REMTEC is an in-depth technical consultancy and demonstration service for small and medium-sized engineering and manufacturing companies in the North East. TWI is providing a further 3 years (ending 31 March 2012) of REMTEC technical assistance to SMEs serving the low carbon energy sector and progressive businesses with the potential to supply products and services to this strategically important, growth industry.
This project is aimed at manufacturing SMEs. Their main challenges include quality, standards, introducing innovation (particularly dealing with new materials and processes), meeting customers’ requirements and troubleshooting.
TWI has developed special skills in providing technical support to SMEs; REMTEC enables TWI to bring to bear the mass of experience and facilities of the organisation to solve individual SME’s technical problems and to demonstrate manufacturing technologies appropriate to the renewable energy sector.
- Technical Benefits - Improved productivity and efficiency - Introduction of new products and processes - Higher product quality - More efficient use of materials and reduced waste and re-work - Enhanced capabilities, knowledge and skills - Adoption of a change/continuous improvement culture - Reduction or elimination of technical risk
- Financial Benefits - Reduced manufacturing costs - Increased sales - Improved profitability - Reduction or elimination of financial risk
- Other Benefits – Enhanced manufacturing effectiveness, in particularly achieving improved capability to be active in the renewable energy sector - Greater competitiveness in global markets - Improved company sustainability and viability, safeguarding and creating jobs - Stronger supply chains, benefiting companies at all positions within the chain - A continuing link into the regional knowledge network
Since 2004, TWI’s technology transfer activity has boosted business performance in the UK regions by creating/safeguarding over 3,555 jobs and £231M turnover.
The Wilton Group produces bespoke welded fabrications for the renewable energy, offshore, marine and subsea industries. The company is expanding production, and one aspect of REMTEC technical assistance has involved exploring higher productivity welding methods.
Port Clarence-based Wilton uses to good effect single-wire submerged-arc welding for long-length butt welds in steel plate and pipe. TWI demonstrated tandem twin-wire submerged-arc welding at the Low Carbon Energy Manufacturing Technology Centre in Middlesbrough and showed Wilton the significant productivity gains offered by this variant of the process.
“REMTEC is a very useful initiative” said Wilton Group Director Steve Pearson “it’s helping us access the right technology for expanding our work in the renewable sector.”
Case Studies
Case studies from North East regional support programmes:
REMTEC Beneficiary Companies For more information about REMTEC please contact us.
REMTEC is part-financed by the European Union's ERDF Competitiveness Programme 2007-13, securing £1.7m ERDF investment through regional development agency One North East.
The ERDF programme is bringing over £300m into the North East to support innovation, enterprise and business support across the region. Further information at www.communities.gov.uk/erdf
