Top universities back launch of PTG’s European Innovation Centre

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Dignitaries at the launch event

Rochdale-based Precision Technologies Group (PTG) Ltd, which includes Holroyd’s announced the launch of the CQME European Innovation Centre at a special ceremony on Tuesday (16 August 2011).

The new centre is to be established in conjunction with PTG’s Chinese multinational parent company Chongqing Machinery and Electric (CQME), in partnership with two leading universities - Manchester and Huddersfield.

The initiative aims to drive innovation and develop specific technologies for new market sectors.

From the outset, CQME’s vision in acquiring the PTG businesses involved leveraging the companies’ advanced precision engineering technology expertise, especially their highly innovative machine tools range, with the ultimate goal of significantly accelerating the pace of product and market development in CQME’s strategic ambition to become a major player in global markets.

In order to achieve this, focus has been placed on increasing the specialist skills and knowledge base within the UK businesses and growing its intellectual property portfolio with targeted development in specific technologies for new markets. The ‘new’ knowledge and expertise gained will not only serve to extend the activities of the UK business but also be harnessed to open up new product and market opportunities for the Chinabased CQME companies.

To this end, a clear-sighted vision has been formulated which will involve
establishing three centres, each with related aims but with very specialised
skills and strengths:

The CQME European Innovation Centre in partnership with Manchester University’s Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences

The CHMTI - PTG European R&D Centre, focused on advanced machine tools and manufacturing technologies, in partnership with Huddersfield University’s Centre for Precision Technologies

The CHMTI European Marketing Centre, a European-wide distribution and customer service centre for CQME’s export products.

Tony Bannan, Group CEO of PTG , said: “The overriding objective is to build a global profile for this ‘centre of expertise’ in our core technical and commercial elements of manufacturing and process technologies, while bringing research students though a programme of targeted and funded projects.

“The centre will also provide a pool of consultants and specialists who can be called upon as a ‘panel of experts’ to consult and bring their expertise to PTG and CQME’s ongoing projects and strategies.”

Mr Bannan added: “The significance of support from two notable academic institutions, well placed geographically, cannot be understated.
Manchester is the perfect partner for CQME because it has large, multi-disciplinary research facilities and is strong in key technologies such as electrical generation and distribution, materials science, and many of the areas of interest to the wider CQME group businesses. Huddersfield, as a leading UK university in advanced manufacturing technologies, precision engineering and machine tools, offers valuable synergy for developing the CHMTI-PTG European R&D Centre. ”

Key activities for the Centre will include: the recruitment and sponsorship of research students to MSc and PhD level, support for the continuous development of Holroyd’s advanced rotor, gear and screw manufacturing systems, support for the development of higher-efficiency, low-energy consumption manufacturing systems and support for the continuous development of specialised machine tools for steel processing and oil and gas industry applications, through PTG’s Binns & Berry and Crawford Swift brands.

Initially the Centre will consist of up to 25 people, including key employees of PTG, CHMTI and CQME, along with eminent experts in relevant fields, from academia and other institutions to perform the role of consultants to the business group.