ITP Aero, a world-leading aeronautical engine manufacturer, has become a member of the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), recognising its excellence in developing new products and processes, and training new talent and skills.

As the world’s ninth-largest engine manufacturer and a founding member of the Clean Aviation programme, ITP Aero has positioned itself as one of the driving forces behind the pursuit of more sustainable solutions, aimed at developing ultra-efficient engines, as well as laying the foundations for hybrid-electric and hydrogen-based propulsion systems.

Matt Farnsworth, AMRC commercial director, said: “We are extremely excited and proud to have ITP Aero join the AMRC industrial membership community. We see a huge level of synergy between their long-term technology development needs and the AMRC’s current core competencies and future strategic capability areas.

“We have been working to align our collaborative development road maps around robust manufacturing, weight reduction and disruptive design. Furthermore, ITP Aero’s standing in the aerospace manufacturing ecosystem makes the relationship very strategic for the AMRC — and we are excited to develop both our collaborative research activities and commercial relationship with them.”

ITP Aero has joined as a Tier 2 member at the AMRC, which is part of the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult network of research centres. The new partnership allows ITP Aero to participate in, and obtain the results of all generic research projects, as well as being represented on the AMRC’s industrial board.

Dr Rob Mitchell, ITP Aero head of engineering in the UK, said: “ITP Aero is collaborating with the AMRC as we continue to push the boundaries in terms of our industrial and economic performance by making step changes in productivity, increasing competitiveness, developing new products and processes, and training new talent and skills.

“There are a number of core competencies that the AMRC has, which will help to increase our manufacturing strengths at ITP Aero - and these include machining, integrated manufacturing, castings, design and prototyping, as well as structural testing, additive manufacturing, microscopy, metrology and manufacturing intelligence.

“We will be able to harness these varied skills, expertise and technologies to drive forward our work on key development projects for our UK and global operations, not to mention the influence that this work can have on the industry overall.”

The company has also partnered with three other research centres; the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), the University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre, near Glasgow, which is part of the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, and The Welding Institute (TWI) – as well as becoming a member of the ADS Group (Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space), the leading trade organisation in the UK – and is already playing a proactive role on the Aerospace Growth Partnership.

Each of these partnerships are a key driver to support ITP Aero’s UK operations and the wider ITP Aero in meeting its commitments as an organisation and the future of the aviation sector. AMRC membership is open to any company which works in a complementary area, or which may wish to support the AMRC’s research programmes.