The University of Bristol has officially taken possession of its National Composites Centre (NCC) just 20 months after the city was selected as the location for the ground-breaking development.
The NCC, based at SPark – the fledgling Bristol and Bath Science Park – will draw on established links to world-class composites research at Bristol and other UK universities, positioning the city as a leader in new technologies to be used in aerospace, automotive and other areas of advanced engineering.
In June last year planning permission was granted by South Gloucestershire Council and the five founding members – GKN Aerospace, Airbus, AgustaWestland, Rolls-Royce and Vestas – signed long-term partnerships with the NCC. They have since been joined by structural materials group Umeco.
Physical work on the site began in August 2010 and finished last month.
NCC chief executive Peter Chivers said: “The construction of this centre in such a short timescale is an outstanding success. To think that only one year ago work hadn’t even begun on the building and the site was a green field.
“This is a tremendous achievement. I can now concentrate on supporting UK manufacturers and ensuring that the skills of the NCC’s staff and partners can help translate world-renowned research into manufacturing excellence.”
Professor Guy Orpen, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at the University of Bristol and chair of the NCC board added: “This is a remarkable achievement and a credit to all who have been involved. It has been achieved through successful partnering, and I would like to thank funders and our members for the focus and support they have provided over the past year and a half. The stage is now set for us to make a significant contribution to the global composites industry."
It is already operational and will be able to offer full capability by September. It will be formally opened and launched later this year.
The main contractor was Bristol-based Kier Western and the architect was Bristol practice Stride Treglown.
