NCC – part of the UK’s High Value Manufacturing Catapult – plans to establish a Large Structures Innovation Centre (LSIC) that will support the wind energy, construction and maritime industries.
The open-access facility will enable the design and development of the next generation of large structures, NCC said. It will be operated by NCC and provides companies working with large, complex components the space, equipment and engineering expertise to accelerate development.
Details on the location of the LSIC will follow, with work to establish the facility now under way. Collaborative projects are slated to begin in 2026 and the formal launch expected to follow in 2027.
The LSIC’s first focus will be wind energy – where global decarbonisation goals and the drive to reduce energy costs are accelerating demand for larger more powerful turbine blades. The centre will facilitate full-size production trials for blades and other large composite parts.
Richard Oldfield, chief executive at NCC, said: “The LSIC is about creating connected pathways that turn world-class research into industrial reality. The UK has exceptional research and talent but has lacked the infrastructure to deliver large-scale innovation.
“The LSIC changes that, providing the physical and digital capabilities to build the next generation of high-performance large structures right here in the UK.”
NCC added that by accelerating the development and industrialisation of advanced large-scale structures, it will help secure high-value manufacturing and strengthen UK supply chains.
