A research centre at the University of Bath has been awarded a £2.2 million grant from the European Regional Development Fund, the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) and industry to set up a new Business Technology Centre that will put South West businesses in touch with the latest developments in engineering.
The Laboratory for Integrated Metrology Applications (LIMA), based at the University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, collaborates with industrial partners to improve processes of metrology, the science of measurement, for measuring large objects such as aeroplane wings to within a fraction of a millimetre.
The new LIMA Business Technology Centre (LIMA BTC) will introduce these technologies to engineering businesses on-site in the South West, enabling SMEs to collaborate with the research team at the University and enhancing the competitiveness of industry in the region.
LIMA, opened in November 2009, has industrial partnerships with Renishaw plc, the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), Airbus and Rolls-Royce, with participation from 15 other companies and organisations and is further supported by the University’s Research Development & Support Office.
Chairman of LIMA and Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University, Professor Paul Maropoulos said: “I am very pleased that we were awarded the LIMA BTC and I would like to thank SWRDA and all our industrial partners for their strong support in the planning process.
“The work now starts in order to develop and implement, in partnership with industry and NPL, metrology-enabled techniques and methods that will improve product and process design, increase productivity and reduce quality problems and environmental waste by improving the alignment between product specifications and process capability.
“The result will be higher competitiveness for the design and manufacture of high value products by companies in the South West.”
Professor Gary Hawley, Dean of the University’s Faculty of Engineering & Design added: “The award of the LIMA BTC is an excellent development for the University and industry in our region. It fully recognises the internationally leading capabilities of the academics and researchers within LIMA and is entirely aligned with our corporate mission of enhancing our research impact as a result of developing industry-focused research and knowledge transfer.”
Lorelei Hunt, SWRDA’s Director of Innovation, said: “The formation of the LIMA BTC will promote industrial innovation in our Region’s SMEs as a result of the close working with a leading research team of the University of Bath and its established industrial partners that include some of the most advanced engineering companies of the UK.”
Geoff McFarland, Group Engineering Director for Renishaw plc said: “The very demanding requirements of the aerospace and other high-value added sectors has always been a strong factor in shaping advancements in metrology. The LIMA BTC is well placed to make an important contribution in sharing the benefits of these developments with the wider South West engineering community.”
Graham Topley, Head of Measurement Solutions of NPL said: “NPL is delighted to be working with the University of Bath and with the other industrial partners in LIMA BTC to further the take-up of measurement innovation and best practice in the South West. The project provides an excellent platform on which to further develop our long standing interactions with the participants in the project. It will also enable SMEs in the region to benefit from improved access to the wealth of measurement know-how and support available from the NPL.
“LIMA BTC is one of two pilot BTCs, (the other is Exeter University’s CALM BTC, focused on additive layer technologies) and will enhance key technologies for high value manufacturing that are especially relevant to the manufacturing of composites.
“The LIMA BTC is underpinning our strategy in relation to the advanced engineering and composites sectors and there are exciting prospects of joint working with the National Composites Centre at SPark.”
For more information regarding the LIMA BTC please contact Mr David Allen, RDSO on 01225 385479 d.allen@bath.ac.uk and Sheldon Ryan, SWRDA on 01392 229151 Sheldon.Ryan@southwestrda.org.uk.
