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IfM Services Contact DetailsJo Riches Tel: +44 (0)7854 210837 |
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IfM News - 2006IfM briefing launchedThe IfM has launched the first IfM briefing , a new publication discussing current issues in manufacturing and industrial innovation . The first issue focuses on partnerships between mature companies and start-ups. Such partnerships offer many potential benefits but are often fraught with problems. The Briefing highlights recent research revealing some of the approaches used by companies to increase the chances of success. For the full briefing please click on the link below: Dr Claire Barlow to speak at the Institute for Physics and Royal Society of Chemistry seminar
The Institute of Physics and the Royal Society of Chemistry are holding an evening seminar entitled 'Science and the Environment: Solutions for mitigating pollution' on Wednesday 13 December. Dr Claire Barlow, Senior Lecturer and Head of MET, has been asked to present at the event to be held at the Kohn Centre, the Royal Society, London. Dr Claire Barlow will give a presentation entitled 'A load of rubbish'. The talk will question some of the issues surrounding the role of waste management; the recent trend that deems the use of landfill sites in the UK is inappropriate, the social and political concerns over mainland Europe's use of incineration and the economic, technical and logistic problems associated with recycling. There will also be discussion of the strategy behind current research at Cambridge into ways of improving the environmental impact of recycling processes. This seminar is part of the Institute of Physics "by invitation" evening seminars which supplement their Vision paper series. The seminars aim to facilitate debate on the key issues in physics covered by these papers, highlighting areas with which the audience, invited policy-makers and opinion-formers, may not be familiar. The seminar will look at the latest that science and technology have to offer to prevent and mitigate the effects of a wide range of environmental problems. With concerns over environmental issues growing this seminar will focus on emerging techniques and technologies that could help alleviate a number of these problems. The event is by invitation only but a synopsis and briefing paper will be available at the link below:
Cambridge report lays out options for an environmentally sustainable fashion industryResearchers have laid out a set of proposals outlining how consumers could satisfy their needs for clothes and textiles with significantly reduced impact on the environment, while also offering new business opportunities to UK companies. The new study, produced by researchers in the IfM's Sustainable Manufacturing Group, sets out a vision of a sustainable clothes industry which at the same time would offer new opportunities to retailers and manufacturers. Press release [MS Word document] "Well dressed? The present and future sustainability of clothing and textiles in the United Kingdom"
Centre for Distributed Automation and Control explore reconfigurabilityThe Centre for Distributed Automation and Control held a one-day workshop on 28th September to explore the notion of reconfigurability in Manufacturing Systems. The aim of the workshop was to share ideas on the concept of reconfigurability as applied to manufacturing and operations, and to discuss and develop these further. The workshop was attended by researchers from the IfM, Oxford University and IFW, Hannover along with other members of the Network of Excellence for Innovative Production Machines and Systems (I*PROMS) . I*PROMS comprises 30 core member institutions representing 14 European countries. These institutions are all of national or international standing in the field of Advanced Production Machines and Systems research. Centre for Technology Management support Shell "opportunities for innovations" study 2006"The business opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SME's) in tackling the causes of climate change" is a study for Shell Springboard by consultants at Vivid Economics. Elizabeth Garnsey provided the supporting material on innovation and enterprise used in that report. The Working Paper "Clean Technology Ventures and Innovation" by Elizabeth Garnsey, Nicola Dee and Simon Ford, cited in the report for Shell, is available from the IfM website. The report for Shell estimates the size of the UK and global market opportunity for SME's in tackling the climate change (this report can be found at http://www.shell.springboard.org). Shell Springboard awards up to £40,000 to selected small businesses with potentially successful commercial ideas for products and services that will contribute to combating climate change. For the working paper see link below: Clean Technology Ventures and Innovation [400k pdf file] Mike Gregory nominated in The Manufacturer Power 50 2006
The Manufacturer magazine set about finding the 50 most influential people in the UK manufacturing community. The magazine asked their readers and visitors to their website to name 50 individuals they believe exert a significant positive influence on British manufacturing, and work to ensure its well-being against the background of a real-world, global economy. The readers selected 150 manufacturing stars and Professor Mike Gregory, Head of the IfM, was nominated in the top 50 due to his extensive career in both industry and academia, as well as his service to a range of public bodies. For the full article see link below: Cambridge Auto-ID Lab and Auto-ID Lab Japan enter into collaboration
The Cambridge Auto-ID Lab at Cambridge University and Auto-ID Lab Japan at Keio University have signed an academic partnership and research collaboration protocol. The protocol recognises the significance and effectiveness of the partnership between the two labs and the wish to promote cooperation in education and academic research in Auto-ID technologies. The initiative will also support exchange visits by staff and students and the exchange of scientific information in the form of research and teaching materials. The protocol was signed by Duncan McFarlane, Director of Cambridge Auto-ID Lab and Jun Murai, Director of Auto-ID Lab Japan . The relationship between both labs has been enhanced by the new web-based video conferencing facility that Keio University have generously helped the IfM to install.
European Manufacturing Strategies Summit , Germany , October 9 th & 10 th 2006
September 2006 The European Manufacturing Strategies Summit (EMS Summit) will take place in Düsseldorf , Germany , on October 9th and 10th . This event provides world class speakers who deliver cutting-edge case studies to demonstrate the latest manufacturing technologies and innovations. Dr Don Fleet, Centre for International Manufacturing, has been invited to chair the EMS Summit. Don Fleet will open the event with a welcome speech addressing some of the issues facing manufacturing companies in today's global economy. Dr Bill O'Neill, Head of Centre for Industrial Photonics, will give a presentation entitled 'Nanofabrication: The next industrial revolution?' This talk will focus on the new manufacturing technologies and processes that rely on nanoscale dimensions to provide enhanced functionality for a range of new products being developed across the globe. The work will review current nanoscale manufacturing processes being developed in the commercial arena as well as a consideration of the impact that nanoscale technologies will have on future manufacturing operations. For further information on this event please see the link below Duncan McFarlane appointed to RAE Engineering Professorship
August 2006 Dr Duncan McFarlane from the Centre for Distributed Automation Control has been appointed to the new Royal Academy of Engineering Professorship in Service and Support Engineering. 'Service and support is a major growth area for many manufacturing businesses and this prestigious position - the first of its kind in the UK - is a tremendous opportunity for us to take a leading role academically and industrially.' Said Professor Mike Gregory , Head, IfM. Supported by Paul Tasker and Nik Thomas, both from BAE Systems, and the team of colleagues already working on Service and Support research we can look forward to this new programme evolving pretty rapidly over the coming months.' The Chair is for 5 years in the first instance and during this period Duncan will be taking leave of absence from his readership in automation systems. 12th Cambridge Technology Management Symposium announced
August 2006 Businesses must constantly innovate in order to bring new products to market and maintain their competitive edge. Indeed, innovation is widely viewed as one of the key drivers for sustained economic growth . But how can companies ensure that new ideas continue to be generated and the creative spark is given the best chance to fire? This year's Cambridge Technology Management Symposium will focus on creativity, design and innovation and will provide an opportunity for industrialists from all over the world to hear the latest research and best practice in the field. The two-day Symposium is now in its 12th year and is a firm fixture for senior technology and innovation managers wishing to hear new ideas and practical application in the technology management field. It takes place in Cambridge and is organised by the Centre for Technology Management, part of the University of Cambridge's Institute for Manufacturing. For full press release please see link below: 12th Cambridge Technology Management Symposium IfM research associate wins Epson Photography Competition at the Department of Engineering
June 2006 IfM research associate Dr Steve Hoath from the Production Processes Group has won the Epson Photography Competition held recently at the Department of Engineering. Steve's winning photograph, entitled 'Tails from the nozzle bank', was taken during a series of experiments at the IfM's Inkjet Research Centre investigating the performance of inkjet printers. It shows ink drops emerging from a bank of inkjet nozzles (just visible at the bottom of the picture). The image is about 2.3 mm across, the drop heads are 50 microns across and the tails are less than 10 microns wide (10 times thinner than a human hair). The drops are moving at around 6 m/s and are in three groups with slightly different drop firing times. In some cases the drops are still attached to the nozzles by long ligaments of stretching liquid. Other drops show separation and the formation of smaller, 'satellite' drops from the collapsing ligaments. This image was adjusted for brightness and contrast and rotated for effect. Steve will receive the first prize of an Epson Stylus Photo R2400 top of the range professional photo printer that has been generously donated by Epson. The IfM also took 2nd prize with 4th year MET student Laura Harrison's photograph of prototypes of elastic chain-link designs. These designs are part of her fourth year project within the Production Processes Group, investigating the potential for using 'Selective Laser Sintering' processes to produce textile structures, as part of wider research to establish new garment manufacturing techniques. A chain-link structure enables the creation of flexible textile structures from rigid materials, whilst related projects within the IfM are investigating the possibility of using biological materials such as silk to allow the creation of fibrous Rapid Manufacturing materials. The elasticity of the nylon used for this prototype can also be exploited to create links which stretch under an applied force. For full competition please see link below: Engineering students display their design skills
June 2006 Manufacturing Engineering students at Cambridge University held their 2006 Design Show, displaying a range of new products that they have developed as part of their course. The Design Show is held each year for an invited audience of local industrialists and designers. Students put together displays to explain the technical and business ideas behind the products, together with design details and prototype models of the products themselves. This year's projects included an innovative mobile accident screen to discourage 'rubbernecking' by passing motorists and a glove that uses ultrasound to help the partially sighted 'sense' their surroundings. "The students have been working on their projects for most of the past year and the results are fantastic," said Lecturer Dr James Moultrie. "Some ideas have real commercial potential and they will be seeking finance to take them further." For full press release please see link below:
Ken Platts and Rob Perrons win the 'Dr Theo Williamson award'June 2006 A paper by Dr Ken Platts, from the Centre for Strategy and Performance, and Dr Rob Perrons, from Shell International BV, was the 2006 winner of the Dr Theo Williamson Outstanding Paper award for the best paper published in the Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management during 2005. Their paper 'Outsourcing Strategies for radical innovations: does industry clockspeed make a difference?' shows that industry clockspeed does not appear to make a difference to the success or failure of outsourcing strategies. The implications of this are that findings from single industry studies, e.g. of the computer industry, which have traditionally been thought limited to these sectors, may in fact be transferable to other sectors. Dr Theo Williamson, who died in 1992, was R&D director at Mollins plc, and subsequently Group Director at Rank Xerox. One of the great engineering innovators of his time he is best known for his work in developing the worlds first integrated flexible manufacturing system.
Announcement of new project - High Efficiency Gas-assisted cutting using optimised next generation fibre lasersMay 2006 The Centre for Industrial Photonics has announced it is to begin a £350, 000 research project funded by the DTI as part of their 'Optoelectronics and Disruptive Electronics Programme'. The aim of the project is to take advantage of the new developments and capabilities of Ytterbium fibre lasers to create low cost and high performance laser cutting technology. The project is a collaboration with the University of Southampton and SPI Lasers. The University of Southampton will research and develop mode tunable high power Yb fibre lasers. The Cambridge team aim to produce a high efficiency laser cutting technology based on mode controlled lasers, whilst SPI Lasers will engage in commercialisation and exploitation of the new laser cutting concepts. First Technology and Innovation Management Course is a success
April 2006 Building on the success of industrial and post-graduate courses over the past two years, CTM ran its first executive education course on technology and innovation management in March. The intensive three-day course covered the main areas of CTM activity and research. This included an introduction to technology and innovation frameworks; innovation, new product introduction and creativity; strategic technology management and intelligence; make vs buy; entrepreneurship and intellectual property. The practical nature of this course is unique, incorporating a range of group activities, discussion and cases studied by invited companies. The sharing of company experience was a valuable contribution to the learning process for those participating. The first course was well attended by senior managers from a range of sectors from the UK and overseas. For further information please contact the Centre for Technology Management on 01223 766141 or email ctm-enquiries@eng.cam.ac.uk
Phil Hanson presents keynote at Hethel Engineering Open DayApril 2006 Phil Hanson was invited to give the keynote address at the Hethel Engineering Open Day on Wednesday 29 March. The presentation focused on key aspects of the recent report written by the Institute for Manufacturing as part of a project co-funded by the DTI and the CBI to investigate the definition of High Value Manufacturing. This report presents an initial framework for industry and policy makers to analyse and maximize the potential of future UK manufacturing. Phil Hanson said "What the IfM study shows is that manufacturing today is a complex business sector in which production capability is only one part and that high value companies come in every shape and size. The IfM is helping manufacturing companies to better understand how they can create value in financial, strategic and social terms". The Hethel Engineering Centre, which opened in February, is a business dedicated to supporting the growth and success of high performance engineering and manufacturing companies and individuals throughout the region. The Hethel Engineering Centre offers services ranging from Business Incubation space, offices and workshops, to a suite of conferencing facilities.
Towards 2020 ScienceMarch 2006 The Centre for Technology Management joined 'Towards 2020 Science', an international expert group of distinguished scientists, to facilitate a workshop that was held to debate and consider the role and future of science over the next 14 years. The expert group met for an intense three day workshop, held in Venice during the summer of 2005, to support the development of a new vision and roadmap outlining the evolution, challenges and potential of computational science in the next decade and beyond. The aim behind the workshop was to stimulate debate across and within disciplines; focus the research agenda for computational science, and encourage collaboration between academia, industry and government. The findings and conclusions from this workshop and a further four months of analysis, discussion and debate within the group has been published in and the form of a roadmap that shows a vision of science towards 2020 and the role that computer science can and will play in achieving this vision. Download full roadmap report: http://research.microsoft.com/towards2020science/downloads.htm The roadmapping process and workshop was facilitated by the IfM's Centre for Technology Management who has an international reputation and proven track record in supporting the development of technology roadmaps across a range of different disciplines . The roadmap is expected to have a significant impact, with a special edition of Nature published in parallel to the roadmap, including contributions from the 2020 Science group. Microsoft Research Cambridge, who sponsored the initiative, is also providing and additional €2.5m to support research that addresses policy areas outlined by the report, which include a reform of the education system and the creation of new kinds of research institutes. For more information about Towards 2020 Science: http://research.microsoft.com/towards2020science/ http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=5655067 http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v440/n7083/full/440398a.html
IfM takes on the Grand Challenges of manufacturingMarch 2006 The Cambridge Institute for Manufacturing (IfM) is one of a select group of UK academic institutions to win funding for ground-breaking projects that will tackle the challenges facing manufacturing in the 21 st Century. A total of nearly £20 million has been raised from government grants and industrial sponsorship for three 'Grand Challenge' areas. The manufacturing Grand Challenges have been set up by the Government to encourage the UK's Innovative Manufacturing Research Centres (IMRCs) to address issues that have the potential for significant impact on national manufacturing priorities. The IMRCs are academic institutions recognized by the Government as being at the forefront of manufacturing understanding and research. For full details please see the link below: Students from IfM attend Younger Scientists, Engineers and Technologists for Britain reception at the House of CommonsMarch 2006 Tom Counsell and Helen Ward from the IfM's Sustainable Manufacturing Group attended the eighth annual reception for Britain's top Younger Scientists, Engineers and Technologists at the House of Commons on Monday 13 March. Dr Brian Iddon M.P. invited aspiring and enthusiastic young researchers in the UK to present posters on "leading-edge" science, engineering, medicine and technology research and compete for prestigious national awards and prizes. Tom presented his research entitled 'Remove Toner: Re-use Paper' which investigates the removal of ink from office paper. Tom says: 'By removing the print most sheets of office paper would be immediately re-useable and this would save energy normally used in the conventional paper making and recycling processes.' Helen also presented her research on the novel recycling of aluminium. The aim of the project is to cut the amount of energy used to recycle aluminium as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The aim of the reception is to take real research and younger researchers to Parliament and help engender better dialogue between MPs, early-stage researchers and UK's research communities. http://www.setforeurope.org/hoc06/ Release of report into "High value manufacturing"March 2006 A report has been written by the Institute for Manufacturing as part of a project co-funded by the DTI and the CBI to investigate the definition of High Value Manufacturing. More information and pdf file versions of the report
Centre for Industrial Photonics - Leading the field of advanced photonic systemsFebruary 2006 The Institute for Manufacturing has launched its Centre for Industrial Photonics (CIP). The centre aims to provide manufacturing industries with advanced production capabilities through research, development and application of photonics based technologies. The CIP is at the forefront in the field of advanced photonic systems and is developing leading-edge technologies and transforming them into commercially viable processes for industry. The Centre addresses future manufacturing needs through strong collaborative partnerships with government, academia and industry and is part of a global network of photonics-based research and education organizations that seek to deliver excellence in research, education, technology transfer and photonics-based business development. Dr O'Neill said "The creation of the CIP brings together a broad range of scientists and engineers that will combine their skills to create the next generation of laser based manufacturing technologies. The outputs from the CIP will provide our collaborators with the competitive edge that will be essential for their survival in the rapidly changing global economy. We look forward to making a real difference". Centre for Industrial Photonics
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