Thermo-mechanical analysis suite
We are working towards sustainable manufacturing and materials sectors through fundamental science and thought leadership for manufacturing and materials solutions across all sectors. We provide insight into current industry challenges in fields as diverse as graphene technologies, metal additive manufacturing and life cycle analysis.
“Switching to sustainable alternatives is an imperative but needs to be done in a clear-headed way, informed by a full knowledge of implications. This is nowhere more important than in manufacturing, the global machinery for transmuting natural resources into what’s useful, what’s needed.”
Professor Richard Herrington,
Head of Earth Sciences, Natural History Museum,
Guest speaker at Cranfield’s National Manufacturing Debate 2019
Thermo-mechanical analysis suite
UK No. 2
for production and manufacturing engineering PhDs.
(Higher Education Statistics Agency, 2020-2021)
UK Top 5
for engineering (Mechanical, aeronautical and manufacturing).
(QS World University Rankings by subject 2022)
Over half of our Manufacturing and Materials learners come from outside the UK, representing over 50 countries.
(Figures from June 2022)
Research in action
Making examination and surgical glove manufacture fit for a greener future
Graphene carbon nanotube reactor
Meditech Gloves, one of the leading manufacturers of high-quality examination and surgical gloves, sponsored Cranfield’s manufacturing group project in February 2020 and two PhD students, with the brief to revolutionise the way it produces its gloves.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Meditech Gloves increased its production of gloves substantially and is looking to scale-up further.
Rubber is the future for sustainable glove manufacture and Meditech Gloves is committed to have its gloves fully degradable and free of allergens.
Meditech Gloves is aiming to become the most sustainable and most efficient producer of rubber gloves and Cranfield is supporting them in this aim by reviewing the glove production process, energy usage and wastage of the rubber latex used in production.
Cranfield is also looking into the possibility of using nitrile in place of latex in examination gloves to achieve the same biodegradability.
“The best thing about studying at Cranfield was definitely the exposure to industry. I had the opportunity to be in the boardroom with Airbus supervisors talking about their digital strategy and how our group project was going to affect that.”
James Newberry,
Technology Consultant, KPMG,
(Global Product Development and Management MSc 2018)
Facilities
Our world-class facilities include:
- Composites manufacturing: a full range of composite manufacturing including novel 3D techniques and reinforcement using sustainable natural fibres.
- Welding Engineering and Laser Processing: one of the most extensive large-scale metal additive manufacturing facilities in the world with a variety of state-of-the-art laser processing equipment.
- Materials characterisation suite: students receive hands-on experience with a range of sophisticated techniques including electron and field ion microscopy.
- Smart manufacturing: we provide the capability to model and simulate manufacturing processes and whole factories including human behaviours.
- Specialist coatings: we are home to the National High Temperature Surface Engineering Centre and have multi-source coating machinery for the rapid prototyping of novel alloys.
- Nanomaterials laboratories: for the development and application of nanomaterials, including manufacturing of carbon nanotubes, graphene and other 2D materials.
Computerised Numerical Control (CNC) bubble multi-wire machine in the Welding, Engineering and Laser Processing Centre