Rolls-Royce casts partnership with Birmingham

Rolls-Royce has launched two strategic partnerships with the University of Birmingham that expand the work scope of the materials technology centre established there in 1991.

The new partnerships, which will focus on casting technology and process modelling, build on the existing University Technology Centre (UTC) in Materials operated by Rolls-Royce and the university. They mark the establishment of new research facilities and the recruitment of key professorial staff to head the research teams.

Ric Parker, Rolls-Royce’s Director of Research and Technology, said: ‘Modern manufacturing methods are vital to Rolls-Royce in achieving maximum quality while minimising the quantity of often-precious and scarce raw materials. Casting is one of the oldest forms of metal forming, yet there are still exciting new technological developments. The combination of modern manufacturing techniques and computers harnessed to provide effective process modelling is unbeatable.’

Professor Paul Bowen, Director of the Birmingham Materials UTC, said: ‘The new partnerships will augment our position as a world-leading centre of excellence for the development of key structural materials. Each will also bring a new focus to the training of engineers, technologists and modellers in the science and technology of manufacturing, and will act as a further hub for collaboration with many other research providers. The university, and the school of engineering, is pleased to underpin these initiatives.’