Friday, 20 February 2015

Prime minister praises new Cosworth centre

Prime minister David Cameron has visited Cosworth’s new state-of-the-art Advanced Manufacturing Centre (AMC) in Northampton, praising the company for its contribution to the UK automotive industry

The prime minister was joined by Cosworth group chairman, Kevin Kalkhoven, and chief executive, Hal Reisiger, on a tour of the new 38,000ft² facility, which is the result of a £22m investment supported by the company’s shareholders, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the local government and Northampton Borough Council.

The Advanced Manufacturing Centre will continue to position Cosworth at the forefront of the UK automotive industry - making use of the latest automation and cutting edge technology, coupled with the company’s skilled workforce - to produce engine components for some of the world’s leading performance car manufacturers.

With a forward order book currently standing at £75m, the new Cosworth facility will be the only site in the UK to offer plasma ion coating, a technology that reduces engine friction and weight, and therefore reducing vehicle CO₂ emissions.

During his 90 minute visit, David met with some of Cosworth’s skilled workforce and was introduced to the company’s successful apprenticeship scheme.

Cosworth already employs 175 staff at its existing facility in Northampton, from where it began operating 50 years ago, in 1965. The new AMC will create an additional 70 jobs and apprenticeships. Cosworth’s apprenticeship programme has trained 17 young people since its inception in 2011. This programme, with the support of the BIS Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative (AMSCI), will now expand to a further 25 apprentices.

Speaking during his visit to Cosworth’s new Advanced Manufacturing Centre, prime minister David Cameron said, ‘Cosworth is an iconic British business which plays an important part in our country’s world-beating automotive industry. This new Advanced Manufacturing Centre, with its state-of-the-art technology and highly skilled workforce, will be an important contributor to British exports and the local economy as part of our long term economic plan. This has only been made possible as a result of a real partnership between Cosworth, the government, Northampton council and the local enterprise agency. Cosworth is building an exciting future in Northampton, and is the perfect example of a British manufacturing success story.’

Cosworth Group chairman, Kevin Kalkhoven said, ‘It has been a privilege to welcome the Prime Minister to Cosworth today and to show him around our new Advanced Manufacturing Centre. These are exciting times for Cosworth; this year marks fifty years since Cosworth has been in Northampton, and this new investment will start an important new chapter for the company. The AMC is the only one of its kind in Britain with the latest in machine tools and robotic technology, working alongside highly skilled engineers and technicians. Thanks to government and local council support, the new facility will enable Cosworth to produce engine components for some of the world’s leading high performance cars using ground-breaking flexible manufacturing methods. Our order book is already very healthy and we are proud that Cosworth can continue to represent Britain on the global automotive stage.’