Babcock to Address Critical Industry Needs with Manufacturing Centre

Babcock International has opened a new Additive Manufacturing centre as part of a new partnership with Plymouth Science Park (PSP).

The facility will allow Babcock to ramp up its advanced technology capabilities to address critical needs across the engineering and defence support industry and will include the development of a digital and data skills programme in collaboration with PSP. The facility will enable the company to direct print metal parts for the first time as it needs them, increasing efficiency and sustainability.

Babcock will use PSP’s new facility to expand its capabilities in additive methods, such as direct metal laser sintering, which enables high-priority parts to be produced by a 3-D printer, and as a training facility to strengthen its expertise in digital and data technologies.

The centre was launched at an industry event and was attended by other technology collaborators including Kingsbury, Renishaw, AMFG and GOM. Local MP, Johnny Mercer was invited to view the facility and switched on the first printing machine.

The partnership builds on Babcock’s strong relationship with the academic and technology community across the South West, and the local community around Babcock’s Devonport dockyard. Recent initiatives include a polymer manufacturing capability, which produced personal protective equipment for the local air ambulance service during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Having a manufacturing capability that allows us to direct print what we need, when we need it, in direct collaboration with our customers, means we will be able to create parts at scale, in a more efficient and sustainable way -  wherever there is a demand, in any part of our business,” said Dr Jon Hall, Chief Innovation and Technology Officer for Babcock.