Aerospace, defense and security giant Babcock International has joined forces with Plymouth Science Park to launch a state-of-the-art additive manufacturing (AM) center that will enable the company to address obsolescence and supply chain issues by printing metal parts directly.
The partnership builds on Babcock’s strong relationship with the academic and technology community in the Southwest and the local community around Babcock’s Devonport yard. Recent initiatives include a polymer production capacity that produced personal protective equipment for the local air ambulance service during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Babcock will use the new facility to expand its capabilities in additive methods, such as direct metal laser sintering, which allows high-priority parts to be produced by a 3D printer, and as a training facility to demonstrate his expertise in digital and data technologies. †
This collaboration will accelerate Babcock’s R&D and real-world application of additive technologies
dr. Jon Hall, Chief Innovation and Technology Officer at Babcock, said: “This partnership will accelerate Babcock’s R&D and the practice of additive technologies. It incrementally changes the way we advance our own expertise and our partnerships to the benefit of our customers and the communities in which we operate.
“The challenge of obsolescence and supporting the resilience of the chain is essential for tech companies. This is especially true at Babcock, where we maintain complex and critical equipment over long life cycles. With a production capability that allows us to directly print what we need, when we need it, in direct collaboration with our customers, we can manufacture parts at scale, in a more efficient and sustainable way – wherever there is demand, in every part from our company.
Ian McFazden, Chief Executive of PSP, said: “We are proud to partner with companies and individuals who are leading the way in solving some of the world’s most pressing needs. We are delighted to expand our work in the advanced engineering, defense and security sectors through a new and innovative partnership with Babcock.
“Babcock will be the first company to use our new additive manufacturing facilities to bolster their engineering and technical expertise in digital and data technologies, and through the partnership we will ensure engineers and apprentices develop new digital and data skills to improve innovation adoption and increase productivity in the region.”
VIDEO INTERVIEW: BABCOCK’S CHIEF INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY OFFICER DR JON HALL
