DYSON’S former head of manufacturing has been appointed to the Northern Ireland company developing a new class of zero-emission high speed sea vessels.
Simon Locke will take charge of the manufacturing efforts at Artemis Technologies, the lead partner in the Belfast Maritime Consortium, which last year won a £33 million UK Government innovation grant
The consortium, which includes Belfast Harbour, Spirit Aerosystems, and Queen’s University, is aiming to create 1,000 jobs over the next decade.
Simon Locke was a founding member of the team that created Dyson’s revolutionary digital motor.
He will be responsible for the manufacturing of the Artemis eFoiler, an electric hydrofoiling propulsion system that Artemis hopes will power the green vessels of the future.
“Having started at Dyson over 20 years ago, I was privileged to experience its rise to global recognition,” said Mr Locke. “That same energy is here at Artemis Technologies – there’s nowhere else in the world this close to the leading edge of advancing marine technology.
“What really excites me, and what attracted me to make the move to Artemis Technologies was the opportunity to really push forward the boundaries of new technologies, be part of the electric revolution and play a role in a project that will make a huge impact on sustainability and climate change.”
Artemis Technologies’ chief executive is double Olympic gold medallist Iain Percy Dr Iain Percy.
He said: “As we continue to strive to deliver real innovation through unique solutions and products, Simon’s arrival is a true reflection of the calibre of work we wish to achieve here at Artemis Technologies.”
