The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Battery jobs energise Innovation Parc plans
The new chief executive of Michelin Scotland Innovation P arc (MSIP) said jobs created by a battery firm setting up on campus will be the first of many in the next year.
MEP Technologies Ltd comes to the site two years since Michelin’s workers were informed the Dundee tyre factory was to close.
Backed by Michelin, Dundee City Council and Scottish Enterprise, MSIP hopes to attract dozens of companies in the field of sustainable transport and low-carbon energy.
The aim is to replace the 850 jobs lost in the closure of the tyre factory, which operated in the city for almost half a century.
Greig Coull, a longserving Michelin employee who succeeded John Reid at the MSIP at the start of October, said he is “fully confident” hundreds of high- quality sustainable jobs will be created.
He said: “The interest in the project has been quite incredible –it’s been accelerating despite Covid19 . The number of companies we are in discussions with has gone up and up.
‘‘It’s currently 85 people interested in coming to Dundee. The word is out there. We are ready to make MSIP something our partners and the city will be proud of.”
MEP Techno log ies designs and manufactures bespoke battery systems for a wide range of applications, including challenging offshore environments and electric vehicle systems. It also carries out research and development work.
Relocating from existing Dundee premises at Balgray Place, it will bring 10 jobs to MSIP, with plans to double that number within two years.
Mr Coull said: “In terms of the segment we are tackling, being sustainable mobility and low-carbon energy, they are ideal as our first tenants.
“The company has a lot of credibility and can be a bit of a talisman.
“Two years after the fairly devastating news that it was the end of the road for the manufacturing plant, here we are with our first tenant on site.”
Stuart Morrison, managing director of MEP Technologies, said: “We are really pleased to now be a part of the Michel in Scotland Innovation Parc community.”
Other previously announced future tenants at MSIP – Arcola Energy, who will bring 30 jobs, and Low Emissions Resources Global, with a workforce of 10 staff – will now be coming on tap in spring.
Mr Coull said Covid has brought about delays in setting up but that the companies remained “fully committed”.
Transformation work is taking place on the campus, with several other firms expected to come in the middle of next year.
“This summer all the equipment and tyres were moved out.
‘‘We are now turning to demolition works of two workshops and a boiler house that will free up space, and then subsequent construction to adapt the areas.
“Things will really get moving after this work is done. Companies we’ve spoken to have said ‘right as soon as that work is finished we are in’.”
Among the companies looking to set up at MSIP next year are German company Tuv Sud, who carry out certification on various types of industrial machinery.
They are seen as being a crucial part of the supply chain and helpful for onsite manufacturers.
Work to create a skills academy campus is also progressing in partnership with D&A College.
An innovation hub described as a “melting pot for academia, entrepreneurs and innovators” to collaborate is also planed.
MSIP will be powered by the new waste-to-energy plant at Baldovie.
Andy McDonald, head of low carbon transition at Scottish Enterprise, said: “The arrival of the first tenants marks the start of the new future for the MSIP site.’’