AMRC AND BOEING TAKE POSSESSION OF FACTORY 2050 “We aim to make Factory 2050 the
The Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) along with Boeing has taken possession of Factory 2050, the glass-walled ‘reconfigurable factory’ at the heart of the University of Sheffield’s new advanced manufacturing campus on Sheffield Business Park. The AMRC is now installing the technology that will be used in research programmes designed to revolutionise UK manufacturing after construction group Interserve handed over the keys to the landmark building.
most advanced in the world, built to carry out collaborative research,” says executive dean Professor Keith Ridgway. “It has been designed to ensure the UK’s advanced manufacturing supply chain can access the expertise it needs to make the most of new challenges and opportunities and that our region retains its international lead in high value manufacturing.” It is hoped that Factory 2050 will attract advanced manufacturers and
well-paid engineering jobs to the new Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District being created in the Sheffield City Region as part of the government’s Northern Powerhouse initiative. “Factory 2050 will allow us to explore the techniques and
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technologies that are vital to achieving the mass customisation of products now being demanded by companies and consumers,” comments Ben Morgan of AMRC’s Integrated Manufacturing Group (IMG) which will be housed there. Expected to be fully operational by
spring 2016, Factory 2050’s rotunda will house reconfigurable, data driven assembly technologies; commercially sensitive or larger footprint projects will be sited in the extension.
www.amrc.co.uk
SCOTLAND SHOW JOINS DATATEAM EVENT PORTFOLIO
LEAN CONTRIBUTES TO BEST FACTORY AWARD WIN Datateam Business Media Ltd has
Siemens Magnet Technology won the overall Factory of the Year 2015 prize at the Best Factory Awards in London and the People & Skills Development Award as well as Best Engineering Plant Award. Operations manager Frazer Mackay firmly believes that lean working gave the company the edge over its competitors. The company had to demonstrate
improved performance across the board; reducing lead times, improving productivity and delivering
outstanding product innovation. Siemens design and manufacture of an ultra-light magnet at the heart of a revolutionary MRI scanner was enabled by a major redevelopment of the plant’s entire manufacturing area. To help with this Mackay called on the services of lean business specialist Fedden USP who in partnership with MIT Skills has been undertaking the LEAN Business Improvement Techniques (BITS) NVQ Level 2 and 3 programmes at the factory over the past four years. Over 200 (>95%) of employees on the shop floor volunteered to be trained in NVQ Level 2, Level 3 or a
one-day lean appreciation course. This is backed up by the company’s Lean Improvement Projects which ensures that everyone’s training is applied on a routine basis. Fedden has succeeded in changing
the way of thinking at Siemens and now all personnel contribute ideas for improvements “Continuous improvement is
embedded in everyone’s day job,” continues Mackay. “it is considered to be business as usual, not something special and everyone is well aware that if we stand still we will fall behind”.
www.fedden-usp.co.uk
EXCITEMENT BUILDS FOR MACH 2016 A
new year brings fresh opportunities for growth and
expansion but the challenges ar not inconsiderable. With manufacturing output flat overall during 2015 the question now is whether the sector can regain much needed momentum this year. According to the EEF industry PMI readings from Europe offer a few reasons for optimism that recovery across the region will finally start to benefit UK exporters but further weakening in China is likely to be a counteracting force into 2016. Green shoots are very much in
evidence in AMRC’s Factory 2050 aimed to be the most advanced in the world and expected to be up running this spring.
Susan Deane Editor
Excitement levels are building until the doors open on MACH 2016, the UK’s premier manufacturing technologies event. The NEC in Birmingham will host the exhibition 11-15 April and hopes are high that it will surpass the double award winning 2014 exhibition. Sales of space have already passed
2014’s square metres sold mark. With over 600 exhibitors expected at the show (of which 130 will be completely new to MACH) the event is shaping up to be a pivotal point in the UK manufacturing calendar for 2016. MACH showcases working demonstrations of machinery and brings together the industry’s finest manufacturers across a range of technologies including milling, turning, metrology, additive manufacturing and tooling. The seminar programme will be supported by two dedicated theatres and feature compelling talks by
4 DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016 | FACTORY EQUIPMENT
some of the industry’s best known OEMs and institutions including Airbus, Messier-Dowty, McLaren, Cranfield University and HS2. Topics include an in-depth look at
Industry 4.0 and Additive Manufacturing with a particular focus on the 3D printing revolution. “The MTA is once again honoured to have Sandvik Coromant sponsoring the Learning and Development Zone,” comments MTA head of events James Fudge. “The MTA is always looking at new
ways to encourage young talent into the industry and the Learning and Development Zone at MACH 2016 will do just that with the next generation of engineers in action in our Apprentices at Work demonstrations.” Featured organisations within the
Zone include the AMRC, the Bloodhound SuperSonic Car and the Ministry of Defence.
www.mta.org.uk
acquired sole rights and all assets of the Instrumentation Scotland & Offshore Systems show from Trident Exhibitions Ltd. Taking place 31 August to 1 September 2016 at the AECC in Aberdeen, the event is an established and focused exhibition and a welcome addition to Datateam’s growing portfolio of exhibitions and conferences that specifically addresses manufacturing in Scotland. All existing agreements and contracts remain in place and will be honoured by Datateam. The company will implement a comprehensive cross-media marketing campaign in its Connecting Industry portfolio of 12 leading industrial magazines, websites and associated social media channels and work with industry partners to ensure maximum exposure for the event. This news follows the successful Sensors & Instrumentation exhibition which took place at the NEC, Birmingham in September and enjoyed an increase in both exhibitor and visitor numbers. The response received was extremely positive from all involved with exhibitor re-bookings currently 75% up year-on-year, providing a very solid platform and assured future for the success of this event. Instrumentation Scotland & Offshore Systems brings together companies who supply products and services specific to the offshore sector in addition to more traditional industries representing processing, power generation, paper, distilling, water and waste, and marine engineering in north- east Scotland.
www.instrumentation.co.uk
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