Pictured above: (l-r) Christian Korn (MD), Nicola Gittins (KTP Academic Supervisor), Sanjin Hamza (KTP Associate)

A unique and revolutionary method of treating steel is being pioneered through a collaboration between Birmingham City University and the UK's number one Steel Toll Processor, ESSAR Steel Processing and Distribution UK Ltd (formerly Servosteel).

A Knowledge Based Partnership (KTP) has been set up to help to drive the commercial benefits of this market leading service, branded as the Smooth Clean Surface (SCS) technique. The former Servosteel, which was recently bought by global steel producer, Essar Steel, is the only company in the UK to offer this technique.  SCS is a revolutionary new way of processing steel coils, resulting in very clean and extremely flat material. The process has significant manufacturing benefits for a number of sectors, including the motor industry and yellow goods (material for construction and earth moving equipment, quarrying equipment, and fork lift trucks) offering improved efficiency for many manufacturing processes. 

The commercial benefits on offer do not stop at enhanced manufacturing. Recent research carried out via the partnership, showed an 87% reduction in carbon emissions from the SCS process in comparison to traditional pickling methods. This helps companies who use SCS material to achieve their own environmental and sustainability aims.

ESSAR Steel decided to team up with Birmingham City University after employing graduate Sanjin Hamza, on a previous partnership project. The Dudley-based firm realised there was further potential to exploit and in August started a KTP with the University. ESSAR Steel is working with two faculties; the Faculty of Technology, Engineering, the Environment to develop further understanding on the properties of SCS and the University's Business School to market the technique to potential customers. 

Managing Director of ESSAR Steel UK, Christian Korn, said: "Being involved in the KTP has enabled us to get to the key decision-makers. As Managing Director I would highly recommend the KTP to any company as a way of adding academic philosophy to dealing with day-to-day problems faced in manufacturing and service industries. This enables each party to appreciate the other's problems and methodology."

Nicola Gittins, Senior Lecturer in Marketing Communications at Birmingham City Business School said: "The partnership with ESSAR Steel is proving invaluable to all concerned. Birmingham City Business School is committed to maintaining and growing its links with industry and the KTP programme is a superb way to do this. It provides substantial benefits for the university, the company and the Associate, alike.  Already the learning and the experiences of launching such a revolutionary product have begun to support our teaching in a number of ways, including providing rich case study material that ensures are students are learning from some of the best industry practices."

Lucy Ayers, Director of KTP Programmes, Birmingham City Business School said: "We're delighted to be working with ESSAR Steel on such an exciting and progressive project and this KTP is a great example of the innovative ways Birmingham City Business School is supporting organisations to increase their competitive edge and enhance their business performance".

KTP is one of Europe's leading graduate recruitment programmes and is designed to benefit both businesses and higher education institutions. Businesses receive expertise and support, and universities gain placements for graduates (called Associates) which give them the edge in the current competitive jobs market. KTP is open to a wide range of organisations, from SME to multi-national, to not-for-profit and is designed to help companies identify and reach their long-term objectives. The Partnerships are funded partly by a government grant given to universities so companies only have to pay between one third and half towards the venture depending on the size of their business. It's been estimated that a two year KTP could generate £220k net profit (before tax) for an organisation and substantially enhance its business operations.