German-based machining company WF-Maschinenbau has renewed its membership agreement with the University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre, part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult.
The three-year deal will lead to further collaboration on research and development between the Inchinnan-based facility and the international metal-forming machine manufacturer.
WF-Maschinenbau will supply an additional flow forming machine to the AFRC which will help further the work the organisation undergoes with metal forming.
The VUD600 vertical flow former is being used to expand the capabilities of the AFRC by developing smaller, more complex and a wider size-range of components.
This new machine can produce an extensive variety of parts for many different sectors including automotive, aerospace and oil and gas.
The tier two membership will also enable WF to send engineers over to Scotland to conduct cutting-edge research.
The AFRC will also have access to WF’s site in Sendenhorst, Germany to carry out tests on parts which it is unable to complete within Scotland.
Lynne O’Hare, commercial team lead at the AFRC said: “WF-Maschinenbau is one of the most prestigious names in the global metals industry.
“We look forward to developing our collaborative efforts, resulting in tangible benefits for the metal manufacturing industries.
“The partnership will help us work across borders, pursuing manufacturing research and development opportunities while sharing skills to continue driving forward innovation.
WF-Maschinenbau has worked as the market leader in flow-forming technology for more than 45 years. Together with co-operation partners such as the AFRC, WF is proceeding in the development of new processes and materials to bring the advantages of flow-forming technology into new fields of application.
Heiko Ohlscher, general manager of WF-Maschinenbau said:
We are proud to have the AFRC as a powerful co-operation partner. Together, we are able to extend the development of flow-forming technologies making it available for a broad range of applications in industry.”
The AFRC also recently secured Mitsubishi Materials Group as a tier two member. It will act as a test facility for the development of new products and manufacturing processes, which will be used to produce metal components for use in a range of industries – including oil and gas, aerospace and automotive.