Recent Stories
- Lancaster set to receive funding boost to stimulate UK's economy
- Billion-year-old water could hold clues to life on Earth and Mars
- How do we find out about cyber criminals?
- First, carbon footprints... now you can calculate your 'nitrogen footprint'
- Lancaster to play leading role in UK-India cyber security team
- LEC PhD student, Beth Brockett, organises knowledge-exchange event for farmers
- Florence Nightingale Day successfully raises profile of women in mathematics and statistics
- LEC Volcanology Field Course sees erupting Mount Etna
- Company rewards Security Lancaster students for business solutions
- Environment: Over 80 people attend book launch for 'The Burning Question'
University to help SMEs exploit new manufacturing technology
Story supplied by LU Press Office
example of a product constructed using AM technology
Businesses in the North West could soon be taking advantage of a little-understood technology previously consigned to prototype manufacturing.
Lancaster University is leading a £2M project to help the region's small and medium sized businesses to exploit the use of a technology known as additive manufacturing (AM) which uses digital data to build a product from scratch, layer by layer.
Funded by the Northwest European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) with match funding from the University, the project aims to work with 150 SMEs over the next three years, creating 50 news jobs and safeguarding 100.
The advantage of AM lies in the fact that it is quick and easy to make changes to a product's design – making it perfect for one-of-a-kind items ranging from protective equipment and hearing aids to unique children's toys and bespoke home furnishings.
Although the technology has huge potential and had been around for just over 15 years in the UK, it has been under exploited by UK businesses.
Also known as 3D Printing, AM uses 3D computer aided design data to create items in a variety of polymeric, metallic, organic and ceramic materials.
Dr Allan Rennie of Lancaster University's Product Development Unit is leading the project. He said: "Although identified as a key technology within the European manufacturing arena, rapid manufacturing remains in its infancy and only large scale manufacturers and technology-focused research firms are taking advantage of it through installation of their own systems.
"Until recently this type of technology was more often associated with prototype manufacturing and that has prevented people from fully understanding it and considering other ways of using it.
"We want to help make more SMEs in our region aware of the opportunities available through using these technologies to create end-use parts and products in some of our region's key sectors such as aerospace, automotive, biomedical, nuclear, and energy and environmental technologies."
The ERDF programme is backed by the Programme Monitoring Committee (PMC) – a group of senior representatives from across the region. The Group was formed to monitor, oversee and advise on the delivery of the ERDF programme.
Peter Watson, managing director at Business Link Northwest and ERDF PMC member said: "During economic recovery, it's critical that businesses capitalise on every opportunity to help them thrive. This technology has the potential to help SMEs to increase their competitiveness through technical innovation and, by working with 150 North West businesses, the project will help to create and safeguard jobs in the region over the next three years."
Wed 19 May 2010
Associated Links
- Lancaster Product Development Unit - Lancaster Product Development Unit (LPDU) offers a wide range of business support services for companies throughout the north west of England
Latest News
Lancaster set to receive funding boost to stimulate UK's economy
Lancaster is amongst leading universities who are set to benefit from a £50 million investment in cutting-edge research and innovation projects to drive growth. Lancaster's project will use the strong international reputation and links in China, in particular with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, to address the Government's priorities to focus on high-growth SMEs and to increase exports. Using expertise from across the University, it focuses on improved leadership and new technology...
Story supplied by LU Press Office
Fri 17 May 2013
Billion-year-old water could hold clues to life on Earth and Mars
A UK-Canadian team of scientists has discovered ancient pockets of water, which have been isolated deep underground for billions of years and contain abundant chemicals known to support life.
Story supplied by LU Press Office
Thu 16 May 2013
How do we find out about cyber criminals?
Security Lancaster and the Department of Mathematics and Statistics held a workshop to form a new collaborative group who will widen the knowledge of cybercrime and start developing innovative approaches to obtaining information on cyber criminals. The workshop included security researchers and statisticians, solicitors specialising in cybercrime, and experts from government agencies.
Thu 16 May 2013
First, carbon footprints... now you can calculate your 'nitrogen footprint'
Scientists at Lancaster, Virginia and Oxford universities have produced a web-based tool that allows anyone living in the UK to see their own 'nitrogen footprint'.
Story supplied by LU Press Office
Wed 15 May 2013