Collaborations in Manufacturing

The University of Greenwich has a long history of collaborative R&D in the manufacturing sector, providing support in modelling, mechanics, manufacturing, and process management for a number of related research areas.

Manufacturing Projects

The university is currently engaged in a wide range of projects. These include developing novel packaging designs, integration of supply chains into a new enterprise resources planning system, new manufacturing techniques for turbine blades, to studying how electronics systems perform in the harsh environment of oil production platforms. A summary of manufacturing and related projects undertaken in the past five years is available for download.

Download a summary of recent projects 

Key Industrial Collaborators

Industrial collaborators on past and current projects include BAE Systems, Bookham Technology, Delphi Diesel Systems, EADS, GE Aviation, GlaxoSmithKline, Sarena Manufacturing Ltd, SEMELAB, and Rolls-Royce. 

Key Research Groups and Activities

Centre For Innovative Product Development 

The centre deals primarily with the development of technologies and methodologies in the design of new products, especially high value and complex products for aerospace, automotive and power generation applications. Remits include (1) Modelling, Analysis & Simulation and (2) Design & Innovation Process. Specifically, in-depth expertise in the development of ICT technologies and methodologies for product data modelling, product lifecycle management, design and innovation knowledge and process modelling, integration of design with product lifecycle issues, and collaborative product development.

For more information, visit www.gre.ac.uk/schools/engineering/research/cipd.

Manufacturing Engineering Research Group

This group has expertise in the design, manufacturing, testing and computational analysis of electronic components. Examples of the range of work undertaken by the group includes analysis of materials for extreme in-service conditions; complete pre-production and testing in lead-free solders for automotive, aerospace and consumer applications; as well as the development of components such as ECUs under car bonnets and thermal management equipments in aircrafts.

For more information, visit www.emerg.co.uk.

Computational Science Engineering Group

The Group models industrial processes using specialist in-house developed software tools and packages offering the right solution which is not achievable with standard commercial software. It also has expertise in material processing and multi-physics modelling, for example analysing metals and other structural materials for manufacturing materials for extreme conditions such as International Space Station.

For an example of the work undertaken by this group, visit the IMPRESS project website at www.spaceflight.esa.int/impress.

Computational Mechanics & Reliability Group

Particular focus of the group's work is the development of software tools and modelling techniques for multi-physics predictions, failure analysis, reliability, and optimisation. These technologies predict the performance and reliability of electronic, photonic, and micro/nano-scale components used in many industrial sectors such as transport, medical and telecommunications, etc. CMRG members serve on a number of influential committees such as the Dti materials metrology working group, International Microelectronics Packaging Society (IMAPS), the Innovative Electronics Manufacturing Research Centre (IeMRC), and the EPSRC college.

CMRG are also co-developers of the commercial multi-physics code PHYSICA. CMRG is active in both theoretical and applied research. This work is supported by government funding agencies such as the EPSRC, DTI, EU framework programme, and also by industry both nationally and internationally.

An example of the work undertaken by this group can be found on the 3D-Mintergration project website at www.3d-mintegration.com.

Wolfson Centre For Bulk Solids Handling

The Centre began in 1973 researching problems associated with pneumatic conveying of powders and granular solid material in pipelines and has since expanded its areas of interest to include hopper and silo design, powder characterisation, wear of plants and components, handling and storage of particulates and instrumentation and control of bulk solids handling systems, to name but a few.

We work with Pharmaceutical, food, chemical, mineral, power, cement/concrete, aggregate industries; remits include production of sintered metals, ceramics and plastic components. Portfolio of services include: expert witness, problem solving, consultancy, contract research, specialist short courses, development projects, equipment development. An exemplar project is the Brookfields Powder Shear Tester, which was developed by the Centre.

For further information visit www.bulksolids.com.

Business Innovation and Knowledge Transfer Initiatives

The university is a leading exponent of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs), and has been deliverying successful projects benefiting local and national manufacturing industry for 25 years. Current projects include:

• Product design, developing production capabilities and professional engineering resources enabling introduction of new products, optimising production and market expansion. E.g., innovative high end consumer products packaging designs, lighting and equipment design, industrial autoclaves;
• Integration of an organisations supply chain into a customised Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, including design, planning, manufacturing, sales, marketing, after-sales services, and maintenance and purchasing strategies;
• Development and integration of resource planning systems e.g., scheduling system into a company's management information system in order to streamline the business processes, reduce inventory levels, lead times to customers and improve productivity.

Through the Medway Enterprise hub, Medway Innovation Centre, Kent & Medway Innovation Growth Team and BIG-Kent (www.big-kent.org.uk) the university works closely with public and private sector partners to support the growth of high-value manufacturing in the North Kent region. 

Support Infrastructure and Technical Testing Facilities

The university has at its disposal a wide range of specialist equipment and tools, which can be used on collaborative projects or hired on a consultancy basis. These include items such as:

• Concrete testing facilities, including Europe's largest ground slab testing rig;
• Anechoic chambers;
• 3D scanning, printing and rapid prototyping equipment;
• Powder flow testers;
• Automatic sieving machines;
• Climatic chambers;
• Ground penetrating radars; and
• The Renishaw/Haas Centre for new product design and development