A scheme to share specialist testing equipment and facilities in a bid to allow companies to develop new products or techniques has been launched around Morecambe Bay.
Called Lablink it’s the idea of the Electech Cluster, a group of 35 companies in south Cumbria and north Lancashire involved in innovative technology.
The initiative was mentioned at the group’s AGM earlier this year.
Members, including Forsberg, Siemens, Oxley Developments and Lancaster University, each have access to equipment which may be useful to smaller companies looking to develop new products.
From thermal and climatic testing to hyperbaric and electro magnetic testing, there is a wide range of existing facilities in the area.
The Lablink initiative aims to offer access to often under used technology to others in the hope of cementing the area as one increasingly known for cutting edge research and development.
“We want to play an introductory role to highlight what is available on our doorstep,” Dan Knowles of the cluster said.
“There’s a possibility too that if there is demand for a specialist service that isn’t available locally members may look to work to provide it.”
The Electech community together employs around 940 people and records revenue worth £161 million.
Many of the clusters member companies have a need for specialist equipment and facilities which are often required at short notice to allow engineers a space to work flexibly during product development.
This often requires use of large corporate test facilities that provide a comprehensive and essential service for formal testing, but due to the nature of their business can not be very flexible and also are normally not in the local area.
The cluster also hopes to develop links with other advanced manufacturing centres.
