Unipart Manufacturing has been named a key partner in Project PULSE, an £11 million government-funded initiative to establish UK production of advanced power electronics. The consortium, led by Protean Electric, combines industry expertise with academic research from Coventry University and Warwick Manufacturing Group to develop next-generation in-wheel motor and fuel-cell technologies.
Coventry Facility to Pioneer Sustainable Manufacturing
At its Beresford Avenue site, Unipart will establish a cutting-edge manufacturing line for high-power converters and inverters, incorporating advanced vision systems and automated testing. The facility’s flexible design will support the project’s dual goals of increasing local supply chain content while implementing low-carbon production methods. By 2030, the initiative aims to create or safeguard 159 jobs while reducing annual CO2 emissions by 1.2 million tonnes.
Strengthening UK’s Electrification Capabilities
The collaboration represents a strategic move to onshore critical electrification technologies currently reliant on international supply chains. Unipart’s involvement leverages three decades of automotive manufacturing experience, with 800 specialists across Coventry and Portsmouth locations providing design, production, and commercialization expertise. The company’s recent acquisition of Polymer and Composite Solutions further enhances its materials science capabilities for sustainable manufacturing.
Academic-Industry Partnership Drives Innovation
Project PULSE integrates university research directly into industrial production, positioning the UK as a leader in power electronics. Coventry University and WMG will contribute cutting-edge R&D to optimize manufacturing processes and product performance. This knowledge transfer model ensures the UK maintains technological leadership as global demand for electrification solutions grows exponentially in coming years.
Call for Broader Industry Collaboration
Unipart leaders emphasized the project’s potential to transform UK manufacturing competitiveness while supporting net-zero goals. “This initiative demonstrates how industry-academic partnerships can deliver both commercial and environmental benefits,” said Carol Rose Burke, Unipart Manufacturing MD. The company invites additional collaborators to join efforts in building a resilient, sustainable supply chain for electrification technologies that will power the UK’s clean growth future.
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