What’s Happening Inside the Centre for Advanced Manufacturing?

Part of the £13 million, state-of-the-art National Centre Motorsport Engineering, the brand-new Centre for Advanced Manufacturing (CfAM) is preparing to offer an extensive equipment and capability list to partners. We’re excited about partnering with companies like Xact Metal to deliver increased accessibility for companies looking to maximise the benefit of additive manufacturing. 

Here is a taste of some of the opportunities your business could take advantage of... 

- Powder analysis, characterisation and test of metallic and polymer powders 
- A composite space including large and small ovens, a hot press and an autoclave 
- An additive manufacturing capability including powder and wire polymers, powder bed fusion of a variety of metals across multiple platforms, and a binder system by Desktop Metal  
- A test lab including metallurgical preparation, microscopy, static and dynamic testing, and indentation plastometry alongside chemical and surface measurement and metrology 

The CfAM is always happy to welcome visits and conversations to help find business solutions, provide advice, or inspiration for visitors and students alike.  

Who to speak to... 

Chartered engineer and PhD candidate Robert Higham heads up the Centre for Advanced Manufacturing. Bringing a decade of experience with additive manufacturing, Robert has qualified and signed-off 3D printed metal parts for commercial flight, so you know you’ll be in safe hands! 

More recently Robert has researched and developed educational programmes and uptake of additive manufacturing at companies globally. He’s a passionate advocate of these new technologies and delivers the practical experience that the University of Bolton values highly in all of its team members.   

You can contact Robert via email to discuss the opportunities provided by partnering with the Centre for Advanced Manufacturing at R.Higham@bolton.ac.uk.