Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team has provided a build update on the new factory currently under construction at the Silverstone race circuit in the UK.
The facility will house a wide variety of areas to aid the team with development, including a machine shop with two brand-new autoclave pressure cookers for curing carbon fiber. Two refurbished autoclaves from the old factory will also be situated here. To ensure carbon fiber impregnated with resins can be kept for a longer period, a new walk-in freezer will also be installed.
At present, almost all trade types are on-site, including electricians, groundworkers and cladders – with an early shift running from 7:30am until 4:30pm and a late shift from 4:30pm until approximately 12pm to speed up the construction process.
Other areas within the factory include the Formula 1 race car construction area, complete with toolboxes which have built-in power, data and air lines. Behind these an exhaust extractor has been fitted to enable the team to run the vehicle inside.
Above this is the technical office, an open plan area with all of the team’s engineers in a single place to foster collaboration. Large meeting rooms are located along either side with 110in screens for design and upgrade reviews.
Aston Martin has been working with its technical partners, Aramco, Cognizant, NetApp and SentinelOne, throughout the project to properly integrate the digital infrastructure. Juniper Networks is providing the facility with high-speed connectivity.
In close proximity to the factory sits the team’s new wind tunnel site, which will also house a rolling road for model testing. Within this building are additional areas for rapid prototyping and manufacturing model parts. Up the stairs are a dirty model shop and a clean model shop for assembly. This building also houses the control room for the wind tunnel.
The existing factory will be knocked down in June/July 2023 to make way for a new building for staff amenities such as a restaurant, gym and simulators. Aston Martin expects the redevelopment to be completed by Q3 2024.
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