Australian mining company Fortescue Metals Group is building a new battery and electric powertrain production facility in Oxfordshire, UK. The company says that it is thus “significantly expanding its UK manufacturing capability”.
Specifically, the new factory will be located in Banbury and cover more than 13,500 square metres and create more than 120 jobs, Fortescue says. The focus will be on “electric/ zero-emission powertrain systems” for the off-road sector, including for trucks and trains.
The site will offer automated battery module and pack assembly and assembly of power conversion and power systems. According to Fortescue, it will also house truck and train production support.
“With Fortescue’s investment, British engineering will be at the cutting edge of the green energy economy with WAE’s battery systems providing world-leading technology to the entire global industrial sector”, says Fortescue Chairman Andrew Forrest.
The site will officially open in 2024, but a prototype build should be completed in July or August this year. The first mining haul truck module will also roll off the production line in August.
The company bought Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE) last year, the engineering and battery company founded by Formula One team Williams.
Fortescue is working on projects such as a 3km long freight train, 400-tonne haul trucks and industrial heavy mobile equipment. The mining company aims to be net zero by 2030. Together with WAE, it also launched a joint project called Infinity Train. The train will transport iron ore is said to become the world’s most efficient battery-electric locomotive.
Keyword: Fortescue announces new facility in UK