ANNUAL REPORT 2010 - Loughborough University

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Executive Summary
wORkiNg TOgEThER iN ChANgiNg TiMES
The research landscape is changing: The Loughborough IMCRC is responding to these changes through
the focussed application of its strong skill base and its close contacts with industry partners.
Changing Times
The last twelve months have seen changes
in government policy, resulting in changes in
industry and academia. We anticipate further
changes.
Against the current economic landscape there
is widespread recognition that manufacturing
has a crucial role to play in building a
more balanced resilient economy. This will
require established manufacturing industries
to become more competitive while also
addressing environmental and sustainability
requirements. New manufacturing industries
are required to meet the changing needs of a
global marketplace.
In the first part of 2010 Prof. David Delpy,
Chief Executive of EPSRC (Engineering
and Physical Sciences Research Council),
presented a number of regional research
seminars entitled, ‘Working Together in
Changing Times’. These set in context the
future funding strategy of the EPSRC in this
new landscape. He emphasised the need to
understand these changes and to respond
to them by working in partnership to deliver
‘Excellence with Impact’. He reminded us of
the importance of identifying and supporting
individuals who are delivering the highest
quality research for the UK.
The IMCRC is responding to this challenge.
Over the last twelve months it has
consolidated its research portfolio, completed
a number of research projects, made
substantial progress on others, and worked to
secure new research funding post 2011. Our
research has had impact on industry, with
IMCRC innovations already changing and
benefitting industry practice.
AnnuAl RepoRt 2010
Impact
Patents for new technologies are being
registered and new processes are being
introduced into industry, while IMCRC
research staff and researchers are working
with businesses to share their knowledge
and skills. Major research projects such
as the Business Driven Automation project
are currently prototyping new innovative
approaches to automation, which will reduce
the time to market of new products. New
technologies are being developed and tested
in a wide range of business areas.
How are innovations transferred into industry?
Having already initiated an internal study of
the impact of a number of different IMCRC
research projects, we have some, but not all of
the answers. This knowledge has contributed
to the specification for a forthcoming
EPSRC study of the impact of all the IMRC
programmes. The continuation and extension of
our studies into the impact of our research will
ensure that the IMCRC is at the leading edge of
this knowledge area and can contribute fully to
the future agenda for change.
The re-branding of the IMCRC and the launch
of the new report, brochure, e-newsletters
and website has ensured that our research
findings and the research currently being
undertaken within the IMCRC has reached a
wider community.
By reflecting on the development of our
research knowledge and skills we have
reviewed our research strengths and
developed our strategy for advanced
manufacturing research.
A Strategy for Advanced Manufacturing
‘Advanced Manufacturing’ is a term used to
describe industries and businesses which
use a high level of design or scientific skill
to produce innovative and technologically
complex products and processes. These
specialist requirements demand new and
advanced technologies.
The IMCRC has established strengths, a
critical mass of researchers, and strong
industry links in a number of specific
areas of Advanced Manufacturing. These
include: Regenerative Medicine; Electronics
Manufacturing, Additive Manufacturing;
Intelligent Automation; Sports Technology;
Sustainable Manufacturing; and Construction.
Although some of these areas are long
established and some are still in the early
stages of development, all are continually
evolving. While Regenerative Medicine and
Electronics Manufacturing have become
research centres in their own right the other
Advanced Manufacturing areas are forging
ahead with world-leading research, details
of which are provided in this report together
with other research strengths, which we are
confident will provide a platform for a wide
range of new research initiatives.
The Future
The UK’s economic future will need high value
added manufacturing processes for industry
to be both progressive and competitive in the
global marketplace. Advanced Manufacturing
technologies will also aid the transition to
a low carbon economy by enabling energy
efficiency savings.
Loughborough University, through the IMCRC
(in partnership with the Innovative Electronics
Manufacturing Research Centre (IeMRC)
and the new “EPSRC Centre for Innovative
Manufacturing in Regenerative Medicine”) and
other research centres, is leading UK research
and development in Advanced Manufacturing.
Despite the changes in industry and in
research funding, the research staff of the
IMCRC are ideally placed to secure ongoing
funding across a range of research activities.
The manufacturing and productive industry in
the broader sense, must play a central role in
any re-building of the UK economy. Advanced
Manufacturing Research at Loughborough
will help meet the challenges faced by
manufacturing and business organisations in
the future.
Prof. Andrew N Baldwin.
Director, IMCRC