Sony UK Technology Centre (UK TEC) will spearhead a landmark research centre helping, to identify ground-breaking manufacturing processes of the future.
The Pencoed-based facility, which produces thousands of HD broadcast and professional camera systems annually, including the latest 4K broadcast cameras, has launched the Advanced Manufacturing Research Operations Centre (AMROC) in a collaborative partnership with Sony Global Manufacturing & Operations Corporation in Japan.
The AMROC project will pioneer processes focused on the fourth generation of manufacturing, coined industry 4.0. The project will enable Sony UK TEC to tackle the challenges of modern manufacturing and improve processes by using the latest Internet of Things (IoT) technologies.
This aims to challenge traditional department-specific manufacturing by connecting each process into one seamless operation. It will eventually be extended to include the supply chain and the end user experience, creating end-to-end connectivity.
Sony UK TEC has a reputation for continuous innovation, and is recognised as a facility dedicated to building the next generation of manufacturing processes.
This insistence on innovation recently saw it gain widespread praise, after it became the only Sony factory outside of Japan to manufacture state-of-the-art next generation 4K cameras.
Sony UK TEC’s managing director, Steve Dalton OBE, said this latest news demonstrated the facility’s “world-wide reputation as a progressive and innovative centre”.
He said: “Being chosen to carry out this vital research as a collaborative partner with our headquarters puts Sony UK TEC on the map, not just in Wales, but on the global manufacturing stage, which is something we are rightly proud of.
“It is also a testament to our highly skilled workforce who have set themselves apart thanks to their unparalleled knowledge and abilities.
“Here at Sony UK TEC we have developed substantially over the years by investing in the latest manufacturing equipment and processes, which has enabled us to create a more diverse portfolio and collaborate with companies around the world.
“With this is mind, I believe Sony Corporation felt we were the right choice to explore the industry 4.0 model further and take forward the concepts to make them a reality. We are not only investing in manufacturing, but through this project we are working to build the engineers of the future.
“We are delighted that Sony UK TEC is flourishing within Wales and we intend to continue investing in our facility to build a sustainable business.”
The AMROC research and development facility has been launched in collaboration with Sony headquarters and other facilities in Japan.