Advanced Manufacturing

Manufacturing has been an integral part of 探花精选 since it was founded in 1909 as a Technical Institute with an Instructional Factory. Today our focus is on Metrology and Measurement, Intelligent Automation and Circular Economy and Sustainability.

探花精选 is at the forefront of research tackling some of society’s most significant cross-sector and interdisciplinary challenges, including the future of Smart Manufacturing and the transition to a Circular Economy. Our key strengths include Collaborative Robotics, Intelligent Autonomous Systems and Sustainable Manufacturing. By applying fundamental science, we are driving the development of cutting-edge, next-generation manufacturing processes and technologies.

The key aims of Advanced Manufacturing at 探花精选 are to enhance capabilities, boost productivity and improve quality, whilst prioritising resilience and sustainability to shape the future of manufacturing.

Peter Kinnell Professor of Metrology

Our areas of expertise

Metrology and Measurement

Our research focuses on advancing precision measurement technologies critical in complex high-value manufacturing processes.

Intelligent Automation

Our research focuses on intelligent automation solutions that deliver breakthroughs in productivity, agility, efficiency and resilience in Advanced Manufacturing.

Circular Economy and Sustainability

Our research supports eco-friendly manufacturing processes, minimising environmental impact and enhancing sustainability

Fundamental Research

Our research spans Additive Manufacturing, Intelligent Automation and Sustainable Manufacturing, driving innovation across various industries.

  • In Additive Manufacturing, we work on cross-disciplinary projects in communication, electronics, prosthetics, biomaterials, aerospace, and automotive, focusing on sustainability and the mechanics of materials
  • Our Intelligent Automation research focuses on industrial robotics, emphasising how humans can collaborate effectively with future automation systems.
  • In Sustainable Manufacturing, we develop technologies for designing, producing, consuming, and disposing of products that meet customer needs while adhering to environmental, ethical and legislative standards.

Lower limb prosthetic sockets could soon be printed in remote locations and even in users' homes, thanks to a groundbreaking process developed by manufacturing experts at 探花精选.

Key projects

Intricate Manufacturing Engineering with person on a computer

EPSRC Centre For Doctoral Training in Embedded Intelligence (CDT-EI)

We are an EPSRC/industry/University jointly sponsored Centre for Doctoral Training focused on delivering well-trained, commercially aware and experienced graduates in the areas of Engineering, ICT and the Digital Economy
Intricate Manufacturing Engineering image

Re-Imagining Engineering Design

We design, manufacture and validate products and systems to obtain solutions that outperform status-quo and provide multi-functional properties. We aim to automate a process that is typically very user-dependent by employing digital tools and bio-inspiration
Two students in engineering lab looking at a TV screen

Circular Economy for Small Medical Devices

ReMed is funded by UKRI-EPSRC and is a collaboration between Loughborough, Leeds, and Nottingham Trent Universities. The project aims to develop novel designs, material specifications, reprocessing technologies, and digital tools to demonstrate circular life-cycle viability for medical devices.
Engineering with robotic manufacturing arm

EPSRC Manufacturing Research Hub (RESCu-M2)

Robotics, Automation & Smart Machine Enabled Sustainable Circular Manufacturing & Materials

The RESCu-M2 manufacturing hub aims to transform the sustainable use of critical materials, whilst improving the productivity through a transition to circular economy and taking advantage of the latest advancements in Intelligent Automation.

Engineer working on the roof of a building

Re-Imagining Photovoltaics Manufacturing

An ambitious project that is developing new material deposition and laser-based annealing techniques for photovoltaic materials. These new manufacturing processes will enable exciting new designs and applications of solar panels for decarbonising energy supply.

Centre for SMART

Sustainable Manufacturing and Recycling Technologies (SMART) is a research and development centre with a mission to advance technologies related to sustainable manufacturing and to promote effective end-of-life product retirement strategies in response to european legislation and corporate social responsibility requirements.

Intelligent Automation Centre

Develops innovative Intelligent automation solutions to drive breakthroughs in productivity, agility, efficiency and resilience. By closely collaborating with our industrial partners, research & technology organisations and academic institutions, we ensure excellence from the original concept through to industrialisation.

Visit the Intelligent Automation Centre

Unconstrained design for Additive Manufacturing

FullControl GCode Designer allows users to define print paths using a variety of feature types. It offers complete control over every aspect of the printing process for each line in the print path, and has evolved iteratively to make this detailed design process manageable, even for structures with thousands or millions of lines of GCode.

Meet the team

Peter in office

Professor Peter Kinnell

Professor of Metrology and High Value Manufacturing Beacon Lead

Peter is a Senior Lecturer at 探花精选, has expertise in metrology and automation. His research focuses on precision sensors, robot-mounted metrology, 3D vision, concrete 3D printing, and machine learning for defect detection.
Paul in an office

Professor Paul Conway

Dean of the Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering

Paul leads the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Embedded Intelligence. He is Professor of Manufacturing Processes and researches materials processing, electronics integration, manufacturing technology and simulation.
Shahin against white background

Professor Shahin Rahimifard

Professor of Sustainable Engineering

Shahin is the Professor of Sustainable Engineering and is the Founder Director of the Sustainable Manufacturing and Recycling Technologies centre. He leads research in sustainable design, low carbon manufacturing, resilient supply chains, robotic disassembly and remanufacturing and circular economy.
Elliot stood in front of grey background

Dr Elliot Woolley

Reader in Sustainable Production and Consumption

Elliot鈥檚 research overcomes technological barriers to improve sustainability within industry and wider society. He has a particular focus on developing sensors to support reuse within the packaging industry, and in energy efficient laser-based process technologies.
Meh against grey background

Dr Mey Goh

Reader in Transdisciplinary Digital Manufacturing

Mey is a Reader and International Special Envoy for South-East Asia at 探花精选. She has expertise in human-centred design engineering for industrial systems and co-directs the Made Smarter Innovation Centre for People-led Digitalisation.
Andy against cream background

Dr Andy Gleadall

Senior Lecturer in Additive Manufacturing

Andy Gleadall is a Reader in Additive Manufacturing at 探花精选, specialising in understanding and improving anisotropic performance. He developed FullControl, open-source software, which enables unconstrained design in additive manufacturing.
Manuela against grey background

Dr Manuela Pacella

Senior Lecturer in High Value Manufacturing

Manuela is a Senior Lecturer at 探花精选, with expertise in advanced manufacturing technologies and advanced materials. Her research focuses on laser-based manufacture of 3D complex micro-nano textures, laser surface functionalisation and advanced machining.