Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Iwan Davies congratulated St. Modwen and its contractor VINCI Construction UK on delivering the College of Engineering’s Institute of Structural Materials (ISM) on time and on budget ahead of its opening next September.

“The handing over of Institute of Structural Materials is a significant milestone as it reinforces the message that the University is getting ‘ready for business’ and fully committed to delivering world class research with its industrial partners,” he said.

The ISM will house a mix of research and commercial activities allowing industry and academics to create and develop products and manufacturing processes.

Rolls-Royce is one of the companies sponsoring research at the ISM and two representatives from the company visited to see the facilities take shape at the Swansea Materials and Research Testing (SMaRT) section.

The Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre in Materials, led by Professor Martin Bache, is researching structural metallic systems for advanced gas turbine applications in the latest stage in a 10-year partnership between Rolls-Royce and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

IMAGE: Pictured from left, in the new ISM building, are Swansea University Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor  Iwan Davies  (Internationalisation and External Affairs); Professor Martin Bache of the College of Engineering, Director of the Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre in Materials; Dr Mike Hicks, Director for Materials and Mechanical Behaviour at Rolls-Royce plc; Rupert Joseland, Regional Director of developer St. Modwen; Rob Savidge, Director of Engineering Systems and Services at Rolls-Royce plc.