TPi November 2018

Business & market news

Materials Processing Institute and University of Leicester collaborate

organisations that work in advanced materials, low-carbon energy and the circular economy. It is recognised as a leading centre for the global steel industry, delivering research and innovation projects, consultancy and training. Chris McDonald, CEO of the Materials Processing Institute, said, “We are delighted to have been selected as a research partner for the development of new steel products and environmental technologies, for one of the world’s leading producers. “The institute is internationally recog- nised for its long track record in indus- trial R&D and is a globally recognised research centre working with many steel companies to improve their products, processes and productivity. “The collaborative expertise and industry knowledge between the institute, the University of Leicester and TWI will prove to be an effective partnership that will add real value to the research project, and support the wider Industrial Challenge programme.” Yixin Huang, chair of NISCO’s board, said, “A NISCO-branded research centre has been established at the University of Leicester in collaboration with TWI and the Materials Processing Institute. “The centre will focus on research and development activities in a number of areas where our UK collaborators’ expertise can be deployed in areas of mutual interest. “It will help NISCO achieve industrial upgrading and high quality development. At the same time, it also helps the University of Leicester and British research institutions to industrialisation of scientific and technological achievements as soon as possible. The research centre would be a model for Sino-British cooperation, and thus benefit the people of the two countries.” Materials Processing Institute – UK enquiries@mpiuk.com www.mpiuk.com

Department, which forms part of the Jiangsu-UK Industrial Challenge programme that aims to stimulate economic growth in China. The Materials Processing Institute welcomed delegates from NISCO to its UK campus for a tour of its facilities and to discuss the research project. It builds on previous visits to the institute and research partnerships with a number of international steel companies, including thyssenkrupp, British Steel and Liberty House Group. The UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK, has allocated up to £5mn to fund projects in the programme, with the Materials Processing Institute successful in winning support for the joint development project. The Jiangsu Science and Technology department is also funding eligible partners from the Jiangsu province, as all projects involved in the programme must involve at least one UK business and one from the province. The Materials Processing Institute is a research and innovation centre serving

UK-based research and innovation centre the Materials Processing Institute has continued to strengthen its ties with international steel producers, as part of a collaborative £500,000 research project. The institute has partnered with the University of Leicester and TWI Ltd to support Chinese steel manufacturer Nanjing Iron and Steel Company (NISCO). The project forms part of a £2mn investment by NISCO at the University of Leicester in creating a UK-based steel research activity. The collaboration aims to develop technology that can control the solidification process during the casting of very thick semi-finished steel products at NISCO’s production line, and improve productivity by reducing the segregation and porosity in these materials. Steel manufacturer NISCO is based in Nanjing, the capital of China’s eastern Jiangsu province. The research project follows a joint call for R&D between Innovate UK and the Jiangsu Science and Technology

(From left) Professor Hong Dong, University of Leicester; Chris McDonald, CEO, Materials Processing Institute; Yixin Huang, chair of NISCO’s board; Alan Scholes, chief technology officer, Materials Processing Institute; and Juefei Chu, chief engineer, NISCO

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TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL November 2018

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