The Duke of York visited the Sheffield City Region earlier this month to officially open the University of Sheffield’s Factory 2050 at the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC)(www.amrc.co.uk).

This is the UK’s first fully reconfigurable collaborative research facility, dedicated to digital assembly and flexible component manufacturing. Teams at Factory 2050 are already working with partners on projects spanning robotics and automation, digitally assisted assembly and manufacturing infomatics.

The Duke was given a tour of the factory by Ben Morgan (head of the Integrated Manufacturing Group), who demonstrated the work being done at the AMRC to enable robots to accurately machine holes in composite aircraft components — a project that has matured into a production system and is on track to save BAE Systems millions of pounds.

He also saw how robots are being used for high-accuracy flexible-machining applications, and he had the opportunity to experience the latest cutting-edge mixed-reality technologies being used to improve assembly, construction and manufacturing processes.

The executive dean of the AMRC, Professor Keith Ridgway, said: “Factory 2050 is an important part in the future development of the AMRC, which is hugely significant for both the Sheffield City Region and the UK.

“It will keep us at the forefront of manufacturing technology and is a beacon for the region, hopefully attracting young people to careers in manufacturing.”