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LTi Metaltech, world leaders in precision fabrication and welding, is keen to transfter its skills into the nuclear sector.
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A £1.5m investment in the latest high-tech manufacturing equipment and new production facilities has been unveiled by Oxfordshire-based LTi Metaltech.
The company, which specialises in the precision fabrication and welding of high performance vessels and structures, has dramatically increased its factory floor space and plans to take on more staff to cope with increased demand for its precision engineering technology.
The move was marked with a launch event on Friday, March 4 when VIP guests Dr Martin Dare-Edwards, Chairman of the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and Cllr David Robertson, deputy leader of Oxfordshire County Council, unveiled a commemorative plaque and declared the new facilities open for business.
Phil Lacey, LTi Metaltech's Operations Director, told the audience of more than 70 key customers and suppliers that it was a "real privilege" to fly the flag for British manufacturing and signalled further investment to come over the next 12 months.
"This is a very exciting time for us," he said. "While investing in the latest high-tech manufacturing equipment, we are also keen to transfer our skills into new applications in the cryogenics field and other areas, such as the nuclear and renewables sectors."
Dr Dare-Edwards praised the company for its investment and jobs programme and said LTi Metaltech was part of the truly "world-leading" specialism that is Oxfordshire's cryogenics cluster. He was, he said, delighted to hear that the company is now looking to apply its technological expertise into other areas of industry.
Local Wantage and Didcot MP Ed Vaizey, who was given a preview tour of the new facilities prior to the opening day, commented afterwards: "LTi Metaltech has demonstrated that with the combination of cutting edge technology, a highly-skilled workforce and significant investment, it is leading the way and winning orders in a very specialist field. Even better, it is building on that technology to identify potential new sources of revenue, epitomising a real entrepreneurial spirit and determination to succeed in some of the newest and most innovative sectors of industry.
"It's tremendous to see new jobs and a bright future for a business in the heart of my constituency, and the management team and all the staff are to be congratulated on their hard work. I am sure their undoubted abilities will enable the company to achieve even greater success in the future and I wish them well."
The expansion at its premises in Milton Park near Abingdon, comes as the company starts work on a significant order from Siemens MR Magnet Technology to produce cryogenic pressure vessels for its next generation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners.
LTi Metaltech, which is already an existing supplier to Siemens, won the contract after the healthcare technology giant invited the company to partner them in the development of its new generation of scanners, delivering both improved performance and a reduction in cost and materials usage.
By combining innovative new materials and advanced manufacturing technologies, the design team was able to produce a scanner which is not only lighter, smaller and cheaper, but also achieves significant improvements in terms of cryogenic performance.
Craig Marshall, managing director from Siemens added: "Siemens has three corporate values; Responsibility, Excellence and Innovation. We chose to partner with LTi many years ago because we recognise their business values are well aligned to ours. Now we consider LTi to be a strategic partner.
"LTi Metaltech showed us it had the technology and skills to meet the demanding specifications for our next generation scanners and we're extremely pleased to see the investment that has been made in new equipment and facilities to enable full production to move forward."
Each MRI scanner comprises of several layers of high precision stainless steel pressure vessels and the new equipment, which includes a state-of-the-art water jet cutting machine and dedicated tube manufacturing facility, will enable production to increase from current output of around 3,000 pressure vessels per year to 4,000.
To cope with the increased demand, staff numbers at the factory, which operates a round-the-clock shift system five days a week, are expected to rise with the creation of some 30 new permanent posts. At the same time, total floorspace at the factory has increased by around 25% to some 46,000 square feet to accommodate the new equipment and provide additional storage areas.
Ends
Notes to editors
1. LTi Metaltech is part of the LTi group, an international group of high tech engineering companies based in Germany. It specialises in the precision fabrication and welding of high performance vessels and structures for use in demanding industrial applications, in highly regulated markets.
2. Its capabilities include Advanced Welding (the company employs the largest group of coded welders in the South East of England), sophisticated x-ray testing facilities and a experienced engineering design team offering dedicated Design for Manufacture services.
3. The MRI scanners produced for Siemens MR Magnet Technology are exported for installation in hospitals and medical facilities around the globe.
For media information, please call Alison Dewar or Louise Esplin at Straight PR on 01235 527506. Alternatively, please call our mobiles 07801 234261 or 07775 678237
Louise Esplin
Straight PR
Tel: 01235 850115
Mob: 07775 678237
Contact Information
Ben Mumby-Croft
LTI Metaltech
163 Milton Park
Abingdon
OX14 4SD
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