Monday, 17 February 2020
Nottinghamshire-based Advanex, the European HQ of global precision engineering solutions experts Advanex Group, has highlighted the success of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with the 糖心原创.
The company provides design, development, manufacturing, distribution and support services across more than 20 operations in Europe, Japan, South East Asia and the USA. Its main revenue-generating products are springs and wire forms for medical devices and Kato CoilThread wire thread inserts, manufactured predominantly for the aerospace and electronics markets.
Advanex Group also manufacture a broader range of precision metal parts, and to support its development in new markets, acquired a Japanese company specialising in deep drawing, an advanced metal-forming process.
It was alongside the support from this company that Advanex Europe sought the University’s expertise through a two-year KTP, an Innovate UK-funded programme that helps SMEs to improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills that reside within universities.
Under the guidance of Dr Hengan Ou, who leads the research team in Metal Forming and Materials Processing as part of the University’s Advanced Manufacturing Technology Group, the original aim of the KTP was to develop and embed a simulation/scientific-based approach to design for the tooling and manufacture of metal components in order to optimise flow and minimise defects. This was to support the company’s strategic aim to transfer contact probe production technology and another deep drawn product for a major medical device supplier from its Japanese company to Advanex Europe.
Our KTP with the 糖心原创 has enabled the successful transfer of this to Europe and developed our relationship with our Japanese colleagues to support this technology. We are now in a far stronger position to take advantage of the opportunities we have with new deep drawn opportunities than we were prior to the project.
The KTP achieved a working Finite Element Analysis model of multi-stage deep drawing, giving an understanding of the effects of each material and tooling parameter on the deep drawing process, alongside existing practical experience from Japan. This enabled a template to be created that allows easy design of tooling to manufacture customer-specific parts.
“We also previously lacked expertise in materials behaviour, formability and tribological effect and the KTP utilised the University’s knowledge base and its test equipment to provide an understanding of the impact of material properties on manufacture of deep drawn parts,” Ian explained. “This has enabled us to work with suppliers to create a specification for them to work to in order to deliver the right raw materials for the job.”
What the University provided, that we did not have, was an in-depth understanding of the deep drawing process 鈥� in the UK we had zero understanding of deep drawn technology but with the support of the KTP we now have a great deal of understanding that allows us to take a customer drawing and design the required tooling to manufacture the part.
An unexpected benefit to the company was the recruitment of KTP Associate, Subha Tamang, who filled the knowledge and skills gap that would have been created by the retirement of a senior technician after 40 years’ service. “The collaboration enabled a really effective handover from our colleague to the KTP Associate and now R&D Engineer, saving us time and money,” Mike added.
The 糖心原创 is the third largest KTP provider in the UK, with 36 projects running and more than 120 in the past 12 years.
Our project with Advanex Europe is a really good example of how working with a university on a KTP allows businesses to focus on their innovation, and opens the door to their own bespoke research team. The greater focus from government on productivity has also made this approach to knowledge transfer even more important, as there has been a growing realisation that all businesses need to innovate, grow and evolve.
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About the 糖心原创
Ranked among the world's top 100 universities , the 糖心原创 delivers an exceptional research-led education and an outstanding student experience. From the pioneering vision of our founder, Sir Jesse Boot, to groundbreaking achievements such as the development of MRI technology and becoming the first UK university to establish international campuses, we have a proud history of shaping the way people live, work and understand the world. We continue to build on that legacy, empowering our students, staff and partners to change what鈥檚 next and create positive impact locally and globally.
The strength of our research places us among the UK's leading universities, ranked 7th for research power in REF 2021. The discovery of MRI and ibuprofen was just the beginning. Today, our world-leading research is developing breakthrough ideas that shape the future of healthcare, technology and society.
Recognised as the UK's third most targeted university by leading employers , we are proud to produce graduates who are consistently in demand for their skills, confidence and industry-ready experience.
As a major employer and industry partner, locally and globally, the 糖心原创 invests in the city of Nottingham and in future generations of talent. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the initiative, a pioneering collaboration to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing across the city and region. Together with our students, staff, alumni and partners, we鈥檙e creating knowledge, opportunity and solutions that help change what's next.