53°23′06″N 1°22′44″W / 53.385°N 1.379°W / 53.385; -1.379

Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) 2019
Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) 2019

The Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) is a 150-acre (61 ha) manufacturing technology park[1] in Waverley, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England. It was partly funded by the European Regional Development Fund,[2] with Yorkshire Forward, and developed by Harworth Group, previously the property development arm of UK Coal, on reclaimed opencast coal mine land close to the site of the battle of Orgreave.[3]

Organisations on site

The major tenants at the AMP include:[4]


The AMP Technology Centre houses approximately 40 manufacturing/technology related businesses in its three buildings. These range from start-up companies, to spin-outs from universities and larger companies. The Centre also houses conference and meeting room facilities.

Development history

2023

In November 2023 it was announced that Italian steel company Danieli will be building a new 47,000sq ft head office, research base and distribution facility at the AMP.[5]

2022

In April 2022, the Harworth Group announced that it had secured planning consent for a new development of 93,000 sq. ft of industrial units, in the southern part of the AMP. The development comprises three buildings ranging from 17,000 sq. ft to 44,000 sq. ft, and is designed for sub-division into smaller units as required.[6]

2021

In January 2021 it was announced that the management of Castings Technology International Ltd had undertaken a buyout of the business from the University of Sheffield. The newly independent company would remain located in its AMP-based facilities.[7]

In September 2021, the UK Atomic Energy Authority's (UKAEA) new fusion energy research facility was officially opened at the AMP. The pioneering facility includes the CHIMERA (Combined Heating and Magnetic Research Apparatus) test rig - the only facility in the world with the ability to test prototype components in an environment simulating the conditions inside a fusion power plant.[8]

2019

It was announced in early September that the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) plans to locate a fusion energy research facility at the AMP next year to engage industry in commercial fusion energy development.[9] Construction of the facility was completed in October 2020.[10]

2018

The Duke of Cambridge, the Duchess of Cambridge and the Crown Prince of Bahrain officially opened the McLaren Composites Technology Centre (MCTC). This is a production facility for McLaren Automotive.[11] where the carbon tubs for McLaren's road cars are manufactured.

2016

2016 saw the official opening of a new 32,000 sq ft facility which comprised the third phase of the AMP Technology Centre. The building, funded by the Homes and Communities Agency, includes specialist office and workshop spaces. The purpose of the facility is to provide companies the opportunity to expand into larger premises from existing Technology Centre facilities as well as attracting high technology companies from further afield.[12]

2015

2015 saw the opening of a new demonstration and customer support centre – the Nikken Innovation Centre Europe at the AMP's R-evolution development. The Centre is designed to help companies become more competitive by increasing production rates and quality while reducing costs. In 2018, Nikken announced a further expansion of the Centre.[13]

2014

The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing signed a deal to secure land at Sheffield Business Park, paving the way for the further expansion of the AMRC which could not be accommodated on the AMP site. The first development at the new location, sited directly opposite the existing AMPs developments on the other side of the Parkway, was announced as the AMRC Factory 2050. This £43 million project will develop the UK's first fully reconfigurable assembly and component manufacturing facility for collaborative research, capable of rapidly switching production between different high-value components and one-off parts.[14]

In March 2014 Rotherham Council announced a £4.3 million deal that will enable development to begin at the R-evolution @ The AMP scheme. Landowner and developer, Harworth Estates had previously announced plans to develop 100,000 sq ft of industrial units on seven acres of land, following on from the success of the Evolution @ the AMP development built in 2008.[15]

2013

The year saw construction of two major new facilities for the AMRC.

Firstly, The AMRC Training Centre, based in a new 5,500 sq m building. The Centre took in its first intake of students in autumn 2013 with partial funding from a £9.2 million Regional Growth Fund grant.[16]

In February 2013, Harworth Estates announced that it had sold the 'Evolution @ the AMP' development of light industrial / hybrid units to Cornerstone, the real estate advisory and investment company, for £7 million.[17]

During the summer of 2013 The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) announced its acquisition of Castings Technology International (Cti). As part of the agreement, the staff, buildings and assets of Cti and Titanium Castings UK Ltd (TCUK), including the ongoing research work, commercial contracts and consultancy were transferred to become a University of Sheffield subsidiary company.[18]

2012

An official groundbreaking ceremony took place to mark the start of construction on the ABCF in June 2012, with the Business Secretary Vince Cable and Rolls-Royce's Colin Smith, Director of Engineering and Technology performing the honours with some of Rolls-Royce's apprentices.[19]

Harworth Estates also agreed contracts with Taylor Wimpey, Harron Homes and Barratt Homes to build new homes on their Waverley site marking the first phase of residential development. The house builders acquired a total of 20 acres for an initial 254 homes, and work on the infrastructure and spine road access to the housing site started in spring 2012. The first houses were offered for sale following a launch event with England 1966 football hero Gordon Banks in September 2012.[20]

2010

The AMP became home to the new £25 million Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (Nuclear AMRC) led by the University of Sheffield with Rolls-Royce, funded with £15 million from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and £10 million from the regional development agency Yorkshire Forward.[21] The virtual ground-breaking for the site was performed by Her Majesty The Queen.[22]

2009

2009 saw the completion of an extension to the AMP Technology Centre, doubling the lettable office and workshop space. Alongside other innovative features the building also boasted an adjacent hydrogen minigrid system (HMGS). The HMGS worked by capturing wind energy to generate electricity for the building from a 225KW wind turbine. Any excess electricity was then converted to hydrogen via electrolysis for later use by either a fuel cell during periods of low wind speed or as transport fuel via a hydrogen refuelling point.[23]

2008

Advanced Manufacturing Park, November 2008

The Rolls-Royce "Factory of the Future with Boeing" was built as part of the University of Sheffield's Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).

The Factory was purpose built to house the latest manufacturing equipment and production capabilities. Information Communications Technology (ICT) and 'virtual' manufacturing were the key components of the new facility, along with alternative manufacturing methods, such as additive manufacturing processes which grow 3-dimensional parts; considerably reducing material waste and increasing design flexibility. Construction was completed by the end of 2007, and the facility officially opened in summer 2008.[24]

2008 also saw the construction of the 'Evolution @ the AMP' development of speculative industrial units. This was the first private sector investment at the AMP. The anchor tenant was Dormer Tools, who opened a new Research & Development facility.[25]

2006

Yorkshire Forward completed the construction of the main wing of the AMP Technology Centre, 27,000 sq ft (2,500 m2) of offices and workshops to cater for small high-growth companies in the Advanced Manufacturing and Materials sector. The building was officially opened by three-time Formula 1 World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart.[26]

The Castings Technology International[27] & TWI Yorkshire buildings[28] were also opened.

2004

The first Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) building was opened, the first facility developed on the AMP.[29]

Road names

All roads on the AMP are named after famous engineers. These include:

References

  1. ↑ "Overview&Vision". Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  2. ↑ "Advanced Manufacturing Park". Archived from the original on 28 January 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
  3. ↑ "All change for miners' strike battlefield". BBC News. 26 August 2008. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  4. ↑ "Current Occupiers". Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  5. ↑ Dennison, Gareth. "Italian steel firm's UK headquarters in Rotherham". Rotherham Advertiser. National World Publishing Ltd. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  6. ↑ "Harworth secures 93,000 sq. ft planning consent for the next phase of the AMP". Harworth Group. Harworth Group. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  7. ↑ Walsh, David (21 January 2021). "Sheffield University castings company managers stage ambitious buy out". The Star. Johnson Press. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  8. ↑ "Jobs boost for Yorkshire as the UK's first fusion technology facility is opened by Atomic Energy Authority". Yorkshire Post. Johnston Press. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  9. ↑ "New fusion test facility to open in Yorkshire". GOV.UK. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  10. ↑ "UK completes fusion research facility". World Nuclear News. World Nuclear Association. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  11. ↑ "Royal opening for McLaren Automotive's new £50m carbon fibre innovation and production centre". McLaren. 14 November 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  12. ↑ "New building 3 set to go ahead at the AMP Technology Centre". AMP Technology Centre. 26 March 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  13. ↑ "News: Nikken expanding on the AMP". Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  14. ↑ "News: AMRC submit plans for Factory 2050". www.rothbiz.co.uk. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  15. ↑ "News: Rotherham Council in £7m AMP development deal". www.rothbiz.co.uk. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  16. ↑ "News: AMRC Training Centre opens doors". www.rothbiz.co.uk. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  17. ↑ "Harworth Estates Sells Evolution Development". harworthgroup.com. Harworth Estates. 6 February 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  18. ↑ "U.K. Research Center Buys Castings Technology Intl". Foundry Management & Technology. 4 August 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  19. ↑ "Rolls-Royce plan for 150 new jobs". 21 June 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  20. ↑ "First phase of Waverley housing officially launched". www.rothbiz.co.uk. Rotherham Business News. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  21. ↑ "Lord Mandelson announces £25 Million Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre". Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre. 3 December 2009. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  22. ↑ "Nuclear AMRC construction launched by HRH Queen Elizabeth II". Nuclear AMRC. 18 November 2010. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  23. ↑ "Starting Grid". The Engineer. Mark Allen Engineering Limited. 15 June 2009. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  24. ↑ Sheffield, University of. "Rolls-Royce Factory of the Future opens – News – Prospective International students – The University of Sheffield". www.sheffield.ac.uk. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  25. ↑ "Dormer handed keys to Rotherham facility". Rothbiz. Rotherham Business News. 4 December 2008. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  26. ↑ Administrator, System (1 November 2006). "Innovation in Yorkshire". The Engineer. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  27. ↑ "Background". Castings Technology International/. Castings Technology International.
  28. ↑ "South on the Up". Yorkshire Business Insider. Insider Media. Retrieved 18 April 2006.
  29. ↑ "News: Parks and innovation". www.rothbiz.co.uk. Rotherham Business News. Retrieved 5 June 2019.

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