With the goal of strengthening the advanced manufacturing capabilities of SMEs in the Highlands and Islands, Make it Smart Hub, with funding from European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) managed by Scottish Enterprise (SE) and in partnership with UHI Inverness (University of Highlands and Islands), has procured this innovative technology for the region.

The latest equipment to arrive includes a 5-Axis CNC machine that efficiently generates highly accurate products from varied materials, a conditioning chamber to ensure materials remain at the correct humidity and temperature, and a sawmill simulator designed to train staff on use of equipment while minimising waste.

Make it Smart Hub is a collaborative programme led by Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST) designed to help future-proof the construction and manufacturing sectors by bringing SMEs in Scotland’s remote and rural geographic areas closer to innovation.

This technology will be added to the equipment Make it Smart Hub has already made available to SMEs in the HIE region such as drones that collect real-time data to understand what is happening on site, 360° LiDAR scanners to record work in progress and 3D printers for staged prototyping and product development.

Construction and manufacturing professionals will be able to get direct experience with the new equipment at the UHI Inverness campus.

From June 2023, SMEs in construction and manufacturing in the region are encouraged to book a demonstration of the new equipment - free of charge - with technical staff. These experts will be on hand to demonstrate the equipment and answer any queries, as well as share more about the innovation centre’s ambition to accelerate decarbonisation.

This try-before-you-buy model will enable these companies to make more informed decisions about which technologies to invest in to scale up their product offering.

To find out more or book a demonstration with the equipment, email: twarren@be-st.build.

Tom Warren, Sustainability Impact Manager at BE-ST, said: “We’re thrilled to be bringing free access to this innovative equipment to the SMEs working in the Highlands and Islands. While part of Make it Smart Hub’s agenda is virtual, we cannot underplay the importance of in-person, hands-on interactions with new technologies and the ideas we hope these might inspire.”

Georgina Parker, vice principal of UHI Inverness, said: “It is important that as an educational institution we contribute to the economic fortunes of the region. We are excited to be involved in a partnership that allows us to invest in equipment at the forefront of the future of manufacturing, with the aim of supporting local enterprises to develop their production capabilities.”