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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/E001904/1
Title: Nottingham Innovative Manufacturing Research Centre
Principal Investigator: Ratchev, Professor SM
Other Investigators:
MacCarthy, Professor B Standring, Dr P Brooks, Dr R
Pickering, Professor SJ Webb, Professor P Kennedy, Professor A
Shipway, Professor PH Chen, Professor X Axinte, Professor DA
Pashby, Professor I Rudd, Professor CD Gindy, Professor N
Long, Professor A Jones, Dr IA Warrior, Professor NA
McNally, Professor D Walker, Professor GS Clifford, Dr MJ
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
3D A T A (Engineering Processes) Advanced Composites Group Ltd
Aida Bliss (Europe) Ltd Airbus Operations Limited Arup Group Ltd
BAE Systems Battenfeld U K Ltd Bombardier
Carl Zeiss Ltd (UK) Carr Reinforcements Ltd CG Tech
Comau U K Ltd DePuy Synthes (International) Diameter Ltd
DOWTY PROPELLERS Ellis Developments Ltd ESI
Euro Projects EXA Technology and Development Co Ltd Ford Motor Co
Formax UK Ltd Garton Engineering GE (General Electric Company)
Iscar Tools Ltd Kistler Instruments Ltd MBDA
MCubed Metrology Meads Ltd Midlands Aerospace Alliance
Motor Industry Research Assoc. (MIRA) National instruments Nemaura Pharma Limited
NetComposites Ltd Plant Fibre Technology Rainford Precision Machines
Ranier Technology Limited Rolls-Royce Plc (UK) Sandvik (Cormant/Steel)
Scott Bader Company Ltd Security Composites Ltd Siemens
Slack & Parr Ltd Stanton Bonna Concrete Ltd Technical Fibre Products Ltd
TWI Ltd Uni Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust Virtual Prototyping Solutions Ltd
Department: Sch of Mech Materials Manuf Eng Mgt
Organisation: University of Nottingham
Scheme: IMRC
Starts: 01 October 2006 Ends: 30 September 2011 Value (£): 9,815,820
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Manufacturing Machine & Plant
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Manufacturing
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
NIMRC's research portfolio is at the heart of the national manufacturing agenda and is active in the generation of patents and the construction of full scale demonstrators to enhance technology transfer. The Centre has strong links with industry in a range of sectors including aerospace, automotive, instrumentation, power engineering, steel, textiles and clothing, and consumer product sectors. With the exception of a small number of blue-skies projects, all projects are driven by industrial need. During the past 3 years, the Nottingham Innovative Manufacturing Research Centre (NIMRC) has continued to succeed in its stated objectives. By exploiting synergies between themes and research strands within the Centre and with other academic groups and industry outside the Centre, NIMRC has continued to expand its world-leading research portfolio and develop new directions. From a start of 8 principal investigators in the IMRC, this year we have an additional 15 investigators participating in current projects within the portfolio, complemented by 22 researchers and 29 research students. In the past 3 years, 9 students have been been awarded a PhD and another 7 are currently submitting their dissertations.The quality, timeliness and novelty of NIMRC's research is highlighted by its publication record. Since the Centre began, staff have published widely in peer review journals and presented at prestigious international conferences.The IMRC status has attracted a wider research community both in the University and without. The NIMRC continues to develop strategic partnerships with research groups outside the University and include many internationally recognised centre's of manufacturing excellence. The Centre also has strong links with other IMRCs. Already, NIMRC has collaborative research projects with Warwick, Bath, Cranfield and Loughborough IMRCs. NIMRC is also participating in the Grand Challenge 3D Mintigration related to the economic Manufacture of 3D Miniaturised Devices . NIMRC has made excellent progress during the last 3 years towards its stated objectives. It believes that the future research strategy it has developed will continue to address both the immediate and longer term needs of the manufacturing industry and it looks forward to providing the enabling research needed to improve the competitiveness of UK plc. The importance of NIMRC's world-class research is demonstrated in the composition of the Industrial Advisory Board which includes 20 senior industrialists from well established UK manufacturing sectors. The Board is impressed with the work of the Centre and the rapport with the Board of PIs. Board members have their own examples of how their company has benefited from the work of the NIMRC. In summary, Rolls-Royce and the Industrial Advisory Board fully support the activities of the NIMRC and will continue to do so. Chair of NIMRC Industrial Advisory Board, Mr Stephen Burgess, Manufacturing Process and Technology Director, Rolls-Royce Plc.
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Organisation Website: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk