Research Chair in Advanced Forming and Forging

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The University of Strathclyde has established the Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC) to support world leading research in the cognate area of forming and forging. The Centre will work with leading edge industrial companies to support fundamental and applied research, effectively providing a capability pipeline which develops low maturity research concepts and technologies through to a level where they can be readily deployed in industry. The AFRC will address key manufacturing process challenges in the forming and forging field. These challenges include:- Materials utilisation for economic and environmental benefit- New materials with improved metallurgical properties- New product designs demanding ever more accurate and repeatable formed components- Mass customisation requiring adaptable and flexible processesResearch will be undertaken in a new purpose built facility (2500sqm) currently being contructed near Glasgow airport that will house state of the art equipment and dedicated support staff. The facility will accommodate up to 50 staff members. The Centre intends to be a cross sectoral collaborative partnership involving leading industrial companies and government research and knowledge exchange support agencies. To date four companies, Rolls-Royce, Boeing, Mettis Aerospace and Timet have concluded contracts as Tier 1 partners and will provide financial support for the core research programme over the next 5 years (value 4m). Additionally seven companies have committed to Tier 2 partnership committing support to the AFRC in cash and in kind. It is the intention to grow the partnership to at least 8 Tier 1 partners within 5 years. AFRC will commence full research operations on 1 August 2009 and will move to the new facility in May 2010. Financial support for the building and initial equipment procurement is being provided by Scottish Enterpise.This application is for a STAR Professorship appointment to lead the research activities of the Centre. The appointee will be a researcher of world leading research standing in the forming and forging field - essential to ensure that the AFRC rapidly establishes itself as a global centre of excellence in forming and forging research. As research director of the AFRC the appointee will be responsible for leading the core research programme (funded by industrial partners), securing a portfolio of funded research projects and building the global research reputation of the Centre. Rolls-Royce, as the initial founding partner of the AFRC will provide specific support for this position.