3 minute read
Moving on Relocations and expansions
NEWS
MOVINGON
Relocations and expansions across Europe
McLaren GT plans new engineering centre
New race car manufacturer McLaren GT is announcing plans to establish a dedicated engineering and vehicle assembly facility close to the McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) in Woking, southern England, one year after the stunning 12C GT3 made its racing debut as part of an intensive 2011 development programme. Close proximity to the headquarters of McLaren Racing and McLaren Automotive presents the McLaren GT team with an enhanced opportunity to share resources, technology and exchange ideas with the design and engineering specialists working in the other McLaren Group brands, and will promote further integration of McLaren GT into the group.
McLaren GT was launched as a new brand within the McLaren Group early in 2011, and has supplied 25 12C GT3s for racing in Europe in 2012. Visit: www.mclaren.com
EPR reactor Unit 1 at Taishan takes a major step forward
The construction of the EPR reactor at Taishan in China, coordinated by EDF, CGNPC (China Guangdong Nuclear Power) and AREVA, has passed a key stage in its development with the lowering of the vessel into the Unit 1 reactor building, after which it was installed in its final location in the reactor pit. David Emond, Taishan project manager at AREVA, stated: “The installation of the vessel for the first EPR reactor at Taishan power plant under the best conditions initiates an important new phase in the development of the site. With the success of this key operation, we have taken a further step towards the commissioning of the most powerful nuclear reactor in China.” Visit: www.areva.com
Dow Corning’s new European development centre
Dow Corning has started research activities in the newly completed state-of-the-art Solar Energy Exploration and Development (SEED) research centre, which focuses on the development and discovery of new materials and technologies that will help advance renewable energy and energy efficiency. Dr Gregg Zank, Dow Corning’s senior vice-president and chief technology officer, said, “The silicon technologies we develop alongside our customers at this facility, and throughout our network, will continue to be a driver for growth and sustainable development not only in Europe, but all over the world.” The SEED includes a Solar Application Centre and a Silicon Technology Centre. The centre’s solar cell laboratory is Dow Corning’s first of its kind, and completes the company’s network of solar research centres based in the United States and Korea. Visit: www.dowcorning.com/seed
New UK thermal technologies innovation centre
Acollaboration between the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) and Tata Steel, the Thermal Technologies Centre is open for business in Middlesbrough. Based at Tata Steel’s Teesside Technology Centre, the £5 million centre provides an open access facility which will pioneer new ways of turning materials such as biomass into high grade fuels and energy.
The facility, which is unique in the UK and one of only a few in the world, provides world-leading expertise, assets and capabilities to enable thermal processing businesses to innovate new products and processes. It brings together the thermal processing skills of Tata Steel and the technology innovation capability of CPI. Visit: www.tatasteel.com
Penlon Medical Gas Solutions has opened a new production facility in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. Penlon Medical Gas Solutions, part of the Atlas Copco Group, is a leading provider of medical gas systems, medical vacuum equipment and pipeline components for hospitals.
This 20,000 sq.ft (1860m2) facility produces standard and customised medical gas systems, medical vacuum equipment and pipe line equipment for hospitals. Its products, for example, supply breathing air for hospitals and compressed air to drive surgical tools. The Penlon Medical business is part of Atlas Copco Compressor Technique’s Quality Air division. Visit: www.penlonmgs.com
