News: Cutlers' Company Medal for Professor Ridgway

Pioneering Sheffield engineer and academic Prof Keith Ridgway has been named the winner of this year's Cutlers' Company Gold Medal for Excellence. Prof Ridgway piloted the creation of the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), the joint venture between Sheffield University and aerospace giant Boeing at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham. Master Cutler, Gordon Bridge, said: "Keith is the driving force and inspiration for the work undertaken at the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre and has played a key role in the development of best practice manufacturing strategies and techniques. "Massive reductions have been achieved in machining times and manufacturing efficiency and the prospects for further breakthroughs seem bright. Prof Ridgway and the AMRC represent the 21st century face of manufacturing in the region." Prof Ridgway is a HEFCE Business Fellow and Research Director at the AMRC and was awarded an OBE in the 2005 Birthday honours list for services to UK Manufacturing Industry.
AMRC website
AMP website
The Star article
Rotherham

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News: City region bid to create 75,000 jobs

Following the launch of the Sheffield Economic Masterplan, a new development forum has been launched to boost the economies of South Yorkshire, North Derbyshire and North Nottinghamshire by £3.8 billion and create 75,000 jobs by 2025. Funding for the Sheffield City Region Partnership is split between all 11 councils involved (including Rotherham), plus Yorkshire Forward and East Midlands development agencies. Sylvia Yates, former director of South Yorkshire Objective One programme has been appointed executive director. The forum aims to create better links to Robin Hood airport, increase the number of trains between London and Sheffield, improve the marketing of the region and help attract further businesses to industrial sites such as the AMP.
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News: UK's Flagship Manufacturing Incubator celebrates first Anniversary

Over 70 guests gathered this week at the Innovation Technology Centre (ITC) on Rotherham’s Advanced Manufacturing Park at a special event on the theme of ‘Renaissance in Manufacturing’ held to mark the Centre’s first anniversary. The ITC has attracted 14 companies employing over 90 people. The growing businesses have created 40 new jobs, raised £6.5 million of private sector investment and filed over 20 patents. Speakers on the day praised the centre and its operators, Oxford Innovation as well as the success of the region in helping to nurture rapid growth, hi-tech businesses.

Oxford Innovation website

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News: Further details of Rotherham's Factory of the Future

Eco Heat Pumps Ltd are to provide the ground source heat system for the £20m Factory of the Future at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham. The second phase of the University of Sheffield's Advanced Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing will house the latest manufacturing and production equipment and is built with the environment in mind. The advanced system will draw on natural heat from 100m below the factory to provide the Factory building's underfloor heating and hot water systems.
AMP website
Creative Sheffield article

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News: Next phase of development at the AMP

Yorkshire Forward has awarded a £1.5 million contract to open up the next phase of development of the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham to Lincolnshire-based UCS Civils. The contract to install drains, a road and a roundabout will pave the way for further development. 2008 will see the completion of the AMRC's Factory of the Future, the Environmental Energy Technology Centre and 95,000 sq.ft. development of quality light industrial and hybrid accommodation.

AMP website

The Star article

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News: Rotherham to have the first building in the UK to be powered by wind and hydrogen

The £8.7m Environmental Energy Technology Centre (EETC) at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham will have a wind turbine installed by North East company, TNEI to generate hydrogen gas which will be stored and then converted into electricity. It is the first of its kind on this scale – where conventional wind energy will be used on site to generate hydrogen. The EETC opens next year as an entirely energy self-sufficient centre which will house more than 30 businesses working in the renewable energy industry.

AMP website

North East Business article

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News: Expert panel on a visit

International experts from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development have visited the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham as part of a major study into the North of England's ability to exploit new ideas and technology to benefit the economy.

http://www.thestar.co.uk/business/Expert-panel-on-a-visit.3534810.jp

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