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1 Mar 2023
The University of Nottingham Unveils the World's First, Multi-Million Manufacturing Facility Paving the Way for a New Era of Efficiency and Affordability
In a groundbreaking leap for the manufacturing industry, the University of Nottingham unveiled the highly anticipated OMNIFACTORY. This state-of-the-art facility, backed by a £3.8 million investment, promises to revolutionize traditional manufacturing practices, introducing unparalleled levels of efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
On March 1st 2023, OMNIFACTORY was inaugurated by Brian Holliday, Managing Director at Siemens Digital Industries and Co-Chair of the Made Smarter Commission, and Professor Shearer West, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Nottingham.
Nestled on the university's Jubilee Campus, in the Advanced Manufacturing building the OMNIFACTORY boasts a bespoke test bed floor, that provides a unique reconfigurable environment. Developed right in the heart of Nottingham, this floor is a testament to cutting-edge innovation, blending an array of digital technologies, robotics, and artificial intelligence.
"OMNIFACTORY is a unique facility that will allow us to develop, demonstrate and rapidly implement the latest digital manufacturing technologies in industry". Svetan Ratchev, Director of the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing
The five-year project has been funded by Innovate UK and aligned to the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Programme, but OMNIFACTORY’s facilities can be applied to other sectors, such as food and automotive.
"OMNIFACTORY is a game-changing facility, which creates a blueprint for how future factories will dramatically enhance the productivity and competitiveness of British manufacturers". Professor Alan Norbury, Chief Technologist at Siemens Digital Industries
The launch triumphed with overwhelming industry and academic support, paving the way for future collaborations. The staggering response from industry leaders and academic scholars alike spoke volumes about the significance of the OMNIFACTORY's innovative approach.