£1.8m project launched by Wolverhampton Uni to help businesses
A £1.8 million project to help companies carry out research in engineering materials has been launched by the University of Wolverhampton.
The Faculty of Science and Engineering secured the funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to deliver a ‘Composites & Additive Layer Materials Engineering Research & Innovation Centre’ (CALMERIC).
The specialist project is being run by the University’s School of Engineering at the Telford Innovation Campus.
CALMERIC will support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) based Shropshire and Staffordshire to carry out research and innovation projects in the field of advanced engineering materials.
The project was officially launched by the Telford and Wrekin Mayor and Mayoress, Councillor Stephen Reynolds and Councillor Shirley Reynolds and the Vice-Chancellor at the University, Professor Geoff Layer.
Guests included representatives from local manufacturing businesses, the chairman of the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership, Graham Wynn OBE and School of Engineering staff.
Professor Andrew Pollard, the CALMERIC Project Director, said: “CALMERIC supports advanced engineering and manufacturing companies to develop high performance components that are lightweight and make efficient use of materials.
"These advantages are particularly relevant to businesses operating within aerospace, automotive, motorsport and wind energy supply chains.
“Our research team will look to build the innovation capacity of Shropshire and Staffordshire manufacturing companies by offering them access to specialist skills and resources.
"The team has an international reputation in Composite and Additive Layer Materials through our current and historical research activities as well as experience in managing ERDF projects.
CALMERIC is linked to the university’s School of Engineering, which has invested a further £10m in buildings and facilities, including a wind tunnel, autoclave, 3D printing and laboratories dedicated to metrology and materials.
CALMERIC works in collaboration with companies that do not currently have full in-house capability to develop advanced components manufactured using composite or additive layer technologies.
Research collaborations typically involve design and engineering analysis, prototyping, testing and material or microstructure analysis.
The CALMERIC project will run until December 2021. Any business in Shropshire or Staffordshire interested in collaborating should contact 01902 323298, calmeric@wlv.ac.uk
