Siemens Healthineers establishes pioneering MRI facility in the UK

UK – Siemens Healthineers has formally announced the establishment of a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing and design facility in North Oxfordshire, United Kingdom.

This strategic investment of £250 million is dedicated to the development and production of advanced superconducting magnets, integral components for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems utilized in healthcare facilities globally for patient diagnostics.

This substantial undertaking underscores Siemens Healthineers’ commitment to innovation within medical imaging.

The new 56,000m² site will serve as the primary production hub for novel “DryCool” technology, designed to significantly reduce the helium requirement in MRI scanners from approximately 1,500 liters to less than one liter.

This advancement is anticipated to result in lighter, more easily deployable, and more sustainable MRI systems, addressing critical logistical and environmental considerations within healthcare infrastructure.

Construction of the facility has commenced, and it is projected to support over 1,300 skilled positions upon full operationalization.

This site represents the United Kingdom’s first major production facility for this innovative low-helium magnet technology.

Beyond its technological contributions, the operationally carbon-neutral facility is expected to generate considerable financial, infrastructural, and environmental benefits for the local economy following its anticipated opening in 2026, reinforcing the company’s long-standing manufacturing presence in the Oxford region.

Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak commented on the significance of this development: “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.”

Mr. Bernd Montag, Chief Executive of Siemens Healthineers, emphasized the clinical impact: “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.

This factory will be the global centre 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.”

The facility will incorporate high-end manufacturing automation technology, providing essential additional capacity to meet the increasing global demand for MRI products, driven by aging populations and the rising prevalence of chronic diseases.

Dedicated R&D hub

The new factory will also feature a dedicated research and development hub, focusing on pioneering new technologies, including the design and manufacture of some of the world’s most compact and lightweight whole-body scanners.

As one of six current and future Siemens Healthineers manufacturing sites in the UK, this new facility highlights the company’s substantial high-tech footprint across the country.

The site is poised to sustain over 1,300 jobs when fully operational, including the retention of more than 600 Oxfordshire-based positions currently at an existing Siemens Healthineers facility in Eynsham.

A significant proportion of these roles are for highly skilled professionals, such as physicists, engineers, technicians, and specialized support staff, in addition to those employed during the construction phase. The phased transition is estimated for completion by 2030, contingent upon product demand.

Developed with support from Tritax Symmetry, the building has been designed for operational carbon neutrality, incorporating strategies to minimize energy demand and promote health and wellbeing.

Beyond employment, the project’s public benefits encompass direct financial investment in the local economy, enhancements to the local highway network, and environmental improvements through biodiversity net gain. Furthermore, it includes support for local services, such as bus routes, footpaths, and cycleways.

In conjunction with its expansion in Oxfordshire, Siemens Healthineers Magnet Technology will renew its commitments to local community engagement and education.

This includes providing mentoring services to students in local schools and increasing apprenticeship intake by 25% over a three-year program.

The company also remains a primary sponsor of the Oxford Science and Ideas Festival, promoting engagement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics among young people in the region.