Renishaw Miskin Site
British engineering giant Renishaw has finished the latest phase of a major refurbishment project at its Miskin site near Cardiff, South Wales.
The global precision and engineering company has completed a further 6,000 sq ft revamp of production space. The new area will provide the company with additional capacity for its assembly operations, which includes a new surface mount electronics line and a dedicated area for the production of Renishaw's additive manufacturing machines.
Renishaw purchased the 193-acre site from Robert Bosch Limited in September 2011 as a cost of £7.7 million and started a single-shift of production in May 3012 following am additional £7.5 million in investment in the initial phase of the refurbishment project covering 68,500 sq ft and the purchase of 17 of the latest CNC metal cutting machine tools.
The first phase area is now operating with three shifts and is used to make metal components for a range of Renishaw's world-leading precision measurement systems that are used in industrial applications.
The refurbished areas are the epitome of a modern advanced manufacturing facility and a far cry from the traditional perceptions of manufacturing. They are surprisingly bright and clean and feature full air conditioning, ceiling structures designed to reduce noise and state-of-the art extraction systems to eliminate airborne contaminants in keeping with Renishaw's other manufacturing sites.
Gareth Hankins, Director of Renishaw's Group Manufacturing Services Division, commented: "One of the key aims with all of our manufacturing facilities is to build a pleasant place to work, but also to achieve the wow factor.
"Every year we play host to visitors from across the world and whether [they are] potential customers, potential employees, politicians or the general public, we think it is important to present a positive image of manufacturing.”
The Miskin site was formally opened on 10th October 2012 by The Rt Hon Carwyn Jones AM, First Minister of Wales.
Mr Jones commented: "Today is a significant event in the history, not just of this site, but for the whole of South Wales.
"We know that Renishaw is a successful firm, we know that Renishaw is an ambitious company. We want to work with them in the future for the benefit of Renishaw itself and of course for the economic benefit of all those people that live in this area."
As part of its development in South Wales and to inspire a new generation of engineers Renishaw also held two Education Days at its Miskin site in Autumn 2012, when 700 pupils and students from schools, colleges and universities across South Wales were given the opportunity to see modern manufacturing processes, high technology products and discuss engineering careers with young apprentices and graduate staff from the company.
Renishaw sees the Miskin site as providing additional capacity to enable the company to meet its longer term manufacturing needs and the opportunity to source skilled employees from a wide geographic area due to the site's prime location close to the M4 motorway and Cardiff.
