The global site of the UK's leading magazine for automation, motion engineering and power transmission
29 March, 2024

LinkedIn
Twitter
Twitter link

£7.5m advanced manufacturing facility opens in Belfast

22 June, 2018

Queen’s University Belfast has opened a £7.5m advanced manufacturing technology facility, as part of a new Centre for Intelligent Autonomous Manufacturing Systems (i-AMS), which will lead innovation in new technologies for advanced manufacturing. Researchers spanning the disciplines of engineering, computer science, applied mathematics and psychology, will work together in i-AMS to tackle challenges faced by industry and to help make Industry 4.0 a reality.

“The centre and facility are spearheading the computerisation of manufacturing,” says i-AMS director, Professor Seán McLoone. “This includes the use of advanced data analytics, machine learning, intelligent system and autonomous robotics concepts, digital manufacturing and human-robot interaction.

The facility will provide Northern Ireland with a link to the UK High Value Manufacturing Catapult and research technology organisations, as well as the emerging Irish Manufacturing Research Centre. All are helping to bridge the gap between technology concepts and commercialisation.

“Both i-AMS and the new facility are already making a difference to the advanced manufacturing community in Northern Ireland and the UK,” says Professor Mark Price, pro-vice-chancellor for the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences at Queen’s.

From left: Claire McAlinden, Director of Operations for the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences; Professor Adrian Murphy; Professor Seán McLoone; and Colm Higgins, Head of the Northern Ireland Technology Centre, all from Queen’s University Belfast.

“The facility allows us to address the challenges that industry is currently facing and plan ahead to meet future needs,” he adds. “It also provides an opportunity to train the next generation of experts in manufacturing.”




Magazine
  • To view a digital copy of the latest issue of Drives & Controls, click here.

    To visit the digital library of past issues, click here

    To subscribe to the magazine, click here

     

Poll

"Do you think that robots create or destroy jobs?"

Newsletter
Newsletter

Events

Most Read Articles