Aston University is now highlighting its partnership with Metal Assemblies alongside its work with autonomous transport company Aurrigo and medical technology business PFE Medical to mark National Manufacturing Day on 24 September.
The annual day was established by Make UK, the UK's leading membership manufacturing body which also represents the interests of the sector to the government.
Metal Assemblies, worked with Aston Business School through a two-year knowledge transfer partnership or KTP to improve the flow of information across its factory.
The project enabled machines to communicate with each other and with shop-floor staff in real time, providing staff with additional information to inform decisions and production processes.
The company reported a 15 per cent increase in turnover following the project, without an increase in its operating cost base, additional recruitment or investment in new machinery.
The £200,000 project, part funded by Innovate UK, received an outstanding rating, and the researcher placed with the company subsequently joined it as a permanent employee.
Meanwhile Coventry-based Aurrigo is developing autonomous transport technology for moving people and goods through complex environments. Its work involves developing advanced engineering and digital systems within the sector.
Stoke-on-Trent-based PFE Medical has also worked with Aston University through KTPs on approaches to cleaning and inspecting endoscopes.
An earlier collaboration led to Khamsin, an automated endoscope cleaning system. Clinical trials reported that a five-minute treatment produced cleaning results measured at 1,000 times the anticipated level and reduced the use of manual cleaning and plastic materials. The product received the Science, Technology and Innovation Award at the 2023 Staffordshire Chambers Business Awards.
The University is a member of Make UK and has been working with the three firms through KTPs, research and business support on projects involving product development, productivity and business growth.
Professor Mike Caine, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (research and enterprise) said: “National Manufacturing Day provides an opportunity for Aston University to celebrate its partnership with Make UK, and the recognition, by Make UK, of John Richards, for his role in championing university-industry collaboration.
“It is also an opportunity to highlight the work Aston does with manufacturing businesses both locally and nationally.
“The work involving Metal Assemblies, Aurrigo and PFE Medical are examples of businesses and universities applying innovations emerging from Aston research to address operational and technical challenges.
“These three companies are developing technology to improve people’s health, to improve transport and to improve productivity – which will have an impact not just locally but nationally and potentially internationally too. We wanted to use National Manufacturing Day to showcase the power of partnership.”
