AAM Europe creates new centre of excellence in Glasgow

AAM Europe has established a new manufacturing and engineering centre of excellence which will support approximately 80 jobs at its Albion Automotive site in Scotstoun.

The new centre, supported by Scottish Enterprise, will increase the company’s capabilities in product and process design and allow it to refocus on new opportunities in the passenger vehicle market. The company has recruited approximately 40 new jobs at its site in the past year, while the project will also safeguard approximately 35 jobs.

The company is investing a total of £3.6 million in new capital equipment, machinery and R&D that will allow it to respond to changing market conditions within the automotive sector and add new business with automotive producers in the U.K.

The announcement comes as the First Minister returns from the US, where he and Scottish Enterprise chief executive Lena Wilson met with key representatives of American Axle & Manufacturing as part of the Scottish trade mission.

William A Smith, Executive Director of Government Addairs and Community Relations at AAM Europe said: “It has been a pleasure for the AAM team to work with the Scottish Development International and Scottish Enterprise in obtaining support for our new business in Scotland. With their excellent support in obtaining RSA and R&D grants, AAM Europe has been able to add important new business to our portfolio.”

Scottish Enterprise has been working with the company to identify how it can support the company to respond to new market opportunities and address existing challenges at its Scotstoun site.

AAM Europe’s investment in its Glasgow site will be supported by a package of financial support from Scottish Enterprise, which includes a regional selective assistance grant of £480,000 and a research and development grant of £94,000.

Lena Wilson, chief executive of Scottish Enterprise, said: “We know that economic conditions remain tough for many businesses but AAM is a great example of a company which has recognised the need to invest in new R&D and new equipment to ensure it remains competitive and it can expand its customer base.

“Our R&D and RSA grants are a key tool in encouraging companies to take that plunge and invest in new growth opportunities but equally important is the ongoing advice and support we can offer through our specialist advisors in Scotland and the work of our colleagues in SDI in the USA to attract this investment from AAM in the Scottish site.”