Press Room

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The National Metals Technology Centre has just started a new blog!

Blog We'll be publishing articles and news stories from across the sectors. Sign up and you'll get a notification straight into your inbox when we post something new. Here's the link: http://namtec.wordpress.com/

We've also embraced Facebook and have our own company page, find us here. We'll be adding news stories, updates on training courses and letting you know about our exciting events programme throughout the year.

Of course you can access more news by becoming a community member on our website and becoming a paid member of the NAMTEC Manufacturing Forum brings a whole host of opportunities. Click here for more.

Read the Latest Quarterly Journal

Published on a quarterly basis, our journal provides members with both relevant market and technology information across the manufacturing sectors. Through member news and promotional articles, it is also an opportunity for the direct promotion of members products and services to a wide audience.

Read The Quarterly Journal: Nov 11 - Feb 12

Calling South Yorkshire based stakeholders

You may have heard about the University Technical College (UTC) to be based in Sheffield. This is a new college focusing on two areas in particular – advanced engineering and manufacturing, and creative and digital media and is due to open in September 2013.

Before that happens, the sponsors - led by the Sheffield College, need to carry out a consultation.

Specifically the Department for Education have said 'Evidence of demand; it will be important that you consider whether the scope of this consultation should be widened to include a greater range of respondents including employers, other local education providers, young people and parents who represent the specific target groups you are hoping to attract to the UTC'

An added dimension is that the Trust is being offered Local Authority support. That means that the consultation must meet the Sheffield 'ask' for academy consultations which for schools proposing to convert to Academy status is – ‘an open process with opportunities for all stakeholders to get involved and that there is a strong mandate from parents for the proposed academy’.

Click here to participate in the consultation

Global Manufacturing Festival schedule announced with key speakers

Sir Roger Bone, President of Boeing UK, will be the first high-profile guest speaker at this year's Global Manufacturing Festival, which takes place in Sheffield this March.

Sir Roger will officially launch the event with a lecture organised by the University of Sheffield, which will be held at the institution's Octagon Centre on March 21, in association with Sheffield Hallam University.

On March 22, an international convention and trade show will take place at the City Hall, Sheffield with business leaders from around the globe attending.

Key themes at the convention will cover the three critical areas of UK strategy and support, new markets and opportunities, and technology and commercialisation.

Speakers confirmed include NAMTEC's own Dr. Alan McLelland, Ric Parker from Rolls-Royce, Alan Cumming of EDF Energy, Andrew Peters from Siemens Drive Technologies, Sir Chris O'Donnell former CEO of Smith & Nephew and Professor Keith Ridgway CBE Executive Dean of the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Institute.

The full press release can be found here

Financial Support Available for Yorkshire & Humber Companies

The National Metals Technology Centre has recently secured ERDF funding supporting regional companies. Part of this funding will provide a new source of financial support to companies to undertake Research and Development. The fund will provide companies with up to 50% funding for suitable short term, high impact projects which lead to benefits in jobs and profits. Projects will be considered up to the value of £15,000; however, we are mainly looking towards projects with a value of £5k to £10k.

Click here for further information

Titanium Trophy Design Competition

The Titanium Information Group (TIG) is launching a competition for the design of its new trophy for the Harvey Flower Prize.

Click here to download the flyer

Poster Exhibition at the 2nd European Titanium Conference - 27th & 28th March 2012

The Titanium Information Group will be hosting the 2nd European Titanium Conference at the world-class Tortworth Court, Bristol, on 27th & 28th March 2012.

The conference will feature a poster exhibition and competition, in which students and researchers will have the opportunity to showcase their work to world-leaders in the field of titanium. The poster session will take place on the evening of 27th March prior to the conference dinner, and will be judged by a panel of renowned experts with a prize for the winning entry.*

Click here to download the flyer

Harvey Flower Titanium Prize

The Harvey Flower Prize is awarded annually by the Titanium Information Group in recognition of outstanding contribution to the development of titanium. Nominations are encouraged for individuals involved in any stage of the titanium life cycle, from raw material extraction to downstream processing, maintenance of the material in service and end-of-use processing.

The prize encompasses individuals involved in all stages of product or process development, from fundamental R&D to industrial end use, and any sector of the titanium industry including aerospace, biomedical applications, power generation, transport, sport, defence and oil and gas.

Nominations will be accepted for students, graduates and practising engineers who have made a significant technical contribution over a short period of time, or dedicated a long period of their career to titanium, making one or more of the following contributions:

An improved understanding of titanium metallurgy or alloy development
A new application for titanium or titanium alloys
A significant extension of the use of titanium
The enhancement of the performance of titanium in an existing application
Any other scientific or technological innovation or improvement in connection with the production, processing and use of titanium and its alloys

The deadline for this year's nominations is Monday 12th December. The prize will be awarded in London in June 2012, and will include a bespoke trophy and a cheque for £500. Nominations can be made through the IOM3 website here, or alternatively here under 'Awards for Personal Achievement'.

Aerospace Opportunities with The National Metals Technology Centre

The National Metals Technology Centre is proud to announce its new line up of events, exhibitions and training courses aimed at providing companies with new opportunities in the aerospace sector:

Events and Training Courses

The Future of Metals in Aerospace Manufacturing (in association with ADS) - 8th December >>

High Strength Aerospace Metallic Materials (3 days) - 6th December, Rotherham >>

Metals for Aerospace (2 days) - 6th March 2012, Rotherham >>

Exhibitions

Aerolink Farnborough 2011 - NAMTEC Discount

In partnership with NAMTEC, Aerolink (the UK's premier aerospace opportunities event) are offering delegates and exhibitors a discount off the registration cost. Email daniel.thorley@aerolinkfarnborough.co.uk /gareth.saddler@aerolinkfarnborough.co.uk or call 02920 404044 and quote 'NAMTEC'.

Farnborough Airshow 2012 - Shared Stand

The NAMTEC Manufacturing Forum are proud to announce their 30m2 exhibition stand and your company could be there with us as a co-exhibitor. For further information contact Jenny Barratt-Jones, Events Manager on 01709 722477 or email jenny.barratt-jones@namtec.co.uk

NAMTEC Manufacturing Forum Annual Conference and Dinner Highlights the Importance of the UK Manufacturing Industry

Over 100 delegates attended the inaugural NAMTEC Manufacturing Forum Annual Conference and Dinner held at Tankersley Manor, Sheffield on Wednesday 28th September.

The event informed attendees of the future potential for the manufacturing community and the actions needed to secure growth as well as providing an excellent networking opportunity.

"This was another excellent NAMTEC event. The exhibition was a success, generating some serious enquiries for us. The speakers were of a very high standard and gave an excellent insight in to future business opportunities. And I must say the management of the event was exceptional. We look forward to next year and other events in the NAMTEC programme."

Richard Rhodes, Business Development Manager, Darron SBO

Lord Green The prestigious event brought together industry leading representatives from the major manufacturing sectors of Oil & Gas, Renewables, Nuclear, CCS, Deep Water & Subsea and Aerospace & Defence with presentations from Airbus, Rolls-Royce, Siemens, Scottish and Southern Energy, Horizon Nuclear Power, AMEC, David Brown Gear Systems, Darron SBO and First Subsea.

Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint, Minister of State for Trade and Investment, rounded off proceedings at the dinner with a thought provoking speech on the importance of UK Manufacturing which afterwards sparked a lively debate in the room.

The feedback from the event has been exceptional with enquiries for next year's event already coming in. Next year's conference and dinner has a provisional date of the 24th October, members of the NAMTEC Manufacturing Forum will receive one free delegate place. See www.namtec.co.uk/events for further scheduled events.

"The event was extremely well organised and the networking provided some excellent business leads for us."

Dan McGrail, Project Manager, Siemens Wind Power

For more information email marketing@namtec.co.uk

NAMTEC's CEO Dr Alan McLelland speaks at the British Science Festival

He spoke at the event about technology metals used in mobile phones and how the recycling of these metals is currently too expensive and energy-intensive.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14903904

Adrian Walker wins the Harvey Flower Prize for Titanium

This year's Harvey Flower prize has been awarded to Adrian Walker of Rolls-Royce plc for outstanding contribution to the development of titanium.

Adrian, who was nominated for the award by colleague David Rugg also of Rolls-Royce plc, has played an integral role in the development of titanium alloys for critical applications for over 30 years. He has written key internal reports on titanium including those that define mandated practice for the manufacture and safe life calculations of critical parts, and frequently leads major integrated project teams on titanium issues.

"My thanks to TIG, NAMTEC and IoM3 for this wonderful surprise; I am pleased to have received the award. It is very encouraging to find that one's work on Titanium, and implicitly that of colleagues within and outside the company, is recognised." - Adrian Walker

The prize was awarded on 12th July at the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining in London.

About the Harvey Flower Prize

The Harvey Flower Titanium prize is dedicated to the memory of Imperial Professor Harvey Flower whose outstanding contributions to the science and technology of titanium led to a clearer and fuller understanding of the metal and its alloys.

The Harvey Flower prize is awarded retrospectively each year by the Titanium Information Group in recognition of contributions to the production, processing or use of titanium and its alloys. The prize is open to students, graduates and practicing materials engineers.

Know someone who is worthy of the Harvey Flower prize? Submit your nominations to the IOM3. Further details will be available on their website later in the year, and the deadline will be in December.

Interested in judging next year's Harvey Flower prize? Contact kathryn.jackson@namtec.co.uk

NAMTEC Manufacturing Forum Attracts Over 100 Industry Leaders

Over 100 Industry leaders and guests attended the prelaunch of The NAMTEC Manufacturing Forum held on Thursday 21st July 2011 at the Cutlers’ Hall, Sheffield.

The prelaunch paves the way for the National Launch to be held in Sheffield, in September 2011.

Speakers for the event included Graham Honeyman from Sheffield Forgemasters who gave an inspirational presentation on the manufacturing prowess of the local organisation and Adrian Bull from Westinghouse who provided an excellent update on the progress of civil nuclear power generation in the UK.

Jeremy Godley, Business Development Manager for Schmolz + Bickenbach UK Ltd, said “We are pleased that the NAMTEC Manufacturing Forum is now bringing together the various manufacturing focus groups under one banner. The increased membership will create further networking opportunities which will lead to more business”.

The Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Lord Green, will address members and guests at the Inaugural Annual Dinner and National Launch of the NAMTEC Manufacturing Forum on Wednesday 28th September, 2011, to be held at Tankersley Manor, near Sheffield. Lord Green will be joined by such industry leaders as Rolls Royce, Siemens, Scottish and Southern Energy, David Brown Gear Systems and AMEC to discuss future potential for the manufacturing community and to consider the actions needed to secure growth.

Dr Alan McLelland of NAMTEC said "As the UK’s leading support organisation for metals engineering and manufacturing companies, NAMTEC will draw the communities together to focus on the role of metals engineering within a manufacturing led growth and recovery strategy. The presence of Lord Green at the Dinner highlights the importance of this event and the benefits of Forum membership".

Dr Patrick Stokes, Business Development Manager with AMEC commented, “From the level of attendance it was obvious that interest levels in manufacturing within Metals and Metal Processes is very high indeed. We look forward to supporting the national launch in September”.

Our journal provides members with both relevant market and technology information across the manufacturing sectors. Through member news and promotional articles, it is also an opportunity for the direct promotion of members products and services to a wide audience.