligent systems facility; motorsports and air vehicles lab; high-performance computing lab; flight simulator suite; and a fire, oil and gas facility.
UCLan hopes the EIC will be a driving force behind Lancashire’s Local Industrial Strategy and support the innovation needs of 1,300 regional SMEs.
David Taylor, Pro-Chancellor and Chair of the University Board, said:
“The EIC is not only a significant asset to the University but also the county, wider region and the UK. It will act as one of the driving forces behind the industrial strategy both on a regional and national scale while cementing Lancashire’s position as a national centre of excellence for aerospace, advanced engineering and manufacturing.”
Minister for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth, Rt Hon Jake Berry MP, added:
“[The] Engineering Innovation Centre will play an important role in cementing the North’s long-standing reputation for world-class further education, scientific innovation and engineering excellence.
“The advances made and skills learned at this pioneering facility will have far-reaching benefits from equipping young people for well paid, highly skilled jobs to technological advances supporting manufacturing businesses throughout the North and around the world.”
Image credit: UCLan/Flickr
The High Performance Computing Lab at the University of Central Lancashire's Engineering Innovation Centre.
Graham Baldwin, Vice Chancellor of UCLan speaking at the launch event.
For support and funding to help you introduce digital technologies, find out about Made Smarter UK:
The latest manufacturing news
Liverpool’s Sensor City launches guide to IoT
Sensor City, a global hub for the development of sensor technology, has launched a new guide offering manufacturers practical advice on how to adopt Internet of Things (IoT) technology.
Companies want to buy more British goods
A poll of purchasing and procurement decision makers has found that businesses are more willing to buy British manufactured goods than consumers, but often struggle to identify British products.
Engineering a trusted profession, but firms at risk from skills shortage
Engineers are officially Britain’s fifth most trusted profession, but 1 in 2 engineering firms say a skills shortage is a threat to their business and 8 in 10 think they need to engage more with young people.
Experts publish currency guidance for manufacturers
Uncertainties around Brexit, the US-China trade war and other market fluctuations are making it difficult for manufacturers to set prices with overseas partners, but three key steps can aid planning.
Third of workers feel undervalued
New research has revealed that one in three employees in SMEs do not feel valued by their employer, with financial incentives and flexible working benefits high on the wish-list.