Unipart Manufacturing Group (UMG), part of the Unipart Group, has announced the launch of a new business focused on nurturing and delivering high tech engineering and manufacturing capability in Coventry. It plans to create the high skill jobs necessary to support advanced engineering and manufacturing capability in the UK.
The new business will be called Unipart Powertrain Applications and will occupy Unipart’s flagship manufacturing site at Beresford Avenue in Coventry. This site also includes the UK’s first ‘university on the factory floor’ – The Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME), a partnership between Unipart and Coventry University.
Unipart Powertrain Applications will include the operations currently at the Coventry site which employ around 380 people and provide components for vehicle manufacturers such as Ford, Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin Ltd. The new business is expected to grow significantly over the next few years with the addition of new clients and new technologies in its already expanding portfolio, and lead to the creation of around 150 highly skilled roles to support this growth. The new business will continue to manufacture high tech fuel and exhaust systems for next generation automobiles that will provide drivers with major improvements in fuel economy and performance. It will further grow its capacity and capability to become one of the world’s largest manufacturers of high pressure gasoline direct injection fuel rails.
According to Unipart Manufacturing Group Managing Director, Carol Burke, the announcement of the new manufacturing business at the Coventry site marks a step change for the business as it seeks to refocus on innovation and high technology.
Carol Burke said: “A few years ago we made a strategic decision to invest in developing products that require advanced engineering capability to meet our customer’s needs for emerging low-carbon technology solutions.
“Many sectors such as automotive and aerospace are demanding precision-made products that require more sophisticated manufacturing, product development and test techniques which will benefit from our investment in new facilities and equipment.
“Today’s launch of Unipart Powertrain Applications builds on the 25 year heritage of the Unipart Way philosophy underpinned by a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. The combination of deep manufacturing expertise and the advanced engineering and thinking being developed in conjunction with the AME should position the business for strong growth in to the future.
“It means that we can offer customers innovative product design and manufacture using the most sophisticated technologies and supported by an on-going supply of some of Britain’s brightest and best trained young engineers.”