The Materials Processing Institute (MPI) has signed a landmark contract with British Steel, the UK’s second largest steel producer.
The multimillion-pound contract, signed in June, will see the Institute providing innovative research and development for up to five years for British Steel high-value rail and construction products.
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British Steel was founded on June 1, 2016 when Greybull Capital acquired Tata Steel’s Long Products business. It has four principal sites, at Teesside (Yorkshire); Scunthorpe (Lincolnshire); Hayange (France), and Skinningrove (Yorkshire).
Teesside-based MPI is a not-for-profit company, which works with industrial innovators to conduct research for the rail; materials; process, and energy sectors. It also continues to make specialist steel at its Normanton facility.
The new contract with British Steel will see the Institute provide research and innovation to support improvements in productivity and performance.
The contract was signed just weeks after visits to MPI from steelmakers in Germany, Sweden and Slovakia, all seeking to take advantage of its expertise.
Chief executive of the Materials Processing Institute, Chris McDonald commented: “We are pleased to see the return of the British Steel brand to the UK.
“After what has been a difficult year for the industry, we can see opportunity and confidence for investors in UK Steel manufacturing.
“The MPI has a long track record in developing technology and world leading expertise. We look forward to using this knowledge to support the development of innovative processes at British Steel which will ensure it remains a profitable concern, producing high-quality steel.”
British Steel Technical Director, John Dale added: “After recent uncertainty, the future looks increasingly bright for British Steel.
“The collaboration we have agreed with MPI, a key strategic partner for steel and materials innovation in the UK, will support the continued development of our products and productivity, keeping UK steel manufacturing at the forefront of the international market.”
