Set to open by 2020, the new centrally-located site will allow IPG Photonics to play an integral role in accelerating laser-based manufacturing in the UK, whilst bringing new innovations and solutions to its growing, global customer base.
The firm is headquartered in Massachusetts, with a number of international sites in locations such as Germany, Russia and Japan. IPG Photonics is the latest in a string of recent, prominent US investments in the West Midlands worth a combined value of £100million. Other companies include Genesee & Wyoming - a market leader in freight transportation solutions and precision manufacturer Bromford Industries.
David Goodwin, Managing Director, IPG Photonics UK, said:
“IPG Photonics is investing £15million to create our new UK headquarters in the West Midlands. We believe the region will play a leading role in driving the UK’s productivity capabilities and wider Industrial Strategy – for us, there isn’t a better placed location to accelerate the industrialisation of laser-based manufacturing.
“Through our upcoming, new 50,000 sq ft facility in Coventry’s Ansty Park, we’ll be positioned well within the UK’s manufacturing supply chain, working closely with the Manufacturing Technology Centre, to bring new vertically integrated innovations to the UK market”.
The new base will create 30 new employment opportunities in the areas of electronic and mechanical production, robotics and laser processing. IPG Photonics is looking to work with the local universities to source graduates and apprenticeships suitable for the roles.
The investment from IPG Photonics will include maintaining and upgrading its partnership with the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) – an advanced manufacturing R&D hub within Coventry’s wider business technology park, Ansty Park. Significant development has been undertaken on this site, with major occupiers already including HTRC, Sainsbury’s, FANUC and The London Taxi Company.
Jonathan Browning, chair of the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said:
“The multi-million-pound investment by IPG Photonics into their new site at Ansty Park underlines their commitment to Coventry and Warwickshire and will strengthen our economy.
“It is an example of what the West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy promises, as further foundations are provided to boost productivity by investing in skills, industries and infrastructure.
“It is an example of how the West Midlands is already harnessing its distinctive strengths in advanced manufacturing to drive the UK’s response to the Future of Mobility Grand Challenge”.
Homes England sold the 1.7 hectare site in Ansty Park, to IPG Photonics in June 2018.
Karl Tupling, General Manager for the Midlands at Homes England, said:
“We have played an important role in developing Ansty Park as one of the most successful business technology parks in the country. This in turn is reinforcing this location for high value manufacturing, so it’s great to see IPG Photonics investing in world class facilities at Ansty Park to provide skilled manufacturing jobs for local people.”
