Small and medium-sized businesses are to get access to world-class CAD CAM (computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacture) tools and rapid prototyping through 3D printing at a new enterprise centre.
Opened this week at Wiltshire College’s Lackham campus near Chippenham, pictured, the centre is aimed at boosting product design in businesses by fast-tracking product development and bringing innovative product concepts to market. 
The 3D Enterprise Centre has been set up with industry partners including NT CADCAM, distributors of the market leading SolidWorks CAD package, with funding from Wiltshire Council via The Enterprise Network as part of a £1m investment to help business centres develop their own facilities for start-up rural businesses
It has a business lounge that will be available for members to drop in for informal meetings and the full conference facilities in Lackham House will also be available.
The Enterprise Network is a £5.2m initiative led by Wiltshire Council with Government and EU funding. It aims to nurture new and growing small and micro businesses by supporting them right from the first ‘light bulb’ moment.
It has already opened four of its own enterprise centres in Wiltshire offering affordable offices, meeting rooms, co-working and networking opportunities alongside free, impartial, business advice.
Opening the centre, Wiltshire College acting principal Amanda Burnside said: “This is a clear example of how the college and commerce can work in partnership and successfully, for both students and business.”
She thanked the centre’s technical partners, including The Enterprise Network, NT CADCAM, SYS, 3D Connexion and Zenkia.
Among businesses represented on the day were G Plan Upholstery of Melksham, Box-based Nyquist Solutions, Summit Chairs of Trowbridge, IXYS of Chippenham and PPM of Watchfield, as well as companies from Bristol, Bath and further afield in the South West.
The centre now boasts five complete commercial SolidWorks licences, bringing it on a par with some of the leading universities in the country.
Ian Weston, NT CADCAM’s UK sales manager for SolidWorks, said: “Any business can come here with an idea and utilising the technology here, can come away with a finished product.”
Haydn Earl, project manager for EIN-SW (Engineering Innovation Network-South West), based at Lackham House, added: “It is fantastic that we are pulling in the latest technology for business and student development. The more we can help develop business, the more we can provide for students in the future.”
