Future Manufacturing Technologies are a priority for the manufacturing sector’s competitiveness and this is a critical time for identifying and exploiting opportunities. With this in mind ASTUTE 2020, a multi-university partnership led by Swansea University, can help manufacturers in Wales boost their innovation, research and success.
ASTUTE 2020 (Advanced Sustainable Manufacturing Technologies) is a university partnership of five Welsh higher education institutions, part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government.
The project aims to de-risk the use of Future Manufacturing Technologies by enabling greater levels of business innovation through collaboration between industry and academia with the ultimate aim of improving the prosperity of the region.
ASTUTE 2020 focuses on:
- Advanced Materials Technology - addressing the industrial need to improve knowledge and understanding of materials. Introducing new materials into products, adopting more innovative techniques for processing advanced materials
- Computational Engineering Modelling – increasing the understanding of complex processes and products for future productivity and competitiveness
- Manufacturing Systems Engineering – exploiting resources and connectivity in manufacturing processes, addressing the underlying principles that shape current industrial approaches in smart manufacturing.
Supporting industry
It is vital to be forward thinking, embrace research, and develop and innovate advanced technologies. The uniqueness of ASTUTE 2020’s support allows knowledge-exchange of new, cutting-edge technologies.
ASTUTE 2020 can:
- Facilitate the adoption of advanced technologies, increasing competitiveness and future-proofing
- Provide confidence to address manufacturing challenges and adapt to change
- Strengthen knowledge and expertise to create higher-value goods and services, improve efficiency, aiming to drive productivity and growth
- Stimulate collaborations between industry and academia, creating added value and strong working relationships
- Enable access to diverse and unique skillsets from world-class academic experts across a university partnership
- Provide access to cutting-edge, state-of-the-art facilities and experimental equipment
Over 350 companies have engaged with ASTUTE since 2010.
The following videos demonstrate how the partnership has helped manufacturers adapt to change; and how ASTUTE 2020 can help Welsh businesses stay ahead of the game.
TWI Ltd
NDT testing specialists, TWI Ltd. based in Neath/Port Talbot, outline how the research support between TWI and two of Wales’ top universities, Swansea University, and University of Wales Trinity Saint David, has been paramount for the successful collaboration.
British Rototherm Company Ltd
British Rototherm Company Ltd is a manufacturer of precision instrumentation that measures temperature, pressure, level and flow. They collaborated with ASTUTE 2020 to further their research into noise emitted through restriction orifice plates.
For more information about ASTUTE 2020 and to find out how the operation can support your manufacturing challenge visit the project website