State of the art facility for WMG

A £50 million investment in a digital laboratory at Warwick University could be doubled, with work beginning on a second lab next year. The first lab, thought to be the first of its kind in thw world, has reached the half way point in its construction and is due to open in September.

The development, which is to be operated by Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), will accommodate up to 500 academics and researchers. Companies in the West Midlands and beyond will be able to its computer technology to develop new products and improve their production techniques.

Professor Kumar Bhattacharyya, director and founder of WMG, said, “This is the first phase of a £100 million spend. This is Digital One, and Digital Two could be added to take on other things. The future of the automotive industry is digital. Every car that is produced is jam packed with things that are digital.”

Professor Bhattacharyya said the lab will complement WMG’s existing work with Jaguar and Land Rover, “We work with hundreds of suppliers as well. This will help them to develop new products and improve their processes in the future. My ambition is to make this state of the art facility for the West Midlands that will be an icon. It will be a focal point for research excellence.”

Professor Bhattacharyya was speaking as WMG signed a collaboration with engineering consultancy Arup, which employs 600 people at the Blythe Valley Business Park in Solihull.

The arrangement will mean both organisations working together in research, training and the identification and exploitation of business opportunities. They will jointly promote design excellence and sustainable development, transferring ideas and know how to other businesses and users.

Courtesy of Machinery Market.