Renishaw supports Welsh manufacturing academy to help upskill the workforce

At the facility, based at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD), manufacturing apprentices can develop, maintain and build upon their skills, using the latest industry standard machine tools and inspection equipment.

Funded by the Welsh Government and the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW), AMSA aims to enhance the practical skills of engineering apprentices. Students can use the centre to gain hands-on experience with CAD/CAM software, CNC machining and CMM machines.

“There has been a skills gap in the Welsh engineering industry for many years and a lack of funding means this gap has continued to grow,” explained Lee Pratt, academy manager at AMSA. “Working with world leaders in the field such as Renishaw enables us to address the void by giving students hands-on experience with the modern technology they will use in their careers.

The Academy works in partnership with industry leaders such as Renishaw, Mazak and Sandvik Coromant, which help to equip the facility and provide the knowledge and skills that engineers need for today’s modern manufacturing environments.

Renishaw has installed the latest OMP60 in-process measuring probes and associated software to three of the Academy’s CNC machine tools and has also supplied a CMM equipped with Renishaw sensors. The aim is to give students the opportunity to improve machining and measurement skills using industry standard equipment.

“By working closely with the Academy, we can ensure that apprentices have access to the state-of-the-art equipment and knowledge that will help them make an impact from the outset of their careers,” explained Steve Franklin, area sales manager for Central England and South Wales at Renishaw. “As we continue to work with the Academy, we also hope to see some of our own apprentices use the facilities.”

AMSA’s success resulted in the Academy being invited to host the finals of Skills Competition Wales in April. Entrants, some of whom are apprentices at the Academy, were issued with a 3D model and 2D drawing and were given seven hours to produce the component using the equipment at the facility.

The successful apprentices were invited to an awards ceremony and be put forward to compete in the 2023 World Skills Competition in France.

Renishaw www.renishaw.com/en/apprenticeships/ www.renishaw.com

Advanced Manufacturing Skills Academy www.uwtsd.ac.uk/manufacturing-skills-academy/