AMTECAA

Advanced Manufacturing Technologies that Create, Activate and Automate logo with University of Birmingham and European Regional Development Fund logos.

If you're looking to explore how advanced manufacturing technologies can help you be more productive or provide a competitive edge then why not see what fully funded support you can access through the AMTECAA (Advanced Manufacturing Technologies to Create, Activate & Automate) programme.

Create new products with Additive, Subtractive and Hybrid Manufacturing

Additive Manufacturing
Subtractive Manufacturing

Additive Manufacturing

Additive Manufacturing (AM) also known as 3D printing offers the production of low volume parts with complex geometries directly from CAD files. Through the programme we offer;

  • Design Optimisation for AM in Aluminium, Stainless Steel and Titanium.
  • Topology optimisation for lightweighting
  • Materials Selection or Alloy Development
  • Rapid prototyping
  • Material and Surface Characterisation of AM Parts

Subtractive Manufacturing

    We have a range of CNC machining systems and are able to offer support in the following areas;
  • CAD/CAM programming support for <5 axis machining
  • Process Analysis and Optimisation
  • Process Development for difficult to machine materials
Hybrid Manufacturing

Hybrid Manufacturing

Our Mazak i-400 AM Integrex hybrid machine combines both metal additive and subtractive manufacturing technologies for custom applications such as;

  • Tool repair
  • Component remanufacturing
  • Cladding of dissimilar materials
  • Addition of surface features

Mazak Integrex i-400 AM Hybrid Manufacturing Machine

 Activate Surfaces with Laser and Plasma Processes

 Laser Processing

Laser Processing

Our Lasea LS4 system (7 axes - 5 mechanical and 2 optical) with femtosecond laser is capable of processing highly complex parts at fast scan rates. We can support companies in the following areas

  • Micro Machining & Drilling
  • Surface Polishing
  • Surface Texturing

Lasea 7 Axis Machining Demonstration

 Plasma Processing

Plasma Processing

Plasma processes allow the surface functionalisation of bulk materials. We can support companies in the following areas

  • Selective atmospheric plasma printing with an Innophysics μPlasma Printing Station with 24 micro electrodes 
  • Vacuum plasma surface treatments to improve surface hardness and wear resistance of components
  • Characterisation of processed surfaces with microscopy and surface topology measurements.

Automate your processes with Robotics

Techman Robot

Robotics

Using robots to automate your processes can help maximise your productivity and quality. We have 4 Techman Robots available (1 x TM5 and 3 x TM14) to support companies in the following areas. 

  • Collaborative Robot selection, calibration and programming
  • Robotic Tools & Fixtures
  • Machine Vision Inspection
  • Sensors & Data Processing
  • Simulation for the optimisation of automated processes

Sector Themes 

AMTECAA can support companies looking to apply advanced manufacturing technologies across a wide range of manufacturing sectors including automotive, aerospace, oil and gas and electronic. However, we also have dedicated resource focused on the particular requirements of the healthcare sector.

Healthcare Sector

Please contact us if you are looking for support to develop a product or service which solves a healthcare challenge. We can provide technical support and advice in the following areas:

  • Design and development of medical devices and biomaterials
  • Additive Manufacturing
  • Simulation using computational modelling
  • Mechanical testing, material characterisation, in vitro testing
  • Medical Device Regulations, clinical trials, and route to market

A Medical Implant

Strategic Project Partners

Strategic partnerships with key industrial organisations - MTC, Lasea, HMK and Mazak have been developed to provide physical equipment demonstrators and deliver workshops to local manufacturing businesses.

Strategic Project Partner Logos - Manufacturing Technology Centre, LASEA, HMK and Mazak

Am I eligible for support?

To be eligible for fully funded support you must be a small-to-medium business (SME) i.e. fewer than 250 employees and a turnover of less than 50 million euros, and located within one of the four Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) areas - Greater Birmingham & Solihull, Black Country, Coventry & Warwickshire, and Stoke & Staffordshire.

Interested to find out more?

 For further details about how the programme might support your business, please contact the AMTECAA team on 0121 414 4238 or amtecaa@contacts.bham.ac.uk

AMTECAA is supported by the ERDF funded Smart Factory Hub project.