AMP - Advanced Manufacturing Park

Engineering giant, Dormer Tools opened its doors to the 'engineers of tomorrow' recently, when students from the pioneering JCB Academy paid a visit.

The budding engineers travelled from the school in Staffordshire to find out more about Dormer's work and to get a sneak preview of the latest and most innovative machinery in the company's Productivity Centre.

Bob Pendlebury, associate director of engineering at the JCB Academy, said: "During our visit to Dormer Tools, the students got the chance to have a closer look at some of the machinery and impressive technology being used in Dormer's Productivity Centre.

"For example, the Heller FT 4000 machine is one of the most powerful machines of its type, so for our students to get a first-hand glimpse of what working with that kind of technology is like and to learn more about how Dormer and Heller work together to find solutions for their customers is fantastic.

"The visit also allowed our students to put questions to industry-leading experts, not just from Dormer but from the company's other partners such as Heller, Sandvik Coromant, Kelch, System3R and Hexagon.

"To have that kind of contact and experience is wonderful and hugely inspiring for our students, who are interested in getting into the sector and ultimately are the engineers of tomorrow."

Launched in 2010, the JCB Academy is the UK's first University Technical College, providing students aged between 14 and 19-years-old with a national curriculum education, combined with more vocational, engineering-focused elements.

Bob said: "The ethos of the Academy is to develop and nurture the engineers and business leaders of the future. By getting out and visiting companies such as Dormer, we enable our students to learn from the businesses that are actually on the ground, helping the industry to keep innovating and evolving - and that's a crucial part of their development."

Rob Smith, northern sales manager at Dormer Tools, said: "Having a school dedicated to the development of future engineers is a very exciting progression for the industry.

"Our partner companies were all very impressed with the maturity and skill levels of the students and we look forward to welcoming the Academy back next year."

Dormer's Productivity Centre at the Advanced Manufacturing Park, Rotherham, is home to some of the industry's newest technologies, providing customers from across the UK with innovative expert support on engineering issues such as milling, threading and drilling applications.

For more information about the Productivity Centre, contact Dormer Tools UK on 0114 2933800, or follow @DormerPRDcntrUK on Twitter.

To see the Heller FT4000 machine in action, visit Dormer Tools' YouTube site at: www.youtube.co.uk/dormertoolsuk