MATERIALS PROCESSING INSTITUTE OPENS DOORS WITH FACILITY DESIGNED TO HELP SMES MAKE PROGRESS

SMALL to medium enterprises will be able to showcase new technologies to potential customers after the Materials Processing Institute opened the doors of its new facility.

The Institute, based in Teesside’s industrial heartland, is inviting firms to the SME Technology Centre after completing work on a Demonstrator Space development.

The idea of the facility is to help businesses develop, commercialise and improve technology, and support includes an on-site pilot plant, scale-up and demonstrator facilities; enabling businesses to test, develop and demonstrate new technologies without the risks associated with full scale production.

Gerard Stephens, Director of the SME Technology Centre at the Materials Processing Institute, said: “We are delighted that the Demonstrator Space development is now complete.
“It creates easy to access space for clients to set up any technologies or processes they are developing in a safe, secure and controlled environment.

“We look forward to working alongside SMEs and, with our teams of specialists on site, we are more than confident we can help them.

“We have experienced scientists, engineers and technicians who are available to work with clients to provide analysis, advice and support as products and processes progress from initial concepts to full scale commercialisation.”

This Demonstrator Space has been created partly with a cash injection of Government Funding from the Local Growth Fund, through Local Enterprise Partnership Tees Valley Unlimited (TVU).

This is part of a wider project at the Institute to create a Technology Centre to support small and medium enterprises in the region with technical, business and financial advice and assistance.

Set over 600sq metres, the Demonstrator Space is divided into fully serviced bays with access to electricity, mains pressure water, compressed air, propane, natural gas and nitrogen.

Other features of the facility include a lifting beam combined with a 1-tonne overhead crane, easy access via roller shutter doors, full LED lighting, individually controlled roof-mounted radiant heaters and an adjacent loading bay area.

There is also security in the form of CCTV, as well as an adjacent car park.

For more information, visit www.mpiuk.com

Photo: Gerard Stephens, Director SME Technology Centre at Materials Processing Institute in the recently upgraded Demonstrator Space.

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