Leading electronics businesses were invited to get ahead of the game on the research and development front at an event held by the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) at Ansty Park, Coventry.
Thirty companies from across the electronics supply chain, including key names such as Thales, Goodrich, TRW, Europlacer and Ferranti, met with Aero Engine Controls which is leading on the MTC electronics manufacturing research programme.
The programme aims to provide solutions to electronics manufacturing problems which, in turn, can be translated into real world manufacturing methods that are proven to deliver significant cost and quality benefits for manufacturers and their supply chains.
Similar work in other manufacturing areas has consistently shown 40 to 70 per cent cost improvements for partner companies involved.
It means manufacturers can test theories out without taking the risk of stopping their existing production lines.
The new, purpose-built MTC building is under construction and is due to be up and running at Ansty Park Technology Centre near Coventry in May 2011.
In the meantime major players and partners from academia and industry are already developing research projects and themes aimed at giving the UK electronics industry a competitive edge.
Aero Engine Controls is joined by Rolls-Royce and Airbus as founding industrial parties for the MTC. Four leading UK research organisations - TWI Limited and the Universities of Birmingham, Loughborough and Nottingham - currently complete the partnership, but more partners are now sought. They will be invited to collaborate on areas of common interest in manufacturing research at the MTC facility.
Neil Rawlinson, Business Growth Director of Aero Engine Controls, said of today's event: "It is clear that the MTC will provide a major competitive advantage for its members. The ability to take the best theoretical science and try high risk, high reward step changes on a full electronics production line without putting a production facility at risk is a compelling proposition.
“Latest economic data points to innovation and manufacturing as the major drivers of a rebalanced UK economy. The MTC is the place where industry and the science base can collaborate, using full production facilities, to deliver innovation in electronic assembly. I am convinced that it has a large part to play in the future competitiveness not only of Aero Engine Controls but the UK’s low volume, high value electronics industry.”
The two Midlands regional development agencies, Advantage West Midlands and emda, have given financial backing to the MTC.
Mick Laverty, chief executive of Advantage West Midlands, said: "This is the first of many anticipated projects which will bridge that vital gap between knowledge and cutting edge, competitive production. The MTC is just the type of facility that will be essential for the future growth of the region's economy."
David Wallace, Innovation Director at emda, said: "I am sure that the MTC’s electronics manufacturing research programme will prove to be extremely beneficial for those businesses that are taking part.
“The MTC provides businesses with a unique opportunity to marry state of the art facilities with the research expertise of top universities to create new products and technologies that will give them a competitive edge in the global market.”
The event was attended by Iain Gray, Chief Executive of the Technology Strategy Board, who listened to presentations on the key challenges facing high value electronics manufacture. The Technology Strategy Board advises the Government on how to remove barriers to innovation and accelerate the exploitation of new technologies.
The UK has the fifth largest electronics sector in the world. Directly and indirectly, 11,500 companies employing 250,000 people generate £23 billion a year in revenues. (Source: New Electronics July 27, 2010).