Business minister Michael Fallon hailed Dundee’s contribution to the UK’s burgeoning automotive sector as he toured two city firms keen to drive further success in the industry.
The Perth-born politician visited Michelin’s manufacturing plant at Baldovie, and the Wester Gourdie research and development headquarters of battery-maker Axeon, as part of a day of engagements in the north east.
He praised the French tyre firm’s commitment to Dundee Michelin celebrated 40 years in the city late last year, and celebrated the installation of a new manufacturing line in 2011 and the cutting edge research carried out at the lithium-ion specialist on the opposite side of town.
“Michelin are a major investor in Britain’s automotive supply chain, which is one of the biggest business success stories of the last few years,” he said.
“The company is a very important part of the story of our successful car industry, and also does a lot of training of its own staff and through its academy.”
Michelin Tyre managing director Wayne Culbertson said the ability to “flex” to market demands had been crucial to the continued success of the firm’s UK operation, and had helped to attract a total of £50 million of investment across plants in Dundee, Stoke and Ballymena.
Mr Fallon also met new Axeon managing director Roanna Doe. The group, which also has a major manufacturing plant in Poland, was taken over by global chemicals giant Johnson Matthey in a £40m deal in October.
“Axeon is an innovative, low-carbon business doing the research that’s needed for the next generation of that technology,” Mr Fallon said.
Marketing and corporate affairs manager Rebecca Trengove said Europe’s leading battery manufacturer would be updating the minister on its work and discussing the new Energy Storage Research and Development Centre to be established at Warwick University.
Mr Fallon, who combines his business role with a simultaneous posting as Energy Minister, also visited Total’s Elgin oil platform in the North Sea.
“We’re seeing the economy is clearly recovering and the signs all seem to be going in the right direction,” the minister said.
“We have had healthy increases in exports and in SME lending. I’m encouraged. It’s too early to crow too loudly, but there’s no doubt that the recovery is well under way and it has been spread right across the UK.
“It’s a more balanced, sustainable recovery then we have ever seen from previous downturns.”