The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) is searching for potential collaborators to join its National Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme (NATEP).
MTC chief executive Dr Clive Hickman said it was important that supply chain companies were capable of keeping up with the major players in aerospace as technology advanced.
“Aerospace is an industry which is developing rapidly and advanced solutions are needed. The NATEP project will help companies improve the quality of their R&D and the capabilities of their engineers. When the MTC’s new Aerospace Research Centre comes on stream later this year we will have even more capabilities to help prime manufacturers and SMEs develop together.”
The new Aerospace Research Centre, on the MTC’s Ansty Park site, is set to provide a national facility for ground breaking aerospace research in the heart of the UK. MTC engineers will work with experts from the world’s major aerospace companies and their supply chains on projects which will define aerospace technology for the future.
The Aerospace Technology Institute provided £15.2 million funding for the new aerospace facility through the Government’s High Value Manufacturing Catapult and Innovate UK. This investment has been matched by funding from industry.
NATEP technology manager for the Midlands, Peter Knight, said: “The advanced manufacturing techniques being developed through this project have enormous potential in the global marketplace.
“It’s exciting to see that NATEP is helping Arrowsmith to reposition itself in the market, align its culture with that of its end customer, safeguard jobs and develop a centre of excellence here in the Midlands.
“It’s so important that we support small manufacturers as they bring innovative technologies to the skies, so we can maintain the UK supply chain’s standing as one of the most competitive and innovative in the world.”
NATEP provides match-funding and mentoring to smaller aerospace companies to work collaboratively across the supply chain and with an end customer, to help bring new technologies to market. Companies looking to get involved can find out more here.
