Departmental news
WMG welcomes Binghamton University researchers as part of US-UK academic agreement
Professor Louis PiperLink opens in a new window from WMG, University of Warwick, was pleased to welcome representatives from Binghamton UniversityLink opens in a new window (USA).
This visit was an opportunity to showcase WMG’s world-class facilities and explore future collaborations.
Professor of Battery Innovation and Research Head of the Battery Materials & Cells group at WMG, Louis Piper explained: “Both WMG and Binghamton University are unique in their respective countries with industry-aligned pilot lines and prototype battery manufacturing and recycling capabilities.
“Both institutions are continuing to increase capabilities and facilities. For instance, WMG has recently upgraded its coating and cell assembly kit as part of the £12m Advanced Manufacturing Battery Industrialisation Centre (AMBIC).”
WMG Professor awarded the prestigious Leslie Holliday Prize
Congratulations to Ton Peijs, Professor of Polymer Engineering and Head of the Centre for Polymers and Composites (CPC) at WMG, University of Warwick, who has won this year’s esteemed Leslie Holliday PrizeLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window.
Awarded by the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining (IOM3)Link opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, the prize recognises significant or technological contributions to composite materials and is one of the most illustrious prizes in the field.
New Industrial Strategy welcomed by experts
Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) recognised as focus for battery innovation to improve UK economic resilience
Experts at the University of Warwick welcome the government’s new Industrial Strategy, announced today.
“The industrial strategy will be welcomed our partners in manufacturing,” said Greg Clark, Executive Chair of Warwick Innovation District*. “In having the confidence to choose particular sectors in which to invest over the long-term, the strategy sets out a roadmap that will secure the future of industries vital to the UK economy. We look forward to playing our part, here at the University of Warwick, in supporting its successful implementation.”
WMG drives green growth with new £13m EPSRC research hub
From developing greener materials and processes to growing more sustainable supply chains, a new £13.6 million research hub, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), will help researchers at WMG at the University of Warwick, tackle some of the UK’s biggest manufacturing challenges.
The new Manufacturing Research Hub in Sustainable Engineering Plastics (SEP) will be led by WMG’s Professor of Polymer Processes, Ton Peijs.
Researchers from WMG will work, over the next 7 years, alongside the University of Manchester and UCL to improve the way durable plastics – commonly used in cars, buildings, and electronics – are created, reused, and recycled. Researchers aim to reduce waste, support greener manufacturing practices, and advance the circular economy, with support from over 60 industry partners, including JLR, Polestar, Siemens, BEKO, Bellway, and Biffa, to turn research into real-world solutions.
Accelerating EV transition
Representatives from WMG were pleased to share their expertise at a two-day workshop in Indonesia, addressing the country’s key challenges in adopting electric vehicles.
The workshop, entitled “Sustainable Transportation: Policy Recommendations for the Acceleration of Electric Vehicles Adoption Addressing Environmental and Societal Challenges,” explored opportunities for collaboration between the UK and Indonesia in developing policies and technologies for sustainable transportation.
Key discussion points included mapping stakeholder needs, analysing policy gaps, sharing international best practices, and drafting policy recommendations for a sustainable EV ecosystem.
Self-driving shuttle route goes live
WMG at The University of Warwick is part of a pioneering project, led by Solihull CouncilLink opens in a new window, to develop a self-driving fully-electric shuttle service at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham.
A new autonomous vehicle trial is now underway, and visitors to the NEC can now take advantage of a pioneering self-driving shuttle service which will be in operation during busy events.
The Solihull & Coventry Automated Links Evolution (SCALE) project is a collaborative initiative, aimed at better understanding the role self-driving vehicles might one day play within our future transport system.
Nanocomposite research institute celebrates 10th anniversary
The International Institute for Nanocomposites Manufacturing (IINM) at WMG, University of Warwick has celebrated its 10th 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.
Battery safety project scoops top industry award
The SafeBatt project, involving battery experts from WMG at the University of Warwick, has won a Safety Innovation Award at the Electrical Product SafetyLink opens in a new window Conference.
The conference was held in London on Thursday (21st November) with the awards recognising and celebrating the best engineering collaborations and innovations across the UK.
Funded by the Faraday Institution, SafeBatt is a collaboration of seven universities as well as industry partners investigating the science behind battery safety.
New research tackles battery performance in electric vehicles
New research on the enhancement of the lifespan and performance of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles has been published by experts at WMG, the University of Warwick.
The paper, published in Joule – a leading sustainable energy journal - explores charge compensation in Li-ion battery cathodes by assessing the electronic structure.
WMG scientists in collaboration with academic partners in the Faraday Institution’s Degradation and FutureCat projects have experimentally demonstrated that oxygen (rather than the transition metal, as previously believed) is the redox active species, and is responsible for the energy storage mechanism.
Matthew Ogley, PhD Researcher at WMG, who led the project together with Dr Ashok S. Menon, explained: “This work highlights the bulk stability of NMC811 cathodes within high voltage cycling windows. By now focusing on surface stabilisation to minimise degradation, our research highlights practical strategies for the creation of longer-lasting batteries, which is crucial for electric vehicles.”
WMG welcomes Research Fellows from South America
Professor Louis Piper and his team, at WMG at the University of Warwick, are pleased to welcome two Visiting Research Fellows (VRF), Nicolas Palma and Arroyo Gomez, from Chile and Argentina, respectively.
The VRF programme, facilitated by the Faraday Institution, provides funding to UK universities to host exceptional academics, at the post-doctoral research associate (PDRA) career stage, for a period of six months.
WMG will support, supervise, and mentor the VRFs as they conduct battery research and establish new collaborations.