The Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre has signed a lease for two units at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.
Operations director for the Nuclear AMRC Steve Court has signed a lease with the UK Strategic Partnership for two units of a total area of 16,000sq ft at the AMP near Rotherham.
The deal includes a 13,500sq ft workshop unit in the AMP’s Evolution development, and a 3,000sq ft office and research and development suite within the AMP Technology Centre, both of which Nuclear AMRC hopes to move in to and fit out as soon as possible. R&D work will focus on precision machining, welding and inspection processes for the nuclear new build industry.
The Nuclear AMRC, a joint initiative between the University of Sheffield, the University of Manchester and industrial partners, hopes to employ 25 people in the first few months of operations, while the total final headcount should approach 100. Initial work has begun on a 80,000sq ft purpose-built home for the Nuclear AMRC on the AMP, due to complete in late 2011.
The NAMRC is a national centre for nuclear manufacturing and will be engaging heavily with local companies including Sheffield Forgemasters International (SFIL) and DavyMarkham to develop processes to build components for new nuclear applications. SFIL, in particular, is well set for this work, having received an £80m loan in March towards the purchase of a new 15,000 tonne press, a unique facility in the UK.
“Given the capital investment into new nuclear in South Yorkshire, this group of companies will become internationally important in the nuclear industry,” says Joe Anwyl, head of business development at the AMP. “The Nuclear AMRC will assist regional companies in securing contracts for the Uk’s nuclear new build programme, but will also help them establish themselves as part of the global supply chains of the reactor vendors.”
