Amanda Hack, Member of Parliament for North West Leicestershire, visited ABB’s Drive Service Workshop facility for a wide-ranging discussion around sustainability, circularity, and how to address the UK’s widening engineering skills gap.
ABB’s UK Engineering Centre in Coalville, Leicestershire, recently welcomed a special guest – local MP Amanda Hack – for an in-depth tour of its cutting-edge facility. Amanda was given an extensive guided tour, taking in the main workshop area, the hands-on training and educational facilities, the state-of-the-art testing rig used for full load testing of repaired drives, and the PLC room.
L-R: Matthew Pownall (Head of Motion Service, ABB), Sean Conreen (Technical Support Engineer, ABB), Amanda Hack MP, Steve Hughes (Strategic Marketing & Sales Manager – Motion Service, ABB)
The Coalville centre plays a vital role in supporting UK industry, specialising in the service and repair of functioning and non-functioning variable speed drives. By giving these devices and their components a second life, the facility helps businesses to cut carbon emissions, reduce waste, and extend the lifespan of valuable assets. Repairing a drive at Coalville can use between 55 and 80 percent less carbon compared to purchasing a brand new drive.
“Circularity and sustainability require a change in mindset,” explained Steve Hughes, Strategic Marketing & Sales Manager – Motion Service, ABB. “Motors consume nearly half of the world’s electricity, and so even small improvements in efficiency can have a major impact on the lifecycle carbon footprint of industrial processes.”
“We invest heavily in R&D to bring innovative solutions to the table to work towards a more sustainable future,” added Matthew Pownall, Head of Motion Service UK, ABB. “In recent years the spiralling cost of energy has shifted the dial and brought energy efficiency technologies to the forefront. However there’s much more to do, which is why we’ve invested in our training facilities here, and partner with local schools and colleges to engage young engineers and encourage them to pursue a career in our industry.”
As a member of the Work and Pensions Select Committee, Amanda Hack is known to take a keen interest in upskilling the workforce through technology and innovation. “Coalville has been at the forefront of industry for two centuries, and I’m pleased to see so much innovation happening right on the doorstep.” commented Amanda, “It’s very impressive what they’re doing here, and it shows that North West Leicestershire is a place in which businesses want to invest.”
“Energy efficiency, and reducing the environmental impact of industrial operations, are so important for our nation’s sustainability and productivity. I’m also very pleased to see what ABB is doing to inspire the next generation of young engineers, and it gives me an important message that I can take back into schools and colleges, and help change perceptions around careers in engineering. I’m very grateful to ABB for inviting me here today.”
