News: AMRC marks 25 years with ambition to quadruple industrial impact

Engineers and researchers are used to focusing on precious substances like titanium and carbon fibre, but now the focus for University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) is silver, as it celebrates 25 years of supporting UK manufacturers.

Founded in 2001 by the University of Sheffield and Boeing on the site of the former Orgreave Colliery in Rotherham, the AMRC is a model for collaborative research and is part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult supporting hundreds of private sector partners.

Marking the silver anniversary of its opening, the centre has refocused its strategy, prioritising the high-growth aerospace, defence and nuclear energy sectors and setting a bold ambition to quadruple its economic impact over the next decade.

It all started when Professor Keith Ridgway of the University of Sheffield worked with businessman Adrian Allen from Technicut on a project with Boeing. It became the first tenant of the now world-renowned Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.

The AMRC was set up to build a bridge between the research happening in university labs and the practical needs of production lines. It has since become a global model for how research-led innovation can regenerate communities and use advanced manufacturing as an economic engine to create wealth and jobs.

Having created new centres in Rotherham, including the start-of-the-art AMRC Training Centre, the AMRC expanded over the Parkway onto the site of the former Sheffield airport, developing its own "Innovation District" with buildings such as Factory 2050, which opened in 2015.

Having started with just a team of eight, the centre now has more than 570 highly qualified researchers and engineers working on the manufacturing needs of the future, from composites to castings, additive manufacturing to machining.

The innovation-led impact has already helped attract £350m inward investment and more than 2,500 manufacturing jobs into the South Yorkshire manufacturing cluster. Further recent investments include McLaren Automotive’s announcement of a £40m expansion of its composites technology centre, creating 300 jobs, and a £19m investment by Rolls-Royce into its Advanced Blade Casting Facility, both located on the AMP in Rotherham.

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Professor Ben Morgan is chief executive officer at the AMRC and is leading the centre in its refreshed strategy, which is aligned to national priorities set out in the government’s industrial strategy.

He said: “For 25 years, our mission has been to take high-risk R&D off industry’s shoulders so manufacturers can start, scale, and stay in the UK.

“As industrial and national priorities shift, we are putting our technical capabilities squarely behind aerospace, defence, and nuclear and clean energy.

“Our goal for the next decade is to quadruple our historical impact. We aren't just doing research - we are driving up shop-floor production rates, shortening technology adoption cycles and ensuring critical supply chains remain firmly anchored in the UK.”

Katherine Bennett CBE, chief executive officer of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, added: “Throughout my career in aerospace, I have seen first-hand the reputation the AMRC has built for turning world-class research into real-world impact through close collaboration between industry, academia and government, from South Yorkshire to the North West and Wales.”

Looking ahead, the AMRC is leading a groundbeaking research programme Composites at Speed and SCale (COMPASS) with a new innovation facility in Sheffield that is home to Boeing’s largest research and development projects in the world. AMRC experts are also working on small modular reactor (SMR) development supporting Rolls-Royce SMR.

Lane Ballard, chief technology officer for Boeing, said: “Twenty-five years ago Boeing jointly established the AMRC alongside the University of Sheffield. We have never looked back.

"This year, we began the latest chapter of our partnership with the opening of the COMPASS facility, home to Boeing’s largest global R&D project, IHSS. The foundation of advanced manufacturing lies in fusing quality research, skills and supply chains.

"We are proud of what our teams continue to create in partnership in South Yorkshire.”

Alan Pardoe, senior manager for manufacturing capability delivery at Rolls-Royce SMR, said: “The AMRC has played a leading role in advancing UK manufacturing over the past 25 years.

“Through its unique and collaborative approach with British industry, it has helped turn ambition into reality - developing the skills, technologies and expertise required for long-term, sustainable success.”

AMRC website

Images: AMRC

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News: Rotherham hosts first halal food bazaar

Visit Rotherham reports on the new multimillion pound markets development in Rotherham town centre hosting its first new market since the first stage of redevelopment works completed - a halal food bazaar.

The Rotherham Bazaar, held each Thursday has also made the move to the redeveloped site at the same time as operator, Rotherham Council, made the decision to move the Monday and Friday general market from the street onto the public space around the Rotherham Market Hall.

As part of the £46.844m project, a new public realm area has been created between the market building and Eastwood Lane and the college campus.

It is not yet known if the general outdoor market on a Saturday, Tuesday street market, Wednesday Antiques & bric-a-brac market, will follow.

At the end of September, a new halal food bazaar took place in the new public realm area, reports Visit Rotherham.

The Rotherham Bazaar launched in 2013 in the old outdoor covered market and is held every Thursday. Taking place on what was historically the quietest shopping day of the week, an outside operator was brought in by Rotherham Council as a response to the message that customers wanted new shopping experiences to be introduced to the town.

Since its launch, the Rotherham Bazaar has held a number of special market days around Eid and made the move to the main streets in the town when demolition work began on the outdoor covered market.

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Promoted by the same operator, the halal food bazaar takes place on the last Saturday of every month.

Halal Food Council USA explains that halal food is a fundamental aspect of Islamic dietary laws and plays a crucial role in the lives of Muslims around the world. The term “halal” refers to anything that is permissible according to Islamic law, and this includes not only what is lawful but also what is wholesome and good. Understanding the basics of halal food is not only important for Muslims but also for anyone interested in diverse culinary traditions and global food culture.

The first event on September 26 included stalls selling nuts, olives, fruit & veg, specialist teas, iced drinks, fresh jalebi (a popular, spiral-shaped deep-fried sweet soaked in sugar syrup), sweets, waffles and other desserts.

The next event is scheduled for Saturday October 24.

Rotherham's outdoor markets relocated from the outdoor covered market at the Drummond Street site to Effingham Street in 2023 as regeneration work progressed.

As part of the redevelopment scheme, traders from the old indoor market have moved temporarily into the New Market Hall until the work on the indoor market is complete (previously scheduled for Autumn 2027). When these traders move back into their revamped home, street traders are due to make use of the new Market Hall.

Rotherham Bazaar facebook page
Rotherham Markets website

Images: Rotherham Bazaar / Facebook

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News: Are The Reytons readying a return to Rotherham and Clifton Park in 2027?

Paperwork has been submitted for a possible repeat of The Reytons’ homecoming gig in Rotherham, reports Visit Rotherham.

The concert held in the summer of 2024 drew thousands of attendees from across the nation, with some travelling from as far as Glasgow and Southampton. It marked the largest outdoor music event ever held at Clifton Park on the edge of Rotherham town centre, attracting around 20,00 people.

The connection to the borough has grown since then with the fourth album, called A Love Letter to a Broken Town, described by the down-to-earth indie rock band as being "for the community, the roots and the towns that made us..."

With press and launch events taking place in Rotherham town centre earlier this year, including a signing event and shop on Forge Island, a celebration was also held in All Saints' Square when the album was announced as reaching no. 1 in the official chart.

Now, Visit Rotherham has revealed that promoters have submitted a licence application that would enable them to hold large scale events in Clifton Park in July 2027.

The application to Rotherham Council is from Communion ONE Ltd, the company created when FKP Scorpio and Communion Presents merged in 2024. FKP Scorpio was the promoter that worked on the previous Reytons event in Rotherham and Communion ONE currently promotes events for the band.

The application is time limited for July 9 to 11 2027 and seeks to allow three outdoor music concerts to be provided in the park during this period.

If approved, the licence would enable the provision of live and recorded music outdoors on Friday July 9 and Saturday July 10 between 2:00pm and 10:30pm, and on Sunday July 11 2027 between 2:00pm and 10:00pm.

Alcohol would be allowed to be on sale between 12 noon and 11:00pm on the Friday and Saturday, and between 12 noon and 10:30pm on the Sunday.

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Mirroring the layout for the 2024 gig, the stage is set to be situated on the extended car park area off Doncaster Road, with bars, toilets, food areas, backstage and medical tents all enclosed in a "steelshield."

The perimeter is again shown around the car park, along the tree line on Middle Lane, along a tree-lined avenue towards the museum, across the field towards the fun park and back along the path opposite the play area. Plans show two customer entrances and exits - one opposite the fun park and one in the field that backs onto Clifton Grove.

The similar 2024 application allowed for two gigs, where in reality, only one took place.

Local businesses and accommodation providers are likely to welcome the news. A study was commissioned and Sheffield Hallam University revealed that the event contributed an impressive £1m to Rotherham’s economy and £1.36m benefit for South Yorkshire.

The journey to Clifton Park for The Reytons began with 350 people at Plug (now Network) in Sheffield, via The Leadmill, O2 Academy, the fruit and veg aisle at Rotherham Tesco Extra, and Magna in Rotherham (the 4,500 capacity 2022 gig which sold out in ten hours), before reaching the 12,500 capacity Utilita Arena in Sheffield in 2023.

Since the Rotherham event in 2024, the band has played at massive European festivals and Wembley Arena, with a show scheduled for the end of this month at Manchester's Co-op Live, the UK's largest entertainment arena. A world tour in 2026/27 takes in Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Holland, France, Belgium and Spain.

The Reytons website

Images: The Reytons / Communion ONE

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News: Demolition plans in to save the Alma

A planning application has been submitted as part of efforts to save what remains of a fire-damaged historic pub building in Rotherham.

Rothbiz revealed last year that feasibility issues have arisen with converting the former Alma Tavern into a live music venue.

With £4.5m of the government's Town Deal funding set aside for a music venue project, the Westgate site is the third building looked at by the authority.

The building is not a listed building (unlike The Cutler's Arms next door, saved and reopened by Chantry Brewery) but is in severe disrepair following a fire and years of abandonment. Councillors were told that an updated cost plan for the project demonstrated "a cost significantly in excess of the funding available."

Funding was moved away from the project to progress plans for a community hub for health provision in the former Boots building in the town centre, but Rotherham Council, the owners of the Alma, said that it was still committed to finding a sustainable plan for the pub that was wrecked by fire in 2012.

A new planning application from Rotherham Council explains that a recent structural report "identified a need to support the original facades in order to retain them for a future reinstatement scheme."

The planning authority is being asked if the remaining structures to the rear can be removed so that scaffolding can be erected to support the frontage. The application also includes repair works to the front elevation and original gable walls to secure and preserve the historic facades.

Permission is required as it is located in the town centre's conservation area.

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A 2021 application, from the then owners, to demolish the building and retain the front facade to the first storey window height was refused as it didn't provide any supporting information. The council's application includes a structural report and a heritage statement.

Rotherham Council said last year that it was working with Chantry Brewery, the tenants and operators of the Cutlers, who wished to take on the Alma.

The initial ideas involved an L-shaped new building on land behind, and to the side of The Alma, creating a venue with a capacity of 500 - 600 and the main entrance in the vacant pub.

Rotherham Council said in the application that "due to the unsafe condition of the building ... we are looking to undertake the partial demolition of the building in advance of any viability assessment and redevelopment scheme in order to protect the historic assets of the building and ensure public safety to the immediate areas surrounding the building."

The public house closed in 2005/6 and although not listed, it is on the South Yorkshire Local Heritage List. The Alma was rebuilt in 1909 and is noteworthy for the use of architectural lettering and the reference to Bentleys Rotherham Ales on the facade.

The plans state: "The timber roof and floor structures throughout the property are unsafe due to wood decay from wet and dry rot, and the previous fire damage sustained. This in turn compromises the restraint offered to the masonry walls and leaves the walls vulnerable to further collapse if left unsupported.

"Whilst a redevelopment scheme for the site remains a focus for the Council, the main priority is in ensuring the safety to the public realm and adjacent properties, whilst retaining the Edwardian facades to make sure this is not in the detriment to the character of the town centre conservation area.

"With the above in mind our intention is to demolish and remove the remaining structures to the rear of the building, including all brick extensions, timber roof and floor structures. We would then look to implement retaining scaffolds to the full front façade and gables of the original building, making isolated repairs to the lintels and masonry of these facades to ensure they are fully supported and maintained before any redevelopment can take place."

Satnam, the site's previous owner, had hoped to demolish both pubs to build a large retail store on the riverside site. In 2005, Rotherham Council refused the plans with one reason for refusal being that the pubs "make a contribution to the streetscene and add to the character of the setting of the listed building."

Images: RMBC

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News: Xeros Technology in European breakthrough

British technology company Xeros has achieved a major milestone in revolutionising laundry, powering a KOENIC consumer product with its patented filtration technology.

Based at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, Xeros has created a number of technologies that reduce the impact of clothing on the planet. The AIM-listed group has secured a deal that has made its tech available in Europe's largest electronics retail chain.

Now available through MediaMarktSaturn retail channels in Germany, KOENIC has integrated Xeros technology into the KMPF-1000, an external washing-machine filter designed to capture fibres released from clothing before they enter household wastewater.

The product can be connected to commonly used domestic washing machines, allowing consumers to add filtration without replacing an existing appliance or changing their preferred washing programme or detergent. The launch provides commercial validation of Xeros’ licensing model, through which international appliance and consumer-technology partners incorporate its patented technology into products sold under their own brands.

Synthetic fabrics containing materials such as polyester, acrylic, polyamide, polyethylene and elastane can release microscopic plastic fibres during washing. Without filtration at the appliance, these fibres can pass into wastewater and potentially reach rivers, waterways and oceans.

The KMPF-1000 features a reusable 50-micron filter with Xeros technology that captures up to 98% of microplastics and over 80% of natural fibers released during washing. Its built-in spinning function removes water from the collected fibers, drying them out and making the filter easier to empty. This design also helps prevent blockages and allows for repeated use.

Unlike systems that depend on disposable cartridges, the KMPF-1000 does not require consumers to purchase replacement filter components. This reduces ongoing costs and avoids creating an additional stream of disposable filter waste.

Xeros’ filtration technology is easy to add to existing machines, so you don’t have to wait for a new appliance. Retailers can offer it as a standalone product alongside their current washing machines and laundry care options, making it a straightforward choice for consumers.

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The European retail launch follows recent Xeros research highlighting consumer demand for laundry technology that better addresses clothing care and environmental impact. A nationally representative survey of 2,000 UK adults found that almost three-quarters (72%) did not know whether washing machines had kept pace with developments in other household technologies.

Six in ten believed there would always be some risk of clothing being damaged in the wash, suggesting many consumers have come to accept shrinking, fading and fabric damage as unavoidable parts of doing laundry. Even so, nearly two-thirds (65%) would be interested in a washing appliance or solution that made delicate clothing safer and easier to clean at home while reducing the risk of damage. Interest rose to 74% among those aged 25 to 34.

The research also revealed the financial consequences of conventional washing and drying. Nearly two-thirds of consumers (63%) had thrown away, donated or stopped wearing at least one garment during the previous year because it had been damaged in the wash or dryer.

Among those affected who could remember the value, the clothing had originally cost an average of £105, the equivalent of a weekly food shop. A quarter of consumers had also seen a brand-new garment shrink after its first wash.

Neil Austin, CEO of Xeros, said: “This launch is a big step forward in bringing our filtration technology straight into people's homes through a major European retail chain. Microplastic pollution from washing mostly happens out of sight.

“People rarely see the fibres coming from their clothes or know where they end up in the wastewater system. That makes it easy to overlook the problem, even though each wash is an opportunity to capture those fibres at the source.

"Partnering with KOENIC and MediaMarktSaturn shows how licensing can speed up the adoption of filtration tech. Working with trusted brands, manufacturers, and retailers allows us to combine our ideas with their production and distribution powers to reach households on a large scale. For Xeros, this proves how British technology can be turned into a practical product with global commercial potential."

Xeros website

Images: Xeros / KOENIC

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