University-Rautomead collaboration among Prosperity Partnerships to boost economic growth

The Early-Stage Prosperity Partnerships have received almost £5 million from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), matched with funding from the business partners.

The University of Dundee/Rautomead project is developing new ways of producing specialist alloys by innovations to the continuous casting method of alloy creation.

Dr Thomas Jones, from the University’s School of Science and Engineering, said, “The Early Stage Prosperity Partnership is a great opportunity for the Dundee area, as it will support the collaboration of Dundee-based world-leading SME, Rautomead Ltd and the University of Dundee. Together we will accelerate the development of a novel high-value manufacturing process, building on the work of our research team.”

Brian Frame, Managing Director of Rautomead, said, "We are very pleased and grateful to have received the support of the Prosperity Partnership funding, and look forward to creating a real centre of excellence for advanced alloys within the Dundee area. This project fits very neatly with our overall company strategy, and the continued partnership with University of Dundee will undoubtedly enhance the productivity of this journey."  

The partnership will improve the design of continuous casting rigs, that produce high-value, high-quality alloys, by identifying the correct heat transport properties and material compatibility of a rig design. These alloys are essential components for renewable and NetZero industry applications. The partnership will contribute to the UK’s strategy on NetZero, the University’s strategic theme of Climate Change and NetZero as well as position the Dundee area as a centre for alloy processing innovation.

The new partnerships showcase the breadth of research and innovation in the UK and will boost economic growth regionally and nationally. Nine of the 14 businesses involved were SMEs, which further demonstrates the huge added value that businesses can expect to gain by partnering with some of the UK’s best researchers.

Dr Andrew Bourne, Executive Director of Partnerships at EPSRC, said, “I am excited to announce the EPSRC support of a number of ambitious early-stage academic-business research collaborations which complement the established EPSRC Prosperity Partnerships initiative. 

“These partnerships which particularly encourage small and medium-sized enterprises will further promote business investment in discovery science and explore important topics including green packaging and sustainable manufacturing.”

The business-academia partnerships are:

• University of Dundee and Rautomead Ltd
• University of Birmingham and Aquapak Polymers
• University of Strathclyde and ITP Aero
• Brunel University London and Alloyed
• University of Birmingham and Cooksongold
• Imperial College London and Unilever Global
• University of Sheffield and Phlux Technology
• Newcastle University and GKN Automotive
• Newcastle University and Mitchell Dryers