More than 500 jobs could be created in Peterborough after the announcement that Photocentric, a 3-D printer and resin manufacturer, is to build a 60,000ft² UK Centre of Excellence in the town.

The venture has been backed by the Combined Authority of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, which has pledged funding support of £1.8 million.

The total cost of the project has not been disclosed, and three locations are currently being considered.

Photocentric’s managing director, Paul Holt (www.photocentricgroup.com), said that the company’s current operations in Peterborough and 145 staff will move to the new building in the summer of 2021, and 210 new jobs will be created.

“We are in the final stages of agreeing terms for construction on one of three possible sites, all within the industrial heartland of Peterborough.

"We are fortunate to be able to bring 145 committed employees into Fengate every day, so we will not require them to move more than a few miles to the new building.

"The new centre will enable the invention and exploitation of new additive-manufacturing techniques that will create new ways to make plastic, ceramic and metal items.

"These will be more environment-friendly and lower in cost, as no tooling is needed.

"The freedom of making an item without the restrictions of removing it from a mould also enables lighter structures to be designed.”