News: Darron SBO continues to take on passionate engineers

Rotherham precision machining specialist, Darron SBO has found its next apprentice through a employability programme which included an eye-opening two weeks at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) Training Centre.

Darron manufactures a range of high quality components which are supplied to the oil and gas industries. Part of the Schoeller-Bleckmann Group, its Canklow facility has modern machine tools and state of the art manufacturing capabilities. The downhole tools specialist also uses the state of the art facilities at the AMRC Training Centre on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham to help develop the apprentices it requires.

15 out of work 20 to 25 year olds took part in the JobCentre Plus programme which included time in the AMRC Training Centre workshop, getting a feel for what apprenticeships and engineering are all about, in addition to improving their interview, CV writing and personal skills with the Sheffield-based, employer-led Work-Wise Foundation.

Sam Jackson (22) enjoyed his two weeks at the Training Centre so much that he decided to apply for an apprenticeship through the Centre. He said: "It was a really, really life changing opportunity and pointed me in the right direction. Two weeks at the AMRC Training Centre made my mind up. It was something I definitely wanted to do. It was brilliant."

After successfully attending one of the centre's rigorous assessment days he secured an interview with Darron SBO, where he went on to impress.

Denis Smith, head of quality control at Darron SBO, said: "We saw four or five candidates and Sam definitely stood out.

"Engineering is all about passion. All the experienced machinists we have got on site have a passion about their work and a pride in what they do.

"Sam brought examples of the work he had done at the AMRC Training Centre, explained how he had made them and was glowing with pride for what he had achieved."

Sam begins his Darron SBO sponsored AMRC apprenticeship next month and will begin working to secure a Level 2 NVQ in Performing Engineering Operations on the way to studying for a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Engineering as an Advanced Apprentice before joining Darron SBO's 80-strong shop floor workforce.

Kerry Featherstone, head of operations at the AMRC Training Centre, said: "We were delighted to be able to work with JobCentre Plus and Work-Wise to give these young people an understanding of the opportunities that are available in engineering.

"Sam's success shows that even if you left school some time ago and have been out of work for a while, you could still become an apprentice and work towards a career in the advanced manufacturing sector.

"We were able to run the two week engineering taster while our full time apprentices were taking a summer break. We hope to be able to repeat the exercise in future so that more people out of work and in their 20s can learn about the possibilities in engineering."

Darron SBO website
AMRC Training Centre

Images: AMRC

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News: AMRC in PMQs

The work of The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing in Rotherham was recognised by the Prime Minister in parliament last week.



It was part of a celebration of the centre's tenth anniversary with representatives taking the manufacturing message to Downing Street. It also included an Early Day Motion signed by the Business Select Committee, a Downing Street reception and seminar, plus a large Rolls-Royce Trent engine and the AMRC's manufacturing transporter (MANTRA) were on show at Westminster.

This morning, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announced that the AMRC has been awarded funding from the government's Regional Growth Fund. More on this story to follow.

Paul Blomfield MP, who constituency includes Sheffield University, asked the Prime Minister about the the success of the AMRC during Prime Minister's Questions.

David Cameron responded: "I am pleased to note that the Deputy Prime Minister hosted Sheffield University at No. 10 Downing street to celebrate its success. I think we are seeing some positive signs of rebalancing in our economy."

Professor Keith Ridgway OBE, co-founder and research director of the AMRC, said: "We were delighted to have the opportunity to visit Westminster and showcase the high value manufacturing which is going on in Sheffield city region.

"We were grateful for the strong support of our industrial partners, local MPs and Sheffield and Rotherham councils who attended the seminar and made the event such a tremendous success."

Professor Keith Burnett, Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, added: "We're very proud of how the University of Sheffield, through the AMRC, is contributing to the advanced manufacturing expertise in the Sheffield city region.

"Not only are we finding innovative ways to manufacture, we're also developing the skills of young people through our apprentice scheme. It was fantastic to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the AMRC by showcasing its fantastic work to key policy makers and I look forward to the next ten years."

The AMRC, based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park, already enjoys a fantastic global reputation. It is a £100m collaboration among more than 40 partner organisations, comprising world leaders in the supply chain, key government offices and international academic institutions.

AMRC website

Images: amrc.co.uk / Cabinet Office

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News: AMRC at IMTS

Rotherham-based experts from the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing (AMRC) showcased a new dimension and a new direction for advanced manufacturing at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in Chicago earlier this month.

The show is the premier manufacturing technology show in North America and this year it attracted a total of 1,728 companies from 30 countries, filling 1,180 booths with 1,137,375 sq ft of the latest advances in manufacturing technology.

Attendees totaling 82,411 from more than 100 countries came to see and buy the equipment, tooling, and services they'll need to maintain the competitive edge to compete in their area of manufacturing.

Building upon a very successful debut in 2008, the AMRC collaborated with North America's metalworking technology magazine, Modern Machine Shop (MMS), Rolls-Royce and IMTS 2010 to create the "Advanced Manufacturing Center."

The display included an interactive virtual reality presentation, a Rolls-Royce Trent 900 aircraft engine, and multimedia displays exploring trends and technologies being adopted by leading manufacturers.

Peter Eelman from the The Association For Manufacturing Technology said that the displays were well recieved and had healthy traffic. "We are ecstatic that IMTS 2010 met and, in many cases, exceeded our exhibitors' and visitors' expectations," he said. "The show was lively and many exhibitors expressed some surprise and satisfaction with the quantity and quality of attendees."

Daniel Janka, president of MAG, a leading US machine tool and systems company added: "This show had a remarkable display of new and emerging technologies that will be the catalyst for the revitalization of manufacturing."

Based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham, the AMRC is a £100m partnership that has successfully bridged the gap between academia, industry and government.

The AMRC identifies, researches and solves advanced manufacturing problems and has over 80 highly qualified researchers and engineers from around the globe. Research is carried out on new and exotic materials such as titanium, inconel and composites.

AMRC website
ITMS website

Images: imts.com

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News: AMRC helping to design factories of the future

The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing, based in Rotherham, is leading a new €5.2m project to help develop the factories of the future.

The COPERNICO project, Cooperation Environment for Rapid Design, Prototyping and New Integration Concepts for the Factory of the Future, is developing techniques to help businesses maximise the efficiency of their factories, and rapidly integrate new products and processes.

COPERNICO involves five universities and research institutes, and 10 industrial and SME partners, from across Europe. Delegates from all partners met at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in early June to launch the four-year project.

Professor Keith Ridgway, research director at the AMRC said: "The idea for the COPERNICO project came from our industrial members.

"A common problem is how to get through the initial production stage - how do companies move through that stage as quickly as possible, and what modelling tools can they use to aid the decisions?

"COPERNICO aims to reduce the time and cost to introduce new products and processes, and reduce the time to redesign and reconfigure factory systems."

Research will be driven by real-life case studies provided by the industrial partners. UK power systems group Rolls-Royce has identified three case studies, including the design and layout of its new civil nuclear manufacturing facility (which will be built close to the AMRC in South Yorkshire). And Italian home appliances group Electrolux will work with COPERNICO researchers to improve the efficiency of its manufacturing facilities and supply chains.

Helping smaller businesses to become more competitive is an important part of COPERNICO. Case studies are also being provided by Sheffield-based Footprint Tools and Italian automotive supplier Temco, which both want to grow by developing new high-value manufacturing services within Europe.

COPERNICO will deploy and develop a range of technologies, including modelling of human-machine interactions, virtual simulation of factory environments, and online software tools to help businesses diagnose areas for improvement.

Dr Jim Baldwin, technical coordinator for COPERNICO at the AMRC added: "There are tens of thousands of manufacturing SMEs across Europe. The challenge is to integrate the vast amount of information about them, and produce new tools which can be used by a wide range of manufacturing businesses."

COPERNICO partners are: University of Sheffield AMRC, UK; University of Nottingham, UK; University of Brescia, Italy; Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary; Fraunhofer IPA, Germany; Rolls-Royce, UK; Electrolux, Italy; Delcam, Netherlands; Footprint Tools, UK; Virtalis, UK; Temco, Italy; Teks, France; Cesi, Italy; Prorec, Germany; and Gamax, Hungary. The project is part-funded by the European Commission through the Seventh Framework Programme.

AMRC website

Images: amrc.co.uk

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News: £40m hub in Rotherham to further research in advanced manufacturing

The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing is set to build on its reputation as a world-leading research centre with plans for another phase of development in Rotherham.


In addition to the plans for the £25m Nuclear AMRC, an AMRC Hub is set to be created on the Advanced Manufacturing Park that will further extend the £100m partnership that has successfully bridged the gap between academia, industry and government.

The planned Hub will provide facilities that will increase R&D and knowledge transfer activities with regional companies and give them access to world-leading research and state-of-the-art equipment.

The AMRC identifies, researches and solves advanced manufacturing problems and has over 80 highly qualified researchers and engineers from around the globe. Research is already carried out on new and exotic materials such as titanium, inconel and composites.

The next phase of development will include the 8,000 sq m Nuclear AMRC to facilitate the development of a supply chain able to participate in the UK's new nuclear power station build programme and compete globally for major contracts in the energy sector.

In addition, a extension to the Factory of the Future is planned to contain a Composite Manufacturing Facility. This project will enable regional companies to work alongside AMRC researchers during the design and manufacture of their pre-production prototypes, before investing in their own production facilities.

Also planned is a Knowledge Transfer Academy that will enable the AMRC Hub to increase R&D activity and collaboration with regional manufacturers. The Knowledge Transfer Academy hopes to increase the rate of knowledge transfer, bringing more companies into long-term collaborations with the AMRC Hub's research centres.

A final funding bid is being prepared for the £40m Hub and the aim is to have the facilities operational by December 2011 with a launch in March 2012.

AMRC website

Images: AMRC / Bond Bryan

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News: Danish Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre launches

The world-leading centre at the forefront of advanced manufacturing and the rapidly evolving aerospace sector based in Rotherham, is being replicated in Denmark.

With guidance from technical experts at the AMRC in Rotherham and The Boeing Company, the first project is underway at the centre in Herning to help member companies learn how to optimize their machining operations to improve production efficiency, reduce costs and increase quality.

Jan Närlinge, president of Boeing Northern Europe said: "This project's launch highlights the significant progress made in the eight months since we gathered here in Herning to introduce the vision for a DAMRC, and shows just what can be achieved through continued partnership among DAMRC members, the AMRC With Boeing and The Boeing Company."

Mirroring the UK's centre, the DAMRC is a consortium of Danish firms, government institutions and academia formed with cooperation from The Boeing Company and the AMRC With Boeing.

Based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham, the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing is a £100m collaboration among more than 40 partner organisations, comprising world leaders in the aerospace supply chain, key government offices and international academic institutions.

The centre's staff has increased tenfold to more than 100 employees, and the AMRC model has been replicated in Australia, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and India.

AMRC website

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News: AMRC a model for a new generation of innovation centres

A report commissioned by business secretary Lord Mandelson has highlighted the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) in Rotherham as a model for a new generation of industry-focused research centres.

Technology entrepreneur Hermann Hauser was commissioned to conduct a review into how the UK could learn from other countries' innovation networks and highlighted the AMRC's business model as a leading example of how research centres can make a long-term impact to the economy.

The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing, is a £100m partnership that has successfully bridged the gap between academia, industry and government.

The AMRC identifies, researches and solves advanced manufacturing problems and has over 80 highly qualified researchers and engineers from around the globe. Research is carried out on new and exotic materials such as titanium, inconel and composites.

The AMRC secures funding from a range of organisations; through winning competitive calls for research from the Technology Strategy Board and Research Councils; research projects commissioned by business; and through Tier 1 and Tier 2 sponsors.

The Hauser report highlighted that this balance between securing private sector and public sector funding offers a more sustainable business model.

The government has committed support for the development of a network of technology and innovation centres that will help deliver the industries and jobs of the future.

Lord Mandelson said: "I am now determined that the UK builds a capability for the long term, through a more strategic and sustained approach to investing in these centres.

"Hauser is right that these centres need long term, predictable funding and I am committed to making that happen. I want to understand the UK's strengths, weaknesses and where there are gaps we need to invest in."

Wendy Piatt, director general of The Russell Group which represents the 20 leading UK research universities, said: "There are already many successful examples of universities and businesses working in close partnership to generate exciting new technologies with enormous economic potential.

"For example, the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre at University of Sheffield is a world-class facility where academics are working alongside business partners from the aerospace and nuclear industries to develop technology-driven solutions for UK manufacturing.

"The new centres should build on this kind of existing capacity and decisions for the location of these centres should be based on proven academic expertise and industrial capability."

AMRC website
Rotherham

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News: Manufacturing convention to see the MANTRA

The Manufacturing Transporter (MANTRA) will be displaying the future of manufacturing at an upcoming convention organised by the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS).

MANTRA is a mobile virtual reality demonstration unit designed to highlight the manufacturing technologies being developed at the University of Sheffield's Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing (AMRC) in Rotherham.

The MANTRA display unit is equipped with advanced CAD/CAM stations, a four axis machining centre and associated analysis equipment, including vibration monitoring, tool path verification software, modular fixturing and a range of novel cutting tools.

Visitors can learn how to use vibration monitoring equipment and how to set up a machine for optimum performance. It will also highlight constraints on machining performance, such as vibration for thin walls, cutting tool vibration and machine tool wear and methods of eliminating their impact such as novel tool paths, novel fixturing concepts and process damping.

MANTRA also has an advanced assembly demonstrator including the use of indoor GPS, laser alignment and smart tooling. A virtual reality assembly problem can also be analysed and demonstrated. Case study demonstrators of assembling a small gear box using low cost robotics, and positioning and aligning components using iGPS and laser alignment are used to demonstrate the technologies now available to improve the assembly process.

The MAS Manufacturing Convention - "Looking to the Future in Manufacturing" takes place in Harrogate on November 12.

MAS website
AMRC website
Rotherham

Images: EPSRC

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News: Rotherham building up for another award

The AMRC's Factory of the Future at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham is up for another construction award.




Conder Structures' entry is now on the final shortlisting for a 2009 Structural Steel Design Award to be presented by The British Constructional Steelwork Association, BCSA, and Corus.

The AMRC was designed by Bond Bryan to be a world first in terms of design, complementing the work carried out in the building which is leading the way for manufacturing as a whole.

The building incorporates 20 sustainable and specified environmental features and achieved an "excellent" BREEAM rating of 71.13% from assessors 3 Planets. The BREEAM rating for global warming potential is "low" and the Factory has a NOx emission rating better than industry standards.

The contract for 4,654m2 factory, the second phase of development by the University of Sheffield´s AMRC with Boeing, was won by Conder from main contractor Bowmer and Kirkland.

Conder Structures is based in Burton-on-Trent and is a top five UK structural steelwork specialist and one of the best known names in British engineering.

The 2009 Awards will be announced at a reception in London on July 9th.

Conder website
AMRC website
Rotherham

Images: amrc.co.uk / conderstructures.com

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News: Students set to benefit from Boeing funding

Students from the University of Sheffield are set to benefit from a new funding scheme created by aerospace giant Boeing.




A total of £27,285 has been donated by Boeing to fund scholarships and additional curriculum enrichment across the University´s Faculty of Engineering.

The funding was granted with the overall objective to reward and encourage academic excellence. It will particularly support students with an interest in aerospace engineering, who may face barriers to their learning.

The scheme will fund three scholarships for Masters students and three for undergraduate students, all worth £3,000. It will also support a number of student projects.

The three Masters students were presented with their scholarships last week, with the three undergraduate students receiving theirs in October. It is expected that the Boeing Scholarship and Support scheme will continue to fund additional scholarships and student projects throughout the academic year.

Malcolm Butler, faculty director of operations in the Faculty of Engineering, said: "We are delighted that the long-standing and fruitful relationship between Boeing and the University of Sheffield continues to deliver successes."

The AMRC with Boeing on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham is a £60m partnership, which builds on the shared scientific excellence, expertise and technological innovation of Boeing, and world-class research within the University Of Sheffield´s Faculty of Engineering.

AMRC website
Rotherham

Images: www.amrc.co.uk / boeingmedia.com

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News: AMRC Composites Centre choose Delcam

The Composites Centre within the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) in Rotherham has chosen to use the PowerMILL CAM system for all its machining operations. PowerMILL will be used to program a large, five-axis CMS router that has recently been installed. This will be used to machine tooling for component manufacture and to finish the parts by five-axis trimming and drilling. "We’re pleased to be using Delcam's PowerMILL software at the AMRC Composites Centre," said Professor Keith Ridgway, Research Directo­r of the AMRC. "The AMRC’s vision is to become a world-class global research facility, developing innovative and advanced technology solutions for advanced materials manufacture,” added Professor Ridgeway. "Novel and new materials will form an integral part within the development of Boeing’s next-generation planes. Our expansion of the Composites Centre reflects the growing importance of these materials, both in aerospace applications and in general manufacturing." Since being founded by the University of Sheffield and Boeing, the AMRC has developed into a multi-million pound partnership together with other aerospace companies, including Rolls-Royce, Messier Dowty and Smiths Industries, based at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham. The partners are building on their shared scientific excellence, expertise and technological innovation in association with the world-class research centre at the University of Sheffield’s Faculty of Engineering. Delcam has been a member of the AMRC since 2005. The Centre will work with the National Composites Network to provide expertise in product development and process optimisation to companies that wish to enter the composites industry or to expand their business in the sector.

Delcam website

AMRC website

AMP website

Rotherham

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News: Training engineering leaders for Britain´s future

The University of Sheffield will help train the next generation of science and engineering leaders in five new centres, thanks to major investment by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) – the UK funding body for science and engineering. Minister of State for Science and Innovation, Lord Drayson, announced the £250million initiative which will create 44 training centres across the UK and generate over 2000 PhD students. In securing five of the 44 Centres, the University of Sheffield has confirmed its reputation for research excellence in the fields of energy research, metallurgy, nuclear energy and advanced engineering for the water sector. The Centre for Doctoral Training in Advanced Metallic Systems will help ensure that the UK remains globally competitive in metal manufacturing. In conjunction with the University of Manchester, the Centre will provide world-class training for a new generation of metals specialists who will work across a range of strategic technology sectors, such as aerospace, automotive, power generation, renewable energy and defence. The Sheffield Training in Interdisciplinary Energy Research Centre will provide training across a number of critical areas relating to the environment and sustainable energy. The Centre will combine the knowledge and expertise in all aspects of energy, ranging from solar cells, combustion, transport systems, nuclear power and demand reduction to energy management, environmental issues of waste disposal, the carbon cycle and public perception of energy issues. Professor Mike Hounslow, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Engineering at the University of Sheffield, said: "Securing funding for five Centres confirms the University of Sheffield´s excellent reputation for engineering research. These Centres will enable us to deliver truly world-class training in line with our aspiration to provide the best research experience for doctoral students and our strategic vision to address global challenges facing society, today and in the future. We believe that graduates from our centres with their mix of technical, industrial and team skills will provide future leaders for UK industry and universities." The University's Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre is on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham.

Sheffield University website

AMRC website
Rotherham

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News: Rotherham building in line for national green award

The Rolls Royce Factory of the Future, part of the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham, has been shortlisted for a national award. The Estates Gazette Green Awards have been established to highlight and reward excellence in sustainable development and raise environmental awareness. The AMRC has set new standards for sustainable manufacturing facilities worldwide and has the highest BREEAM rating for any building of its kind. It combines leading-edge sustainable design and materials with high-end facilities for two of the world’s leading manufacturers, Boeing and Rolls Royce, as well as a globally-respected research centre. The AMRC was designed by Bond Bryan to be a world first in terms of design, complementing the work carried out in the building which is leading the way for manufacturing as a whole. This is a contemporary design putting paid to the belief that low carbon energy and sustainability cannot sit comfortably in commercial industrial environments. Instead of an Awards ceremony the winners will be announced on the website on November 22 to minimise carbon footprints.

EG Green Awards website

AMRC website

AMP website
Rotherham

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News: AMRC launches region's first composite materials research centre

Olympic bicycles, aircraft wings, hi-fi speakers and even wind turbines could one day be made using composite manufacturing technology developed in Rotherham. Last week, Bart Moenster, chairman of the board of the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing and director of Manufacturing Technology at Boeing Phantom Works, Boeing’s advanced research and development unit, invited Deputy Chair of Yorkshire Forward, Linda Pollard, to launch the region’s first composite materials research centre. The £4.5 million AMRC Composite Centre, located on the Advanced Manufacturing Park, is a collaboration between the University of Sheffield and Boeing. "Advanced composites are revolutionizing the aerospace industry and are here to stay," Moenster said. "The technologies developed by the AMRC Composites Centre will enable the Yorkshire and Humber region to take advantage of this growth via new companies with new capabilities, while helping the University of Sheffield prepare engineers with the knowledge to use these capabilities." The facility will provide engineers with the capability to undertake manufacturing research for next-generation civil aircraft, automotive, and off-shore energy. Linda Pollard said: "The Composites Centre supports the exploitation of new materials which fall outside of the traditional metals sector of which our region is world renowned, putting Yorkshire and Humber at the forefront of a new age of lighter and stronger composite structures. It demonstrates Yorkshire Forward’s commitment to Advanced Engineering and Metals and I am sure the Centre will complement the existing world-class facilities on the Advanced Manufacturing Park."
AMRC website
AMP article
Rotherham

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News: HRH The Duke of York opens Rolls-Royce Factory of the Future in Rotherham

HRH The Duke of York KG joined guests from the top flight of the world’s aerospace companies and suppliers at the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) in Rotherham yesterday to open a £15 million state-of the-art Factory of the Future. The Factory, sponsored by Rolls-Royce, is the second phase of development of the University of Sheffield’s AMRC with Boeing. According to AMRC Research Director, Professor Keith Ridgway: "The Factory of the Future is just that – an exemplar which will show what can be done, and inspire partners with a practical demonstration of the crucial cleaner, greener ways we can manufacture in the future. The zero carbon footprint of the Factory building also represents the goals of our partner companies in making aerospace manufacturing as sustainable as possible." Hamid Mughal, Executive Vice President of Manufacturing Engineering at Rolls-Royce, said: "The continuous development and application of advanced manufacturing technologies is a critical enabler for Rolls-Royce to meet increasingly demanding product and business objectives. We believe the new Rolls-Royce Factory of the Future provides an ideal environment for the rapid development and exploitation of technology to meet these challenges." Sir Roger Bone, President of Boeing UK, agrees. He said: "The AMRC epitomises Boeing's approach to growth in the UK, that adds value and builds competitiveness in the long term. With the opening of the new factory and as a long standing UK research partner for Boeing, the AMRC is also helping us to deliver sustainable aviation growth and environmentally progressive manufacturing. Boeing is now seeking to actively pursue opportunities to replicate the success of the AMRC around the globe." Councillor Roger Stone, The Leader of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, added: "The Factory of the Future is a flagship project on the wider Advanced Manufacturing Park which has a world-class reputation for its cutting-edge work. We're proud to have the AMRC in Rotherham, but really it's a regional and, indeed, a national asset. We're delighted to have played a part in helping it reach this latest milestone, through our regeneration arm, Rotherham Investment & Development Office."
AMRC website
AMP website
Rotherham

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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: More Rotherham buildings up for design awards

Two Rotherham developments, the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre and the Eco Homes at Henley Rise, have been shortlisted for this year’s RIBA Yorkshire White Rose Awards. The Bond Bryan designed "Factory of the Future" at the Advanced Manufacturing Park houses the AMRC, a partnership between Boeing and the University of Sheffield. Over 100 researchers will be stationed at the facility, and will be responsible for transferring knowledge of pioneering industrial techniques in aerospace, automotive and medical sectors to manufacturing companies throughout the whole region. The building is 4,200 sq m and distinctive in its architecture. It has been designed as national exemplar of sustainable building development and includes eco heat pumps and two wind turbines. The design is shortlisted for the overall White Rose Award for Architecture and the Sustainable Futures Award, where it is joined by the Henley Rise project. The South Yorkshire Housing Association project provides 23 timber-framed affordable homes at Masbrough. The properties are superinsulated to minimise heat loss and for most of the year, heat from lights and appliances will provide enough warmth without the need to use central heating. All the properties benefit from a complete solar roof generating 3000KW of electricity per property and providing at least two thirds of the hot water needed by the household. This is currently the largest installation of its kind in the UK.
AMRC website
SYHA website

RIBA Yorkshire website
Building Design Online article

Sheffield Telegraph article

Rotherham

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News: Rotherham to welcome South Korean visitors

A special delegation from South Korea is to visit Rotherham next week to meet with leading businesses partners and visit regeneration projects. The eleven-strong visiting party from Seocho City, a sub-centre of Seoul, includes Sung-Joong Park, the Mayor of Seocho, and host of business people and officials. Whilst in Rotherham, the party will visit major regeneration projects, such as the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre at Waverley and tour the Magna Science Adventure Centre. They will also take in a presentation on economic regeneration, sustainability and housing issues in Rotherham. Explaining the purpose behind the visit, Karl Battersby, Rotherham Borough Council's Strategic Director for Environment and Development Services, said: "This visit has been arranged as a result of a long-standing partnership between Wales High School and Banpo School in Seocho City - the first relationship of its kind between a UK and a Korean school. "The Mayor of Seocho City was keen to develop the school link into a broader partnership at a council-wide level. The objective of their visit here is to look at possible areas for collaboration and joint-learning on many fronts, including regeneration, housing, leisure and the environment. I'm sure this visit will be the start of a productive and valuable relationship between Rotherham and Seocho City." The party will arrive in Rotherham on Monday 21 April and depart on Friday 25 April. Many of South Korea’s largest corporations, including Samsung Electronics, Hyundai/KIA Motors and LG, have established their head offices in Seocho City. Seocho is actively pursuing its mission of becoming a centre for the ‘hitech intelligence’ industry and house the headquarters of The Korean Trade Investment Promotion Agency, which actively seeks overseas investment opportunities for Korea.

RiDO website

Rotherham

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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: MANTRA – the MANufacturing TRAnsporter

The Rotherham based Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre has won £500,000- backing from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to fund MANTRA – the MANufacturing TRAnsporter, enabling knowledge developed within the AMRC to reach many more companies. It will also visit schools to encourage pupils to consider science and engineering careers. Boeing’s Bart Moenster, who is AMRC chairman, said: “The AMRC is without doubt the most successful university-based knowledge transfer organisation to have been established in recent years."

http://www.thestar.co.uk/business/Skill-showcase-takes-to-road.3520284.jp

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