ANNUAL REPORT 2010 - Loughborough University

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4 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
Highlights Prof. David Williams of the IMCRC was awarded funding for a new EPSRC funded Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Regenerative Medicine. Senior government officials and industrialists visited the Centre’s Additive Manufacturing Research Group facilities to discover the potential that Additive Manufacturing offers UK industry. The research project ‘Personalised Sports Footwear: From Elite to High Street (E2HS)’ featured on the Discovery Channel and BBC News 24 Channel. The IMCRC participated in the EPSRC Theme Day to review the future direction of Advanced Manufacturing Research. The newly formed Manufacturing Technology Centre brings together Loughborough University, Nottingham University, the University of Birmingham and TWI as research partners tasked with taking industrial member needs through from initial research to prototype. Founder member companies include Rolls-Royce, Airbus and Aero Engine Controls. A concrete component built by the Freeform Construction team is being displayed at the PRINTE3D exhibition at the Disseny Hub Museums in Barcelona (16th June 2010 to 29th May 2011). An IMCRC project to minimise footwear waste, enthusiastically supported by a group of collaborators which include leading footwear retailers, has initiated wide interest through a Footwear Recycling Action Group established to share best practices with industry. AnnuAl RepoRt 2010 5
Page 1 and 2: ANNUAL REPORT 2010 Innovative Manuf
Page 3 and 4: CONTENTS Executive Summary 4 Advanc
Page 5: ESTABLiShEd iN 2001, the iMCRC has
Page 9 and 10: Background The Additive Manufacturi
Page 11 and 12: Background Modern manufacturing is
Page 13 and 14: Background Construction, like other
Page 15 and 16: Background The sporting goods marke
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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