Siemens Healthineers invests over €290 million in the first large-scale production facility for new MRI cooling technology in the UK at its Oxford site

Footos: © Siemens Healthcare

Oxford / May 10, 2024 – Siemens Healthineers has announced the construction of a new facility in North Oxfordshire to develop and manufacture superconducting magnets. These will be used as part of magnetic resonance imaging scanners in healthcare facilities worldwide. Siemens Healthineers is investing over €290 million (£250 million GBP) in the new facility, a cutting-edge technology that minimizes the use of helium and makes the scanners lighter and easier to install.

• Start of construction of new site for the development and production of superconducting MRI magnets
• Site includes R&D center for the development of innovative and sustainable MRI technology
• Once fully operational, Oxfordshire will benefit from over 1.300 jobs
• 56.000 m2 site with modern technology for manufacturing automation

Construction work on the 56.000 m2 site, which will provide more than 1.300 jobs, has
Construction has already begun. This is the first large-scale production facility in the UK for Siemens Healthineers' new DryCool technology, which reduces the amount of helium required in an MRI scanner from 1.500 liters to less than a single liter. The new site, which will be carbon-neutral in operation, will deliver a range of financial, infrastructural, and environmental benefits to the local economy upon its planned opening in 2, while also underscoring Siemens Healthineers' decades-long commitment to manufacturing in the Oxford region.

"I'm delighted that Siemens Healthineers has chosen Oxfordshire for its new site," said Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. "This will secure over 1.300 skilled jobs in the region and reinforce the region's status as a leader in healthcare and research and development. But beyond the extraordinary local benefits it will bring, this state-of-the-art facility also offers the opportunity to improve patient care worldwide—meaning British innovations will save lives around the world."

With this state-of-the-art, automated manufacturing facility, Siemens Healthineers will provide critical additional capacity to meet the growing global demand for MRI scanners, driven by an aging population and the increased prevalence of chronic diseases. The new site will also include a research and development center where new technologies for the world's smallest and lightest full-body scanners will be developed and manufactured.

As one of five Siemens Healthineers manufacturing sites in the UK, the new facility underscores the company's significant high-tech presence across the country. Once operational, the new facility will create more than 1.300 jobs, including the 600 currently available at an existing factory in Eynsham, Oxfordshire. In addition to manufacturing jobs, many positions are planned for highly skilled workers such as physicists, engineers, technicians, and specialized support staff. The phased transition to the new site is expected to be completed by 2030, depending on the changing demand for the products being developed.

"MRI technology plays a vital role in diagnosing disease and helping patients get and stay healthy. As a global leader in medical imaging, we are very proud to begin the next chapter of our history here in Oxford," said Bernd Montag, CEO of Siemens Healthineers. "This site will be the global center for our innovative and virtually helium-free magnet technology. This will significantly reduce the use of a scarce natural resource while enabling access to MRIs for significantly more patients."

The building, designed with the support of the developer Tritax Symmetry and based on a CO2-neutral
Designed for operation, it pays special attention to the surrounding communities and the environment, incorporating sustainability strategies aimed at reducing energy consumption and improving employee health and well-being. In addition to job creation, community benefits include financial investments in the local economy, improvements to the local road network, and environmental benefits in the form of a net gain in biodiversity. This is complemented by support for local infrastructure such as bus routes, footpaths, and cycleways.

As part of its expansion plans, Siemens Healthineers is renewing its local education commitment in Oxfordshire. This includes mentoring projects for students in nearby schools and increasing the number of apprentices by 25 percent over a three-year program. The company is also the main sponsor of the Oxford Science and Ideas Festival, which encourages young people to learn more about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in the region.