Silicon Valley veterans have partnered with the University of Sheffield AMRC and one of its leading industrial research fellows to launch DigitalCNC, a groundbreaking AI-driven precision manufacturing software company that promises to revolutionise industry.

Yorkshire AI Labs teamed up with Dr Rob Ward to back the innovative AMRC spin-out venture, which represents a significant leap forward in applying artificial intelligence technologies to the manufacturing industry - reinforcing Sheffield’s status as a global centre of industrial innovation.

DigitalCNC is set to transform precision manufacturing by leveraging cutting-edge AI technologies to dramatically improve quality, efficiency, and productivity. Its pioneering solutions have already drawn strong interest from leading aerospace manufacturers, including Rolls-Royce and Boeing.

Dr Rob Ward, who holds a joint academic position between the University of Sheffield School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and the AMRC, is chief executive officer of DigitalCNC.

He said: “DigitalCNC represents the culmination of years of research and development in artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing. With my chief technology officer, David Wilkinson, we have taken our fundamental research and transformed it into an industry-ready product, which has already seen tangible benefits to UK manufacturing.

“Partnering with Yorkshire AI Labs to co-found DigitalCNC was the smart choice, bringing together our deep expertise in AI and manufacturing with a world-class team of Silicon Valley veterans, renowned for building and scaling successful businesses.”

Yorkshire AI Labs is an ensemble of Silicon Valley luminaries that specialises in nurturing early-stage tech companies by combining strategic investment with practical expertise. Its involvement in DigitalCNC underlines its commitment to fostering technological innovation in the Yorkshire region.

David Richards, co-founder of Yorkshire AI Labs and a technology entrepreneur with a 25 year career in Silicon Valley, said: “DigitalCNC is built upon rigorous academic research, sophisticated mathematical modelling, and real-world validation by the University of Sheffield AMRC.

“Dr Rob Ward’s globally- recognised expertise in machining science and control engineering is central to this pioneering venture. We are proud to support such innovative initiatives that reinforce Yorkshire’s position at the forefront of global technology developments.”

DigitalCNC’s advanced technology has been extensively developed and validated through many years of collaborative research and development with the AMRC, renowned internationally for its excellence in translational manufacturing research, and with the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, which has been the world leader in control and systems engineering for more than 50 years.

Professor Ben Morgan, interim chief executive officer the University of Sheffield AMRC, said: "DigitalCNC's launch is testament to Rob's innovative work in the field of artificial intelligence, and to the extensive opportunities South Yorkshire offers as a site of regional growth.

“The AMRC and the University of Sheffield both champion this kind of innovation-led growth, knowing the value of region-based capability to make South Yorkshire even more competitive in the advanced manufacturing sector.

“The impact spin-outs like DigitalCNC can have spans beyond their regions too, positioning Sheffield further at the forefront of the UK's globally-orientated innovation capabilities."

Professor Ashutosh Tiwari, deputy vice-president for innovation at the University of Sheffield, said: "Sheffield’s position as a global centre for manufacturing innovation, along with the strength of our support for commercialisation of research, continues with DigitalCNC.

“As a University of Sheffield spin-out, it demonstrates our commitment to turning world-class research into real-world impact. DigitalCNC is poised to transform advanced manufacturing worldwide by applying cutting-edge AI to drive greater productivity, operational efficiency, and global competitiveness at scale."