Okuma, represented in the UK by NCMT, is now a member of the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) at the University of Sheffield.

The cooperation offers several benefits for researchers, the aerospace industry and Okuma. It will further expand Okuma’s long-time expertise in this sector.

From April 2019 on, Okuma is now a tier 1 member for the next five years. With the new membership, Norbert Teeuwen, president of Okuma Europe and Stefan Vielsäcker, senior manager, Okuma will sit on the AMRC management and technology board respectively.

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 ideal 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 AMRC could already experience the reliability, precision and versatility of Okuma solutions first-hand.

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.

The AMRC is a network of world-leading research and innovation centres

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 Airshow in hall 4, booth E51 and invites aerospace experts to visit and discuss the latest trends and topics with the Okuma team.

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