Kier joins MTC to help in delivery of future infrastructure projects

Kier has joined the Manufacturing Technology Centre, a move intended to help the company work on R&D that will assist in delivering construction and infrastructure projects.

Kier
Kier innovation director Mark Austin and MTC chief executive Dr Clive Hickman

The company, which employs 21,000 employees across the UK, has identified augmented reality, robotics, 3D printing, and MTC process analysis as areas it will explore and exploit as part of its MTC membership.

Mark Austin, innovation director, Kier, said: “We’re looking forward to working with industry peers to develop new R&D projects that will help us deliver the construction and infrastructure projects of the future.”

Kier launched its membership of Coventry-based MTC with an Innovation Forum for 15 of its key staff, drawing on the recently launched Construction & Infrastructure Roadmap produced by the i3P (Infrastructure Industry Innovation Platform) and the MTC.

The roadmap outlines the challenges which need to be addressed in order to meet the targets set in the Government’s Construction 2025 Strategy – including 33 per cent lower costs; 50 per cent faster delivery; 50 per cent lower emissions, and a 50 per cent increase in exports.

Kier becomes the latest in a growing list of construction and infrastructure companies working with the MTC, including Amey, HS2, Network Rail and Skanska.

Trudi Sully, associate director for construction and infrastructure at the MTC, said: “Bringing Kier into membership is a significant step in consolidating the MTC’s position and strength as a major player in R&D for the construction and infrastructure sector.

“Having them on-board alongside our other key sector members speaks to the wider market about the vital opportunity for collaborative innovation and will enable us to develop more expertise and broaden our engagement with the sector.”

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