The Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) in Sheffield recently welcomed a number of Boeing executives.

Boeing Portland general manager Dave Hyem and his team came to see the research and development work that will support operations at Boeing Sheffield (www.boeing.com), when it opens later this year.

The facility is the first to be built in Europe for aerospace giant Boeing, which chose Sheffield because of its longstanding partnership with the AMRC (www.amrc.co.uk), its skilled workforce and its investment in research, training and development.

The R&D programme that Boeing has embarked upon with the assistance of the AMRC is developing the new manufacturing techniques that will enhance production efficiency and reduce costs while maintaining quality.

These game-changing technologies will be used in the production at Boeing Sheffield of actuation-system components for Boeing’s Next-Generation 737, 737 MAX and 777 aeroplanes.

The visitors saw demonstrations of the manufacturing processes and technologies that are being developed, and they met some of the team that will make up the core of Boeing Sheffield’s staff, including some of the Boeing apprentices currently training at the AMRC Training Centre.

James Needham, senior manager of operations for Boeing Sheffield, said: “It’s great to host the Boeing team at the AMRC; they have been keen to come and see the research work that is under way.”

Mr Hyem said: “It was inspiring to meet with some of the team that will form the core of Boeing Sheffield — especially our apprentices — and to see their level of capability and passion for the job.”