#Drennn. Posted March 26, 2019 Posted March 26, 2019 The first prototype of McLaren's new MonoCell carbonfibre tubs has been delivered by the firm's £50m Composites Technology Centre (MCTC) in Sheffield to its main production facility in Surrey. Codenamed 'PLT-MCTC-01' (Prototype Lightweight Tub, McLaren Composites Technology Centre - 01), the lightweight chassis is the first step towards saving weight across the company's range in preparation for the adoption of hybrid technology. McLaren will now subject the new chassis to a thorough crash testing programme at its main Woking facility. The firm is developing its next generation of vehicles under the Track25 business plan, which will see hybrid technology rolled across its entire range by 2024. Wes Jacklin, plant director at the MCTC, said: "It's increasingly clear that with future heavier powertrain requirements, exploiting innovative lightweighting techniques and technologies is going to be a significant key to unlocking all the handling and agility characteristics that our customers demand." McLaren's second production facility was officially opened in November by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, accompanied by the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Bahrain. The site is located in the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Catcliffe, between Sheffield and Rotherham. The MCTC will become the Woking-based manufacturer's specialist carbonfibre facility as part of a push to save weight and improve the energy efficiency of its cars. Full-scale production is anticipated to begin next year, with the current 60-strong workforce to swell to over 200. On hand to watch the unveiling of a commemorative carbonfibre plaque at last year's opening ceremony were representatives from Sheffield and Rotherham district councils, a number of senior local stakeholders, and the facility's team of engineers. An event to celebrate the facility's birth saw a Senna hypercar perform doughnuts to ‘christen’ the newly laid factory floor, which spans 75,000sq ft. Forty-five McLaren employees are located at the nearby University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), which is partnering McLaren. This team is set to grow to 200 and is working on pushing advances in carbonfibre tub technology. The pre-production versions of McLaren's one-piece 'MonoCell' tubs are being built in association with the university, using new techniques and more automation. Additionally, McLaren is training apprentices who will work at the new facility. The British content of McLaren’s cars will increase from 50% to 58% when the Sheffield-made tubs are used. Production of the MonoCell is currently sub-contracted to a company named Carbo Tech, based in Magna where the Jaguar I-Pace and E-Pace are built. When the MCTC is fully operational, the completed tubs it makes will be transported from Sheffield to the McLaren Production Centre in Woking for final assembly. Ken Smart, project director for the MCTC, said: “There are two key reasons why we are developing this facility. First, taking control of the manufacture of the tub enables us to build in more design flexibility. So, as we develop the vehicles, we will be able to design the tubs to meet the features of those vehicles; things that matter to the customer, such as vehicle dynamics, ergonomics, space in the cabin, the driving position, visibility, ingress and egress. “Second, and perhaps more importantly, it gives us the opportunity to continually learn from the development process. Every time we solve a problem, we learn something new. “That gives us the ability to modify the design for its structural integrity and gives us the ability to optimise the manufacturing processes yet further. Taking this technology in-house is giving us the opportunity to increase the pace of the design and development of the carbonfibre tub.” The new facility will also lead to a cost saving in the region of £10m, according to McLaren chiefs, and there is potential for the MCTC to supply carbonfibre components for other companies, because McLaren’s production targets for the foreseeable future will leave the Sheffield plant with surplus capacity when it is fully operational.
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