Two brand new multimillion-pound facilities have been unveiled at a Power Electronics, Machines and Drives (PEMD) showcase in autumn 2022, supporting the UK’s manufacturing sector on the road to net zero.
WMG and the School of Engineering at the University of Warwick combined their expertise to host the ‘Powering Electrification Seminar Series’. At the live events, the latest developments and challenges of PEMD manufacturing and supply chain technologies were discussed by academics and industry representatives leading the charge on the electric revolution.
New cutting-edge facilities located at the university are home to open-access equipment available to industry, which were unveiled during tours following the seminars. Attendees also found out more about how the facilities can be utilised.
The seminar series took place within the new facilities which are part of Driving the Electric Revolution Industrialisation Centres (DER-IC) and have received a share of £33m funding from UK Research and Innovation’s Driving the Electric Revolution challenge. The new facilities have also received funding from the High Value Manufacturing Catapult.
The new Power Electronics Reliability and Robustness Facility provides a holistic capability to assemble, characterise and enable reliability testing of new wide bandgap power electronics applications. Increasing new technology is driving efficiency of power electronic converters which are the core of all electrification domains, including automotive, rail, marine, aerospace and smart grid infrastructure.
Watch the video below of the Power Electronics Reliability and Robustness Facility launch.
Meanwhile the new Winding Centre of Excellence provides capabilities to trial and develop manufacturing processes for eMachines in an open access setting. The facility will have the capability to take a design from concept through to prototype and early phase manufacturing production, enhancing competitive edge by providing access to expertise, training and production level manufacturing equipment.
Watch the video below of the Winding Centre of Excellence launch.
Prof Jon King, Centre Lead for DER-IC Midlands, commented:
“These new first-class facilities provide much-needed access to state-of-the-art equipment, supporting PEMD supply chain development by accelerating and de-risking growth and investment into UK capabilities. Attendees from a range of sectors and sizes are welcome to join us to see the benefits of the growing opportunities in the electrification agenda.”
The seminars were free to attend and open to potential industry partners of any sector or size, that were looking to build or strengthen their UK manufacturing capabilities and tap into the growing opportunities in electrification – a significant component in the push towards net zero.
25th October 2022: Engineering Power Electronics Reliability and Robustness Facility Launch
Topics included an overview of the facility and how it can be used by industrial partners to deliver high performance and high reliability power electronics for the latest generation of wide-bandgap technology.
Speakers included:
· Prof Philip Mawby, Chair of Power Electronic Applications and Technology in Energy Research, School of Engineering, University of Warwick
· Prof Jon King, Centre Lead, DER-IC Midlands
· Paul Taylor, Chief Advisor, CRRC Times Semiconductor and Dynex Semiconductor Ltd
· John Boston, Managing Director, Custom Interconnect Ltd
24th November 2022: WMG Winding Centre of Excellence Launch
Topics included an introduction to the facility and how it will support industrial partners to deliver their potential in electrification, taking the winding technology for an eMachine from design through to production.
Speakers included:
· David Simkin, eMachine Manufacturing, WMG
· Prof Jon King, Centre Lead, DER-IC Midlands
· Dr Stuart Bradley, Head of PEMD, Technical Authority, A&I at Ricardo
· James Bonnett, Global eMobility Program Leader at Victrex