AMRC Cymru celebrates five years of impact as a national asset

02 December, 2024

Since opening on November 28 in 2019, the North Wales research centre has made a significant impact on industry, having worked with more than 100 businesses to help make things faster, cheaper and greener, and delivered in excess of 20 programmes teaching companies how to digitally measure their energy use.

Based in a £20m state-of-the-art applied research centre in Broughton, funded by the Welsh Government, AMRC Cymru is managed by the University of Sheffield and is part of the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult, a consortium strategic innovation hub for UK industry, established and supported by Innovate UK.

Rebecca Evans, Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, said: "the investment was made because the Welsh Government ‘knew the difference it could make to north Wales, manufacturing and the wider Welsh economy’.

She added: “The facility has quickly established itself as a significant asset in our R&D ecosystem, helping more than 100 Welsh businesses innovate, develop new products and future proof.

“I look forward to seeing the centre continue to play a critical role in Wales's advanced manufacturing future as we work together with partners to boost productivity, attract further investment and create high-quality, sustainable jobs.”

The milestone anniversary for the centre comes in the same month Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer named AMRC Cymru as ‘a world-renowned research institution’ as part of his announcement confirming a £160 million investment zone that will go live in north east Wales next year, focused on the advanced manufacturing cluster.

AMRC Cymru’s Research Director, Andy Silcox, was a member of the investment zone’s shadow board, playing a prominent part in Wrexham and Flintshire’s success to become an investment zone. He said it had been one of many highlights of the past five years while leading AMRC Cymru, which have been the most rewarding of his career.

Silcox added: “We have managed to engage with a diverse range of Welsh businesses across a multitude of manufacturing sectors, and I'm proud that we have been able to make a positive contribution to everyone we have worked with.

“Equally satisfying has been to witness the growth and development of our super talented team of young engineers. And we must say a big thank you to the Welsh Government which has put its faith in us to deliver impact for the Welsh manufacturing sector.”

The food and drink sector contributes significantly to the Welsh economy, but with tight profit margins, there is less investment in research and development. One of the 100 businesses the highly-talented AMRC Cymru team has engaged with since 2019 is The Pudding Compartment, an award-winning producer of premium puddings, based in Flint. AMRC Cymru helped create a new state-of-the-art production line for the business, introducing advanced automation and digital data that is revolutionising the business - resulting in record output and attracting new customers.