News: Rotherham expertise could prove the difference in quest for medals
Technical expertise from North America, Europe and the UK has been brought together by Bromley Technologies in Rotherham to complete the final parts of a technology package that could propel Team GB's top medal hopes Shelley Rudman and Kristan Bromley to success in the Winter Olympics.
Based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham, Bromley Technologies combined with fellow AMP residents Materialise UK Ltd and the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing (AMRC) to work with American firm, Mentor Graphics Corporation to provide an aerodynamic package which could provide the extra performance edge needed at Vancouver.
As aerodynamics are relatively easy for competitor teams to copy, the ultimate aerodynamic design was finalised after the last race of the World Cup season leaving a very short turn around time to test the proposed package, analyse the results and make the decision to go ahead with the new designs or not.
Working around the clock, simulations were undertaken by Bromley Technologies Ltd, using FLoEFD software by permission of Mentor Graphics Corporation to assess potential aerodynamic gain, and finalise the potential pan design.
The pan was designed, manufactured and delivered within 48 hours by Materialise in the UK and Belgium, and tests in St. Moritz proved the results of the analysis and simulations. The decision was made to go ahead with the new design for the Olympics and this required a final mould to be manufactured; the pans laid up, made and trimmed, before final fittings and preparations prior to being shipped to Canada.
Again another race against time, the design files were finalised by the Bromley Technologies team and forwarded to the AMRC who used their stat-of-the-art five-axis machine to produce moulds in a matter of days. The Bromley Technologies engineers then laid up the two pans to have them ready to fly out with the athletes.
Mike Maddock, COO of Bromley Technologies said: "I just want to say a huge thanks to Mentor Graphics, Materialise and the AMRC for their help in bringing together the final pieces of the Olympic skeleton technology programme. Without their help and that of our other Formula Ice sponsor companies, we would not have had the successful World Cup campaigns this season, and certainly wouldn't be going into Vancouver as serious medal contenders."
"It's great to be able to showcase such technological expertise on a world stage, and to illustrate through our Formula Ice programme how companies can come together to collaborate and help create something really special."
Philip Hudson, managing director, Materialise UK Ltd, said: "We're pleased that Materialise have supported Shelley and Kristan's Olympic medal bid. It's been a real team effort both here in the UK and in Belgium, and shows the capabilities available through the latest rapid prototyping and manufacturing techniques. We wish them every success this week in Vancouver."
Professor Keith Ridgway, AMRC co-founder, said: "We are delighted to be working alongside a world-class company in Bromley Techologies. With our combined expertise in engineering technology, we have developed an innovative package, and will be eagerly watching Kristan and Shelley's performance and wish them every success at the games."
Based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham, Bromley Technologies combined with fellow AMP residents Materialise UK Ltd and the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing (AMRC) to work with American firm, Mentor Graphics Corporation to provide an aerodynamic package which could provide the extra performance edge needed at Vancouver.
As aerodynamics are relatively easy for competitor teams to copy, the ultimate aerodynamic design was finalised after the last race of the World Cup season leaving a very short turn around time to test the proposed package, analyse the results and make the decision to go ahead with the new designs or not.
Working around the clock, simulations were undertaken by Bromley Technologies Ltd, using FLoEFD software by permission of Mentor Graphics Corporation to assess potential aerodynamic gain, and finalise the potential pan design.
The pan was designed, manufactured and delivered within 48 hours by Materialise in the UK and Belgium, and tests in St. Moritz proved the results of the analysis and simulations. The decision was made to go ahead with the new design for the Olympics and this required a final mould to be manufactured; the pans laid up, made and trimmed, before final fittings and preparations prior to being shipped to Canada.
Again another race against time, the design files were finalised by the Bromley Technologies team and forwarded to the AMRC who used their stat-of-the-art five-axis machine to produce moulds in a matter of days. The Bromley Technologies engineers then laid up the two pans to have them ready to fly out with the athletes.
Mike Maddock, COO of Bromley Technologies said: "I just want to say a huge thanks to Mentor Graphics, Materialise and the AMRC for their help in bringing together the final pieces of the Olympic skeleton technology programme. Without their help and that of our other Formula Ice sponsor companies, we would not have had the successful World Cup campaigns this season, and certainly wouldn't be going into Vancouver as serious medal contenders."
"It's great to be able to showcase such technological expertise on a world stage, and to illustrate through our Formula Ice programme how companies can come together to collaborate and help create something really special."
Philip Hudson, managing director, Materialise UK Ltd, said: "We're pleased that Materialise have supported Shelley and Kristan's Olympic medal bid. It's been a real team effort both here in the UK and in Belgium, and shows the capabilities available through the latest rapid prototyping and manufacturing techniques. We wish them every success this week in Vancouver."Professor Keith Ridgway, AMRC co-founder, said: "We are delighted to be working alongside a world-class company in Bromley Techologies. With our combined expertise in engineering technology, we have developed an innovative package, and will be eagerly watching Kristan and Shelley's performance and wish them every success at the games."
Bromley Technologies website
Materialise websiteAMRC website
Rotherham
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