Princess Royal Opens Bentley's New State-of-the-Art Paint Shop in Crewe
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal officially opened Bentley's new 12,500-square-metre Paint Shop, marking a major milestone in the Dream Factory transformation.
12,500 m²
First automotive Paint Shop to use AGVs for body transport
On Crewe campus
What Happened
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal visited Bentley Motors' headquarters in Crewe to officially open the company's new state-of-the-art Paint Shop. The facility covers 12,500 square metres and is the tallest building on Bentley's Crewe campus. It is the first automotive Paint Shop in the world to use Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) to transport vehicle bodies through the paint production process.
“We are honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to Crewe and to mark the official opening of our new Paint Shop – a proud moment for all of us and the culmination of a great deal of innovation and ambition to see the facility come to life. Her visit provides an opportunity to celebrate the extraordinary colleagues whose expertise, passion and dedication continue to drive Bentley f”
“This facility represents a major milestone in the transformation of our Dream Factory and a significant investment in the future of British manufacturing. Combining advanced technologies with exceptional craftsmanship, it strengthens our production capabilities and supports the next generation of Bentley vehicles, including the forthcoming Bentley Torcal. Just as importantly, every aspect of the P”
- Advanced thermal management systems for cooler, more comfortable working conditions
- Intelligent automation and AGVs to improve ergonomics and reduce physical demands
- Significant reductions in energy consumption, waste, and emissions
The Paint Shop will play a key role in Bentley's future product portfolio. The Bentley Torcal, the brand's fourth model line, will be painted in the facility from the start of production, alongside the Continental GT, Continental GTC, and Flying Spur. The opening was marked by the unveiling of a commemorative plaque, reaffirming Bentley's commitment to British manufacturing excellence.
Previously from Bentley Motors Ltd.
Earlier this month, Bentley unveiled a unique propulsion sound for the Torcal, called 'Bentley Dynamic Symphony', created using live musicians to evoke historic V8 engines. This highlights the craftsmanship that will also go into painting the Torcal at the new facility.
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of Bentley Motors Ltd.'s official releases.
Why this matters
The new paint shop combines advanced manufacturing technologies with enhanced sustainability and improved working conditions for colleagues. It will paint the forthcoming Bentley Torcal, the brand's fourth model line, alongside existing models. This investment underscores Bentley's commitment to British luxury automotive manufacturing and its future.
Terms in This Story
- AGV
- Automated Guided Vehicle, a robot that moves materials without a driver.
- Dream Factory
- Bentley's ongoing transformation program to modernize its manufacturing operations.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.