• The Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), UK
  
  
• Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), UK
  
  
• Consortium of UK University Manufacturing Engineering Department Heads (COMEH), UK
  
  
• European Technology Platform for Advanced Engineering Materials and Technologies (EuMaT), EU
  
  
• European Nanotechnology Technology and Innovation Platform (NanoFutures), EU
  
  
• China Society for Technology of Plasticity, CSTP, China
  
  
• Arbeitsgemeinschaft Umformtechnik (German Academic Metal Forming Association), AGU, Germany
  
  
• National Key Lab on Precision Hot Processing of Metals, China

Industrial Sponsors

 

• RITAI (Shanghai) Auto Standard Component Co. Ltd, Shanghai, China
  
  
• AP&T Group, Sweden
  
  
• PAB Coventry, UK
  
  
• ESI Group, France

 

 

Ritai (Shanghai) Auto Standard Component Co Ltd

 

Ritai (Shanghai) Auto Standard Component Co Ltd (Ritai) is a private industry company based in Shanghai and serves the fast growing automotive industry in China and Global markets. Ritai has 20 years of experience and is currently the biggest in the business manufacturing automotive fasteners and cold formed parts in China for the major automotive OEMs, such as GM, VW, Ford, Volvo, PSA, Nissan, others and first-tier manufacturers. Ritai uses advanced forming techniques in developing light-weight, high-strength and complex-shaped components, helping many OEMs and MNCs localising parts into Asia. Currently, Ritai also designs and manufactures cold forming tools in-house with the aid of Finite Element simulations and knowledge-based design rules.

 

 

AP&T Group

 

AP&T develops, manufactures and markets complete production systems, automation, presses, tools and related aftermarket services for manufacturers of formed metal parts. AP&T constantly aims to achieve the highest possible level of customer satisfaction and security by offering a high degree of availability and complete solutions for which AP&T is fully responsible – a concept called One Responsible Partner®.

 

The majority of the company’s turnover comes from delivery of complete line solutions for press hardening of automotive parts to leading brands in the automotive industry worldwide. Future development will be focused on closer cooperation with customers by supplying extended services and being the bridge between research and industrialized production systems in order to meet customer demand for lighter, safer and more energy-efficient end products.

 

  

PAB Group

 

As a sheet metal component manufacturer based in Coventry, England, PAB Group specialises in heritage automotive having supplied industry leaders for decades with the highest quality components, panels, grilles, trim, instrumentation, brackets and associated parts. Operating as an invaluable partner resource to the customers from concept through prototype to end production PAB offer a tight partnership proposition to the automotive sector. With over 26 years of company experience PAB has been developing complex pressing with customers. Working with global leaders and niche industry businesses PAB offers a robust, high quality concept, prototype and production solution. Through a reputation for lean processes, attention to detail and diligent project management PAB are one of the foremost suppliers to the automotive, defense, aerospace and HVAC industries.

 

 

ESI Group SA

 

Developing and licensing Virtual Prototyping simulation software and associated services, ESI is a pioneer and world-leading provider in Virtual Prototyping that takes into account the physics of materials. ESI boasts a unique know-how in Virtual Product Engineering, based on an integrated suite of coherent, industry-oriented applications. Addressing manufacturing industries, Virtual Product Engineering aims to replace physical prototypes by realistically simulating a product’s behaviour during testing, to fine-tune fabrication and assembly processes in accordance with desired product performance, and to evaluate the impact on product use under normal or accidental conditions. Their software systems include: PAM-STAMP – sheet metal forming simulation tool; PAM-CRASH – crash, impact and safety, particularly for automotive applications; SYSWELD – welding and assembling, welding quality and residual stress engineering.