Tees Valley Mayor tours Materials Processing Institute
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has visited leading research centre, the Materials Processing Institute, further strengthening his ties with the region's business community.
Mr Houchen toured the Institute's Middlesbrough-based campus, which includes specialist metals research laboratories and pilot plant facilities, serving the materials, processing and energy sectors.
The Materials Processing Institute is a research and innovation centre that provides R&D based services and consultancy. It also works with SMEs and supports supply chain companies develop new technologies and products.
The Institute works with a number of world leading steel companies, having recently welcomed delegates from industry giants Thyssenkrupp and voestalpine AG to its facilities. It also supports the innovative research and development of British Steel's rail and construction products, having secured a multimillion pound, five-year deal with the company last year.
Mr Houchen previously visited the Materials Processing Institute in February, as part of a Mayoral Q&A event with each prospective Tees Valley Mayor candidate.
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: "The Materials processing Institute is an example of the world-class organisations here in the Tees Valley that are at the cutting-edge of industry.
"It was fascinating to learn more about the amazing research and development projects that are supporting not only our own businesses here in the Tees Valley, but companies across the world.
"We should be proud that a research centre of this calibre is based here in the Tees Valley."
Chris McDonald, CEO of the Materials Processing Institute, who led the visit, added: "We were delighted to host Mr Houchen for a tour of our campus and facilities, and to demonstrate our research and development capabilities, which have supported many of the region's SMEs, as well as leading steel companies across the world. I am looking forward to working with the Mayor and local government, as we continue to invest in and embrace new technologies to develop and deliver cutting-edge products for the materials, processing and energy sectors."
video courtesy of Recognition Marketing
25 July 2017
