Advanced Engineering and Metals

The advanced engineering and metals sector in Yorkshire and Humber employs over 170,000 people and accounts for 40% of the region's manufacturing GDP equivalent to £5 billion annually.

The sector is typified by jobs ranging from skilled craft engineers to high knowledge based jobs in metallurgy, mechanical and electro mechanical design. 

Many of the companies operating within the cluster continue to utilise cutting edge engineering and manufacturing techniques and are taking a global lead in pushing the limits of technology. 

Knowledge and innovation is nurtured through the nine universities within the region many of which are renowned throughout the world for their contribution to the pool of research knowledge in the metals field. This is typified by R&D work that is being carried out between eminent companies such as Boeing, Rolls Royce and BAE Systems.

Yorkshire and the Humber is the location for many key metal related component manufacturers operating across a broad spectrum of sub sectors and markets.

There are strong links between academia and industry within the region - in addition to the University of Sheffield's work with Boeing, Sheffield Hallam University has a Materials Research Institute, Mechanical Engineering at the University of Leeds, Surface Engineering at the University of Hull (there is a long-standing collaboration with BAE Systems and the University of Hull) and the Centre for Precision Technologies at the University of Huddersfield.

Centres of support for companies involved in the advanced engineering and metals sector in Yorkshire and Humber include >>>

Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS):  MAS was established (in 2002) to help manufacturing businesses across England and Wales access affordable, practical manufacturing expertise with the aim of boosting efficiency and productivity levels.

The Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP): The AMP (www.ampwaverley.com) is located in Waverley, between Rotherham and Sheffield, South Yorkshire; it offers a strategic base at the heart of the UK's metals industry. The vision for the AMP is for it to be an international area for engineering research and manufacture, and a key enabler for the development of high technology in the region for the aerospace, high performance automotive, and medical device industries.

Castings Technology International (CTI): The region is home to one of the world's leading providers of R&D technical support and consultancy services for castings - Castings Technology International (CTI), based in South Yorkshire. CTI have expertise in all aspects of ferrous and non-ferrous castings technology including computer aided design and rapid prototyping. This unique integrated service is not offered anywhere else in the UK and can radically improve product time to market which is critical to industries like Formula One Motorsport. CTI was one of the first tenants on the Advanced Manufacturing Park.

The Welding Institute (TWI): South Yorkshire is also a sub-regional base for The Welding Institute (TWI), a global authority on joining technology. TWI provides information and advice on welding and joining of engineering materials. Established in 1946, TWI has an international client base and is Europe's largest independent research and technology organisation. Companies world-wide benefit from TWI's contract R&D, consultancy and technology transfer or its training, qualification and membership services.

Precision Technologies CIC: The Precision Technologies CIC (www.yorkshirecic.com/contact.html) is based at the School of Computing & Engineering, University of Huddersfield, and uses specially developed machine tool error compensation software to improve micro-metalsmith production performance and reduce costs. The CIC’s Nano-Lab is unique in the UK.

Polymer CIC: The School of Engineering, Design and Technology at the University of Bradford has developed a global reputation in polymer processing.  As a member of the Interdisciplinary Research Centre (IRC) in Polymer Science and Technology, they have set up the Yorkshire Forward Polymer Centre of Industrial Collaboration (www.polycic.com) to help companies exploit the vast potential of polymer research in the region. 

Materials Analysis and Research Services CIC: The Materials Analysis and Research Services CIC (www.marscic.co.uk) is based at Sheffield Hallam University, and has its own commercial manager and a team including six industry-active professors.  The aim is to solve clients’ technical, design, product development, and production problems.

Engineering Design CIC: The Engineering Design CIC (www.engineeringdesigncentre.com) is based in Leeds, and is a collaboration between the Department of Manufacturing Engineering at the University of Hull and the Keyworth Institute at the University of Leeds.  The objective is to help businesses get products to market cheaper, faster and with greater certainty that they will be ‘right first time’

Design Futures CIC: Design Futures Centre of Industrial Collaboration (CIC) is based at Sheffield Hallam University. The Centre brings together some of the UK’s finest creative minds and innovative thinkers to identify new commercial opportunities and develop exciting product and packaging ideas.

IRC in Polymer Science and Technology: The Polymer Interdisciplinary Research Collaboration (www.polymerirc.org) comprises a core partnership of four Universities - Bradford, Durham, Leeds and Sheffield. With over one hundred full time academic research staff, the IRC has the strength and depth required to tackle the largest problems in polymer science. The IRC has enabled the development of purpose built facilities, and provides staff with the tools necessary to carry out research to the highest standards.

The National Metals Technology Centre (NAMTEC): NAMTEC (www.namtec.co.uk) is based alongside Corus in Rotherham, with more than 300 metallurgists.  It is the UK’s research and skills centre for metals technology, improving the competitiveness of the UK metals industry by stimulating high technology innovation and research and development.

The Engineering Employers Federation (EEF) : EEF (www.eef.org.uk), which is London based but has active offices in Yorkshire and the Humber, provides over 10,000 businesses with expert advice and a whole range of business services in employment law and employment relations, occupational health and safety, environmental management, business data, training and people development.

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