A lecture from the North of England Institute for Mining and Mechanical Engineers. In-person at Neville Hall and streamed online.

Post-lecture buffet and refreshments kindly sponsored by Metaltech Services Ltd. (MSL), and a free copy of Ron Scott’s book ‘Metals, Metallurgy and Applications’ free to all in attendance on the evening.

The story of metallurgy is the story of human civilization. This begins with the crude hammering of naturally occurring copper nuggets around 7000 BC in the copper age. This was followed by the continuous improvement in the integrity and durability of metals and alloys in the bronze and iron age. At the present time we now exploit the framework of Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME), which is the practice of using computer modelling, simulation, and data science to design materials and optimise manufacturing processes. This is now being augmented by supercomputer technology and the application of AI (Artificial Intelligence).

The metallurgist’s ability to develop metals and alloys by microstructural improvement, the optimisation of manufacturing methods, mechanical property improvements to give better service performance dictates the technological boundaries for the application of metals and alloys. There are clear operational limits for metals and alloys when the maximum levels of strength and toughness at both high and low temperatures and extreme corrosive condition are demanded.

This presentation is based on the work the speaker has carried preparing two ‘end of career’ books describing the technical knowledge that has been essential for finding solutions to metals related problems and failure investigations. The two books are: ‘Metals, Metallurgy and Applications’ published 2020; and, ‘Essential Welding Technology in the Age of AI’ published in 2026.

Aligning business with the ongoing and future changes in metallurgy requires evaluating the potential and economic advantages of new technology while maintaining conformance with the many specification and safety requirements. To insulate a manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, or industrial corporation from financial disruptions over the next decade, executive leadership must orient their strategy around several primary requirements: supply chain security including energy and raw material price volatility, the exploitation of metals recycling, decarbonisation, and adoption of advance manufacturing processes.

Ronald Scott graduated in metallurgy in 1971 from the University of Aston in Birmingham after a four-year sandwich course in Metallurgy. He began his career working in the steel industry. He was awarded the ‘Sidney Gilchrist’ travel fellowship from The Metals Society in 1979 to study steelmaking at several European and Japanese plants.

In 1981 Ron founded Metaltech Ltd. in Consett Co Durham that specialised in the heat treatment of metals and sold the company to Wallwork in 2017. During the late 1990’s he was involved with the development of a non-contact automotive accelerator pedal for the Korean automotive market. In 2005 he established Comesys Europe Ltd with venture capital and was Managing Director. The sensor business was sold to Continental Germany around 2013. He has carried out training courses on various topics including welding, metal failures and metallurgy in the United Kingdom, Korea, Germany, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. During November of 2002 he gave an opening lecture to the Korea Construction Equipment Manufacture’s Association in Seoul.

Since 2012 Ron has concentrated on the business development of Metaltech Services Ltd., which he founded in 1985, and is metallurgical laboratory with UKAS accreditation in mechanical testing, chemical analysis and corrosion testing. He has many years of experience in establishing business ventures and product developments and he sees business development as a way to use technical knowledge to create business opportunities and job creation. To pass on some important aspects of technical knowledge at the end of his career he has written two books: ‘Metals, Metallurgy and Applications’ published 2020 and ‘Essential Welding Technology in the Age of AI’ published in 2026. Ron is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) and a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3).

17:30-18:00 - Tea and Coffee

18:00-18:50 - In person talk and live stream starts

18:50 - 19:00 - Q & A

19:00 - 20:00 - Buffet and drinks

Welcome to our NEIMME Lecture. NEIMME is the Royal Chartered membership organisation for Engineering, Science and Technology in the North.

For more information about our events and the benefits of NEIMME membership see: https://mininginstitute.org.uk/membership/ (https://mininginstitute.org.uk/membership/)

For information on IOM3 membership see: https://www.iom3.org/

Description supplied by the event organiser.