£1.5 million towards technology development manufacturer in Port Talbot
The Welsh Government have put money towards HVM Catapult Baglan, a new digital factory hub based in Port Talbot
Last updated 14th Feb 2025
A project in Neath Port Talbot used to help manufacturers boost productivity and sustainability has been opened by the Cabinet secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans.
HVM Catapult Baglan, a new office space and a digital factory hub, is a joint venture between the Welsh Government and UK HVM Catapult – its first site in South Wales.
Rebecca Evans said:
"Centres like this are really important for Port Talbot and the surrounding areas which have been affected quite significantly, to say the least, by the recent announcements at TATA.
"What's really important is that we create that environment for a modern and prosperous future."
The Catapult is helping SMEs move from South Wales' steel supply chain into new net zero ones to capitalise on the floating offshore wind opportunity in the Celtic Sea.
The site, which received £1.5m in Welsh Government innovation funding, will be run in collaboration with AMRC Cymru, as part of the HVM Catapult network.
It will house state-of-the-art equipment and digital technologies provided by the Welsh Government including a SMART workbench, robot station, virtual and augmented reality headsets.
The Economy secretary continues:
"We know it can be really expensive for businesses to access the spaces they need to innovate but we're not providing it all year.
"We're brining together a whole range of technologies that they can use to better understand their processes and then think about how to change them and make them more efficient."
The hub will also provide support to manufacturing companies to make step changes in the products they sell, the way they make them and the skills of their workforce.