Engineering

Mechanical and Production Engineering

Mechanical and Production Engineering

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

Aerospace
There are over 5,000 people employed in the aerospace industry in Yorkshire which is home to many of the key suppliers of components to major assemblers and aerospace giants such as Airbus and Boeing. Within aerospace, traditional skills in materials and material developments play a crucial role in airframes structure, engine components and in related systems and devices. This is particularly demonstrated though the forging and casting industry, which is one of the UK's internationally competitive industries. Innovations from this industry have fed directly into the aerospace industry. In Rotherham for example, the Advanced Manufacturing Park is developing new technologies for tomorrow's planes bringing together research in metal forming, casting, joining and composites.

Examples of companies in the region include Slingsby Aviation in North Yorkshire, Thornton Precision Components in Sheffield, Corus at Rotherham, and the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (in collaboration with Boeing) at the University of Sheffield.

Automotive
Yorkshire is an important area for automotive component supply and engineering in both UK and European terms with over 500 automotive suppliers employing around 13,500 people. Products include base raw materials, door seals, bearings, mechanical products and clutches. Its customer base includes all of the major UK based manufacturers and many of the European producers.

Rail
Much of the region's rail expertise has traditionally centred around York. More recently, this has been boosted by the establishment of the country's first Rail Academy providing training for the industry's future needs. There are also opportunities in rail-related industries. For example, investment has been made in manufacturing technology to produce premium grade steel rails at Corus's laboratories in Rotherham as well as their developments in modular rail construction and silent track technology, while Doncaster-based railway engineers GrantRail have developed a system to improve track quality following a research and development grant from Yorkshire Forward.

Medical Engineering
Yorkshire has one of the largest concentrations of medical device companies anywhere in the UK, with more than 160 companies involved in the manufacture of medical and surgical equipment. One of the largest centres of medical technology in the UK is also to be found at Sheffield's Royal Hallamshire hospital.

Johnson & Johnson have been in the region since the 1930s and their largest medical factory is near Skipton, North Yorkshire. Similarly, Swann Morton in Sheffield was founded in 1932 and is now a world leader in the manufacture of surgical scalpel blades, handles and disposable scalpels. More recently, the region has seen the creation of the Medical Product Innovation Centre in Sheffield, which already has four products on the market and is currently handling a further 119 new medical products.

Useful links:

The Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC)

Developed in conjunction with Boeing, the AMRC works with collaborative partners to develop solutions to advanced manufacturing problems within the aerospace and related industries.

Royal Aeronautical Society

Multidisciplinary professional institution dedicated to the aerospace community.

Profile of the industry

This website contains a profile of the automotive industry in the Yorkshire and Humber region. Search under the ‘Regions' section.

Yorkshire Rail Academy (YRA)

Purpose-built facility established providing training to skill the rail industry. The YRA holds Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) as a training centre for the industry.

Medipex - NHS Innovations Yorkshire and Humber

The NHS Innovation Hub for Yorkshire & The Humber, helping to protect IP and develop new medical related products and businesses in the region.

Medilink (Yorkshire & the Humber)

A membership-based professional association which services medical technology companies, hospitals and universities within the region.

Sheffield Medical Innovation Centre

The Sheffield Medical Innovation Centre is a collaborative project developed by the healthcare research sectors within the University of Sheffield. The centre interfaces with all the key healthcare partners in Sheffield - The Medical School (and all medically related projects within the University), Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Trust, NHS Innovations Medipex and Biofusion plc.

Institution of Mechanical Engineers (iMechE)

The UK's qualifying body for Mechanical Engineers.

Keyworth Institute, University of Leeds

The aim of the Keyworth Institute is to inspire academic and industrial collaboration. They provides various products and services to to industry, undergraduates & graduates and researchers, including Knowledge Transfer partnerships and their Manufacturing Advisory Service.

National Metals Technology Centre (NAMTEC)

NAMTEC is a not-for-profit Research and Training Organisation (RTO) focusing on the UK's Advanced Engineering and Metals (AEM) sector.

Advanced Manufacturing Park, Rotherham

Includes the facilities of the AMRC, TWI and CTI based in purpose-built facilities.

The Welding Institute Technology Centre (Yorkshire)

TWI provides expertise in every aspect of joining technology for engineering materials, including for metals, plastics, ceramics, composites and electronic assemblies.

Castings Technology International (CTI)

Based at the Advanced Manufacturing Park, at Waverley near Rotherham, CTI is the world's leading provider of technology, expertise and services to the cast metals sector and global supply chains.