AMRC boosts prospects for UK firms in energy and renewable markets

YORKSHIRE-based researchers are helping UK firms to stay ahead of their rivals in the oil, gas and renewable markets.
Oskar Wyrwas sets up the new CMS Poseidon machineOskar Wyrwas sets up the new CMS Poseidon machine
Oskar Wyrwas sets up the new CMS Poseidon machine

The team is providing a boost for Yorkshire’s economy by speeding up the manufacturing process for large-scale components. With support from Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency, and the Aerospace Technology Institute, AMRC Castings has been able to increase the size of replica patterns and moulds it can produce using new technology.

AMRC Castings is part of the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), which is based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park at Catcliffe, near Sheffield.

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The facility has also received support from the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, which helps companies of all sizes gain access to the country’s best manufacturing technologies.#

The facility is designed to help UK companies break into global markets for large-scale titanium aerospace engine and structural components, which are currently dominated by the United States.

AMRC Castings’ Richard Gould said: “Any UK company wanting to break into the market would have to develop the know-how themselves, but we aim to build up the know-how for the benefit of the UK advanced manufacturing and aerospace industries.”

Mr Gould said the new CMS Poseidon machine was very fast, and accurate.

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He added: “It will be ideally suited to making moulds for marine propellers, large scale valves and other critical components for the oil and gas, renewables and wider energy markets, as well as aerospace.

“Within renewables alone, applications could include tidal energy systems.”