Rotherham’s Advanced Manufacturing Park welcomes company revolutionising global runflat industry

Runflat CBR, a technology company specialising in the global runflat industry, has taken 4,700 sq ft of office space at Building 3, the newest office development at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.

The new letting, which was facilitated by management and lettings agents Creative Space Management (CSM), sees Runflat CBR expand from its previous office at the neighbouring Advanced Manufacturing Technology Centre.

The company has now moved into a specialist workshop and office space at Building 3, ahead of a recruitment drive and the mass-manufacture of the Runflat CBR product from the end of 2016.

Runflat CBR was established by Richard Lust, an engineer with nearly 30 years’ experience designing ‘runflat’ technology, a safety feature used by governmental, police, VIP, military and security forces across the globe to allow vehicles to continue travelling for a reasonable distance, even if a tyre punctures and deflates.

As the industry’s technology had barely advanced since its inception in the 1940s, the consensus has been that it was impossible to design a system which would provide acceptable runflat capability with more than one deflated tyre in a standard wheel, and that to do so would not stack up financially.

Richard has rented space since 2009 at the Advanced Manufacturing Park Technology Centre to research and develop the best runflat system in the world.

Working alongside other companies based at the AMP Technology Centre, including engineers at Performance Engineered Solutions; 3D printing firm Materialise, as well as the neighbouring Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, Richard and his team have developed the world’s first runflat insert that combines a functioning tyre ‘bead lock’ system that can be fitted within an ordinary wheel and tyre.

The product allows the driver to maintain good drivability (steer, accelerate and brake efficiently) on not only one, but up to all four deflated tyres.

Richard commented: “This corner of South Yorkshire is a melting pot for invention. I wouldn’t have been able to make the concept a reality without the talent and original approach of others based here at the Technology Centre and the wider Park.

“We have now patented our revolutionary technology and we are looking forward to sharing it with users across the globe from our new facility.”

The 32,000 sq ft Building 3, which is owned by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), was officially opened by the Communities Secretary, Sajid Javid, in May and provides 11 flexible spaces between 1,000 and 3,600 sq ft for growing technology and engineering companies. The building is now almost 50% let, with 10,000 sq ft already occupied by Metlase - a new joint venture between Rolls Royce and Unipart.

Paul Taylor from Creative Space Management added: “Runflat CBR is a prime example of the type of business which can thrive and grow on the park; a cutting-edge concept taken to the next level with a little help from the brilliant network of advanced technology specialists we have based at the AMP.

“This new letting is proof that we have the right product here to attract and facilitate growing high technology companies. We’ve maintained close to 100% occupancy at the Advanced Technology Centre over the last few years, so it’s not only a positive to see our existing tenants expand into the new facility, it also frees up much-needed space for more SMEs to join our community.”