WMG Warwick Manufacturing Group

Staff and students from across WMG at the University of Warwick had another busy, fun-packed British Science Week, taking part in a total of 11 special STEM events reaching out to more than 1,500 young scientists, teachers, and families.

British Science WeekLink opens in a new window is a ten-day celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths running from 7-16 March.

WMG staff and students joined the Outreach Team at the University of Warwick’s Resonate Festival of Science and Technology; led science workshops at schools and held the Royal Institution (Ri) Engineering Masterclasses and celebration events.

The Resonate Festival of Science and Technology welcomed over 500 people. Here the WMG team ran ‘Inventors, Explorers and Engineers’, which featured a robot maze; a robot vehicle battle arena; coding workshops; a controllable model train system and more.

On Wednesday (12th February), the WMG OutreachLink opens in a new window Team hosted an Engineering Industry Day at the Degree Apprenticeship Centre, at The University of Warwick.

The team welcomed over 100 Year 8 and 9 students from across the West Midlands, including those from Barr’s Hill School, Eden Girls School, Yardleys School, Harris C of E Academy and West Coventry Academy.

The event aimed to inspire students from groups under-represented in STEM to consider careers in engineering ahead of them choosing their GCSE subjects.

This project was led by Marie Diebolt, the Outreach Project Officer on the High Value Manufacturing CatapultLink opens in a new window Inspiring Young Engineers project. The project aims to foster a positive culture of engineering in young people and create the future engineering workforce.

On the day, students were welcomed by Professor Kerry KirwanLink opens in a new window who encouraged them to reflect on what their career path might look like. They met employers from various engineering sectors including RambollLink opens in a new window, JLRLink opens in a new window, Aston Martin Lagonda LtdLink opens in a new window, Legacy Manufacturing Solutions LimitedLink opens in a new window, CapgeminiLink opens in a new window, and SAPLink opens in a new window, and WMG apprentices.

WMG, at the University of Warwick, recently hosted a workshop to announce the start of its EU-funded Lasers4MaaS project, and the launch of its new Advanced Laser Welding with Dynamic Beam Shaping Lab - the first of its kind in the UK.

The event welcomed scientists, academics, and industry professionals from the high-value manufacturing sector, and provided a platform to share insights into the latest advancements in laser welding technologies, powered by dynamic beam shaping and digital technologies.

The workshop was chaired by WMG’s Reader and Lasers4MaaS’s coordinator, Dr Pasquale Franciosa, with Link opens in a new windowWMG’s Chief Technology Officer, Simon Webb,Link opens in a new window opening the event by highlighting the importance of strategic R&D programmes in advancing manufacturing.

The International Institute for Nanocomposites Manufacturing (IINM) at WMG, University of Warwick has celebrated its 10^th anniversary.

Launched in 2014, the IINM was the world’s first institute exploiting polymer processing techniques and supporting industry with innovative manufacturing technologies to produce polymer nanocomposites.

A decade later, it has supported manufacturers operating in telecommunications; electronics; pharmaceuticals; aerospace; automotive; security and medicine, including international organisations such as JLR; Baker Hughes; James Walker; Synthos; Versarien Graphene Ltd; First Graphene Ltd, Thomas Swan & Co Ltd and Black Swan Graphene, as well as highly innovative SMEs such as Senergy Innovations Ltd.

To commemorate the milestone, guests were invited for a guided tour, where they had the opportunity to meet the founder and Director of the IINM, Professor Tony McNallyLink opens in a new window, as well as academic leads Professor Chaoying WanLink opens in a new window and Dr Lukasz FigielLink opens in a new window; Research Fellows and PhD students to talk about current research.

Expert comment from Professor Siddartha Khastgir, Head of Safe Autonomy at WMG on the UK Government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan

“I welcome this timely and ground-breaking AI Opportunities Action Plan by the UK Government. We thank both the UK Government and Matthew Clifford CBE for laying a solid foundation for the UK’s AI development and deployment in the coming decade.

‘‘AI has huge potential to help develop different life-changing technologies. However, AI, when used in safety-critical applications such as Self-Driving vehicles and Advanced Driver Assistance technology, needs to be trusted. With the lack of internationally-agreed methodologies or mechanisms to prove that AI is safe, we urge the government to prioritise safe AI in this plan.

‘‘We welcome the announcement of AI Growth Zones, which could attract significant investment into the UK in high-growth sectors such as Safe Automated Mobility. For example, at WMG we have partnered with leading AI developer Wayve on our £1.9 million-research project, DriveSafe AI, to develop scalable engineering safety guidelines and mechanisms to prove AI is safe for self-driving technology while sharing with the ecosystem and building on international standards like ISO/PAS 8800.’’

Read more about WMG’s Safe Autonomy research here: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wmg/research/research-areas/safeautonomy

Professor David GreenwoodLink opens in a new window, CEO of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult at WMG, comments on the newly established UK Steel Council.

“The establishment of the Steel Council marks a turning point in the narrative of the UK steel industry as it transitions to a clean, green, digitalised future.

“To succeed, government, industry, trade unions and research bodies must work together to deliver a long-term strategy encompassing policy; technology; skills; supply chains, and regions.

“WMG, as a centre of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, is delighted to contribute to the success of the Council and help to secure the future of the UK steel industry.”

A PhD student from WMG at the University of Warwick, has been honoured at the International Rubber Conference Organisation (IRCO) RubberCon 2024.

The IRCO RubberCon, an annual event organised by a careful selection of rubber societies, gathers industry leaders and experts for insightful discussions. This year’s conference, held in Kerala, India, focused on the theme, “Sustainable Development in the Rubber Industry: Challenges and Opportunities.”

Ajitha Achuthanunni, who is based in WMG’s International Institute of Nanocomposite Manufacturing (IINM), received the Best Presentation Award for her groundbreaking research on composites of 2D materials and rubber blends.