CHAIRMAN'S CORNER

I am writing at an exciting time in the evolution of the Materials Technology Forum. The year 2001 has been a major milestone in which a number of highly successful seminars have been held, the acclaimed prestigious event at the Vale of Glamorgan Hotel reported in this bulletin was organised and, most significantly, the MTFW has been relaunched to meet the new challenges of this decade.

The relaunch is triggered not only by our successes but also by expanding interest from our target customers, the SME sector in Wales. It is clear from our customers that we are striking the right notes but there is still room for improvement. We have made those improvements but to support the changes we are asking our members to pay a nominal fee.

Membership status has the benefits of free access to our prestigious events and focussed seminars, a members only section on our website, organised onsite visits from innovation and technology counsellors and access to a wide range of materials experts. In addition, members have the opportunity to place articles and publicity features in the Bulletin. Details on the membership scheme are included with this Bulletin.

Remember, join to benefit and to make your presence felt in the Welsh materials scene.You may ask what is the function of the Materials Technology Forum. Simply it is a pro-active group of industrialists, business people, research organisations and academics which was set up by the WDA with the specific mission statement:

"To improve the competitiveness of Welsh industry by focussing on materials utilisation and
application"

In many respects the MTFW is a materials conduit in the technology transfer market. Our objective is to provide rapid access to the materials information that end users require to enhance the prospects of their company.

It is also our remit to encourage networking within the materials community in order to make technology transfer in Wales more efficient. We will direct you to the people who can enhance your technological base. These include: like minded SMEs; high powered consultants in Wales and around the World; university facilities; the newly formed Centres of Excellence; WDA expertise.With our help you will become more innovative, more productive and more competitive.

You should take up membership if your company or organisation is involved in developing, specifying, selecting and manufacturing with materials. As an individual you will benefit if you have a responsibility for materials issues or are a Principle in a small/medium sized company with an involvement or interest in materials. This bulletin gives you a flavour of what we are achieving.

Join our organisation today and have a voice in the evolution of materials technology throughout Wales in the years ahead.

The MFTW and the Centres of Excellence

The official launch of the Centres of Excellence programme by Sir David Rowe-Beddoe on October 19th is a major milestone in the development of Welsh technology and the Welsh economy. Over ten years ago the WDA were quick to realise that Wales had many Centres of Expertise with not only a technology capability that could benefit Welsh companies but also a willingness to undertake the necessary technology transfer. That initial programme, however, was constrained by an inadequate level of funding.This has now been rectified by the Welsh Assembly through a decision to support the programme with more substantial funds.

The conditions for this support are that the Centres have permanent personnel to service the SME requirement, that they can demonstrate a viable current income from industry and, overall, that their level of technical expertise is of high standing (e.g. internationally recognised). The result has been the establishment of leaner and more effective Centres of Excellence, the termExcellence referring to the quality of support the centre is able to offer.

Clearly the Centres of Excellence will be important contributors to the evolution of the Welsh economy. They have the necessary infrastructure for liaising with and addressing the requirements and technical difficulties of SMEs in Wales. Experience gained under the old arrangements has shown that significant gains can be made from such support. The new structure will considerably accelerate the level of interaction to the mutual benefit of all concerned.

The MTFW has an important role to play in interfacing with the SME sector and the Centres of Excellence.While our members may have interests in all the Centres, the groups closest to our mission objectives are:

• The Centre of Excellence in Materials at University of Wales Swansea.
• The Centre for Advanced and Renewable Materials at NEWI and University of Wales Bangor.
• The Manufacturing Engineering Centre at Cardiff University.
• National Centre for Product Design and Development Research at University of Wales Institute, Cardiff.

It is our intention to support these major assets in their drive to enhance technology transfer within the Welsh economy.In our future Bulletins each of these Centres will have an opportunity to present their strengths and capabilities to our members.

Clearly Wales is well primed for the challenges of the 21st century. The Welsh Centre of Excellence, the Technology Programmes and Technology Fora such as the MTFW, under the watchful eye of the WDA are facilitating the right environment and technological base for Wales industry, small, medium and large, to be internationally competitive on a World scale.

Materials from a Motor Sport Perspective

This prestigious event, organised by The Materials Technology Forum in Wales, and sponsored by the Institute of Material, Foresight Project and Welsh Development Agency, was attended by 80 delegates from across South Wales. The Keynote speaker was Brian O'Rourke from Williams Grand Prix Engineering, speaking on Materials in the Fast Lane the use of state of the art composites to achieve a car that will win and give the utmost protection to the driver.There was also the opportunity for delegates to direct the Forum in its forthcoming events and workshops.

From left to right: Kevin Fisher, Foresight Project; Brian O'Rourke, Williams Grand Prix Engineering; Robin Lewis OBE, The Magstim Co. Ltd; Martin Rees, Bluebird Project; Steve Bomford, Plasma & Thermal Coating Ltd and Professor John Evans, Chairman MTFW.