Swans' new app showcases what the Tyne has to offer

The AR app was showcased for the first time at NOF Energy’s two-day Energy: A Balanced Future 2016 conference and exhibition, on March 8 and 9.

Created to apply the latest in hi-tech work to showcase the 34-acre advanced manufacturing Swans development in Wallsend, North Tyneside, it was unveiled to NOF Energy delegates on a special two-hour boat trip along the river.

Swans, owned by North Tyneside Council, is set to be one of the largest specialist quayside developments in the UK with completed infrastructure including new roads and utilities, as well as the completion of a dredging operation which has increased the draught at the quay edge to 9.1m.

The boat trip, organised by Invest North East England and sponsored by the Swans North Tyneside team, was held to showcase the capabilities, development opportunities and leading world-class companies already operating on the banks of the Tyne.

Those on board included NOF Energy delegates, with key representatives from companies across the globe.

Among the 80 invitees was Andrew Hodgson, chair of the North East LEP and chief executive of subsea engineering company Soil Machine Dynamics, which completed a load-out operation at Swans in February - the first of its kind to take place at Swans’ recently dredged quay.

Others guests included representatives from UKTI members, GE Oil & Gas, a Brazilian trade group, Shepcote Engineering, Adwen Offshore, Barrier Group, F.E.S (Ex) Ltd, IW-Decom Ltd and MacKellar Subsea Ltd.

Mark Robinson, director of Kier Property and Swans’ site development partner, said: “Launching the new augmented reality app on board the boat trip proved a huge success.

"It offered us a great way of laying the foundations for prospective Swans tenants in a new and exciting way, helping bring the site to life in ways we could previously not imagine.

“It gave us the opportunity to network on a one-to-one basis with operators and contractors to show them how they can benefit from the location by highlighting the site’s capabilities and development opportunities.

"We were able to better understand their needs and will now work with them on innovative solutions for the future of Swans.

“We hope to develop the app’s capabilities further as we follow up strong leads and as the site progresses.

"In the meantime, it offers us a unique way of showcasing the site to advanced manufacturing clients at events across the country, throughout the year.”

Norma Redfearn, Elected Mayor of North Tyneside, said: “Our state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing facilities being developed at Swans and other sites make North Tyneside one of the best places to do business.

“This has been a great opportunity to show some world-leading companies what North Tyneside has to offer, and how Swans can help them grow in a global market.”

Paul Nicholson, director of PGN Property, one of the agents marketing the Swans site, added: “We were also delighted to attend the NOF Energy conference for the third year in a row.

"It’s such a great gathering for the energy industry as it enables a whole range of leading companies to come together and discuss the important matters affecting their industry.”

Aidan Baker, director at joint agents BNP Paribas, said: “We’re very proud to have been involved in Swans from the very beginning in what we hope will become a very successful site over the next five years and a significant part of the regeneration of the north banks of the Tyne.”

Dan Riley, chief executive of Middlesbrough-based Spearhead Interactive, which created the AR app, said: “We are thrilled to have been able to develop the Swans Site Augmented Reality app in partnership with Gardiner Richardson and the key stakeholders overseeing the regeneration and redevelopment of the Swans site.

“It’s been a wonderful opportunity to bring the site to life and play a small part in promoting the high-level work being done to bring investment and jobs into the region.

"Augmented Reality is a perfect medium to engage and amaze an audience, and we’re very pleased that the technology has been so well received by those who have had a chance to try it for themselves.”

* To download the new augmented reality app, visit the Swans North Tyneside website HEREand click on the download tab at the bottom of the home page.

You can then place your device over the Swans image on the page to see what it could look like.

Alternatively, you can also download the app from the Google Play Store HERE.

If you have a Swans brochure, place your phone or tablet over the image on the back of the brochure to visualise what the site could look like.