The advanced manufacturing and engineering sectors in Sheffield
In this Editorial
Industrial decline happened the world over, and it devastated cities. What enabled some to bounce back was the application of that knowledge to new problems - and Sheffield was lucky to have so many inventive people at the forefront of engineering and manufacturing.
We are now known all over the world as a leading centre for engineering research, advanced manufacturing (or 2.0, as some call it), light weight technologies and specialist materials - and, perhaps most importantly, having the knowledge and skills base from our Universities to excel in prototyping and R&D too.
Today, a plethora of some of the worlds biggest manufacturers have centres here - and they are surrounded by both older, local companies who provide specialist services around the world, and new start ups filling gaps that spring up in the rapid advancement of the sector.
The Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District (AMID)
The AMID is a 2,000 acre centre of excellence in metals and materials manufacturing, which encompasses Sheffield, Rotherham and the Lower Don Valley. It is a catalyst for innovation-led manufacturing across the Sheffield City Region (SCR) and Northern Powerhouse, attracting new international investors and generating R&D to the existing manufacturing base.
The area houses many of the UK’s leading manufacturers, including Boeing, Rolls-Royce, McLaren, Alcoa, Liberty Steel and Forgemasters.
If you would like to discuss opportunities for investment in the AMID please get in touch with one of our investment managers.
Centres located within the AMID
Investment here delivers around the world
Rolls Royce
The world's most advanced, £110m blade casting facility
Boeing
Their first European base, with a £40m production facility
Factory 2050
Where the UK’s first state of the art collaborative centre makes future proofed industry, education and employment.
Sheffield Robotics
This joint initiative by both Universities has resulted in cutting edge research and the largest autonomous drone testing facilities (indoor and outdoor) in the UK.
The Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and Nuclear AMRC
These centres are two of the UK Government’s High Value Manufacturing Catapult centres, targeting the most vital technologies for the UK’s future and enabling companies to tap into a national network of manufacturing research excellence.
This collaboration between university and industry allows our local businesses to reduce risk with research, testing, prototyping and rapid commercialisation and is a key driver for the growth of the supply chain in our region.
The AMRC has a global reputation for transforming industrial and economic performance by making step changes in productivity, increasing competitiveness, developing new products and processes and training new talent and skills.
Visit the AMRC websiteWhere digital meets manufacturing
The AMRC is at the forefront of manufacturing precisely because it takes new approaches to technology and develops talent to keep the ideas flowing.
Engineering
Income and investment
The University of Sheffield is number one in the UK for engineering research income and investment. During 2017-18, the University generated £124 million for engineering research from a range of organisations across the world, in the UK and Sheffield City Region. The University also has one of the largest group of UK undergraduate engineers in the Russell Group of universities.
Research centres
Recently the University unveiled three new multi-million pound research centres. The £47 million pound development, part-funded by European Regional Development Fund, UK Research and Innovation and the University of Sheffield, confirms Sheffield as a leading hub for advanced engineering, expanding engineering capabilities including advanced manufacturing and industrial digital technologies.
The centres are:
The Royce Translational Centre (RTC)
The Laboratory for Verification and Validation (LVV)
The Integrated Civil and Infrastructure Research Centre (ICAIR)
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