News
Funding available for SMART ideas
NAMTEC (the UK National
Metals Technology
1. To join SMART.mat for free, visit www.smartmat.org.
Centre) is looking to help
2. SMART.mat is part of the DTI-funded Materials Knowledge Transfer
manufacturers access
Network (KTN). It exists to promote smart materials, surfaces and
awards of up to £5,000 for
structures in support of UK businesses, with the aim of stimulating wealth
the development of ‘Smart’
creation and economic growth through commercial exploitation.
materials.
3. Each award must be matched by an equal investment of cash, manpower
‘Smart’ materials are those
and/or materials from the organisation(s) applying for the award.
that sense and adapt to
4. Applicants must be industrial organisations and both applicant and
stimulus in the environment
research/solution provider must be a member of SMART.mat.
and NAMTEC is part of a
consortium that is promoting
Fielden at NAMTEC on +44
the investment into research
(0) 01709 724 990 or visit the
and development for these
website www.namtec.co.uk.
type of materials, surfaces
• NAMTEC recently
and structures.
appointed Dr. Stephen
Iain Fielden, technical
Court as Chief Technology
specialist at NAMTEC,
Officer (CTO).
explains: “This is a
He will play a key role in
major area of materials
the strategic development
development and there
of NAMTEC as a provider
is funding available to
of technical services
Above: Stephen Court,
stimulate wealth creation
to the UK’s metals and
Chief Technology Officer,
and economic growth
manufacturing sector. NAMTEC
relating to smart materials.
Our role is to provide
expertise in this area,
assist with completion The Polish connection
of application forms and
putting organisations in
The BLECHbusiness 2007 ex- forecast over the next few years.
touch with third parties hibition and conference for the “Polish, as well as interna-
who can help with onward
The above image shows
sheet metal working industry in tional, companies and profes-
research and development.”
a car door panel from Poland takes place for the fi rst
sionals will fi nd a platform, at
The growth of Smart concept through design to
time from 27-29 November 2007 BLECHbusiness, to create new
technology in the UK
finished article developed
is being encouraged by
using Smart funding
at the EXPO XXI International contacts, develop their business
Expo Centre in Warsaw. The relations and share experience of
SMART.mat, which is part of
the UK Materials Knowledge
the organisation should join
event has been well received new technologies and production
Transfer funded by the DTi
SMART.mat free of charge
with much of the exhibition processes.”
that brings together research
for more information. space already booked.
The conference programme
and UK industry through
Applications must be “Poland is an important mar- will be drafted by the European
a consortium comprising
submitted by May 2008,
ket for the sheet metal industry Research Association for Sheet
the Institute of Materials,
the procedure is simple
and is considered a gateway to Metal Working (EFB) and pub-
Minerals and Mining (IOM3)
and rapid decisions will be
Russia and the Ukraine,” con- lished in Summer 2007.
and NAMTEC.
made. Further details are
fi rmed organiser, Mack Brooks • For more details of BLECH-
For applications to be
available at www.smartmat.
successful, Smart ideas
org or contact David Arthur,
Exhibitions Ltd. “All major business, or to order a free
must address a problem
Project Director of SMART.
international car manufacturers survey of the Polish sheet
being experienced by a UK
mat (tel: +44 (0)1782
are on-site, production of white metal market (BLECHbusiness
business and there must be
221701, e-mail: david.
goods is growing and a high Market Overview Poland),
the availability of a relevant
arthur@iom3.org). growth rate of building activity,
please access the website
solution provider. If any of
For more details of grant including steel construction, is www.blechbusiness.com
these factors are missing,
funding, telephone Ian
8 May/June 2007 International Sheet Metal Review
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