University of Nottingham Collaboration Wins Manufacturing Technology Award

A multi-site collaboration between the University of Nottingham, Loughborough University and Coventry University is celebrating after winning the “Manufacturing Technology” category at this year’s Collaborate to Innovate (C2I) Awards.

Made up of eight categories, the annual C2I Awards are in their eighth year and celebrate the UK’s depth of engineering talent and the role they play in addressing some of the biggest global challenges we’re currently facing.

The rapid expansion of advanced manufacturing technologies in industry means there’s an increased need for more sophisticated inspection strategies. In response to this, the Midlands Centre for Data-Driven Metrology (MCDDM) has developed “a single-click automated manufacturing metrology demonstrator” that integrates new technologies, custom-code, machine learning, and digital manufacturing trends to improve speed, reduce costs and enhance quality inspection.

Professor Samanta Piano, Director of the MCDDM and Professor of Metrology at the University of Nottingham, said: “This demonstrator is the culmination of seven years of research and we’re incredibly proud of the significant progress we’ve made in developing customised metrology solutions for advanced manufacturing applications.”

By integrating several techniques into a cohesive system, we’ve been able to enhance measurement speed and automation, bringing us closer to a streamlined, user-friendly solution that minimises complexity and increases productivity.

Professor Samanta Piano

The team is now moving onto a second phase, which aims to concentrate more on the speed and integration of machine learning to optimise the optical demonstrator into a single-click solution.

To be recognised for creating cutting-edge tools and technologies that solve real world challenges is exactly what we’re looking to do here at Nottingham.

Professor Chris Tuck, Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange

Professor Tuck continued: “We’re thrilled to have continued our streak of success at the C2I awards with another win this year, and I’d like to congratulate the team on their well-deserved win.”