ANNUAL REPORT 2010 - Loughborough University

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12 ‘ The Advanced Manufacturing Areas SPORTS TEChNOLOgy Sports Technology Research Group is continually trying to bring high quality engineering science to deliver an impact in sports goods research and development ’ PRoF. MIkE CAINE AnnuAl RepoRt 2010 Loughborough University has an unrivalled track record for Sports Technology research and developing cutting edge technology to boost enterprise in the sport and leisure sector and support future British champions. < From left to Right: Prof. Roy Jones; Dr Andy Harland; Dr Ben Halkon; Prof. Mike Caine; Dr Sean Mitchell; Dr Jon Roberts; Dr Steph Forrester
Background The sporting goods market is worth £130 billion per annum and is growing at circa 4% per year. There are approximately 450,000 people in sport-related employment in the UK. Furthermore, the UK has around 850 companies that specialise in manufacturing sporting goods. Of the UK sporting goods manufacturers, there are a small number of large companies with turnovers in excess of £1 billion and circa 10,000 employees as well as many small, niche companies. Working within the IMCRC, researchers in sports technology have been pivotal in developing new technologies for the sports sector. The group The Loughborough University Sports Technology Research Group is a worldleading research team with a proven track record in user-driven innovative manufacturing research within the sporting goods sector. Sports Technology research Group members who have led research projects within the IMCRC include: Prof. Mike Caine; Dr Andy Harland; Prof. Roy Jones; Dr Jon Robets, Dr Andy West and Dr Neil Hopkinson. Their research has been in collaboration with industry-leaders including: adidas (Germany), Burton Snowboards (USA), Callaway Golf (USA), Dunlop (UK), Head (AUSTRIA), New Balance (USA), Nike (Netherlands), UK Sport, Reebok Fitness (UK), Slazenger (UK), Speedo, (UK) and Umbro (UK). Impact Research findings from the Elite to High Street (E2HS) project have already contributed to improved performance of leading athletes. The technical advances related to this work have been recognised with a ‘Breakthrough Award’ by the American Society of Manufacturing Engineers. A patent is also currently being filed for a new footwear concept. Work by the research team has been featured on a UK National News Channel, while key note lectures have been given at high profile public and academic meetings and conferences including presentations at the National Science and Engineering week. The team has also provided research on impact injuries for television’s History Channel, which produced a subsequent programme titled ‘Ancient Discoveries’. A ‘Working in science’ careers booklet, which was sent to all secondary schools, included an interview with Dr Ruth Goodridge about working at Loughborough University on the ‘Scuta’ project (the project, which is seeking to reduce sports injuries). Future Research Directions Successful manufacturers continually condense new product development cycles and gain competitive advantage by expedient commercialisation of emergent technologies. Efficient and effective modes of new product introduction and manufacture are essential. The Sports Technology Research Group is currently working to assist companies to devise, develop, test and market new products. In addition to supporting a discrete cohort of the UK’s largest sporting goods manufacturers in optimising their companies’ product offering via an integrated approach to new product development, the Sports Technology Research Group is working to facilitate product development in the SME sector. As a result, clusters of non-competing sporting goods manufacturers are working with the Sports Technology Research Group to unite around common manufacturing challenges and to develop products, which the rest of the world desires but does not have the technical capability to produce. AnnuAl RepoRt 2010 13
Page 1 and 2: ANNUAL REPORT 2010 Innovative Manuf
Page 3 and 4: CONTENTS Executive Summary 4 Advanc
Page 5 and 6: ESTABLiShEd iN 2001, the iMCRC has
Page 7 and 8: Highlights Prof. David Williams of
Page 9 and 10: Background The Additive Manufacturi
Page 11 and 12: Background Modern manufacturing is
Page 13: Background Construction, like other
Page 17 and 18: Background Current automation syste
Page 19 and 20: Research councils have played an im
Page 21 and 22: 185 219 214 223 263 298 AnnuAl Repo
Page 23 and 24: IMCRC Current RESEARCh ThEMES high
Page 25 and 26: 201 253 256 260 250 202 AnnuAl Annu
Page 27 and 28: IMCRC Current RESEARCh ThEMES Trans
Page 29 and 30: Steering group Membership external
Page 31 and 32: Project Title Start Date End Date T
Page 33 and 34: Name Start Date PhD Title Hannah Ed
Page 35 and 36: COLLABORATORS Industrial Collaborat

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