Prime Minister visits OpTIC Glyndŵr

OpTIC Glyndŵr, the centre of excellence for the research and development of cutting-edge opto-electronics technology, has played host to a particularly important visitor. On 28thApril 2011, Prime Minister, David Cameron MP visited the state-of-the-art facility in St Asaph, North Wales in order to address members of the local conservative party and also to learn more about the centre’s pioneering work.

During his visit, Mr Cameron, who was accompanied by Secretary of State for Wales, Cheryl Gillan, was especially interested in OpTIC Glyndŵr’s work for the European Southern Observatory (ESO).

The centre’s ESO Lab, which is the UK’s National Facility for Ultra Precision Surfaces, is currently working on a €5million contract alongside production partner Qioptiq to prepare seven prototype mirrors for ESO’s planned E-ELT (European Extra Larger Telescope). Due to be constructed in Chile, the E-ELT will be the largest telescope anywhere in the world.

If OpTIC Glyndŵr and Qioptiq succeed in the winning the contract to supply all 1200 mirrors to the E-ELT, it will bring a deal worth approximately €200million into the UK, creating jobs and dictating the need to construct a new factory.

As the British Government contributes to the ESO E-ELT and is actively looking to win contracts to supply parts for the telescope, Mr Cameron was delighted to see that OpTIC Glyndŵr’s work is progressing well. The centre has recently completed the polishing of a hexagonal 1.5m piece of glass to a level of 15 nm (nanometres) - the first time a piece of glass this size has been finished to this quality in the UK for over 40 years.

Speaking of Mr Cameron’s visit, Dr Philip Harris, CEO, OpTIC Glyndŵr, said: “It was a real honour to welcome the Prime Minster to OpTIC Glyndŵr. He was very well informed and already fully aware of the extensive capabilities we offer in terms of researching and bringing to market advanced opto-electronics technology. In addition, his visit highlights the importance of the ESO E-ELT project not only to OpTIC Glyndŵr, but also to the wider Welsh and UK economies.”

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Images & captions:   David Cameron Visit 2.jpg:

L to R Philip Harris, CEO Optic Glyndwr, Prime Minster David Cameron and Mike Scott, Vice Chancellor of Glyndwr University in the advanced polishing lab at OpTIC

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For more information on this story, contact Wayne Mohammed or Emma Macey at PRECISION on 0161 638 8718 or e-mail: wayne@precision-online.co.uk or emma@precision-online.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

Established by Glyndŵr University, OpTIC Glyndŵr brings together academics conducting research into highly specialised areas of opto-electronics technology and businesses looking to develop that technology for commercial purposes. It has an exceptional reputation for designing, developing and manufacturing precision optical and opto-mechanical components thanks to expertise and capabilities covering:

• Precision polishing of complex or large substrates such as lenses and mirrors
• The development of micro-structured patterned drums using a unique drum diamond turning machine to replicate patterns/shapes/structures to tolerances and designs unparalleled in the world
• Photovoltaics using applied research, testing and manufacture through the exploitation of advanced thin film photovoltaic materials.
• Solar energy research thanks to its Centre for Solar Energy Research (CSER) which has a world-class reputation for researching novel photovoltaic materials and devices and which is also home to the Welsh Solar Car team.

In addition to the €5m contract for 1.4m prototype hexagonal segments for E-ELT, some of OpTIC Glyndŵr’s other recent successes include:

• Becoming the location for an £8m project to establish a Centre of Excellence for ultra-precision and structured surfaces
• The development, in conjunction with Balfour Beatty and Yorkshire Water, of advanced micro-camera/sensors for detecting leaks in mains water pipes

OpTIC Glyndŵr also includes an incubation centre providing accommodation for start-up businesses emerging from either industry or academia.

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