News: Rolls-Royce Factory of the Future impresses royalty

At the opening of the £15 million state-of the-art Factory of the Future in Rotherham last week, The Duke of York was given a tour of the Factory where he learnt about measurement systems and robotics, metal injection moulding, advanced machining and shaped metal deposition. He was also given the opportunity to meet apprentices who work at the AMRC, including Amber Bennett, the Centre´s first female apprentice. The Duke was also given a 3D experience in the Factory´s Virtual Reality Suite, which allows complicated engineering solutions to be tested and practised in a virtual way. Professor Keith Ridgway, Research Director at the AMRC, said: "We are extremely privileged to have had HRH The Duke of York open our new facility, it was real honour. "The carbon-neutral building with its distinctive wind turbines stands on the former Orgreave Colliery site, once famous as the scene of confrontation between the miners and police. Today it is truly regenerated as an international exemplar of sustainable manufacturing and progressive research-led industry which seeks greener, more efficient ways of working." During his visit, HRH The Duke of York said: "What an absolutely amazing place. I have had somewhat of a connection with the AMRC over the last few years and I am really really pleased to be able to come back and to open what I can only describe as a brilliant facility. "I would like to say thank you to the AMRC and to Boeing and Rolls-Royce for what they are doing because its through this facility and others like it that we can continue to grow in the manufacturing field and make things better, make things more technological and stay competitive with other parts of the world."

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Rotherham