Investment follows Siemens MRI win
Ed Vaizey with Phil Lacy at a pre-launch viewing of the new facility
A £1.5 million investment programme will help LTi Metaltech apply its skills to new applications in cryogenics – including a major MRI scanner project for Siemens.
The order, from Siemens MR Magnet Technology is to produce cryogenic pressure vessels for its next generation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners.
Oxfordshire-based LTi Metaltech specialises in the precision fabrication and welding of high performance vessels and structures, has invested in new manufacturing technology, 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 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, 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.
LTi Metaltech, which is already an existing supplier to Siemens, won the MRI 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:“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.
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