The AFRC is a globally-recognised centre of excellence in innovative manufacturing technologies, R&D and metal forming and forging research. Working with globally renowned OEMs such as Rolls-Royce, Boeing, Mettis Aerospace, GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, SSE, Scottish Power and the Weir Group, the AFRC is at the heart of Scotland’s manufacturing research and development sector and is the country’s only High Value Manufacturing Catapult centre; one of only seven in the UK.
As an extension of the University of Strathclyde’s engineering faculty, the AFRC now employs over 130 people that are using some of the world’s most technologically advanced precision engineering equipment. This equipment now includes the powerful hyperMILL CAM software from Open Mind Technologies to drive the machine tools.
Commenting upon installing the first seat of hyperMILL and becoming Tier 2 members, Open Mind Technologies’ applications engineer, Matthew Coulson said: “The AFRC has recently seconded the services of Professor Keith Ridgway, the founder and figurehead of the AMRC facility in Sheffield. Following our ongoing success and partnership with the AMRC, Professor Ridgway asked us to be involved in the AFRC enterprise and we were honoured to be invited to join.
“Open Mind has been instrumental in building success for manufacturers in the Sheffield area and also the global aerospace industry that both rely so heavily on the technical expertise and innovation at the AMRC,” Mr Coulson continued.
“Having the opportunity to emulate this model and the subsequent success in the Scottish manufacturing industry is a huge honour and opportunity for both Open Mind and the manufacturing companies that will be working with the AFRC in the coming years.”
Open Mind Technologies www.openmind-tech.com
AFRC www.strath.ac.uk/research/advancedformingresearchcentre