The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) has joined forces with world-leading metrology experts to launch the Advanced Metrology Hub for Sustainable Manufacturing. This initiative aims to address the commercialization of early-stage research within key manufacturing areas, such as semiconductors, by making processes more sustainable.
The new hub, one of five recently funded by the UK Research and Innovation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), seeks to reduce waste, emissions, pollution, and production costs in manufacturing. Led by the University of Huddersfield, the hub will be supported by a consortium including the AMRC, Manufacturing Technology Centre, Heriot-Watt University, Queen’s University, University of Oxford, University of Southampton, and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL).
Focusing on developing groundbreaking technologies, the hub will create ultra-fast and compact sensors using nanophotonic metamaterials and quantum sensors to enhance resource efficiency and productivity across precision manufacturing sectors. These advancements in metrology—the science of measurement—could decrease reliance on inexpensive international labor and reduce the carbon footprint of transporting manufactured goods.
Professor Ben Morgan, AMRC research director, will lead an innovation spoke to support the project. “The current manufacturing landscape is driven by a need for high customization, accuracy, and speed while keeping costs, waste, and energy usage low. Metrology stands as the cornerstone, underpinning more efficient and productive processes,” he stated.
“At the AMRC, innovation and sustainability are at the core of everything we do. This new Hub will act as a national gateway for advanced metrology—creating and delivering innovative research and technologies with partners—to drive future UK manufacturing excellence with a clear emphasis on sustainability,” Morgan added.
The hub has identified five priority areas to demonstrate new metrology technologies and methods: sustainable and connected machinery, zero carbon transport, clean energy systems, semiconductors, and manufacturing reuse. The AMRC will focus on zero carbon transport and manufacturing reuse.
The University of Sheffield is participating in four of the five EPSRC-funded hubs. Besides the advanced metrology hub, they are involved in CSManuHubSust, the MediForge hub, and the Manufacturing Research Hub in Robotics, Automation, and Smart Machine Enabled Sustainable Circular Manufacturing and Materials (RESCu-M2).
Professor Sue Hartley, vice-president for research and innovation at the University of Sheffield, expressed pride in the university’s involvement. “Research and innovation in manufacturing is an area of strength for us here at the University of Sheffield. Our academics have a fantastic track record delivering projects that have real impact locally, nationally, and internationally. These hubs continue that tradition,” she said.
“I’d like to congratulate everyone involved on these awards and wish you every success in your research to help make manufacturing more efficient, productive, and sustainable,” Hartley concluded.