Thursday, October 17, 2013

News: Royal visit to region

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His Royal Highness (HRH) The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO has visited Inditherm in Rotherham to see its innovative range of products.

Prince Richard, The Queen's cousin, visited the company's headquarters at Manvers before going on to officially open the University Technical College (UTC) Sheffield.

AIM-listed Inditherm has developed products using low voltage carbon polymer technology to provide heat. Its systems are used for patients undergoing operations which carry risk of inadvertent hypothermia and in neonatal wards. It is also used in industrial applications such as keeping pipes at a set temperature.

CosyTherm uses the low voltage carbon polymer technology to help prevent hypothermia in new born babies. The systems are already highly popular in the UK and used in almost half of all NHS neonatal units, with that number still growing. The product is also gaining increased international recognition, with users in over 30 countries world-wide.

Nick Bettles, CEO of Inditherm, said: "Inditherm is unique in that we are a small UK manufacturing company utilising our own carbon polymer heating technology to manufacture specialist products for the most demanding and diverse markets both at home and around the world. We are delighted to have been able to welcome His Royal Highness to see for himself something of what we are achieving here, both in terms of technological advancement and commercial success."

The UTC, based on Sheffield Council's Porter Brook Site in Sheffield city centre, was the first UTC in Yorkshire to open when the first students began studying at the £9.9m campus in September. It is helping to shape the future workforce for two of the region's key sectors - advanced engineering and manufacturing, and creative and digital media.

His Royal Highness met students and staff during a one-hour tour. Student Daniel Kay, 16, who is studying advanced engineering and manufacturing, demonstrated to His Royal Highness how to make test parts on a computer numerical control (CNC) lathe (pictured). Daniel, who wants to go onto a higher level apprenticeship or university after completing his studies at the UTC Sheffield, said: "It was a great experience. His Royal Highness asked me whether I had programmed the machine software. I explained that my teacher had helped me, and I demonstrated how to test the parts."

Student Thomas Gladwin, 16, also showed His Royal Highness how to set up the CNC milling machines. He said: "I'm very glad I took part today. I'm really enjoying my studies at the UTC and I hope to go onto a higher level apprenticeship or university afterwards."

Nick Crew, principal of the UTC Sheffield, said: "This is a really proud day for all those involved in the UTC project. The official opening marks the end of the successful design and build programme and the start of something really special for the young people of our region."

The UTC application has been sponsored and led by The Sheffield College with Sheffield Hallam University and the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Industry as co-sponsors but it is effectively led by employers from the relevant sectors within the city region. The UTC Steering Group includes representatives from The Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing, Newburgh Engineering and Firth Rixson.

The student experience at the UTC is dominated by employer-led projects and supporters include AESSEAL, Darron Tools, Rolls-Royce, PES Ltd and Tata Steel.

Inditherm website
UTC Sheffield website

Images: UTC Sheffield

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