Firm wins place on digital framework to inspire manufacturing innovation

Sheffield-based technology company Razor has been selected by the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) in a landmark framework for the region worth up to seven figures.

Razor was chosen as the front runner alongside two other digital consultancies.

The contract – which has the potential to span up to four years – is to deliver a new, innovative digitisation strategy bringing in emerging AI, machine learning and big data technology.

The wider mission is to position the AMRC as a champion for digital integration in the manufacturing environment, creating a centre of excellence to inspire manufacturers up and down the country to consider the productivity output digitalisation can achieve.

Expected to begin in June 2020, the overall objective of the AMRC strategy is to provide a robust, manageable and highly capable data and information processing platform.

Dr Aiden Lockwood, principal enterprise architect at the AMRC, said: “This project will bring together all our expertise and use the AMRC as a whole to demonstrate how enterprise scale modern IT could be used across the UK manufacturing sector.

“This is an exciting new era of the AMRC which will allow us to fully connect our staff, members and partners into a unified digital platform.”

Razor has worked alongside the AMRC on a number of projects in recent years. In 2019, the two organisations successfully worked together on a project for one of Britain’s best known aerospace manufacturers.

Jamie Hinton, CEO and co-founder at Razor, said: “The AMRC has been a part of our world for a number of years now.

“After first being invited to one of their first digital meet manufacturing events, myself and the team were captivated from the first moment. It’s incredible to be in this position now.

“From our recent work together, we feel like part of the family. It’s coffee, pizza, and solving some pretty huge and exciting challenges for the names in manufacturing we’ve admired throughout our careers.

“It’s not just the big names too, we’re working with lean spin-offs and start-ups coming out of the AMRC which are kicking up some groundbreaking tech.

“Both Razor and the AMRC believe in the potential of our region, we are on the cusp of a new industrial revolution fuelled by relationships like ours, which supercharge the connection between digital and advanced manufacturing. We can’t wait to get started.”

Steven Foxley, CEO at the AMRC, said: “Razor is at the forefront of the fast-growing digital tech community in the Sheffield City Region, through our work with us they’ve proven time and again that they are capable of the forward-thinking, fast moving and innovative approach this work requires.

“The AMRC is determined to bring together the digital and manufacturing communities in the North of England to drive growth and productivity through innovation, this new partnership is that and much more.”