OPEN MIND becomes Tier One partner at the AFRC

OPEN MIND Technologies has become a Tier one partner at the University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre

(AFRC) less than one year after securing Tier two membership.

The leading CAM developer joined the centre in August 2017, at the same time installing one licence of its hyperMILL CAM solution, backed by technical expertise from OPEN MIND engineers.

Its upgraded membership will see the firm play a stronger strategic role at the world-leading research centre, joining other prestigious Tier one partners, such as DMG Mori and Virtalis. Commenting upon its developing relationship with the centre, OPEN MIND Technologies’ sales manager, Matt Coulson, says: “We originally provided the AFRC with hyperMILL for R&D projects. After successful implementation, we’ve now installed additional licences to cater for AFRC growth and special project requirements.”

Part of this growth was recently announced with the AFRC securing £16.5million to establish FutureForge, a major new advanced engineering facility that aims to transform one of the manufacturing sector’s most traditional and important supply chains.

Meanwhile, significantly enhancing the centres additive manufacturing and machining capabilities, OPEN MIND Technologies’ software is increasingly used across AFRC’s development projects. Used to increase the productivity of processes, where specialised 5-axis machining is required, the AFRC also plans to introduce the software’s additive manufacturing module into its newly acquired laser metal deposition (LMD) Hybrid machine.

Stephen Fitzpatrick, machining and additive manufacturing team lead at the AFRC, says: “Both machining and additive manufacturing are growth areas within the centre. This means that we can help more companies in new ways to overcome manufacturing challenges and better compete. We’re delighted to be working more closely with OPEN MIND as we focus on building complex features and geometries on our LMD Hybrid Machine, subsequently developing new methods of manufacture for components.”

Speaking about the cutting-edge work taking place at the AFRC, Matt Coulson concludes: “The AFRC is undertaking truly ground-breaking research. OPEN MIND applying its additive manufacturing module to one of the first facilities in the UK demonstrates the level of innovation we’re seeing there.”

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