example, are in economic decline. This
contrasts greatly with the so-called ‘golden
triangle’ in the south of Oxford, Cambridge and
London, where there is a huge amount of
investment with an R&D focus. What we are
saying is, try looking a bit further a eld because
we have a proven model that we can replicate.”
With growth and expansion comes change, of
course, and the AMRC’s vision has evolved
accordingly. Issues such as sustainability and
the circular economy, for example, as well as
mobility and various social challenges, have
climbed far higher up the agenda than in 2001,
when the organisation was created.
The digital economy has also come into view,
which the AMRC is helping SMEs get to grips
with via its ‘Digital Meet Manufacturing’
campaign, an accessible initiative that connects
disruptive digital technology with manufacturers
that want to leverage Industry 4.0 to drive
innovation, increase workforce skills and boost
business growth.
According to Morgan, other product
technologies set to feature heavily in the coming
years include electri cation, both automotive and
aerospace, and lightweighting, while sectors in the
spotlight will include nuclear energy – particularly the
potential for more nuclear capability in the UK.
“Also, robotics and automation still have a lot to give,
as it remains lacking in many smaller manufacturers,” he
adds, “as does greater retro tting of IoT technology.
However, in my opinion, AI will be the de ning technology
theme in the next 10-15 years. AI can support and
monitor – and make decisions – for robotics, machining
and many other factory-wide systems, for that matter.”
LEAD FEATURE GROWTH & FUTURE PLANS
“I think there should be,” states Morgan. “The
government has been fairly clear about investing in the
Northern Powerhouse and Midlands Engine. Sure enough,
there is a challenge to try and rebalance the economy.
We have a lot of forgotten towns in the so-called ‘red
wall’, much of which recently voted Conservative for the
rst time. The AMRC is a model that is proven to work;
it has regenerated a lot of business and created
thousands of high value jobs. This could be replicated
across the country. I pick out the north because towns
like Barnsley, Rochdale, Blackburn and Doncaster, for
Planning application for NMIS
Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC), the only High Value Manufacturing Catapult centre in
Scotland, is an important part of the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS), for which a planning
application has been submitted. It will be situated at the centre of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District
Scotland (AMIDS) in Renfrewshire (https://is.gd/igeriq). NMIS is a £65 million, industry-led international centre of
manufacturing expertise led by the Scottish government in partnership with its enterprise and skills agencies, the
University of Strathclyde and Renfrewshire Council.
The energy carbon-neutral facility next to Glasgow Airport will include a skills academy, a fully digitalised factory of
the future and a collaboration hub for manufacturers of all sizes and from all sectors. NMIS is also to include two
specialist technology centres: the Lightweight Manufacturing Centre (LMC), which was opened in 2019 by First
Minister Nicola Sturgeon (https://is.gd/evaqut); and Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC). The
application will now be considered by Renfrewshire Council.
NMIS and the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre, in which Strathclyde is the lead research partner, will be
the anchor institutions in AMIDS. The district is bene tting from a £39 million investment in infrastructure, funded
through the Glasgow City Region City Deal.
AMRC views
automation as
an area with
much promise
for the future
Scotland’s NMIS
12 February 2020 www.machinery.co.uk @MachineryTweets
/igeriq)
/evaqut)
/www.machinery.co.uk