I4T Project

A consortium, led by the University of Cambridge, has been awarded a multi-million pound grant to investigate how ink-jet print technology could revolutionise manufacturing processes. The group, headed by Professor Ian Hutchings of the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM), has been awarded £5m by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

The consortium comprises collaborators from two other Cambridge departments, the Universities of Durham and Leeds, and a group of nine companies which include the major UK players in the ink-jet sector.

The award, with additional funding from industry, will support a five-year programme of research to study the formulation, jetting and deposition of specialist printing fluids, and develop an overall process model. This work will improve the robustness of industrial ink-jet printing and help companies develop new applications for the technology. such as flat-panel displays, printed electronics, and photovoltaic cells for power generation.

Academic Partners

• Professor Ian Hutchings and Dr Graham Martin, University of Cambridge: Department of Engineering, Professor Malcolm Mackley, University of Cambridge: Department of Chemical Engineering
• Professor John Hinch, University of Cambridge: Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Professor Jas Pal Badyal and Professor Colin Bain, University of Durham: Department of Chemistry
• Dr Oliver Harlen, University of Leeds: Department of Mathematics;
• Professor Simon Biggs, University of Leeds: Institute of Particle Science and Engineering
• Dr Mark Wilson, University of Leeds: Department of Mechanical Engineering;

Industrial Partners

• Domino UK Ltd
• Inca Digital Printers Ltd
• GlaxoSmithKline
• Linx Printing Technologies plc
• Fujifilm Sericol UK
• Xaar plc
• Sun Chemical Ltd
• Xennia Technology Ltd
• Merck Chemicals.