Tool Heating System for COMPASS (Composites at Speed and Scale) Facility

The University of Sheffield wishes to invite tenders for a 'Tool Heating System for COMPASS (Composites at Speed and Scale) Facility' on behalf of the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, Castings Group at Catcliffe, South Yorkshire.

The AMRC has recently won HICOMS funding for an 'automated, large scale composites manufacturing centre', including a 'fully automated layup and consolidation cell' which will require a 'Tool Heating System'.

Within the 'Fully Automated Layup and consolidation cell' the 'Tool Heating System' will sit alongside a variety of other equipment, and will be in close proximity to the following:-

-High Volume Deposition Cell - including Robot arms and guide rails

-Press

-Resin Injection Unit

-Consolidation Station

-Oven Feed table.

Important - Please note it is anticipated that the 'Tool Heating System' will be made up of two shipment batches, with batch 1 (6 individual units) required to be ready for installation and SAT and used with an existing 3m press tool no later than end of May 2024 and batch 2 (8 individual units) ready around March 2025 due to building of the COMPASS facility which is currently under construction and will be used to heat a 10m tool on a Langzauner press which is on order. For the avoidance of doubt, the 14 individual units may be used in various combinations within the new COMPASS facility.

The 'Tool Heating System' is to be used in conjunction with a hydraulic press (already on order from Langzauner (model/type number LZT-OK-2400-SO) and installation/commissioning and acceptance testing is expected to be completed by summer 2025) and an AMRC customer supplied matched die, metallic mould tool for manufacturing research into the production of large polymer composite components using several potential processes, including (but not limited to): -

-Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM);

-High Pressure Resin Transfer Moulding (HP-RTM)

-Gap RTM/ Infusion;

-Wet Compression Moulding

It is envisaged that the 'Tool Heating System' will be used with the new Langzauner press, but could be used as standalone units (e.g. connected to a self-clamping mould tool). It will manufacture low volumes of prototype / demonstrator parts for, primarily, the Automotive and Aerospace markets.

In view of this the University is looking for a modular / flexible 'Tool Heating System'.

Tender Process and Documentation:

This procurement is an open procedure.

The ITT can be downloaded by registering and expressing your interest on the University`s e-tendering system in-tendhost.co.uk/Sheffield ↗

If you have any questions or comments in relation to this tender they must be submitted via the In-tend System, this can be accessed at in-tendhost.co.uk/Sheffield ↗

Completed tenders must be returned through the same e-tendering system.

Closing date for receipt of tenders: Tuesday 2nd April 2024 at 17:00 (UK time).

Additional information: All expressions of interest must be made through The University of Sheffield's e-tendering portal:

www.in-tendhost.co.uk/sheffield/ ↗

This is an open-tender exercise . The ITT can be downloaded by registering and expressing an interest on The University of Sheffield's e-tendering system:-

www.in-tendhost.co.uk/sheffield/ ↗

If you have any questions or comments in relation to this tender they must be submitted by the In-Tend system. This can be accessed at www.in-tendhost.co.uk/sheffield/ ↗

Completed tenders must be returned through the same e-tendering system.

Closing date for receipt of tenders is - Tuesday 2nd April 2024 at 17:00 (UK time)

Please note:

The University of Sheffield is not a contracting authority for the purposes of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU) as amended by the Public Procurement (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020.

The University reserves the right from time to time to voluntarily operate under the Public Contract Regulations (as defined above) on a case by case basis. Otherwise, advertisement of any contract in Find a Tender Service or Contracts Finder is at the sole discretion of the University and is undertaken on a voluntary basis with no implied obligation to comply with the procurement legislation.

For the avoidance of doubt, this procurement is not subject to the Public Contract Regulations (as defined above).