Innovative manufacturing
Drawing on our expertise in digital manufacturing, sustainable manufacturing, laser engineering and robotics, we improve manufacturing capability, productivity and sustainability.
Research supported by world-class computational, experimental facilities and manufacturing labs.
We hold multiple accolades and awards from leading conferences including SIGGRAPH and ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences (IDETC/CIE).
Delivering real world impact through collaborations with leading industry partners including Nikon, Airbus and Coriolis.
Driving innovation across the manufacturing sector
Our research in innovative manufacturing focuses on three key priorities:
- Sustainable manufacturing - advancing technologies for both new and existing materials and products, developing solutions to enhance resource efficiency and sustainability.
- Digital manufacturing and smart systems - shaping the future of manufacturing processes through intelligent, connected systems and factory design.
- Data collection and management - enabling mass customisation and involving customers in the manufacturing value chain.
These priorities are designed to address pressing economic, social and environmental challenges. They are underpinned by world-class expertise in advanced manufacturing techniques - including additive manufacturing, multi-scale processes, mechatronics and automation, and modelling and simulation. Our work combines fundamental and applied research to tackle critical challenges across sectors such as nuclear, aerospace, automotive, tooling, medical, security and consumer goods.
Our greatest strength is our people, who are brought together in pursuit of ground-breaking, curiosity driven and industry inspired research to drive manufacturing innovations and deliver economic, social and environmental impact.
Paul Mativenga – Group Lead and Professor in Multi-Scale and Sustainable Manufacturing
Research
Our areas of research
Digital manufacturing
In digital manufacturing we integrate diverse fields such as computational design, advanced manufacturing, robotics, and computer graphics to create state-of-the-art solutions for modern manufacturing and design. This interdisciplinary approach enables us to enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and scalability of manufacturing processes, driving innovation and excellence in industry.
We have successfully collaborated with leading industry partners such as Nikon, Airbus, and Coriolis Composites. Our research has also secured substantial funding from renowned institutions, including the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC, UK). These collaborations and grants underscore the real-world impact and relevance of our work.
Laser processing
In laser processing we focus on innovating manufacturing with laser beams at macro, micro and nanoscales, with a particular expertise on beam control and low carbon manufacturing with lasers. We have pioneered, developed and deployed innovative laser cleaning technologies in collaboration with UK industry.
Our research in the Laser Processing Research Laboratory (LPRL) is helping us to understand, control and manipulate how laser light interacts with matter, enabling materials processing with unprecedented precision and speed.
Sustainable manufacturing
Our research focuses on innovative manufacturing technologies and the development of new engineering science for resource efficiency and industrial sustainability. We develop exciting solutions to the major challenges of resource efficiency, circular economy and industrial sustainability.
We understand how to make the manufacturing industry technologically and economically competitive, whilst operating within the boundaries of environmentally friendly manufacture. This research addresses the Net Zero agenda, and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6, 9, 12 and 17.
Manufacturing facilities
Digital Manufacturing Laboratory
At the Digital Manufacturing Lab we conduct research in design and manufacturing with a focus on computational technology to generate optimised design and manufacturing processes.
We combine cutting-edge research with practical applications to drive innovation and excellence in modern manufacturing. Our mission is to bridge the gap between digital and physical realms with pioneering technologies and innovative solutions. Our team brings together expertise in computational design, manufacturing, robotics, and computer graphics to tackle real-world challenges. Our Digital Manufacturing Lab is equipped with a wide range of state-of-the-art facilities to support our research and development efforts. Facilities include a range of robotic arms, 3D scanners, 3D printers and motion capture system with multiple cameras.
Laser Processing Research Laboratory
We focus on innovating manufacturing with laser beams at macro, micro and nanoscales, with a particular expertise on beam control and low carbon manufacturing with lasers.
We have particular expertise in:
- Manufacturing with tailored light - Our optical techniques for spatial structuring of laser beam fields allow us to engineer tailored focal fields and promote specific types of interactions with matter. Our research is developing these methods into new manufacturing processes, exploiting these new beams to achieve unprecedented resolution or speed.
- Laser cleaning, surface engineering and micro, nano manufacturing - Our research is helping to gain a fundamental understanding of multiscale and atomic scale material processing. Laser cleaning and surface engineering research has consolidated in the centre with particular applications in high value manufacturing, medical devices and circular economy.
We have pioneered, developed and deployed innovative laser cleaning technologies in collaboration with UK industry. The Laser Processing Research Centre (LPRC) plays a vital role across Digital, Sustainable and Net Zero Manufacturing within the UK and our researchers have access to unique world leading laser equipment.
Study with us
Your career in manufacturing engineering starts here!
We are open to top applicants who want to pursue postgraduate study in one of our manufacturing specialisms.
- PhD in Production and Manufacturing Engineering. Please review the expertise and interest of our staff members and apply online for a PhD place.
- MSc Advanced Manufacturing Technology and Systems Management.
Connect with us
Our people
- Olivier Allegre - Lecturer in Laser Processing
- Akin Atas - Lecturer in Engineering Design for Sustainability
- Otto Jan Bakker - Lecturer in Mechanical Design
- Glen Cooper - Reader
- Marco Domingos - Senior Lecturer in Bioprinting and Regenerative Medicine
- Robert Heinemann - Senior Lecturer
- Samantha Islam - Lecturer in Net Zero
- Moray Kidd - Senior Lecturer in Design and Reliability Engineering
- Zekai Murat Kilic - Lecturer in Digital Manufacturing
- Paul Mativenga - Professor in Multi-Scale and Sustainable Manufacturing and Group Lead
- Okechukwu Okorie, Senior Lecturer in Engineering Design for Sustainability / Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow
- Jyoti Sinha - Professor of Condition Monitoring and Plant Maintenance
- Charlie CL Wang - Chair in Smart Manufacturing
- Andrew Weightman - Professor of Medical Mechatronics
- Akilu Yunusa-Kaltungo - Reader in Reliability and Maintenance Engineering
New staff joining
- Imediegwu Chikwesiri T - Lecturer in Design Optimization for Sustainable Manufacturing
- Yuze Huang - Lecturer in Low Carbon Manufacturing with Lasers
- Kun Qian - Lecturer in Robot-Assisted Manufacturing
- Arash Armanfar - KTP Associate
- Damian Crosby - Research Associate
- Mohammed Hassan
- Yuming Huang - Research Associate
- Yu Jiang - Research Associate
- Nazanin Mirhosseini - Research Fellow
- Abdalla M. Omar - Research Associate
- Kun Qian - Lecturer in Robot-assisted Manufacturing
- Tianyu Zhang - Research Associate
- Yingjun Tian - Research Associate
Get in touch
Contact our team
- Digital manufacturing research and innovation queries: changling.wang@manchester.ac.uk
- Laser processing queries: olivier.allegre@manchester.ac.uk
- Manufacturing at Manchester queries: p.mativenga@manchester.ac.uk
- Robotics and biomanufacturing queries andrew.weightman@manchester.ac.uk
- Sustainable manufacturing and circular economy research queries: okechukwu.okorie@manchester.ac.uk / p.mativenga@manchester.ac.uk