A new centre designed to support process manufacturing industries with next-generation technologies is opening in North Ayrshire.
The Digital Process Manufacturing Centre (DMPC) is part of the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) and is designed to give process manufacturing businesses access to digital and data driven manufacturing expertise. AI, robotics, digital data management, and virtual and augmented reality are among the tools that will be available to trial.
The DPMC facility is funded in part through the £251 million Ayrshire Growth Deal, which includes £103 million from UK Government, £103 million from Scottish Government and £45.5 million from council partners, as well as Scottish Enterprise, the University of Strathclyde as the operator of NMIS, and CPI, and will be supported by ongoing membership income. It is a pilot initiative for a larger, permanent facility in the region.
Located within the Booth Welsh manufacturing space at i3 in Irvine, the DPMC aims to accelerate the adoption of digital tech for process industry manufacturers to help cut energy costs and achieve net zero by becoming ‘more aware, predictive, and productive’. The facility will offer access to safe testing areas, collaboration zones, and manufacturing space for prototyping new techniques and processes.
Chris Courtney, CEO of NMIS, said, “The DPMC will be a valuable hub for process manufacturing businesses to explore digital technologies and access the wider capabilities of the NMIS group and our partners. Development and implementation of digital technologies can lead to increased productivity, reduced energy costs, an overall lower carbon footprint and improved competitiveness for manufacturers.”
As a strategic partner, CPI will be providing expertise on advanced digital solutions for the processing sectors as well as key market insights. Frank Millar, CEO of CPI, said, “This launch will further cement Scotland’s growing reputation in commercialising digital technologies that increase productivity and deliver the advanced manufacturing technologies needed to deliver a step change in resource efficient sustainable manufacturing.”
