Rotherham’s ‘centre of excellence’ in surface engineering

Regional development agency Yorkshire Forward identified the need for the centre and, with Objective 1, has provided the £2.35m funding for four years. After that, the centre intends to be self-funding. Namtec’s Surface Engineering Group (SEG) aims to increase the use of state-of-the-art surface engineering and coatings technologies, tools and techniques by regional engineering and manufacturing companies by co-ordinating research and training with its partner companies. SEG’s project partners are Corus’ RD&T Swinden Technology Centre, the Research Centre in Surface Engineering at the University of Sheffield, the Materials and Engineering Research Institute at Sheffield Hallam University and TWI at its Advanced Manufacturing Park site. All four will provide technical expertise and access to their equipment for a range of projects. “One key topic is to replace hexavalent chromium in chrome plating,” says Wavell Coulson, SEG manager (pictured). “One partner is already talking with an automotive component supplier to do this.”