Updates from the team on its premises, machines and materials on offer at the Digital Manufacturing Centre, a new facility aligned with the UK Industrial Strategy focused on advanced manufacturing and productivity.
KW Special Projects (KWSP) has announced its latest venture, the UK-based Digital Manufacturing Centre (DMC). An independent 2,000 sqm additive manufacturing production centre, which will be open, functioning and creating innovative parts for a range of clients, from Q1 2021. The DMC will be a hub for additive manufacturing, which, as a technology, has seen an increase in use and appeal in light of flexible production needs, light-weighting and reducing waste.
In a new vlog, launched by Kieron Salter, CEO of parent company KW Special Projects Ltd and the new Digital Manufacturing Centre Ltd, shows the Silverstone located, independent premises’ building for the first time, as it edges closer to finishing the primary construction phase.
“It’s been a dream come true to finally show the world what the DMC will look like, what technologies we’ll use [metals and polymer additive manufacturing] and where our UK home will be at the heart of the Silverstone Technology Cluster.
“Come Q1 2021, the facility will be full with engineers, specialists and machines delivering complex and innovative solutions for the most advanced industrial customers, but the construction phase is critical and one I wanted to show everyone,”
explains Kieron Salter, Digital Manufacturing Centre CEO.
Within the vlog, Kieron introduces viewers to the building showing viewers the inside and showcases the outside via drone view. The fit out, which will complete early in 2021, includes updates to include flexible working, meeting spaces for clients and the DMC engineering team, as well as increased space for a range of new additive manufacturing machines, which will be announced in the run up to the DMC’s opening in Q1 2021.
“The DMC is open to any sector that can benefit from high performance additive manufacturing (AM), and we’re on track to make a change in the UK manufacturing industry for the better. Providing engineering expertise, an agnostic approach to technologies we use focusing on the best application for our clients, as well as a wealth of experience in additive and engineering, I’m excited to start this journey with the DMC team,”
continued Kieron Salter, Digital Manufacturing Centre CEO.
The Digital Manufacturing Centre was announced in Autumn 2019 when funding from South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) Local Growth Fund (LGF) was confirmed with a statement of intent to be a stand-alone production centre of digitally created (additive manufactured) parts for a range of companies and projects, but focused on series manufacture and production of high-value products. While being deliberately sector agnostic, the business will target automotive, aerospace, defence, industrial and medical industries both in small- and large-scale projects, it is also technology agnostic offering a full range of materials and process.
Every customer of the DMC will benefit from the centre’s engineering expertise, choosing the correct material and technology and engineering support for the application based on their needs and specifications including technical requirements and full product lifecycle analysis.
We are post-COVID19 and KWSP and the DMC is demonstrating that innovation and SMEs continue to invest in the UK and will be key to getting the UK back to business.
Based within the Silverstone Technology Cluster, run by MEPC, in the South East Midlands region of the UK, the DMC is part-funded by the SEMLEP LGF and the ideation match funding and business case was developed by leading high-performance engineering and additive manufacturing specialist engineering solutions provider, KW Special Projects, of which Kieron Salter also leads as CEO.
