The programme provided a support centre which called upon expertise within the Yorkshire Forward technology Capacity Building Centres (CBCs), to give companies direct and easy access to a team of technical staff and equipment able to provide an immediate response to their specific needs. Services included: technical helpline, expert consultancy, direct technical assistance, technology workshops and seminars.
This project was aimed at manufacturing SMEs. Their main challenges include quality, standards, introducing innovation (particularly dealing with new materials and processes), meeting customers’ requirements and troubleshooting.
The project was able to draw on a wide range of expertise and facilities to support SMEs. Among the areas covered were:
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Surface engineering - surfacing and coating technologies, using cold spray, laser and electron beam materials processing, thin film deposition
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Structural integrity - fatigue and failure resistant design, fatigue and mechanical testing
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Design, modelling and simulation - virtual reality, finite element analysis and computational fluid dynamics, rapid prototyping and manufacturing planning
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Powder metallurgy
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Materials evaluation - metals, plastics, composites and ceramics
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Joining - arc, resistance and friction welding, mechanical fastening, adhesive bonding, plastics joining and welding, soldering, brazing and micro-joining
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Heat-treatment
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Environmental monitoring, energy management, radiation protection, combustion technology, and plant and asset management
Manufacturing companies gained benefits including:
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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
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Financial Benefits - Reduced manufacturing costs - Increased sales - Improved profitability - Reduction or elimination of financial risk
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Other Benefits - Greater competitiveness in global markets - Enhanced 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 Technology Transfer Services has boosted business performance in the UK regions by creating/safeguarding over 3,555 jobs and £231M turnover.
Located in Sheffield, Therco is ideally placed to support the oil refining, power generation, defence, traction related and many other industries in the UK and overseas, supplying air cooled, tubular, plate and extended surface heat exchangers.
As part of the South Yorkshire Technology Transfer programme, a TWI Welding Engineer reviewed several Welding Procedure Specifications (WPSs) and Procedure Qualification Records (PQRs) and a number of general and specific comments and observations were made.
The comments were identified as technically non-critical (revision recommended) and technically-critical (revision required). This allowed Therco to make informed decisions when revising the WPSs/PQRs, before submitting to their client. TWI was in constant contact with Therco’s designated engineer and all comments and reports were discussed in detail.
Therco Engineering Director, Dave Toseland commented that “we focussed on TWI because of its reputation which provided us with the confidence to deliver to a major UK refinery. We are very pleased with TWI’s response”.
The business impact of this support was the safeguarding of 15 jobs and £1m of turnover, and help in creating £90K of new turnover.
For more information about the South Yorkshire Technology Transfer Programme please contact us.
