At the forefront of aerospace research
Okuma is now a member of the AMRC (Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre) at the University of Sheffield. The cooperation offers many advantages for researchers, the aerospace industry and Okuma, and will help to further expand Okuma’s long-time expertise in this sector.
From April 2019, Okuma is a tier 1 member for the next five years of the AMRC at the University of Sheffield. The AMRC is a network of world-leading research and innovation centres around the globe. It is specialised in exploring advanced machining, manufacturing and materials of practical use to the aerospace industry. With the new membership, Norbert Teeuwen (President Okuma Europe) and Stefan Vielsäcker (Senior Manager Okuma) will sit on the AMRC management and technology board respectively.
High-end equipment for innovative research
As a member of the AMRC, Okuma provides know-how and support for the latest research in form of a MU-8000V-L including all options. The versatile CNC machine tool combines turning and 5-axis multitasking machining, making it the ideal solution for highly complex aerospace components. In cooperation with their UK distributor NCMT, a tier 2 member of the AMRC, Okuma will also accompany the research with constant application support and service free of charge. Having used a MULTUS U3000 in the past, the AMCR could already experience the reliability, precision and versatility of Okuma solutions first-hand.
Driving aerospace innovations
In the field of materials science, Okuma will participate by developing machining applications for new types of material that will most likely become standards within the industry. Other research focuses on new components for more efficient drives like future solutions for conventional drive arrangements in fields like electro, hybrid or gear-driven systems. For Okuma, advanced manufacturing processes like skiving for new materials and other cutting-edge gear manufacturing technologies will be objects of research as well. The overall goal of these research projects is to increase the efficiency of aircraft drives while reducing noise and CO2 emissions.
Being part of the licensing process
The cooperation offers several benefits to all collaboration partners. While the AMRC expands its research capabilities with the new CNC machine tool and technical support by Okuma, Okuma gains access to all research data and Intellectual Property Rights. Being at the forefront of new developments, Okuma will also be able to further develop its extensive aerospace expertise. One benefit of being part of the research projects is the fact that Okuma machines will be used for certifying innovative materials and manufacturing processes. This allows Okuma to immediately offer solutions that are recommended and licensed by the process developers when a new material or manufacturing process becomes ready to go into production. In addition, the cooperation will bring researchers, aerospace manufacturers and machine tool builders closer together at an early stage.
Okuma will be exhibiting at the International Paris Air Show (17 to 23 June 2019, hall 4, booth E51) and invites aerospace experts to visit and discuss the latest trends and topics with the Okuma team.