Worcestershire-based AVL UK is uniting with support programme Drive West Midlands to highlight the region’s automotive expertise at this week’s Advanced Engineering UK 2015 (4-5 November, NEC, Birmingham).
The powertrains developer, with headquarters in Hartlebury near Kidderminster, will take part in a delegation – comprising private sector companies from the West Midlands’ six Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) – to showcase its services and cutting-edge technology to the wider engineering market.
AVL is the world’s largest independent company for development, simulation and testing technology of powertrains for passenger cars, trucks and large engines. The firm develops and improves all kinds of powertrain systems and is an expert partner to the engine and automotive industry.
Peter Beck, Operations Director at AVL UK & Nordiska, said:
“AVL UK has been a major partner to the UK automotive industry for more than 40 years and is located in the heart of the region. The West Midlands is now a prime mover within the UK automotive industry and has a significant influence within the global market. The Drive West Midlands event is a great opportunity for us to showcase AVL as an innovator for powertrain test & instrumentation systems, enabling us to strengthen our relationships within this area of exciting engineering growth.”
AVL joins plastic injection and tool making specialist Barkley Plastics (Greater Birmingham & Solihull); alloy wheel manufacturer Rimstock (Invest Black Country); engineering and product solutions provider Penso (Coventry & Warwickshire); car parts manufacturer Gestamp (Make it Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire); and metal component manufacturer Advanced Chemical Etching Ltd (Invest Telford & Wrekin).
The region’s presence is headed up by Drive West Midlands, a new initiative set up to support companies throughout the supply chain and overseas investors looking to locate in the area. It was launched in June by inward investment agency Marketing Birmingham and UK Trade & Investment’s Automotive Investment Organisation.
David Shepherd, Sector Relationship Manager (Automotive) at Marketing Birmingham, said:
“The West Midlands boasts one of the world’s strongest automotive industries, home to some 40,000 highly-skilled employees. This year’s Advanced Engineering UK exhibition provides a valuable opportunity to build on this reputation and to join forces with six of the region’s most pioneering companies to demonstrate the global strength of our automotive supply chain.”
Advanced Engineering UK 2015 is the country’s largest free-to-attend, annual engineering event, featuring 13,000 visitors, over 750 national and international exhibitors and more than 175 speakers. It comprises four interlinked shows representing multiple advanced engineering and technology sectors: Automotive Engineering Show, Aero Engineering Show, Composites Engineering Show and Performance Metals Engineering.
Drive West Midlands will be exhibiting on stand K75.