Innovation UK > News > Innovation UK Vol5-1 > Improving efficiency for metals and manufacturing companies

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

As part of its technology transfer programme NAMTEC has developed a wide range of collaborative research programmes ranging from the development of high strength magnesium alloys for automotive applications through to metal-polymer sandwich structures for construction.

The South Yorkshire Technology Transfer (TT) Programme has been established as a partnership between NAMTEC and TWI and is funded by Objective 1 and Yorkshire Forward. Centres within the Yorkshire Forward Capacity Building initiative include the Design, Modelling and Simulation Centre, Surface Engineering Group, Innovative Metal Processing Centre, and the Rapid Manufacturing Programme.

Design, Modelling & Simulation (DMS) Centre: Design, Modelling and Simulation tools and techniques are essential for today?s manufacturers to remain competitive in the face of challenges from overseas competition and rising materials costs. The DMS Centre provides companies with much needed support for product and process development; providing a hub for UK research and development. The centre expands upon NAMTEC?s existing modelling capability offering a range of services, including: microstructure/property prediction, process simulation, stress analysis and discrete event simulation.

Surface Engineering Group (SEG): is a collaborative venture designed to deliver innovative surface engineering solutions to UK companies. The Group, which is managed by NAMTEC, will draw upon the physical resources within Corus? RD&T Swinden Technology Centre, the Research Centre in Surface Engineering within the Engineering Materials Department at the University of Sheffield, the Materials and Engineering Research Institute at Sheffield Hallam University and TWI Ltd. The group is able to offer a wide range of coatings solutions from thermal spray, PVD, CVD and sol-gel technologies, combined with state of the art test and validation equipment and services to create new high value added products.

RAMP - the Rapid Manufacturing Programme is led by TWI Ltd with support from Castings Technology International (Cti) and input from other technical research organisations (Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), University of Sheffield IMMPETUS Centre, Keyworth Institute at the University of Leeds, Materialise, and NAMTEC).

The main objectives of the programme are:

• To establish an internationally-leading and sustainable rapid manufacturing technology programme
• To enhance the regional rapid manufacturing capabilities and competencies
• To increase the economic wealth of the region
• To increase the profitability of regional engineering and manufacturing companies
• To provide an unrivalled source of process knowledge and data on rapid manufacturing

Innovative Metal Processing Centre (IMP): This venture between the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing (AMRC) and IMMPETUS will concentrate amongst other things on the processing of titanium and its alloys by powder metallurgy. The IMP-C is industrially focussed and is supported by a consortium of industrial partners including; Boeing, Rolls-Royce, Symmetry Medical, Battenfeld, Egide- UK, Materialise, Morgan Advanced Ceramics, BASF and the European Powder Metallurgy Association.

TECHNICAL TRAINING

NAMTEC delivers a wide range of technical training courses, ranging from simple short courses through to highly bespoke training packages. As part of NAMTEC?s commitment to Continuous Professional Development they have recently developed, in partnership with Sheffield Hallam University, MScs in Advanced Engineering Metals and Materials & Manufacturing Management. These are aimed at increasing the number of metallurgists entering the sector and providing the necessary level of training to support the needs of a rapidly changing industry.

Contact NAMTEC  to see how they can help your business, Tel: 01709 724990 - www.namtec.co.uk