Construction has begun on a new technology facility near Bicester in North Oxfordshire that will design and manufacture superconducting magnets used in healthcare facilities globally for MRI patient scans.
With an investment of £250 million ($314 million), the 56,000 sq m site will be home to novel technology that minimizes the use of helium, making scanners lighter, easier to install and more sustainable, supporting more than 1,300 skilled jobs.
It will be the UK’s first major production site for the new so-called DryCool technology by Siemens Healthineers, which reduces the amount of helium required in an MRI scanner from 1,500 litres to under a single litre.
The new facility, which will be operationally carbon-neutral, will provide a range of financial, infrastructure and environmental benefits to the local economy from its planned opening in 2026, underlining the company’s decades-long commitment to manufacturing in the Oxford area.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “I am delighted Siemens Healthineers has chosen Oxfordshire for its new facility, supporting over 1,300 skilled jobs in the area, and reinforcing the region’s status as a vanguard in healthcare and R&D. But as well as the incredible local benefits this will bring, this cutting-edge facility also presents an opportunity to enhance patient care globally – which means British innovation is saving lives around the world.”
With high-end manufacturing automation technology in place, Siemens Healthineers will provide vital additional capacity to help satisfy the rising global demand for MRI products as populations age and chronic diseases become more prevalent. The new factory will include a research and development hub responsible for new technologies, such as designing and manufacturing some of the world’s smallest and most lightweight whole-body scanners.
As one of six current and planned Siemens Healthineers manufacturing sites in the UK, the new facility underscores the company’s significant high-tech footprint across the country. The new site will support over 1,300 jobs when fully operational, including retaining over 600 Oxfordshire-based jobs currently at an existing Siemens Healthineers facility in Eynsham.
Many roles are for highly skilled workers such as physicists, engineers, technicians and specialized support staff. These are in addition to workers employed during the site’s construction. The phased transition is estimated to be completed by 2030, subject to variable demand for the products developed at the site.
“MRI technology plays a vital role in diagnosing disease, helping patients to get healthy and stay healthy. As a world leader in medical imaging, we are very proud to open the next chapter of our history here in Oxford,” said Bernd Montag, chief executive of Siemens Healthineers. “This factory will be the global center for our innovative low-helium magnet technology, meaning we consume far less of a scarce natural resource and enable access to MRIs for many more patients.”
With support from developer Tritax Symmetry, the building is designed to be operationally carbon-neutral with careful consideration for the community and environment. It also incorporates strategies to reduce energy demand and increase health and wellbeing.
Read more: Tritax Symmetry submits planning application for new Siemens Healthineers facility
Beyond employment, public benefits include financial investment in the local economy along with improvements to the local highway network and environmental benefits in terms of biodiversity net gain. This is in addition to support for local services such as bus routes, footpaths and cycleways.
As part of its expansion plans in Oxfordshire, Siemens Healthineers Magnet Technology will renew its education commitments to the local community. These include providing mentoring services to students in nearby schools and increasing apprenticeship intake by a quarter over a three-year program.
The company is also a main sponsor of the Oxford Science and Ideas Festival, inspiring young people to find out more about science, technology, engineering and mathematics in the area.
