Aston Martin to build the sport's first-ever ‘smart factory'

The Aston Martin Cognizant F1 Team rejoined the FIA Formula One World Championship just a few months ago, but it is eager to enhance its competitiveness in the highly competitive world of the pinnacle of motorsport. The outfit from Silverstone in heavily investing not only in hiring new personnel, but also in an ultra-modern facility.

The constructions works are well underway, but there is still a huge amount of work to be done before the outfit can occupy its new home. The 400,000 square feet (37,000m2) buildings will become the new home of racing squad that competes with its cars sporting the iconic British Racing Green colours. The team has outgrown its existing facilities and will rapidly grow its current headcount by the expected completion date of late 2022 or early 2023.

For the first time, the new factory will house every manufacturing resource within a single campus – the team currently operates from several discrete buildings, with additional work outsourced externally.

In addition to the upgrade and expansion of facilities and machinery, the new factory will be complemented by a brand-new wind tunnel and a brand-new Formula One simulator. According to the team, the new tunnel will use the latest steel-belt rolling-road system, and a state-of-the-art flow-imaging section area. For the first time in the team’s history, the site will incorporate the wind tunnel, model support and production facilities – a move that will bring significant development-rate benefits. The commissioning of the wind tunnel is due to start in Q3 2023

In a statement, the team said that ‘the new factory has been designed from the ground-up to be a wireless, adaptive, streamlined facility – one whose information streams, monitoring systems and manufacturing processes are tied together via data in the cloud.” The support of the team’s key technical partners both underlines their commitment to the organisation and also the validity of the solutions they provide.

The smart factory tech is expected to give the new building the ability to adapt to the cyclical manufacturing processes of a Formula One team, and will provide significant economies of scale and function as the team expands its production presence.

Commenting on the huge investment, Lawrence Stroll, Executive Chairman, Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team, said: “It is inspiring to look at where we are now in the context of the architectural and organisational challenges and ambitions that lie ahead. Our new buildings reflect not only the scope of our determination to become a World Championship-winning force, but also the scale of our growth and development as an organisation.

“I feel strongly that any building is a powerful representation of the people who work within it, and I am thrilled that we are creating a new home in which people can work, collaborate, create and win together.

“It is exciting to think that the entire team will be in its new home by the end of 2022 or the start of 2023, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our partners who are working on the project, especially JCB and Cognizant," Stroll concluded.

“This ambitious project firmly positions the new team headquarters on the Formula One landscape and provides a fantastic home and working environment for a group of extraordinarily talented and motivated men and women. I am inspired by Lawrence’s compelling vision for the team. It is an ambition we wholeheartedly share: to build a better industrial future for our country, Lord Bamford, Chairman, JCB, added.

Otmar Szafnauer, Aston Martin Cognizant CEO and Team Principal, said: “Our existing Silverstone factory is a little piece of Formula One history – but, as an organisation, we have outgrown it. What is more, we will require even more space as we continue to build our headcount over the next few years.

“We are indebted to the local council for their help and understanding throughout the design and consultation phase; we feel like we are creating a landmark that will express and enhance the values and investment that have made the Silverstone Technology Park and Motorsport Valley essential locations for the British technology industry.”

Brian Humphries, Cognizant Chief Executive Officer, said: “Aston Martin is everything you want in a partner – visionary, innovative, customer-centric, focused and fast-moving. We are thoroughly enjoying our partnership because the work is cutting-edge, we get to leverage the full suite of our digital solutions, and the results become quickly visible.

“It is exciting to be part of the new Aston Martin factory design. By bringing to bear Lawrence’s compelling vision and Cognizant’s digital capabilities, Aston Martin’s infrastructure is evolving into a smart factory that will help the team become one of the most respected and successful names in Formula One.

“The inauguration of Aston Martin’s fit-for-purpose factory and wind tunnel sets in motion a transformative journey that leverages the best of both companies’ knowledge, experience and expertise. It also reflects the determination and confidence of our two organisations as we fulfil the promise of this deep and mutually beneficial partnership.

“Once complete, the new Aston Martin Cognizant buildings will represent the state-of-the-art in Formula One and offer an empowering place in which to work, design, manufacture, collaborate and win," Humphries concluded.