Dr Ruth McKernan was given a guided tour of AME’s manufacturing hub by Professor Carl Perrin and met students, lecturers and engineers who work at the UK’s first ‘Faculty on the Factory Floor’.
High on the agenda was the UK’s approach to tackling the future innovation and technology challenges and how more can be done to commercialise R&D and embrace Industry 4.0.
Backed by £180,000 funding from Innovate UK, AME is currently developing a low to medium volume production process that will see these systems made by Unipart in Coventry and fitted to vehicles from the summer.
Professor Perrin said: “The UK comes up with some great ideas, but often the innovation is commercialised by companies in other countries. One of AME’s roles – supported by funders like Innovate UK – is to make sure we deliver solutions that make our country more competitive.”
He added: “We are also receiving support for two projects with Jaguar Land Rover designed to improve acoustic performance and take weight out of an exhaust system.”
Following her visit to the Institute, Dr McKernan spent time at two spin-out companies from Coventry University - InoCardia, a specialist in testing drugs for cancer treatments, and Serious Games International. The latter showcased how simulation techniques can be used in games to solve industrial solutions.
