The UK’s Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC) has opened a new modular manufacturing research and development centre in North West England. The new facility is located at NAMRC member company Cammell Laird’s 120-acre site in Birkenhead, opposite the city of Liverpool.
The R&D centre significantly expands NAMRC’s capabilities into modular manufacturing, which involves the off-site assembly of large-scale complex systems that are then transported to the site for final installation. Such Modular techniques in the nuclear sector can significantly reduce construction risk and help deliver new power plants to schedule and cost.
The project aims to further develop the UK supply chain into a world-leading provider of modular manufacturing techniques for nuclear and other high-value energy sectors. Managing director, Andrew Storer says the new Birkenhead facility extends the company’s capabilities into an area of huge interest and importance to the nuclear industry.
Modularisation will greatly aid in meeting national targets for secure, cost-effective, low-carbon electricity generation by reducing risk in manufacturing and construction, and helping developers build new power stations on schedule and on budget.
The manufacturing techniques developed at the new facility will also help improve production efficiency and costs in other parts of the nuclear market, such as the manufacture of large numbers of standardised waste boxes for the decommissioning program.
The managing director of Cammell Laird’s energy division is optimistic about the future of working together with NAMRC and says together the companies will meet the demands of modular new build. Looking forward, a goal will be targeting the export market through a strategy built on working with partners and countries around the world that focus on the exploitation of the benefits of modular construction.
If your company is performing R&D activities within the manufacturing industry, it may be eligible for an R&D Tax Relief. To find out more about how you could benefit from the R&D incentives available, contact a Swanson Reed R&D Tax Advisor today to assess your eligibility.