The Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC) and Baker Hughes, a GE company (BHGE), have joined forces to explore how 4IR technology can drive efficiency across the company’s oil and gas operations.
BHGE will join the research centre as a tier one member, and will work with the AFRC’s team of engineers and researchers to improve its manufacturing processes and delivery of services.
The University of Strathclyde’s AFRC will help BHGE identify opportunities to cut costs and cycle time, while extending the lifespan of oilfield equipment required for operations in increasingly high temperature and extreme pressure environments.
This collaboration will also see BHGE support the centre’s core research programme. Together with the AFRC’s other tier one members, BHGE will help to steer the wider research agenda and share best manufacturing practices.
For almost a decade, the centre has been a core part of manufacturing research in Scotland. It is the only High Value Manufacturing Catapult centre in the country, and one of only seven in the UK.
Who is BHGE?
Baker Hughes, a GE company is the world’s first fullstream provider of oilfield products, services and digital solutions, the company aims to enhance productivity across the oil and gas value chain.
BHGE helps its customers acquire, transport and refine hydrocarbons more efficiently, productively and safely, with a smaller environmental footprint and at lower cost per barrel.
With operations in over 120 countries, the company’s ultimate aim is to invent smarter ways to bring energy to the world.
£1bn announced for manufacturing
Leading UK businesses, researchers and manufacturers will benefit from nearly £1bn in funding for advanced innovation, the government announced earlier this year.
The funding is to further propel the UK’s seven high value manufacturing catapult centres, which are fuelling advanced innovation across the country.
The £780m investment builds on £180m announced by Theresa May for centres in the North East, taking total funding to almost £1bn.
Many forward-thinking and technological centres driving innovation in Britain will gain funding, including £96m for the Advanced Forming Research Centre and £270.9m for the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry and Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG).
You may also be interested in reading:
- How is the HVMC driving the new industrial revolution
- British innovation receives nearly £1bn in funding
- Supporting UK manufacturing in the Fourth Industrial Revolution
- Digital Catapult to stimulate AR & VR investment in UK start-ups
Digital Manufacturing Week
Digital Manufacturing Week or DMW, is the UK’s largest showcase of industrial technologies, innovation and individual excellence.
It is made up of a series of different events that can help your business learn and understand the latest in 4IR and more!
- Smart Factory Expo – grew by a third to 3,968 attendees in 2017, with exhibitors doubling to 100+
- Manufacturing Leaders’ Summit – grew by 56% to more than 600 delegates
- The Manufacturer Top 100 2018 – a 500-strong alumni community of UK manufacturing talent
- The Manufacturer MX Awards – the UK’s largest annual manufacturing awards, celebrating the Best of British industry
