Partnership with Rautomead Ltd

Background

Established in 1978, Rautomead Limited has evolved to become the world's leading and most experienced supplier of continuous casting technology for non-ferrous alloys.

Their expertise lies in the design and manufacture of continuous casting equipment and machines which are used internationally to deliver continuous casting of Copper Wire and Cable, Alloy Wire, Engineering Alloys, Precious Metals, Copper Magnesium and Copper Chrome Zirconium Rod.

For over forty years, Rautomead Ltd. has aimed to play its part in modernising aspects of the non-ferrous metals industry with its many end-uses and world-wide applications by casting at near net shape to minimise processing costs and by casting an ever increasing range of alloys for products being developed by the automotive, medical and communications industries.

This keeps their continuous casting technology at the forefront of the industry with a team of experienced engineers available to support clients so that they can be at the forefront of theirs.

Challenge

Rautomead Ltd wanted to process new complex high-performance alloys by improving the capability and performance of continuous casting machinery.

Solution

In 2012 Rautomead Ltd undertook a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) funded by Technology Strategy Board/Innovate UK to work in collaboration with the University of Dundee. The collaboration offered Rautomead Ltd. the opportunity to achieve their objective by giving them access to state-of-the-art laboratories and academic expertise at University of Dundee resulting in them developing new complex high-performance alloys by improving the capability and performance of the company's continuous casting machinery.

Outcomes

• The work that has been produced by this partnership has helped to drive Rautomead Ltd's growth and train the next generation of engineers.
• Research conducted as part of this partnership has led to the commercialisation of a number of casting innovations.
• The collaboration has contributed to reducing lead time in the evaluation of an alloy's cast-ability, resulting in savings in costs, time and materials.
• Knowledge learned through this partnership has improved the technical expertise of Rautomead Ltd.
• Rautomead Ltd's technology drive has been altered considerably, with a focus towards high value activities which better align with the goals of increased commercialisation of casting equipment
• Rautomead Ltd have been able to secure high-quality talent from the graduate programmes at the University of Dundee which has allowed them to increase their total permanent staff from local talent