The zone is one of four that make up the wider Lancashire Advanced Manufacturing and Energy Cluster.

The new 4,500m² facility, which will have a focus on vehicle electrification, battery assembly and lightweighting technologies, is being built with capital funding provided through the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP)’s Growth Deal

James Hughes, research director at the University of Sheffield AMRC North West, said: “We are delighted that work can now begin on an applied research facility that will equal the best in the world, consolidating the reputation of Lancashire and the wider Northern Powerhouse as the go-to-place for innovation expertise and skills in advanced manufacturing.”

In addition, a £2.5 million revenue grant from the European Structural Investment Fund (ESIF) matched with £1.6 million from the High Value Manufacturing Catapult (HVM Catapult), will secure the creation of a high-performing technical R&D team that will enhance the manufacturing base of Lancashire, working with manufacturing companies and their supply chains.

Dave Petley, vice-president for research and innovation at the University of Sheffield, said: “The University of Sheffield has a long-standing reputation of developing specialist regional hubs providing valuable engineering expertise and access to advanced capabilities tailored to the needs of local industry sectors. The new facility in the North West will be the catalyst for manufacturing growth, supporting the supply chains in the region to drive up productivity and attract inward investment to create a sustainable future for advanced manufacturing in the region.”

Melissa Conlon, commercial director for the University of Sheffield AMRC North West, added: “Our mission is to ensure that Lancashire and the North becomes the engine room of the fourth industrial revolution, harnessing the latest digital technologies, from robotics and automation to artificial intelligence and augmented reality, to support the transition to a low carbon economy, accelerate the move to transport electrification, drive up productivity, improve the competitiveness of indigenous industries and make the region a magnet for global manufacturing brands to invest.”

Currently operating from interim facilities provided by the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in the centre of Preston, the rapidly growing University of Sheffield AMRC North West team is already working with more than 65 SME manufacturing firms from across the region, as part of its mandate through the ESIF funding to enhance the regional economic base and its supply chains.

“The University of Central Lancashire has been a great support,” added Ms Conlon. “We are working on a number of collaborative R&D projects with a number of key stakeholders to drive forward advanced manufacturing across Lancashire.”

The new University of Sheffield AMRC building in the North West will include machine tools, additive and hybrid manufacturing, automated assembly, robotics, and autonomous manufacturing processes and systems.

www.amrc.co.uk