Kennametal Inc joins Manufacturing Technology Centre

The company manufactures specialist metallurgical powders and compounds, as well as products made from tungsten carbide or other hard materials for custom-engineered applications for numerous industries. Machinery readers will likely know the company best for its cutting tools - the company has UK bases in Kingswinford in the Black Country and Newport in Gwent. Colin Tilzey, director of Kennametal's innovation ventures group, said: "Kennametal aims to achieve more than 40% of sales each year from new products, and we value partnerships such as this one, which help promote innovative process development and leadership. In addition, developing the workforce of tomorrow is a priority for Kennametal and our partnership with the MTC enables us to further influence opportunities to fill the skills gap." The MTC aims to provide a competitive environment to bridge the gap between university-based research and the development of innovative manufacturing solutions, in line with the government's manufacturing strategy. It is part the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, supported by the Technology Strategy Board. The organisation was opened in 2011 and was founded by the University of Birmingham, Loughborough University, the University of Nottingham and TWI Ltd, and its industrial members include some of the UK's major global manufacturers. MTC chief executive Dr Clive Hickman said he was pleased that a company with the worldwide reputation of Kennametal had joined the MTC's elite community. "Kennametal has been an industry leader for more than 75 years and is well recognised for its capabilities in providing custom-engineered solutions for its customers across the aerospace, energy, earthworks, transportation and industrial sectors worldwide and we look forward to working with Kennametal's engineering expertise here at the MTC." MTC technology director Ken Young (left) welcomes Kennametal innovation ventures group director Colin Tilzey