First look inside new £20m AMRC advanced manufacturing site in Flintshire

The new £20m Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre Cymru officially opened yesterday.

Based in Broughton it will provide businesses with a new level of research and development opportunities and support and is tipped to bring a £4bn gain to the North Wales economy over the next 20 years. 

Business Live was given a first look at the Welsh Government backed site during the opening.

AMRC Cymru in Broughton is officially opened. Photo by Ian Cooper (Ian Cooper/North Wales Live)

Airbus will be the first major tenant and will have a platform to develop its next generation wing technologies aligned to its Wing of Tomorrow programme.

Airbus Senior Vice President Paul McKinlay, head of the company’s Broughton Plant, said: “We’re delighted to be the first major business tenant of AMRC Cymru.

AMRC Cymru in Broughton is officially opened. Paul McKinlay, Head of Major Component Assembly, Airbus. Photo by Ian Cooper (Ian Cooper/North Wales Live)

"The facility is world-class and the perfect home for our most significant research and technology programme, Wing of Tomorrow.

“The programme will inform the next generation of wings so when we launch a new aircraft programme, we’ll have the technologies and systems ready to design and build the wings at the rate we need them.

AMRC Cymru in Broughton. The ribbon to be cut to mark the opening is held by a robot and a member of AMRC. Photo by Ian Cooper (Ian Cooper/North Wales Live)

“The fact the Welsh Government chose this area to invest in such innovation underlines the value of the business in the region and we look forward to seeing the development of cutting-edge technologies in a range of industries as a result.”

AMRC Cymru in Broughton is officially opened. Photo by Ian Cooper (Ian Cooper/North Wales Live)

AMRC Cymru was designed and project managed by Arup and the construction was carried out by Galliford Try.

It was opened yesterday by First Minister Mark Drakeford and Economy and North Wales Minister Ken Skates. 

Situated in the Deeside Enterprise Zone, it will focus on advanced manufacturing sectors, including aerospace, automotive, nuclear and food.

Backed by £20m from Welsh Government, and managed by the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, the centre will spark economic growth by developing innovation, commercialisation and the development of a new generation of skills.

One of Airbus Robots delivers the celebration ribbon. Picture by Jane Widdowson (Chester Chronicle)

It is predicted the new centre could increase GVA to the Welsh economy by as much as £4bn over the next 20 years.

The centre will operate a 2000 square metre open access research area.