Centre offers new job hope
A NEW development centre for printable electronics could bring hundreds of jobs to the region and strengthen Teesside’s position as a world leader in process innovation.
Work is nearing completion at the NETPark site, Sedgefield, on a 3,500sq m £4.1m building for PETeC (Plastic Electronics Technology Centre), which will create an internationally recognised facility for the development and commercialisation of printed electronic devices and flexible functional materials, such as those going into the manufacture of future products, including ‘fold-up’ TVs.
Its aim is to hothouse smaller companies wanting to break into the sector.
PETeC is a national prototyping operation to develop technology in plastic printable electronics and comes under the umbrella of the Wilton-based Centre for Process Innovation, which we revealed yesterday is set for expansion following a merger with Newcastle’s Centre of Excellence for Nano, Micro and Photonic Systems (Cenamps).
Nigel Perry, chief executive of CPI, said: “Initially, the number of jobs provided will be small but the numbers should grow significantly towards several hundred.
“It is an ideal facility for start-up and small companies and larger manufacturers to get together to get prototype production up and running.”
The facility will look at sustainable alternatives to current silicon conductors - such as seen in large-screen TVs - of which there is a growing shortage.
There are other materials to replace other products, including solid state lighting, which wastes a lot of energy.
“The benefit is it that this process can produce large, high-quality display and circuits cheaply,” added Mr Perry.
It is hoped the main plant will be open by September.
The building has been designed by Stockton-based Dewjo’c architects and built by North-east construction company Whelan.
The lab-based development facility at NETPark will incorporate a third storey of office space.
