News: Celebrating National Manufacturing Day in Rotherham

As part of the inaugural National Manufacturing Day, Mike Maddock, Vice Chair of the Make UK Yorkshire & Humber regional board, represented the organisation when South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard visited the McLaren Automotive Ltd team at their Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) facility in Rotherham.

National Manufacturing Day on July 7 was organised by manufacturing trade body Make UK to get manufacturers to show the reality of modern manufacturing careers, looking to engage with students, parents, teachers, community leaders and local residents.

On the same day a report ‘Manufacturing: State of the Industry, the Potential for Growth’ was released which suggests that UK manufacturers have ambitions to grow their business and increase employment over the next five years.

McLaren showcased its new Artura – a high-performance hybrid supercar is the first of McLaren’s road cars to feature a carbon fibre chassis developed in the region.

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McLaren’s first-ever series-production High-Performance Hybrid (HPH) supercar is the first model to be built on all-new McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA), uniquely optimised for HPH powertrains and built in-house at the McLaren Composites Technology Centre (MCTC) in Rotherham.

The £50m MCTC was opened on the AMP in Rotherham in 2018.

Mike Maddock, who is also the Managing Director and co-owner of AMP-based PES Performance Ltd, said: "It was an honour to represent Make UK on this important day for UK manufacturing, and to help host the visit of the new regional mayor.

“Its great to see what McLaren are doing here, both in terms of onshoring the type of work previously undertaken overseas and also by helping increase the experience and expertise of manufacturing within UK plc.”

Also on the day, The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) ran free tours in some of its most impressive buildings including the Factory of the Future and the AMRC Training Centre in Rotherham and Factory 2050 in Sheffield - so people could see firsthand the difference it is making to manufacturing and the surrounding local communities through its innovation and research.

National Manufacturing Day website

Images: Make UK

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News: PES Performance working on "Tesla of e-bikes"

With extensive expertise in carbon fibre, PES Performance in Rotherham are working on designs for the world's most sophisticated e-bike.

Based at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP), Performance Engineered Solutions (PES) Ltd is a high-performance engineering solutions business.

The team is working on a project, known as the Rapture eBike, which is built with a lightweight and durable carbon-fibre monocoque in place of the traditional double-diamond bike frame. It has been engineered by the experienced design team from PES Performance in conjunction with CrownCruiser Motors.

The project has now received a £139,970 grant from Innovate UK, which will help enable CrownCruiser Motors to set up an operations and assembly centre in Sheffield, working in partnership with Sheffield City Region to build, promote and sell the eBike.

Adebola Adeleye, founder of CrownCruiser Motors and brainchild of the Rapture, said: "This moment is many years in the making, driven by a deep passion to develop an eBike that would revolutionise sustainable transport. With the Rapture, we will bring a design and quality of materials that has never been produced at such an attainable and affordable price point.

"To achieve that, we are harnessing some of the UK's best design and engineering expertise to bring the Rapture vision to life. With the help of Innovate UK’s funding, we are on track to make this vision a reality."

Dean Gardner, engineering director at PES Performance, added; "This is an exciting project for us to be involved with. We have used much of our composites experience and skills from high performance motorsport, in the design and creation of the Rapture carbon fibre eBike. We're looking forward to helping CrownCruiser Motors bring a whole new eBike concept to market."

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Pitched as a desirable alternative to motorised transport, the Rapture is an eBike that you actually want to be seen on, "its styling fits a modern futuristic city that has said goodbye to dirty congestion."

Dame Sarah Storey, Sheffield City Region active travel commissioner, said: “Electric bikes are proving to be an important factor in enabling more people to cycle in the Sheffield City Region. Throughout this pandemic the demand for eBikes has been significant.

“This Innovate UK funding helps Sheffield to lead the development and assembly of the superbly crafted CrownCruiser eBikes, which will be an important part of delivering additional capacity to consumers and to build the skills base in the region.”

Innovate UK Executive Chair, Dr Ian Campbell, commented: “In these difficult times we have seen the best of British business innovation. The pandemic is not just a health emergency but one that impacts society and the economy.

“CrownCruiser, along with every initiative Innovate UK has supported by this fund is an important step forward in driving sustainable economic development. Each one is also helping to realise the ambitions of hard-working people.”

The start up has a carbon fibre lay up facility under construction in Nigeria - the rest of the market relies heavily on China.

CrownCruiser website
PES website

Images: CrownCruiser

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News: Engineering firm offers new services to customers thanks to Skills Bank

Engineering design firm PES Performance has used Skills Bank to increase services available for existing clients, as well as target new customers.

The high-performance engineering solutions business based at Rotherham's Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) recently put four of their senior engineering design team through training with the support of the city region's Skills Bank.

The team attended Finite Element Analysis (FEA) after the company spotted the opportunity to grow their offer to existing and new clients.

Mike Maddock, managing director at PES Performance, said: "We had a positive experience of working with Skills Bank through a previous tranche of funding, and so when we heard that the opportunity for further support was available, we decided to contact Skills Bank again.

"We anticipated that the introduction of Finite Element Analysis as a new technology would have several benefits for our business, especially around growth. We knew it would increase the range of services that we could offer existing clients, plus allow us to target new clients.

"We are now able to target both new customers within existing market sectors, who would benefit from FEA, and new market sectors yet to be targeted by PES that would benefit from FEA analysis as part of their product development process. There are real prospects of gaining additional revenue from new clients in those sectors, meeting our ambitions to grow our business.

"Also incorporating FEA into our in-house capabilities provides the opportunity to improve our efficiency and productivity as now we don’t need to commission external suppliers to undertake this FEA analysis work in projects."

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PES have also received direct support from one of the Sheffield City Region (SR) Growth Hub's Skills Advisors, to deliver business support by assessing skills problems and offer solutions and finance advisor support; helping a business work out what finance support is available and the best options.

The firm successful secured funding from Funding Circle as a direct result of support received from the Growth Hub, the gateway for businesses to access specialist support.

PES also came through the Growth Hub Enhancement Project, which offered support for high growth companies, including hosting a series of free masterclasses to improve the skill set within the regions businesses.

Skills Bank provides employers across the SCR access to high-quality training and funding, to enable them to develop their business.

Training accessed through Skills Bank can be in the form of an existing qualification or industry-recognised training programme or can also be designed to meet bespoke requirements.

PES Performance website
SCR Skills Bank website

Images: Skills Bank

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News: Steady progress in developing new anti-roll bar technology

Experts from industry and academia continue to highlight the Sheffield city region's (SCR's) expertise in finding solutions within the cutting edge automotive sector.

The latest project is developing a revolutionary high-performance hybrid composite-metal anti-roll bar for trucks and trains and shows that the technology has the potential to spin out into other sectors such as aerospace and could see the UK take a global lead with these products.

Engineers at Performance Engineered Solutions (PES) Ltd, based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, are working on the project, co-funded by the UK's innovation agency, Innovate UK, with Sheffield-based Tinsley Bridge Ltd, one of the world's leading suppliers of anti-roll bars, and the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).

The project is investigating the development and manufacture of lighter composite materials as an alternative to traditional metal anti-roll bars. Lightweight anti-roll bars could cut fuel consumption and emissions from rail and heavy road vehicles whilst also improving their reliability. Anti roll bars, also referred to as a stabiliser bars, sway bars, or torsion bars, is the part which stops your car tipping over when you steer heavily into a corner.

The previous Innovate UK funded project achieved a significant 65% reduction in the weight of the stabiliser bar by replacing the current solid steel component with a carbon fibre composite member. The new stabiliser bar design achieved this weight reduction without compromising performance, and offered improved durability, given that the carbon composite materials are less affected by fatigue.

The new project will further develop and refine the design of the anti-roll bars and undertake a wide variety of laboratory testing to simulate the conditions that the anti-roll bars will face during their service life.

PES Performance is heading up the engineering and design side of the project, using its expertise in composites and lightweight materials to design the anti-roll bars. The PES team will utilise Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to simulate if the proposed designs can resist the loads an anti-roll bar is subjected to prior to manufacture. Also, PES Performance will 3D optically scan the manufactured parts as part of the quality inspection process to check the quality of the manufactured parts against the original design specifications.

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Also based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, the AMRC has a £4.5m state-of-the-art centre supporting the development of advanced composite materials inside its Factory of the Future. The centre produced the anti-roll bar prototypes using its MF Tech filament winding system. This is a technique in which filaments of glass or carbon impregnated with resin are wound onto a rotating mandrel to form the desired shape. It also used its CT scanner capability to inspect the inside of the bar, checking the structural integrity and verifying the build quality.

Russell Crow, project manager at Tinsley Bridge (pictured, third right), said: "The targeted application of composite materials in automotive and rail applications has the potential to form the basis of a new era of vehicles. Significant weight reduction can be achieved by redesigning structural and safety-critical components to maximise their performance when manufactured from non-traditional materials.

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"The goal of this project is to demonstrate what can be achieved on a heavy-duty anti-roll bar without compromising the safety of the vehicle. In order to deliver such a challenging brief, we built a strong consortium, comprising of world experts in their respective fields. I am delighted that we found such engineering and manufacturing expertise in the South Yorkshire region."

Dean Gardner, engineering director at PES Performance Ltd, added; "Carbon fibre composites are commonly used in high-end supercars, but have yet to see widespread use in the volume automotive sector. This project aims to show the wider benefits that these materials can provide.

"One of the major challenges has been to achieve a strong and durable interface between the materials in the hybrid anti-roll bars design, in order to achieve the required fatigue performance. With our experience in lightweighting and composites, it is good to be working with Tinsley Bridge and the AMRC on this exciting, potentially ground-breaking project."

Anthony Stevenson, technical lead for the AMRC Composite Centre (pictured, far right), added: "The collaboration with Tinsley Bridge and PES Performance has resulted in the development of a completely new hybrid component to meet the challenges of heavy vehicle stabiliser and torsion bars for the very first time; all whilst introducing weight savings that lead to a variety of benefits such as improved fuel efficiency and reduced carbon emissions.

"We are delighted to continue the project to further developing a new design for the hybrid anti-roll bar as the collaboration has the potential to develop a leading place for the UK with a disruptive technology that has global implications; one that will also have applications in other sectors including the aerospace and rail industries."

PES Performance website
Tinsley Bridge website
AMRC website

Images: AMRC / PES / Tinsley Bridge

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News: Rotherham-based firms are export champions

Exporters from Rotherham are sharing their success stories having been invited to join the Northern Powerhouse Export Champions 2019 initiative, recently launched by the Department for International Trade (DIT).

Part of a wider national Export Champions programme, the chosen businesses will help promote the importance of exporting to their industry and get other UK businesses thinking globally. This network of UK companies will act as ambassadors for exporting, sharing success stories, offering practical advice and leading by example.

Pricecheck Toiletries and Performance Engineered Solutions Ltd, (PES Performance) are two such champions.

Based at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, PES Performance is a high-performance engineering design business, delivering technologically advanced design solutions to clients both in the UK and internationally.

Mike Maddock, managing director of PES Performance (pictured top, centre), said: "Given the nature of our business, some people may be surprised that we are involved in exporting. Although we do not manufacture conventional products, we export examples of our expertise, often in the form of design and engineering solutions, and research & development partnerships, which is then used by our clients overseas to produce their final product.

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"We have been exporting since the business began in 2011, and currently around 50% of the company's turnover is from international clients. Our main export markets are in the US, Canada and Europe, and our aim going forward is to further strengthen our presence with clients in North America & Europe, whilst exploring further global export markets.

"In the current business climate, I feel it is crucial that UK companies look to promote their offer, product and services outside of the UK and identify new markets to drive market diversity, reducing exposure to any one market. Working with new global clients can open other opportunities for collaboration and developing new business together.

"At PES Performance, we don't look at ourselves as exporters, but a team and business open to doing business globally. Working with new international clients can open other opportunities for collaboration and developing new business together."

Rothbiz has chartered the overseas success of Pricecheck in recent years. The international distributor of fast-moving consumer goods, is trusted by the world's biggest brands, offering more than 4,500 branded products to customers in the UK and worldwide.

In just six years, exports have increased from £8.8m in 2012 to £32.3m in 2018. Export now accounts for almost half of total turnover.

Debbie Harrison, joint managing director, at Pricecheck (pictured above, right), said: "Our exporting success is down to the hard work of the team. Exporting is more challenging than trading domestically but for the extra effort, businesses focused on export can reap significant rewards.

"Our sales team attend international trade shows and engage in overseas visits to build relationships with our customers, offering an excellent bespoke customer service along with competitive pricing.

"Exports now account for more than 45% of total turnover which is in excess of £80m, so we're thrilled to have received this accolade and look forward to sharing our knowledge."

PES Performance website
Pricecheck website
Northern Powerhouse website

Images: PES / DIT

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News: Looking LEFT to protect turbine blades

Highlighting the emerging Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District (AMID) in Sheffield and Rotherham, a new project led by local firms looks set to significantly improve the performance of offshore wind turbines throughout their service life.

The Leading Edge for Turbines (LEFT) project, part-funded by Innovate UK, is a two-year, £1m collaboration between Doncasters Bramah, a Sheffield-based specialist aerospace component manufacturer and Performance Engineered Solutions (PES), an engineering design solutions business based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham. The project is being supported by the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult in Blyth, the UK's leading technology innovation and research centre for offshore renewable energy.

The project involves developing a novel system to protect the turbine blades from rain erosion which is currently the leading source of damage to offshore wind turbine blades and is caused by rain and wind hitting the blades. Over time this erosion breaks down the protective coatings attached to the blades, exposing and eventually compromising the blade's structure.

It is a significant issue for both turbine manufacturers and operators as they look to improve a blade's operational life to match the 25-year active service life of the turbines.

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The LEFT project sees Doncasters using their expertise in supplying leading edge erosion shields for civilian and military aircraft and helicopters, to solutions for the offshore wind industry. Meanwhile the PES engineers are applying their experience in component performance and composites optimisation on the project. In particular this includes their understanding of lightweight materials, and aerodynamic design.

The project will investigate integrating nickel cobalt erosion shields into the overall design of the wind turbine blades. Doncasters' electroforming method is an additive manufacturing process which enables them to "grow" the new erosion shields in a chemical bath.

Andrew Woods, business development manager at Doncasters Bramah (pictured, third from right), said: "At Doncasters we have more than 20 years' experience of producing electroformed metallic leading-edge protection solutions to the global aerospace industry. This project represents an exciting opportunity for us to cross-sectorise this knowledge and capability from aerospace into the growing offshore renewables market. Along with our partners on Project LEFT we aim to adapt and develop a lifetime protection solution to arguably one of the biggest problems in the offshore wind industry today."

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Dean Gardner, engineering director at Performance Engineered Solutions (PES) Ltd (pictured, far left), added: "We already work closely with the Doncasters team on other R&D projects. One of the skills of our team is our understanding about materials, light weighting and design which we can apply within a range of industry sectors. As a team we really enjoy working on projects that are challenging and were we can create solutions that will make a marked positive impact for our clients."

If successful, this project will lead to the introduction of a new product that provides significant benefits to the offshore wind industry.

Performing better than the current coating solutions, the new metallic erosion shields are estimated to save operators around £1.3m per turbine during a typical service life, removing the significant cost of repair operations and downtime.

Doncasters Bramah website
PES Performance website

Images: PES

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News: New hire for PES Performance to meet double digit growth

Rotherham-based engineering solutions company PES Performance Ltd has further expanded its engineering design team to meet increased client demand.

Based at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP), Performance Engineered Solutions (PES) Ltd is a high-performance engineering solutions business.

Simon Bainbridge joins the team as senior design engineer from his previous role at Atkins Energy, where he designed mechanical handling equipment for various civil nuclear and defence programmes. Simon started his career at Siemens, working as a R&D design engineer in their metals processing division.

The multi-disciplinary team of design and performance engineers delivers high quality and technologically advanced engineering solutions to clients. The PES Scanning business utilises CT & 3D optical scanning systems to deliver specialised services, including reverse engineering, quality inspection, design optimisation and planned preventative maintenance.

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Simon Bainbridge, senior design engineer, at PES Performance (pictured, right), said: "What attracted me to PES was the wide variety of projects that they undertake for clients. Currently I'm working on projects in the aerospace, green energy and industrial sectors, including an Innovate UK backed R&D project, which for an engineer is great.

"It is also good to be part of a team of engineers that have the flexibility and experience to adapt to any client and offer them effective turnkey solutions."

Dean Gardner, engineering director at PES (pictured, left), added: "It is difficult to find design engineers with the experience to match our specific requirements as an engineering solutions business, operating in multiple high performance environments.

"Simon has the engineering design skills we need. He has the experience of working on a variety of small and large scale design projects, latterly working on nuclear decommissioning solutions for the industry and he will be a key addition to the PES Performance as we further widen the team's capabilities."

PES Performance website

Images: PES

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News: Maddock made visiting professor

Mike Maddock, managing director and co-owner of Performance Engineered Solutions (PES) Ltd, has been named as a visiting professor within the Univeristy of Sheffield's Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Based at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, PES operates in multiple sectors, including aerospace, green energy, automotive and performance sport to name a few. Mike and the PES team are currently working on several government funded R&D projects in collaboration with the University and industrial partners. The business also assists Mechanical Engineering students with their group engineering challenge projects.

The appointment builds upon his active involvement in the Science and Innovation Board (SIB), chaired by Professor Sir Keith Burnett, that works to influence the strategic direction of the Sheffield City Region (SCR) to support growth and economic impact in areas that depend on science led innovation.

Mike also sits on the EPSRC IAA Steering Group and is a member of Sheffield Universities' Managing Directors' Club, which aims to support innovation through industry and academic partnerships. Outside of the University, Mike is an active board member of the Yorkshire and Humber, EEF Regional Advisory Board (RAB).

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Professor Maddock, said: "I am very pleased to have been asked to be a visiting professor with the Department of Mechanical Engineering. From my work with the Science and Innovation Board, and the EEF advisory board I know how important it is for business and academia to work collaboratively, in order to leverage opportunity for innovation and growth within the region, nationally and internationally.

"During my professorship I aim to further strengthen these complementary relationships between business and academia, so that SMEs can benefit from collaborations with the University and industry. I am also keen to help the students understand the opportunities and challenges of the commercial world."

Mike's career started in the Royal Navy, where he trained and worked as a Clearance Diver and Bomb disposal operative for thirteen years. This experience of pressured environments and detailed operational planning laid solid foundations for later roles including regional operations director, with multi-site management and responsibility for over 3,000 staff. Mike also represented Great Britain in the Skeleton Bobsleigh for seven years.

As visiting professor, Mike will continue with his current activities with the University and will also deliver keynote lectures to both undergraduate and postgraduate students, sharing his experiences and supporting the next generation of problem-solvers, leaders and innovators in their development.

Professor John Haycock, faculty director of research & innovation for the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Sheffield, said: "We are delighted to welcome Mike to the Faculty of Engineering and look forward to learning from his insight and experience during his time here as Visiting Professor. His breadth of industry knowledge as well as his work to promote science and innovation in the Sheffield City Region will be an asset to the Department and for the ongoing development of our students."

PES website
University of Sheffield website

Images: University of Sheffield

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News: Composites experts combine in Rotherham

The 2018 Composites UK Annual Conference is taking place on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham next week. The site is home to a number of pioneering composite projects.

Composites UK is the trade association for the UK composites supply chain. It is hosting its annual conference and a dedicated aerospace showcase at The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing on April 18 - 19.

Described as a "must-attend event for companies wanting to keep up-to-speed with strategic thinking," the programme is split into four sessions covering securing the future of the UK composites industry; progress in delivering the UK Composites Strategy; building the infrastructure to support a UK supply chain and finally a case study session from companies at the forefront of composites manufacturing innovations.

Speakers include BEIS, British Standards Institute, Composite Integration, the Department for Exiting the EU, ESI UK, FDM Digital Solutions, Lucintel, National Composites Centre and R-Tech Materials.

Dr. Sue Halliwell, operations manager at Composites UK, said: "With the uncertainty of what Brexit will bring, this event aims to keep industry up-to-date with current thinking in order to plan ahead. The strategic sessions will highlight key opportunities and challenges for the UK composites sector with development projects showcasing how we are taking a cross-sector approach to develop UK GDP. If you're looking to grow or maintain your business then you need to meet the strategists and leading industry players who will be at this conference."

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The following day sees the separate Aerospace Sector Showcase on which Composites UK is working closely with the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) to deliver a cohesive programme.

GKN Aerospace, ADS Group, Airbus and Spirit AeroSystems will join with other researchers and exhibitors.

Claire Whysall, communications manager at Composites UK, said: "This is the second time we will have organised a showcase event for the aerospace sector and we are delighted to have the invaluable support of ATI for 2018. The addition of Airbus and Spirit AeroSystems to the programme really shows that the key players in the aerospace industry are looking to engage and open up their supply chain to the composites community."

Based on the AMP the AMRC has a £4.5m state-of-the-art centre supporting the development of advanced composite materials inside the Factory of the Future. The centre works with complex hybrid components and systems, which require manufacturing expertise in both composite and metallic structures.

The AMRC played a major role in the Integrated Wing Project, a previous R&D project lead by Airbus. In an effort to improve efficiency, the project team focused on identifying new materials and manufacturing processes, like using composites, to produce actuators and braces for aircraft landing gear that would be lighter than those currently made with high tensile strength steel.

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Experts at the centre are currently working on commercialising a new, proprietary technology for applying the "wonder metal" graphene to critical composite structures in sectors such as aerospace.

The centre has also installed a unique, high pressure press to help luxury car manufacturer Bentley reduce weight and greenhouse gas emissions.

Supercar manufacturer McLaren is reshoring UK production​ at a new purpose-built factory on the AMP and is working on a two-year research and development programme with the University of Sheffield on how best to manufacture its carbon fibre chassis.

AMP-based PES Performance works at the cutting edge of composite design in F1, aerospace, marine, Olympic sport and medical technology.

Composites UK website

Images: AMRC

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News: Innovative AMP companies tackle nuclear decommissioning

Rapidly expanding engineering design consultancy, Eadon Consulting has secured funding from the UK's innovation agency to develop a new system for decommissioning ageing nuclear facilities.

Eadon works across a number of sectors, with expertise in mechanical, control, hydraulic and structural design and has moved office four times in six years within the AMP Technology Centre on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham due to the growing nature of the business.

Innovate UK's "Integrated Innovation for Nuclear Decommissioning" competition is specifically aimed at unlocking the potential of specialist small engineering companies, to tackle the £85 billion challenge of decommissioning the Sellafield site. Eadon’s proposed system will enable nuclear decommissioning to be conducted faster, more safely, and at reduced cost.

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The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), Sellafield Ltd and Innovate UK allocated up to £3m to fund innovation projects as part of the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI).

Eadon have formed a bespoke team to develop the "Versatile Decommissioning System", bringing together expertise from a range of engineering disciplines. Team members include offshore engineering experts: Red Engineering; scanning and data manipulation experts PES Scanning (also based on the AMP); Sellafield construction experts Westlakes Engineering; The Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing and Research Centre (also based on the AMP); and the famous ship builder and fabricator Cammell Laird.

James Hill, company director at Eadon Consulting, said: "As a small company of specialist engineers we are ideally placed to solve problems, our size allows us to innovate and quickly develop new ideas. This funding from the UK's Innovation Agency unlocks our potential, allowing us to really focus on the challenges of decommissioning nuclear facilities.

"Collaborating with other small companies means that we can tap into a wealth of knowledge and experience from lots of different industries and pick out all the most useful bits. Our immediate focus in on decommissioning the nuclear site at Sellafield, but the systems we are developing have huge potential for export all over the world."

The project is set to start in August and run for three months. Work will include developing concept designs for new equipment and exploring new techniques for planning and visualisation of decommissioning tasks. On successful completion of the first phase, Innovate UK will release additional funding to develop full working prototypes and start trialling the new system.

The Nuclear AMRC in Rotherham is already working with Sellafield Ltd to slash the cost of making future designs of waste container boxes, potentially saving hundreds of millions of pounds in decommissioning costs.

Tens of thousands of these 3 cubic metre steel boxes will be needed over the next 30 years with each one costing tens of thousands of pounds to produce using existing manufacturing techniques. The research focuses on the two most promising routes for cost reduction identified by Sellafield Ltd – optimising and automating welding of the container; and producing the lid flanges by casting instead of machining.

Eadon Consulting website
Nuclear AMRC website

Images: Sellafield Ltd / Nuclear AMRC

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News: AMP Technology Centre turns ten

The AMP Technology Centre in Rotherham is celebrating a decade of success in helping companies to innovate, collaborate, expand and attract investment.

Providing incubation space on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP), 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.

Over the years it has attracted companies and organisations who saw strategic value in locating in close proximity to other companies and research organisations at the AMP as a mechanism for encouraging and promoting collaboration. Larger UK and overseas owned companies have also been attracted, looking to work with AMP-based partners, prior to fully committing towards a presence on the park.

An array of products and technological developments have being developed here; from ground-breaking liquid cooling systems for IT data centres, and the latest high-end audio hi-fi equipment, to parts for concept cars shown by leading car manufacturers, and winter sports equipment, used by numerous nation's athletes in international competitions and the Winter Olympics.

The Technology Centre was officially opened on November 2 2006 by triple Formula 1 World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart.

Initially developed by Yorkshire Forward, the AMP Technology Centre is now operated by Creative Space Management on behalf of the Homes and Communities Agency. It includes an £8.7m extension, previously know as the Environmental Energy Technology Centre (EETC), which opened in 2009 and the third building that is filling up with expanding firms - a new £4.5m incubator for high tech businesses.

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The centre also includes a Hydrogen Mini Grid which consists of a 225kW wind turbine coupled directly to an electrolyser, 220kg of hydrogen storage, a hydrogen dispensing unit and a 30kW fuel cell system capable of providing backup power generation for nearby buildings. Sheffield-based ITM Power have harnessed the system to create one of only a handful of places in the UK where pioneering hydrogen fuel cell vehicles can be refuelled. It is unique in that the energy stored in the grid is created by wind power, which means that the vehicles it powers will not contribute to carbon dioxide emissions.

Leading engineering design company, PES Performance moved into the centre in 2010 and since arriving have found the Technology Centre and the wider AMP to be the ideal location for their business.

Mike Maddock, managing director at PES Performance (pictured, left), said: "We were initially attracted to the AMP by the wide range of technical and support services we required that were able to complement our expertise, and which were available on the Park and in the surrounding Rotherham / Sheffield area.

"The Technology Centre provided the ideal first step to locating the company on the AMP, both for the benefits of location; expertise etc., but also that the look and feel of the place enhanced our brand aspirations, particularly in the early years of the business."

Increased demand for its 3D scanning, quality inspection and reverse engineering services prompted PES Performance's move into a larger unit within the AMP Technology Centre this year. The new scanning centre facilities enable client products to be more easily scanned, and direct access to the workshop scanning area allows vehicles, aerospace components and large industrial parts to be easily accommodated.

Maddock added: "Over the last year demand from clients for these services has increased significantly. Our clients utilise 3D scanning in a variety of ways; some for reverse engineering and design optimisation; whilst others use scanning to undertake quality assurance and inspection processes, identifying potential manufacturing defects in components and in reviewing critical tooling, jigs and fixtures.

"We wanted to improve our facilities so that clients can choose whether to use our bureau scanning service or for our scanning team to visit their facilities. Initially it took some time to find the perfect facility for our requirements, but we were determined to remain at the AMP. It is the ideal location for a high performance business like ours, working in an innovative and collaborative environment and we have many clients and partners located on the AMP."

AMP Technology Centre website
PES Performance website

Images: Harworth Estates / PES Performance

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News: PES Performance expand on AMP

Engineering design business Performance Engineered Solutions (PES) Ltd has expanded its presence at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, following increased demand for its 3D scanning, quality inspection and reverse engineering services.

Performance Engineered Solutions (PES) Ltd is a high performance engineering design business, with a multi-disciplinary team of design and performance engineers. The team has been involved in a number of projects over recent months, ranging from scanning a vintage aircraft and reverse engineering historic wood panelling from Winston Churchill's room, to developing a new automotive product and using scanning to quality inspect components for the water and energy industries. The projects have taken them throughout the UK, to Europe and more recently to the US.

This increase in business has prompted a move into a larger unit within the AMP Technology Centre. The new separate office and scanning centre facilities, enables clients' products to be more easily scanned. Direct access to the workshop allows vehicles, aerospace components and large industrial parts to be accommodated without difficulty.

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Mike Maddock, managing director at PES Performance (pictured, left), said: "Over the last 12 months, after we made an investment of £120k in a scanning and photogrammetry system, demand from clients for these services has increased significantly. We wanted to improve our facilities so that clients can choose whether to use our bureau scanning service here at the AMP or for our scanning team to visit their facilities.

"Our clients utilise 3D scanning in a variety of ways; some for reverse engineering and design optimisation; whilst others use scanning to undertake quality assurance and inspection processes, identifying potential manufacturing defects in components and in reviewing critical tooling, jigs and fixtures.

"Our clients are continually looking to drive efficiencies in manufacturing to deliver repeatable quality and control. Once they understand how the technology can be used as a key tool in their business and see the cost benefits of our inspection and reporting support, on individual or multiple parts, our services have been in great demand."

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The AMP is one of the leading and most innovative engineering, research and manufacturing communities. Its newest commercial property is the new 32,000 sq ft state-of-the art facility at the AMP Technology Centre, part of the park's incubation space. Landowners, The Homes & Communities Agency (HCA), which took on the assets from Yorkshire Forward, expect that the £4.2m building will provide innovative SME companies from the initial centre the opportunity to expand into larger premises, as well as attracting high technology companies from further afield.

Regarding the companies' expansion at the AMP, Mike added: "Initially it took some time to find the perfect facility for our requirements, but we have been determined to remain at the AMP. It is the ideal location for a high performance business like ours, working in an innovative and collaborative environment and we have many clients and partners located on the AMP.

"We are also able to access a wide range of the technical and support services we require on the Park and in the surrounding Rotherham / Sheffield area. We envisage further expansion of the business in the next twelve months, and having just appointed a key senior design engineer and we will be actively looking for the right people with the unique skills required to join our team."

PES Performance website

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News: Revolutionary runflat developers expand on the AMP

Runflat CBR, a company commercialising technology pioneered on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, has taken 4,700 sq ft of office space at Building 3, the newest office development at the UK's premier advanced manufacturing park.

Runflat CBR was established by Richard Lust, an engineer with nearly 30 years' experience designing "runflat" technology. Runflat tyres include self supporting technology which means it is able to support the weight of the vehicle even when they are punctured. Unfortunately, the distance that can be driven on a runflat, in addition to its performance, is limited.

Working alongside other companies based at the AMP Technology Centre, including engineers at Performance Engineered Solutions; 3D printing firm Materialise, as well as the neighbouring Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), the project has developed a feasible solution as to how an insert could incorporate a bead lock system, a lock that secures the tyre to the wheel and ensures the two rotate together.

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By incorporating a bead lock system, the driver will be able to maintain good drivability (steer, accelerate and brake efficiently) on not only one, but even all four deflated tyres.

The company has now moved from the Technology Centre into a specialist workshop and office space at Building 3, ahead of a recruitment drive and the mass-manufacture of the Runflat CBR product from the end of 2016.

Richard Lust, founder of Runflat CBR, said: "This corner of South Yorkshire is a melting pot for invention. I wouldn't have been able to make the concept a reality without the talent and original approach of others based here at the Technology Centre and the wider Park.

"We have now patented our revolutionary technology and we are looking forward to sharing it with users across the globe from our new facility."

A production model was developed specifically for its test partner, Volvo Special Vehicle Operations, following a direct requirement from the British Ministry of Defence. In parallel with this development, the company is developing special tooling in conjunction with its main component supplier, Materialise.

Design and development will continue through a range of sizes and types of runflat systems covering all types of vehicle including off-road and heavy trucks. Future projects may include systems for motorcycles and aircraft.

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Already 50% let, the new 32,000 sq ft state-of-the art building is part of the park's incubation space. Landowners, The Homes & Communities Agency (HCA), which took on the assets from Yorkshire Forward, expect that the £4.2m building will provide innovative SME companies from the initial centre the opportunity to expand into larger premises, as well as attracting high technology companies from further afield.

MetLase, the joint venture between Rolls-Royce and Unipart Group, has already taken 10,000 sq ft in the new centre.

Paul Taylor, director at Creative Space Management, said: "Runflat CBR is a prime example of the type of business which can thrive and grow on the park; a cutting-edge concept taken to the next level with a little help from the brilliant network of advanced technology specialists we have based at the AMP."

Runflat CBR website

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News: Gearing up to mark Rotherham Hospice's 20th year

A production manager for the local branch of Signs Express is getting back in the saddle to undertake a mammoth bike ride to raise valuable funds for Rotherham Hospice.

Based at Templeborough, Signs Express pride themselves on their expertise and innovative solutions to help businesses come up with perfect signage solutions, tailored specifically to their requirements.

The only adult hospice in Rotherham for the people of Rotherham, Rotherham Hospice is an independent charity and must raise significant sums of money each year in order to pay for the quality care provided free of charge to patients, their families and carers. The charity needs £5m a year with £2.2m needed to be raised each year through voluntary support.

Gareth Russell, production manager at Signs Express, took on a cycling challenge in 2014 for Rotherham Hospice and raised an amazing £5,000. This September he will join a team of 50 fundraisers as part of the "Big 20" - so called as it is the Rotherham Hospice's 20th anniversary.

Partnering with specialist charity event organisers, Skyline Events, the 345 mile trip from London to Paris also includes a stop at Rotherham's twin town, Saint Quentin on day four before the cyclists arrive in Paris on day five.

Gareth said: "It's an amazing experience. The French roads are great for cycling, and all the cyclists ride into Paris together. It's a fantastic atmosphere."

Donations can be made at Gareth's Just Giving page.

Also set to take on the fundraising challenge are Christopher Duff, chief executive at Rotherham Hospice and GP, Ted Daly, a trustee at the hospice.

A number of fundraising events are taking place throughout the hospice's 20th year. The anniversary ball, recently held at Aston Hall Hotel, raised £16,000.

An official launch event recently took place for the Tree of Life - an imposing, unique sculpture in stainless steel created by Yorkshire Man of Steel designer Steve Mehdi. Inspired by the shape of a tree in the hospice garden and intended as a commemorative artwork, the three metre tall structure will support over 290 individual leaves which can be dedicated in memory of a loved one.

The unique fundraising venture has already raised some £20,000; numerous bereaved relatives whose loved ones received hospice care have paid for engraved leaves and sections of bark to be placed on the tree in their memory.

The Tree of Life was made of steel donated by Outokumpu and built with the help of Newburgh Precision Engineering. Maher Ltd provided the tubular steel frame, JF Finnegan built the foundations with help from Peter Brett Associates. Mark Smithson transported the tree to the site and TPA Portable Roadways and PP Engineering lifted the three tonne tree over the fence into the hospice garden. The tree will glow at night thanks to ASD Lighting and there was also help from the apprentices at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, We are Branding and Performance Engineered Solutions. Pryor Marketing have engraved all the leaves and the bark.

"We all could help, so we did," explained Vince Middleton, MD of Newburgh, who dedicated the company's best welder, Paul Smith, to the task of fabricating the tree from the donated stainless steel and alloys.

"Paul did a brilliant job. It took 200 hours, working under the guidance of sculptor Steve Mehdi. We all felt privileged to be involved in a project which is so creative and which will do a great deal of good for many years to come."

Former Outokumpu MD Jamie Sharp, who has also pledged to supply the steel leaves and bark for a minimum of two years, added: "The tree brings art and industry together and shows the beauty and everlasting quality of stainless steel, a material first created in South Yorkshire."

Signs Express website
Rotherham Hospice website

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News: TeenTech returns to South Yorkshire

The award-winning TeenTech event is back in the region with local engineers set to show off the opportunities for young people.

TeenTech is an industry-led initiative that helps students understand how STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) are the pathway to tomorrow's careers. It has been pioneered by former Tomorrow's World TV presenter Maggie Philbin, who wanted to dispel myths about science and technology careers being considered difficult, geeky or boring.

B&E Together in partnership with RiDO has collaborated with TeenTech CIC to put on the event at the Doncaster Racecourse today. Since 2012 the award winning event has brought 900 teenagers from secondary schools across South Yorkshire for a fun packed day of science & technology and over 140 scientists, engineers and technologists demonstrated interesting challenges and experiments to the students. Leading science and technology companies participate and explain about career opportunities and the skills required.

TeenTech events run in twelve regions of England and Wales and this is the fourth time that the event will run in South Yorkshire.

Sandra Cooper, non executive director of TeenTech CIC, said: "This was a very successful and enjoyable event in 2015 with some students saying it was the best event they attended whilst in their secondary school, we are delighted that South Yorkshire is hosting the event again and see it as a very worthwhile and meaningful way of encouraging students to develop an interest in STEM subjects."

Performance Engineered Solutions (PES), engineering design specialists based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, are one of the companies getting involved to inspire the next generation of engineers. A visit from students from St Wilfred's High, Featherstone helped to prepare them for TeenTech's Innovation Awards.

Rotherham-based electronics retailer, Maplin attends the events and sponsors the awards. It works with winning students to make their innovative products real.

Maggie Philbin, CEO of TeenTech added: "We are delighted to be returning to South Yorkshire and to be partnering B&E Together and RiDO. The jobs of the future will be going to young people who have skills in Science, technology and engineering. There are so many different opportunities and entry points and we want to young people of the region to understand they could very much be part of these industries.

"It doesn't matter whether you work for a large global company, a research institution or intend to set up your own company – gaining certain skills will make sure you are ahead of the field. It makes such a difference when young people hear first hand from young graduates or apprentices about why they enjoy their work. The young people listen to these near age role models and start to see themselves standing in their shoes.

"Feedback shows that companies very much enjoy the experience of taking part. Not only is it an opportunity to inspire young people but it's a great personal development opportunity for employees."

TeenTech website

Images: TeenTech

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News: PES Performance help reverse engineer historic roller-coaster

PES Performance has played a key part in the roller-coaster journey to get the historic scenic railway back up and running at Dreamland in Margate.

The scenic railway was one of the oldest roller-coasters in the country until it burnt down in 2008. Now the centre piece of a wider, £18m redevelopment, the new railway, based on the same layout and design as the original, re-opened at the end of 2015.

Based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, Performance Engineered Solutions (PES) Ltd is a high performance engineering design business, with a multi-disciplinary team of design and performance engineers. It is the second AMP-based company to be called on by restoration specialists, WGH in Doncaster, after Eadon Consulting designed new key parts for the ride that kept to the original design but met modern safety standards.

The wooden-tracked railway with steel rails is supported by a wooden structure, a brakeman slows the ride down at certain points on the track. It is one of only eight scenic railways in the world and has Grade II* listed status.

WGH were contracted to rebuild the train, with three carriages, as close to the original specification. PES were approached to reverse engineer the remaining dragon-head and manufacture six new wooden dragons from the original to become part of the three carriage train required for the ride.

The first challenge was to accurately reproduce the dragons from the original. The original was hand carved, ornate and organic in shape, and the PES team used their 3D blue light scanning system to capture the original data to a high level of detail, ensuring that the essence and original feel from the hand carved dragon would not be lost in reverse engineering the heads.

The salvaged dragon-head had been damaged with 270mm cut off from the lower section of the dragon, plus further damage to the head. The team searched through archived information on the original scenic railway and soon discovered that the missing section included ornate carving and key details.

The solution was to commission a sculpture to rebuild the missing section in clay, using original carving techniques and align the original part with the clay sculpted section.

Then the full dragon was scanned using the 3D blue light scanning system to produce a perfect 3D image.

CNC specialists, GCNC Ltd used the data to programme a cutting machine to manufacture from wood the six reverse engineered dragon-heads that were required to complete the three carriages being built.

Mike Maddock, managing director at PES, said: "It was great to see the scenic railway reopen again last autumn. The PES team are very proud to have played a small part in this amazing project and to have used our cutting-edge 3D scanning technology to help restore this historic landmark.

"By combining modern technology with traditional methods we created the perfect solution to the challenge. We had recreated the dragon, incorporating the essence of what the original craftsman wanted to produce."

PES Performance website

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News: AMP engineers working on complex composites

Engineering experts from across the Sheffield city region are working together to develop a revolutionary system to cut transport emissions and costs while boosting reliability and durability.

Tinsley Bridge, the Sheffield-based SME that is one of the world's leading suppliers of anti-roll bars, has joined forces with Performance Engineered Solutions (PES) and the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), both of which are based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.

PES Ltd was established based on the F1 concept of driving innovation in multiple sectors. It specialises in enhancing the performance of components, products and systems by delivering integrated engineering thinking alongside innovative design, materials, manufacturing and testing technologies.

The AMRC focuses on advanced machining and materials research for aerospace and other high-value manufacturing sectors. It is a partnership between industry and academia, which has become a model for research centres worldwide.

The trio has launched a project, co-funded by the UK's innovation agency, Innovate UK, to develop unique, high performance, metal composite hybrid anti-roll bars for trucks and trains.

The bars are safety critical suspension components that are currently made from metal and the project aims to significantly reduce their weight by developing a composite alternative with metal end pieces.

Reducing weight will cut fuel costs and emissions. Using composites could also mean the bars will never need replacing – unlike their metal counterparts – and will increase the dynamic loads the bars can cope with.

One of the major challenges will be achieving a sufficiently strong bond between the metal and composite and researchers will be investigating a number of innovative solutions.

Tinsley Bridge is already the fourth largest supplier of anti-roll bars to global OEM truck manufacturers and a key development partner for stabiliser and torsion bars to vehicle manufacturers.

Successful development of metal composite hybrid bars through innovation and research would create an advanced version of the product to counter the threat of low cost foreign competition and open up new opportunities.

Mike Maddock, managing director at PES (pictured, far left), said: "There could be multiple spin-offs, including opportunities in the aerospace sector, if the work we are doing comes to fruition.

"This project also highlights the value of strong collaboration to drive innovation which delivers technical advances, enabling UK PLC to take the lead in multiple sectors. Bringing together the knowledge and expertise of SMEs like Tinsley Bridge and PES, working in partnership with the AMRC raises the profile of local businesses and the region in the global market place as an important part of the Northern Powerhouse."

A state-of-the-art facility allows the AMRC Composite Centre to provide a full range of design, manufacturing, assembly and structural testing services for advanced composite materials.

Matt Smith, from the AMRC Composite Centre, said: "Although composite materials are used in a range of industrial applications, they have not been developed as a hybrid component to meet the challenges of heavy vehicle stabiliser and torsion bars.

"The strong technical and environmental benefits, increased durability, improved fuel efficiency and reduction in carbon emissions means we have the potential to develop a leading place for the UK with a disruptive technology that has global implications."

PES and the AMRC have previously worked together on a project to research the potential alternatives to composite technologies currently in use such as carbon fibre and epoxy resin systems. The technology has the potential to revolutionise the production of low volume specialist components for high performance vehicles.

PES website
AMRC website

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News: Innovation in Rotherham

3D-printed silicone, electric-powered aerospace actuators, waterless washing machines, energy efficient irons and new snow sports products are just some of the innovations being developed by companies in Rotherham.

Innovate UK (formerly the Technology Strategy Board) is the UK's innovation agency, working with people, companies and partner organisations to find and drive the science and technology innovations that will grow the UK economy. Since 2007 it has invested over £1.5 billion in innovation, matched by a further £1.5 billion in partner and business funding.

30 Rotherham companies have secured funding in recent years, from £5,000 Innovation Vouchers, to hundreds of thousands for those involved in much larger consortia.

The Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham is the hotbed of the region's innovation with financial support for companies such as Xeros, the AIM-listed firm that is commercialising its patented system using a unique method of special polymer beads rather than the usual large amounts of fresh water to clean clothes. The company secured £250,000 from Innovate UK for a project to help develop its system for the domestic market.

14 companies on the AMP have secured funding including Fripp Design for their 3D printer that prints in full colour silicone, a world's first, that will revolutionise the rapid manufacture of soft tissue prosthetics.

Other recipients include Bromley Sports for the development of Baseboards; Materialise UK Limited for a number of projects focusing on additive manufacturing; and Performance Engineered Solutions (PES) for an ongoing project for the Development of Lightweight Composite Suspension Components alongside Tinsley Bridge Limited and the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).

The university centre continues to play a crucial role in innovation and Innovate UK projects where it is involved focus on affordable lightweighting, satellite systems for aircraft and autonomous control systems for unmanned surface vehicles (USVs).

At Swinton, household domestic appliance giant Morphy Richards is the lead participant in the Sustainable Capillary Iron Project. The £300,000 project is hoping to develop a more sustainable, energy efficient, longer life iron, that uses less energy and water. The proposed new iron will consider relocating manufacture to the UK.

Based at Vector 31 at Waleswood, Arnold Magnetic Technologies Limited has been a part of a number of Innovate UK funded projects. A leading global manufacturer of high performance magnets, magnetic assemblies and precision thin metals, Arnold has worked with Sheffield-based Magnomatics Limited on projects for magnets in variable transmission for heavy-duty vehicles and on the MAGSPLIT power split device that is suited to hybrid and electric vehicles and is currently being evaluated by a number of global automotive customers as part of The Proving Factory initiative.

Arnold is also working as part of a £3m project led by Safran called AEMTA (Advanced Electrical Machines Technologies for Aircraft). The aim is to utilise electric power for aerospace systems such as actuations, high pressure pumping, landing gear and wheel applications, and power transfer. It also aims to establish the UK for future supply of advanced high added-value products for the "More Electric Aircraft" concept.

Innovate UK website

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News: Man of Steel back on the AMP

The scale model of the iconic Man of Steel has gone back on display at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, surrounded by a number of companies that are working to make the final version a reality.

The sculpture was originally manufactured at the Composite Centre on the AMP and the charity behind the project, Yorkshire Icon Ltd, is now officially based there, inside the AMP Technology Centre.

In 2012, planning permission was granted conditionally for the 27.3m high art installation based on work by local sculptor Steve Mehdi, on a former land fill site in Rotherham.

The iconic piece of art has been designed to be a landmark gateway sculpture close to the M1 that "will recognise the history of steel and coal in the region, and preside over a new age of technology and specialised steel production."

The Man of Steel is also set to play an important role in promoting education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

The project has been assisted by expertise from AMP-based organisations, Performance Engineered Solutions (PES) Ltd and the University of Sheffield's Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).

The two metre model is made from polyurethane resin board, a material normally used for creating prototypes and models of automotive and aerospace structures. This was sculpted at the AMRC Composite Centre on its CMS five-axis machining centre.

Experts at PES are developing rapid prototyping to examine the potential of creating the monumental version of Man of Steel.

Steve Mehdi, the sculptor behind the project, said: "It feels right that the sculpture has returned to its birthplace. Many of the innovative engineering developments for the Yorkshire Man of Steel project are led by companies based at the AMP Technology Centre and we're very proud to be associated with such a collaborative group of specialists and to be a working with a facility with an international reputation for excellence.

"The legacy of this project fits perfectly with the AMRC's research and development success and I'm sure it will be a signpost to the advances in the new technologies and specialised manufacturing that is now a core part of the region."

John Palframan, manager at the AMP Technology Centre, added: "We're delighted to see the Yorkshire Man of Steel return home. The sculpture always attracts attention and is a springboard for conversations between visitors and many of the people who work here."

Last week saw the first cut of the Heart of Steel, two of which are set to be manufactured. The Man of Steel is to have his own heart, a 2.5 tonne sculpture made from super alloys and containing up to 150,000 names of individuals from across the region. The other is set to be on show at the popular pocket park on Corporation Street, next to Rotherham Minster.

Man of Steel website
AMP Technology Centre website

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News: New targets for PES

Performance Engineered Solutions (PES), engineering design specialists based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, has added a new service to its portfolio which can help companies to identify business efficiencies, reduce their business costs and increase profits.

PES Ltd was established based on the F1 concept of driving innovation in multiple sectors. It specialises in enhancing the performance of components, products and systems by delivering integrated engineering thinking alongside innovative design, materials, manufacturing and testing technologies.

The innovative company has a track record in cutting edge sports technology including those used to gain a competitive advantage in cycling, skeleton bob, Moto GP and golf.

PES has added the new service after receiving enquiries about operating costs from many of its manufacturing clients. The new service covers value engineering with part of the process reviewing major expenditure and operating costs.

Neville Snell (pictured) has now joined the PES Performance team as director of Business Cost Solutions, which covers areas such as energy, telecoms, insurance, vehicles and staff.

Mike Maddock, managing director at PES said: "A key focus of PES Performance is the delivery of performance enhancing solutions for our clients using our design and engineering support to optimise the efficiency and performance of their business. This can be through more efficient manufacturing processes or employing new technologies to their equipment, processes, products or all three.

"Our work is ultimately to help clients make their business more competitive within their market and maximise bottom line profits utilising all the tools and applied technologies available to us. More and more we are being asked to support clients to review and optimise manufacturing process and carry out a value engineering review.

"After the challenges business have had to face over the past six years, when we have delivered a project for our clients to optimise the design or manufacturing process they often discuss the challenges they face of high operating cost proportionate to some of their competitors, and this is an area we are now looking to address for them with this new service."

Since the launch, PES has not only supported businesses in its network but also outside of the engineering and manufacturing sector, having recently working with a Schools Academy and achieving savings in excess of £29.5k.

PES Performance website

Images: PES Performance

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