Member Article

Yorkshire SMEs offered free prototyping by university and Boeing

The University of Sheffield has partnered Boeing to offer Yorkshire SMEs two days of free business support and assistance from its new design engineering centre to mark the facility’s opening and support business in the region.

The Design Prototyping and Test Centre is a cutting-edge unit that is intended to become a national resource. It combines the university’s established Advanced Structural Testing Centre with its new Design & Prototyping Group - all backed by what is claimed to be the world-leading technological excellence of the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, whose principal partner is Boeing.

Free SME support will give companies access to the AMRC’s multi-disciplinary team of design and testing engineers, who will help them develop new products or improve current capabilities. Businesses can gain practical assistance in many areas, including, concept generation; design & development; analysis & simulation; 3D printing; CNC machining; and structural testing of coupons, components or complete systems.

The two days of support can be put towards a larger project and there are also free brainstorming and 3D design sessions.

Derek Boaler, AMRC head of design, said: “The new centre will be a national hub for design engineering, and we’re delighted to give Yorkshire businesses the opportunity to take advantage of our expertise first.

“We can help manufacturers move innovative new designs from first concept through to fully tested pre-production prototype and create high-value products that are designed, tested and made in Britain. We want to hear from any business that thinks w can help it.”

Sheffield AMRC works with companies along the supply chain to identify and resolve advanced manufacturing problems. Its new Design Prototype & Test Centre is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, a consortium of seven established manufacturing and process research centres, backed by the Technology Strategy Board.

The SME offer is open to Yorkshire and Humberside-based companies only. Those seeking assistance or further information should contact Craig Roberts at: c.roberts@amrc.co.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by David Gatehouse .