A new partnership with California-based MSC Software Corporation is set to boost the capabilities of the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing to develop new manufacturing technologies.

The three year partnership has major implications for the development of new techniques and technologies for designing and processing components made from hi-tech composites.

Kais Bouchiba, MSC Software's senior vice president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said: "It is a great pleasure to support AMRC in developing new manufacturing techniques and technologies.

"We look forward to working with AMRC members as we build an advanced integration between manufacturing and computational mechanics based on deep industry knowledge and long-time experience.

"For MSC Software, there is nothing more exciting than to help companies drive innovation."

AMRC Composite Centre project engineer Zeeshan Qureshi says MSC software will allow the Centre to integrate the design and manufacturing of composite components.

Information from the manufacturing process will be fed back in to the software simulations to help to develop the best manufacturing processes for the AMRC's industrial partners and will also be used to help MSC Software to validate its software tools.

"We will use MSC Nastran and Patran to design, analyze and optimize innovative components across a range of industry-led research work," says Zeeshan Qureshi.

The AMRC will also extend its use of MSC products such as Adams, Dytran and Marc in its research.

"Our machining group can use MSC Software applications to simulate cutting processes for combined metal-composite components, which is one of our core interests," adds Zeeshan.

MSC Software is based at Newport Beach, California and has more than 50 years experience in the field of Computer Aided Engineering, starting out by developing Nastran to to ensure the vibration in the Saturn V rocket would not put astronauts' lives at risk.

The company recently added comprehensive capabilities for the advanced analysis of composite materials and complex composite designs, following its acquisition of software and engineering services business e-Xstream Engineering.