Advanced Composite Training and Development Centre
The result of a groundbreaking partnership between Glyndŵr University, Airbus, Deeside College and the Welsh Government, the centre, located on the Hawarden Industrial Park in Broughton, will help thousands of Airbus employees and apprentices to develop their composite manufacturing skills.
Its launch in October 2010 marked a further step forward for Glyndŵr University as an indispensible expert partner for industry in north Wales.
The capability to design, manufacture and assemble composite materials is vital in the aerospace industry. The use of composites in aircraft helps to optimise the weight and design of aircraft, thereby improving efficiency and performance.
Training
The manufacturing processes and skills needed to produce composite parts and components differ from current metallic work, so training in this highly skilled sector is important to employees and apprentices in the industry.
The centre will allow students to progress from craft apprentice level at Airbus to Chartered Engineer through qualifications which are delivered by Glyndŵr University at every level, including HNC/HND, foundation degree, BSc, MSc and PhD. The University’s new MSc and MRes in Composites have been developed in association with Airbus.
Research
Research led by Glyndŵr University is targeted at developing faster manufacturing and processing techniques for composite materials which will help to meet future demand for aircraft and composites in general.
The Centre welcomes enquiries from industry and academia to establish new co-operative research links. Projects can vary from short term consultancy to more long term collaborations through schemes such as Technology Strategy Board Collaborative R&D, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP), Research Council funded collaborations, European Union Funding and contract research.
ASTUTE – Advanced Sustainable Manufacturing Technologies
The centre is part of a pan-Wales £26m Advanced Sustainable Manufacturing Technologies project, that aims to help companies develop more sustainable products through using composites, reduce manufacturing costs or cut time to market by adopting composite technologies.
Are you facing any technology challenges in your current or future business plans? Under ASTUTE all of the Universities in Wales have come together to see if they can offer you a solution.
ASTUTE is part-funded by the EU’s Convergence European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government. For further information please visit http://www.astutewales.com/ or contact Prof Richard Day r.day@glyndwr.ac.uk
Contact
Professor Richard Day
University of Wales Professor of Composites Engineering
Academic Leader, Mechanical, Aeronautical and Electrical Engineering
Associate Director for the Graduate School responsible for the Institute for Arts, Science and Technology
Glyndŵr University Wrexham
Plas Coch
Mold Road
Wrexham, Wales
LL11 2AW
Tel: +44(0)1978 293117
Email: r.day@glyndwr.ac.uk
Dr. Fawad Inam
Programme Leader, Composites Engineering
Glyndŵr University Wrexham
Plas Coch
Mold Road
Wrexham, Wales
LL11 2AW
Further details
Tel: +44(0)1978 29 3938/ 3103
Email: f.inam@glyndwr.ac.uk
