Subsea technology and services company SMD has officially opened SMD Tech Works, a £3m state-of-the-art innovation and manufacturing center designed to power the development of world-leading equipment.
Strategically located on Newcastle’s Tyne Corridor, an epicenter of subsea innovation, the facility represents a £3million investment that expands SMD’s production capacity and strengthens its position as a global leader in subsea innovation.
The new site has been specifically designed to support the efficient development and delivery of world-first products for SMD’s growing order book. SMD Tech Works includes advanced test facilities, development laboratories, and manufacturing space to accelerate the creation and deployment of next-generation systems.
Mike Jones, chairman at SMD, said: “SMD Tech Works is a milestone in our growth journey. It provides the infrastructure needed to deliver the most advanced subsea technologies to our clients worldwide, while ensuring we can scale production in line with demand.
“We have launched 12 world-first products over the past five decades, including our latest range of all-electric ROVs. This facility ensures we remain at the forefront of subsea innovation, powering the development of cutting-edge equipment such as our cable and pipeline tracker, SMD Artemis and remote piloting system, SMD Horizon.”
The opening of Tech Works follows a series of strategic product launches, which reflect the company’s commitment to supporting the offshore renewables sector by providing clients with reliable, efficient, and sustainable subsea solutions.
Mark Collins, innovation director at SMD, added: “This 1,800 sqm facility has been specially designed to drive the next wave of subsea innovation. With dedicated space for our Innovation Division, including a test tank and development labs, we can push technology further and do so faster than ever before.
“Tech Works enables us to work more closely with our supply chain, reduce lead times, and bring new systems to market more efficiently, giving our clients a clear competitive advantage.”
With over 300 employees across three UK sites, SMD continues to expand its capacity to serve clients in offshore wind, telecoms, subsea minerals and oil and gas. Tech Works represents a key step in strengthening SMD’s global delivery capability and ensuring the company remains the partner of choice for advanced subsea engineering.
