Professional industrial design and research company Addition Design has this month opened its first office space in the AMP Technology Centre in Rotherham.
The new company, headed up by former Fripp Design director Tom Fripp, has taken up 1,000 sq ft of space in building number three, a £4.5m, 32,000 sq ft facility at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP), which opened in 2016.
Providing incubation space on the AMP, the Technology Centre has been designed to accommodate a range of manufacturing-related activities, from fledgling engineering and technology companies, to University spin-offs and subsidiaries of established companies.
Established in February 2017, Addition Design is a joint venture with the Chester Medical Solutions [CMS], a Cheshire-based pharmaceutical and medical solutions company. With offices in North Wales and Israel (and a new US base in Boston, MA set to open this year) CMS specialises in manufacturing and packaging materials for the pharmaceutical industry. With CMS’ strong network in the North West, an area that leads in the medical industry, and Tom Fripp's knowledge of design and the advanced manufacturing sector, Addition Design is able to offer an end-to-end service, from design to completion.
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The company sets itself apart from competitors by offering two areas of research; design research, which sets the foundations for the development of products where the manufacturing processes are generally known, and additive manufacturing research, which focuses on projects which significantly benefit from the advantages of additive manufacturing or 3D printing. The company is also working on the development of its own 3D print technologies.
Addition's new space is split into three rooms; an office space, workshop and meeting room, all of which will allow the company to develop both in design and research.
Tom Fripp, design director of Addition (pictured, right), said: "As a high value engineering firm, it's incredibly important for us to be based at the AMP Technology Centre. Being located alongside the likes of McLaren and Boeing is a huge draw to our customers, and to be within walking distance of these globally successful companies supports our vision for the future.
"The smaller businesses here are also an attraction, as collaboration will be key to the company's growth. We have built up such a strong network in Sheffield and the ten-minute drive to and from the city centre means that we have fantastic access to the engineering talent pool coming from the two universities."
Dave Patterson, managing director of CMS (pictured, left), added: "Addition Design is a fantastic fit with the Chester Medical family of companies. Tom's level of expertise within his industry is invaluable; Addition is already working closely with Quay Pharmaceuticals on researching and designing new drug delivery technologies, something that CMS wouldn't have been able to explore without Addition's skills and knowledge of design research. We hope that this relationship will enable us to explore new avenues and establish the CMS family as a leader in the industry."
Helix Tool Company, Yorkshire's leading independent precision tool specialists, has marked its 20th year in business by opening a new South Yorkshire branch on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.
By taking space in the AMP Technology Centre, the Leeds-based firm believes that its integrated model goes beyond the offer of traditional distributors. Helix helps customers convert materials into complex parts and components more profitably by using its secure line side supply of hi-tech branded cutting tools.
Having started from Charles and Louise Robinson's spare room back in 1994, at its 10 year anniversary the firm moved from a leased unit in Bradford to its own purpose built HQ.
The new Rotherham site marks the continued growth, with Helix now enjoying a £6m turnover and employing 20 people across the two sites. The latest recruit is Jake Corbally-Lidget, an apprentice application engineer, who is studying at the AMRC Training Centre, also on the AMP.
Charles Robinson, managing director of Helix Tools (pictured, right), said: "Our new Technology Centre demonstrates our commitment to the South Yorkshire region where we are experiencing significant growth in terms of new business and machine tool investment.
"Having a regional branch ensures our growing client base can access fast and effective technical support from our local application engineers."
Helix works in the key manufacturing sectors of aerospace, automotive, oil and gas and power generation, where manufacturers and engineers are working with exotic alloys, such as Titanium and Inconel, composites and stainless steels.
One local customer operating at the cutting edge is Rotherham's AESSEAL, the world's fourth-largest designer and manufacturer of mechanical seals. Chris Parkin, management development graduate at AESSEAL, said: "Helix Tool Co have been a technology supply partner to AESSEAL for 14 years with their business growing alongside our own.
"They have consistently delivered increased productivity and reduced costs across our Yorkshire sites with exceptional customer service at all levels of the business.
"We look forward to continuing our partnership for many years to come as we continue to grow and develop new technologies within the business."
Expanding Rotherham firm, Tan Delta, has signed an agreement to supply global equipment manufacturer, Komatsu with real time oil condition monitoring solutions.
Based in the AMP Technology Centre on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP), Tan Delta Systems design and manufacture state of the art oil quality sensors and associated products that are used in the heavy engineering sector to reduce downtime and waste.
Japan's Komatsu Limited is the world's second largest manufacturer of construction equipment and mining equipment.
Tan Delta will provide Komatsu with oil quality monitoring sensors and accessories to enable a variety of oils to be constantly monitored, in real time, on large vehicles operating at mines. The sensors are expected to contribute towards a significant reduction in operating costs through extended service intervals and reduced breakdowns.
Chris Greenwood, managing director at Tan Delta, said: "This is a very exciting deal for our company. This will see our world class technology being used by one of the world's leading manufacturers of heavy plant equipment.
"I am also pleased to announce that due to our expanding activities we are looking to expand our team and have started a recruitment drive."
Tan Delta uses patented technology to design, develop and manufacture a range of highly accurate oil and fuel condition monitoring products that are used in a range of critical plant equipment, from engines and gearboxes to pumps, compressors and hydraulic systems. The sensors detect any damage being caused to the oil by checking all of the most common wear mechanisms in real time.
Law firm Irwin Mitchell, which has offices in Sheffield, played a key role in Iceotope, the hi-tech firm based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, recently completing a $10m round of fundraising.
Working with the University of Leeds, the enterprise is developing a new system that reduces the power consumed in data centres by using liquid rather than air to provide cooling, eliminating the need for power-hungry fans.
Iceotope described the investment as the "deal of the century" and said that it is planning to use the investment, which has been provided by Aster Capial and Ombu Group, to expand its global reach, build its product range and target larger supercomputing projects.
Jean-Marc Bally, managing partner at Aster Capital, said: "Iceotope can deliver breakthrough energy efficient solutions into the area of data centres infrastructure.
"We have been impressed by the effort and the progress made by the Iceotope team in the last couple of years and we envision that, thanks to our corporate sponsors, especially Schneider Electric and Solvay, we will be able to strongly support Iceotope development and make it the future liquid cooling market leader within HPC and data centre markets."
Andrea Cropley, partner and Head of Irwin Mitchell's Corporate team in the North of England, advised Investment Partners, Iceotope's existing investor, in relation to the funding deal.
Andrea said: "I'm delighted to have advised on this deal as it represents a significant investment for the business and should provide a major boost for its international expansion plans.
"Iceotope is extremely innovative and demonstrates what the Yorkshire business community can offer. It clearly has huge potential and I look forward to seeing it develop during this exciting phase of its expansion."
Waldeck, the design and engineering consultancy, has relocated its Sheffield operations into a new office space at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.
Established in 1995, the firm has 16 sites in the UK and provides advice design and delivery support to SME's and international blue-chip companies in areas such as mechanical, electrical and low carbon engineering; civil and structural engineering; total project solutions; CAD and BIM services.
Waldeck's Sheffield base was previously at The Quadrant Business Centre and is headed up by M&E director, Ged Smith, who is responsible for overseeing Waldeck's mechanical, electrical and low carbon professional engineering consultancy division that recently appointed two additional engineers in response to its rapidly increasing client base.
Ged Smith commented on the relocation: "With so much world-class industry in the region, a Sheffield base is crucial to Waldeck's operations. We are at a stage where we have outgrown our office at The Quadrant and need a larger facility which will enable our growth and service to our clients to continue unhindered. We are now seeking further recruits to join our specialist team here at this fantastic location.
"The AMP comes with multiple benefits for us, including its convenient transport links, the quality of its existing tenants, and its situation within the Sheffield City Region Enterprise Zone. I am confident that from our new base we can expand in South Yorkshire, especially in terms of our energy and carbon reduction services as the requirements for these in the construction sector become more critical in the coming years."
The UK's premier advanced manufacturing technology park is already home to world-class facilities including the University of Sheffield's Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, Boeing and Rolls-Royce.
NT CADCAM, a leading provider of Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) solutions to the industrial marketplace, has taken space on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.
With a head office in Oxford, the firm introduced SolidWorks 3D CAD software to the UK market in 1996 and now has over 2,600 UK clients in a variety of industries and engineering markets. One of the most popular CAD systems, SolidWorks is used by over two million engineers and designers to help bring innovative ideas to the market.
NT CADCAM has relocated its Normanton office to larger and more prestigious office space within the AMP Technology Centre, taking 800 sq ft of space for a dedicated sales office and a large meeting/training room.
Providing the park's incubation space, the centre has been designed to accommodate a range of manufacturing-related activities, from fledgling engineering and technology companies, to University spin-offs and subsidiaries of established companies.
A spokesperson for NT CADCAM said: "Being located at the AMP we are surrounded by engineering companies, customers and prospects so are ideally situated to serve the Yorkshire area better."
The AMP Technology Centre is operated by Creative Space Management on behalf of the Homes and Communities Agency. Since 2009, it has turned the operation from a loss-making to a profitable venture, doubling occupancy from 40% to 80%.
In addition to securing new tenants, the Creative Space team has also facilitated the growth of a number of existing clients, including ITI Energy, manufacturers of commercially available gas clean-up systems, which in just four years, has increased its office space ten-fold to accommodate an increase in staff from five to 30.
AD Industrie, a leading French-based engineering business, is the latest company to join the ranks of the world-class companies based at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, having taken a tenancy in the AMP Technology Centre.
With headquarters in Paris, the industrial group specialises in mechanical engineering and hydraulics. They manufacture technical parts and precision assemblies for the safety critical sectors of aerospace, defense and energy and enjoy a turnover of £150m.
The company names Airbus, Rolls-Royce, Snecma, Bombardier, Messier Bugatti Dowty, Thales, Siemens and Alstom Power amongst its customers.
Barry Hindson from AD Industrie, said: "We chose the AMP location against other locations specifically due to its technology association and involvement in the Aerospace sector and related industries. The AD Industrie group supply many customers who are also involved on the AMP, one example being Rolls Royce, so there is a good synergy.
"The presence of relevant "Centre's of Excellence" was also a factor in the selection process plus the flexibility of the AMP Technology Centre in providing a location that could evolved alongside the group's development in the UK."
Philippa Hedley from the Advanced Manufacturing & Materials (AMM) Team added: "It is great to welcome AD Industrie to the AMP, and to see that the Park continues to attract leading international companies. We look forward to working with the AD Industrie team in the future as they continue to develop and grow their presence here at the AMP."
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has retained the AMP Technology Centre in Rotherham as part of the transfer of land and property assets owned by Yorkshire Forward.
The 50,000 sq ft state of the art building is considered to be the Advanced Manufacturing Park's incubation facility. It provides facilities and a support infrastructure designed to help fledgling manufacturing and engineering companies turn innovative ideas into commercial reality in an environment which accelerates growth. It was one of the first commercial buildings in the country to be powered by a unique hydrogen mini-grid system.
Creative Space took over management of the centre on behalf of Yorkshire Forward in 2009.
In a written Ministerial statement, the government identified the AMP Technology Centre as having national importance and stated that it will be retained within central Government in order to be developed further to support investments in innovation and technology.
As part of the transfer, the Government is to establish a stewardship arrangement and contract the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) to manage the asset.
Other assets owned by Yorkshire Forward, which will close by April 2012, are to transferred to the HCA under a similar stewardship model. The agency will own the assets and liabilities, with local communities involved in decisions about future development plans to maximise the benefits to economic growth and regeneration in their areas. The transfer is currently planned to take effect on 19 September 2011.
In Rotherham this includes the leasehold of Renaissance House in Manvers. Other Yorkshire Forward assets in Rotherham have already been transferred to the HCA including former coalfield land at Dinnington, Kiveton and Roundwood. Plot 4 at the AMP and the Tarmac Site, Wath Upon Dearne were released for disposal on the open market last April.
David Curtis, the HCA's executive director for the North East, Yorkshire and The Humber, said: "This is a practical way forward that will benefit local economies, minimise costs to the taxpayer and give local communities a place at the table as we work together to develop these assets to benefit Yorkshire & The Humber.
"Our principal aim is to ensure that the assets help to drive forward economic growth and regeneration in Yorkshire and The Humber. The stewardship model ensures that these sites continue to support Yorkshire and the Humber's long-term economic development. As a whole, the picture is good – all areas will benefit as investment will be made in the assets so that economic growth and regeneration objectives are achieved."
In January, Yorkshire Forward stated that many of the assets should instead be transferred to local authorities via a trust arrangement or transferred to councils for deferred payment consideration. The Government later confirmed that this would not be appropriate.
Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk added: "The transfer of RDA land and property assets to the Homes and Communities Agency underlines our commitment to making sure these assets are used to support economic growth and regeneration.
"Through local enterprise partnerships, the Regional Growth Fund and Enterprise Zones, we are putting in place an efficient and locally driven model of regional economic development that ensures government support goes to where it can have most impact."
Consulting civil and structural engineers, Alan Wood & Partners, have taken space on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham.
Due to the increasing workload, the company's fifth office has opened in the AMP Technology Centre amongst engineering and technology companies, University spin-offs and subsidiaries of established companies.
With a head office in Hull, Alan Wood & Partners was established in the 1960's. The firm has grown substantially to provide a full range of engineering services in all areas of the construction industry and have taken on five new staff this year.
Their teams cover civil engineering, structural engineering, building and surveying plus specialities such as historic building conservation and flood risk assessments.
They have won numerous awards for their work including a Yorkshire and Humber ICE Award for St. Peters Footbridge at St. Peters School in York, a Civil Trust Award for The Rotunda Museum, Scarborough and won the Conservation Section in the York Design Awards 2010 for the Dutch House, Ogleforth.
Japanese company, Mori Seiki, one of the world's leading manufacturers of metal cutting machines, has opened an office at the AMP Technology Centre on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.
The facility next to the University of Sheffield's Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing will provide a base for Mori Seiki's support of the Strategic Affordable Manufacturing in the UK with Leading Environmental Technology (SAMULET) project.
Samulet is a major Technology Strategy Board/EPSRC-funded collaborative project between industry and academia and led by Rolls-Royce. It aims to boost the UK's aero-engine industry and introduce new low-carbon technologies.
Mori Seiki's collaboration on the project will help to develop growth within the industry and local communities, ensuring that the UK continues to play a leading role in aerospace in the 21st century.
Steve Finn, Vice President – Sales, Mori Seiki UK said: "We are pleased to strengthen our relationship with the AMRC, and links to the AMP by opening our new office in the Technology Centre. To be part of a vibrant facility with so much activity in an important manufacturing arena is going to be a great commercial benefit to our company."
As well as supporting the AMRC, Mori Seiki will make the new facility available to local companies to help them improve productivity and in turn generate further employment for the local community.
Joe Anwyl, Senior Business Development Manager at the AMP added: "It is terrific that a company with the reputation of Mori Seiki has moved to the AMP and has joined the other world-renowned companies located here.
"Mori Seiki has long being linked to the AMP through its AMRC membership and we are pleased that they have seen the value in the Park and decided to increase their presence here.
"The SAMULET project will be significant, both in terms of the new technology and processes it will develop, but also for the opportunities that companies in our region will have to considerably benefit from the results of the project." Mori Seiki UK website
The AMP Technology Centre on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham is hosting an intellectual property event this month looking at making innovation work and making innovation pay.
In the free two hour seminar, Matt Symonds, director of TBAT Innovation and Paul Foot, a partner at patent attorneys Withers & Rogers will show companies how to make the most of the upfront and often costly investment in research and development.
The seminar focuses on practical strategies for managing the innovation process, assessing the results and using intellectual property (IP) as a way of extracting value.
The concept of the innovation process will be outlined including: what it looks like, how to implement and measure it and what benefits it can deliver to an organisation.
Among the exploitation models explored will be the classical fortress and licensing models, the "monopoly-in-a-box" and a number of hybrid solutions borne out of the others.
The event takes place on November 18.
The Manufacturing Advisory Service for Yorkshire & Humber (MAS) has organised an event at the centre focused on Manufacturing for Low Carbon Buildings.
This free half day event on November 23 is aimed at manufacturers of products used in the building and construction supply chain and aims to provide simple ideas about how to capitalise on the Low Carbon Building agenda and keep ahead of competitors.
The event features networking opportunities and seminars from companies and organisations including Construction Sector Network Y&H, University of Leeds Nanofactory, Eco3 Design and the Keepmoat Group.
The AMP Technology Centre is also hosting an investment forum with the Yorkshire Association of Business Angels (YABA) on November 23.
Sponsored by Sheffield's Nabarro LLP, the invitation-only event will see up to ten of the regions entrepreneurs introduce their business proposals to an audience of business angel investor members, associate members and intermediaries from the professional community.
Polymer Techniques has moved into one of the Advanced Manufacturing Park's Evolution units to begin the final phase of a "concept to production" plan.
The company is developing a range of highly specialised sealing products using new technologies in composites of polymer and super-alloy.
A chemically inert composite of fluorinated plastic and a super-alloy will allow long term sealing at extremes of service temperatures even in the most challenging of environments.
Sectors such as semi-conductor, photo voltaic, aerospace, wind and nuclear energy are set to benefit from the products which can be used in valves, pumps, off-shore wind turbines and aircraft power units.
Poly-Tech began product development in a small AMP Technology Centre workshop in Rotherham at the end of 2008, progressing to a larger pre-production facility within the centre in the summer of 2009.
They are now taking space in the Evolution development by UK Strategic Partnership, the joint venture company created by landowner UK Coal and property developer Strategic Sites.
Approximately 48,800 sq ft of the Evolution development is let and 10,000 sq ft is under offer, with interest being shown in the majority of the remaining units.
Looking ahead, Poly-Tech plan to complete a design & build production facility at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in the near future, reconfirming its commitment to this exciting highly specialised manufacturing location.
Managing Director Paul Short said: "The move to the larger Evolution unit is the last step in a two year plan to fulfil a need for high performance sealing products that deliver increased UpTime to demanding industries such as semi-conductor, photovoltaic, aerospace, nuclear and wind energy.
"The decision to base ourselves at the AMP has been a major factor in our early phase, the flexible and supportive policies found at the AMP allowing us to concentrate all our efforts on product development and the strong "think-tank" environment has helped us overcome many technical obstacles."
Rotherham engineering design consultancy, Eadon Consulting, has announced the appointment of Ian Hylands as the company's new senior engineer.
Ian joins Eadon from Atkins, where he was an engineering consultant within its nuclear group, following three years at MG Bennett Associates.
Ian studied engineering at Cambridge University, and has extensive experience in horizontal directional drilling and structural steelwork design. Throughout his career he has also worked on a wide range of mechanical engineering projects, including work in the fields of movable structures, pressure piping design and finite element analysis.
Major projects that Ian has worked on include the design of several horizontal directional drills for gas and oil pipeline installations at the Isle of Grain, and piping analysis and design work for Sellafield nuclear plant.
Eadon's company director Michael Thorogood said: "The Eadon team are very pleased that Ian is joining us. His arrival brings additional capabilities which complement our existing skills. Ian's technical knowledge and leadership experience will assist Eadon in its aims for company growth and development."
Based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, Eadon Consulting is an engineering design consultancy working across a number of sectors, with expertise in mechanical, control, hydraulic and structural design.
Rotherham's Bromley Technologies Ltd launched their new performance engineering design consultancy to a positive reaction from a national audience at the recent MACH 2010 Show, held at Birmingham's NEC.
MACH is the UK's premier manufacturing technologies event, attracting over 25,000 visitors from the UK and abroad, and showcases the latest in manufacturing technologies.
Bromley were invited to exhibit as part of the MWP Magazine stand, after a number of successful articles with the magazine, and demonstrated their unique educational skeleton bobsleigh simulator in addition to launching the Bromley PES service.
The Bromley Technologies team has taken its research and innovation in the field of world-class winter sports equipment development to the next level. The company's technological expertise has expanded one of the world's top equipment manufacturers into a high performance product development and engineering design consultancy.
Bromley PES (Performance Engineered Solutions) is a new breed of engineering design consultancy that specialises in enhancing the performance of client's components, products and systems by harnessing integrated engineering thinking with innovations in design, materials, manufacture and testing.
Bromley PES' services include; engineering design, design for composites, reverse engineering, rapid prototyping and, the use of a unique environmental test chamber which is close to completion, and will allow products to be tested in conditions from +60 degrees C to -60 degrees C.
Mike Maddock, Bromley's COO said: "It was fantastic to be at the show, however more importantly it was really successful for us. We had some good discussions with a range of companies across the performance range from MotoGP & motor sport to musical instruments and also made some new friends.
"The skeleton simulator was extremely popular and we've had more interest from schools in the Skeleton Challenge educational programme and also to attend a number of corporate and business events.
"The show also enabled us to work closely with one of our Formula Ice, brand partners, Dormer Tools, demonstrating how their tools can be used to machine composite products, and we'd like to thank Brian Ridout and the team at MWP Magazine for giving us the opportunity to exhibit on their stand."
Bromley Technologies Ltd is based at the AMP Technology Centre in Rotherham.
Eadon Consulting are set to take new office space at the AMP Technology Centre in Rotherham as part of their continued expansion.
Eadon Consulting are an independent mechanical and structural engineering design consultancy, who have been based at the AMP Technology Centre, on the Advanced Manufacturing Park, for the past ten months.
Due to their continuing growth, they have now expanded within the centre to larger office space, which now accommodates their existing skill set and resource with additional engineering and drafting support.
Eadon have been involved in several significant projects including the dehumidification of the Humber suspension bridge main cables and the Second Poole Harbour Crossing twin sails bascule bridge project.
James Hill of Eadon said: "Moving into the AMP Technology Centre has given us the opportunities and ability to grow in line with our current business aspirations. The support we have had from the Technology Centre staff and fellow tenants has been crucial to our success."
The AMP Technology Centre is their clients' preferred choice for hosting design and development meetings. This has enabled Eadon to invite clients to come and meet them at the Centre, saving both time and money and enabling the client to meet the wider Eadon team in a professional environment.
With their business flourishing and reputation growing, the Technology Centre not only provides an ideal location, but has also offers excellent facilities, which Eadon have been able to utilised to their advantage. Alongside the newly refurbished reception, the Technology Centre has been revamped to ensure a positive and lasting first impression to visitors.
Over 70 local entrepreneurs and innovators gathered at the AMP Technology Centre in Rotherham last month for a key networking event which highlighted the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship in the adrenaline fuelled world of high speed sport.
The Advanced Manufacturing Park was the venue for the latest meeting of the E3 Entrepreneurs Forum, a network which exists solely to help entrepreneurs help other entrepreneurs, by making contacts, building relationships, supporting each other, stimulating ideas, winning business together and celebrating success.
The theme for the evening was related to innovation and entrepreneurship through technology, and guests listened to presentations from Kristan Bromley, three-time Winter Olympian and CEO of AMP-based Bromley Technologies Ltd, and rising Karting star, Russell Danzey from Sheffield.
Kristan and the Bromley Technologies team has taken its research and innovation in the field of world-class winter sports equipment development to the next level. The company's technological expertise has expanded one of the world's top equipment manufacturers into a high performance product development and engineering design consultancy.
The company is moving forward both in terms of its plans to develop new innovative sports technology products but also allowing commercial clients to access the team's knowledge and facilities through its Performance Engineered Solutions (PES) consultancy service.
Paul Taylor, Director of Creative Space Management which managed the AMP Technology Centre on behalf of Yorkshire Forward said: "The ethos behind all the companies located in the Technology Centre is based around the principles of innovation and entrepreneurship, although the companies are working in the fields of manufacturing and technology these principles are not exclusive to this sector.
"So we were pleased to be able to host the E3 Entrepreneurs Forum here at the Technology Centre, and potentially in some small way help nurture that entrepreneurial spirit in the area, whilst also showcasing the range of meeting and conference facilities that we have here."
Worldwide testing and advisory business, Exova, has selected Rotherham as the location for a new facility.
Exova has moved into the AMP Technology Centre on the Advanced Manufacturing Park to provide testing and advisory services to a wide range of business sectors.
With headquarters in Edinburgh, the company has over 130 facilities in 25 countries and employs over 4,000 people.
Formerly the testing arm of Bodycote plc, Bodycote Testing Group was established in 1980 and grew successfully through organic and geographic expansion.
In 2008, Bodycote Testing Group was bought by Clayton, Dubilier and Rice, (CD&R), a global private equity firm whose strategy is to build on the excellent reputation in testing services and to expand the company into new areas.
Rebranded as Exova in 2009, the company continues to find success as a market leader in testing and validating products from the aerospace, energy, oil and gas, civil engineering, transportation, pharmaceutical, food and consumer industries.
Pulse Tidal, based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham is to receive a grant of €8 million from the EU's technology research and development fund (Framework Programme 7) to enable the company to begin work immediately on developing its first fully commercial tidal energy generator.
This 1MW generator will be commissioned in 2012 and will provide electricity for up to 1,000 homes.
Alongside this finance, the company has signed contracts with a group of international companies to develop the commercial device and form a secure supply chain for volume production.
The project team brings together all of the skills needed to develop and supply the commercial Pulse product: Bosch Rexroth for hydraulics, Herbosch Kiere for installation, DNV for certification, IT Power for engineering, Niestern Sander for construction, the Fraunhofer IWES for control and electrical systems and Gurit for composites.
The pioneering company has successfully developed a prototype system whereby tidal streams move horizontal blades up and down to drive a generator. This 100kW test rig in the Humber estuary currently feeds power into a chemicals company on the banks of the river.
Pulse chief executive Bob Smith said: "We have developed an economic way to recover predictable, renewable energy from the tides and are entering a young market predicted to be worth at least £6billion annually in electricity sales.
"The investment market has shown great excitement about our progress to date and I am delighted now to formalise the excellent relationship we have built up with our supply-chain partners. Combined with our own experienced staff this is a truly world-class team, which will deliver our low cost, low risk tidal power product to market in 2012.
"In the future tidal energy is set to surpass wind as the most economic and predictable source of offshore power."
The EU grant has been awarded to the team of Pulse and its seven supply chain partners to fund 50% of the development of Pulse's full-scale commercial generator. The remaining 50% will be provided by private investment.
Smith added: "With a very experienced team, proven technology and this €8m grant, we have all the ingredients to deliver a step-change in tidal power economics.
"We are negotiating the location for our first full-scale 1MW project, providing power for up to 1,000 homes. This will begin operation in 2012."
Drive Management Systems (DMS), a small business running on-site and wireless condition based monitoring services for industrial equipment has relocated to the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham.
DMS is a specialist engineering consultancy working with blue chip and SME organisations across a broad range of sectors from manufacturing to water treatment, from building supplies to food production. It has developed a range of leading edge products and services that enable an organisation to identify and monitor the performance of critical plant assets - identifying areas for improvement and delivering real cost benefits.
DMS was established in 2004 by two of the current directors, Allan Findlow and Kevin Micklethwaite and clients include Premier Foods and Anglian Water.
Sales director Allan Findlow said the company had outgrown its base at Sheffield Technology Parks and needed to find the right location for continued expansion. He was keen to move into an area where networking opportunities with like-minded engineering and manufacturing organisations would be possible.
Findlow said: "We have been working with a local company Sensdata, and when they moved to the Advanced Manufacturing Park we did some research and quickly realised it is the perfect location for us to take our business to the next level. It ticks all the boxes for us in terms of our requirements."
The combined ground floor workshop and office space at the Yorkshire Forward-funded AMP Technology Centre means the team now has dedicated facilities for its operations.
"We have high expectations for our newly developed web-based monitoring system and anticipate demand for our services will continue to increase. Our flexible approach and specialist knowledge is attractive to many companies, and we believe it's important to portray a professional and successful image to maximise opportunities in the marketplace. Our move to the AMP gives us an address and premises which we know will impress visitors, as well as being operationally more efficient for us,” he added.
Yorkshire Forward's assistant director of business, Jim Farmery, said: "We are already witnessing success and growth amongst current occupiers at the Park, with many of the tenants recognised as global forces across a range of sectors. Their success is attracting a high level of interest and we are delighted that companies of the same high calibre, such as Sensdata and DMS, are choosing to move there."
Three more businesses have joined the fast-growing community at the UK's only Advanced Manufacturing Park, in Rotherham.
Eadon Consulting, Sensdata and eoSemi are moving into the AMP Technology Centre, the Yorkshire Forward-funded centre for hi-tech advanced engineering, manufacturing and materials organisations.
Newly-established mechanical and structural engineering designer Eadon Consulting covers a wide range of sectors including movable bridges, nuclear lifting equipment, renewable energy, and waterways and flood defence. It has recently been involved in the design of access platforms for dehumidification work that is being carried out on the Forth Road Bridge.
The company chose the Technology Centre as the location for its first office base and director Michael Thorogood said feedback from visitors had been excellent.
Michael said: "The move was vital to support the continued expansion and growth of the company. Despite the challenging economic climate, there has been continued demand for our expertise and services.
"Moving to the AMP provides enhanced facilities that enable us to satisfy our expanding client base and take the company forward."
Moving from Sheffield Technology Park is Sensdata, a young high-tech enterprise, focusing on the development and manufacture of intelligent sensors for maximising energy utilisation and engineering maintenance resources.
Established by Dr Robert E. Brown in 2004, Sensdata uses the sensors to help industrial companies maximise their efficiency.
eoSemi is an emerging privately-funded semiconductor product company that combines proprietary solutions and advanced design to provide very accurate timing and frequency reference products using standard silicon technology.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has retained the AMP Technology Centre in Rotherham as part of the transfer of land and property assets owned by Yorkshire Forward.
Consulting civil and structural engineers, Alan Wood & Partners, have taken space on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham. 
Japanese company, Mori Seiki, one of the world's leading manufacturers of metal cutting machines, has opened an office at the AMP Technology Centre on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham. 
Worldwide testing and advisory business, Exova, has selected Rotherham as the location for a new facility.
Smith added: "With a very experienced team, proven technology and this €8m grant, we have all the ingredients to deliver a step-change in tidal power economics.
Rotherham
Smith added: "With a very experienced team, proven technology and this €8m grant, we have all the ingredients to deliver a step-change in tidal power economics.
Drive Management Systems (DMS), a small business running on-site and wireless condition based monitoring services for industrial equipment has relocated to the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham. 
