A Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) between Platinum Electrical Engineering and Northumbria University has
received the highest possible rating by an independent assessor.
One of the outputs of the KTP is a new Building Additive
Manufacturing (BAM) capability which ‘prints’ the complete structure of a building
by autonomously depositing concrete layer by layer from the ground upwards.
The
BAM capability reduces build cost and time, as well as making a significant
contribution to net-zero by streamlining the supply chain, reducing
construction materials transportation and waste to near net-zero. Cement usage is reduced by using alternative waste
materials from steel and coal industries.
Now the partnership has been rated as
“outstanding” by Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency. Knowledge Transfer Adviser, John Clayton, of
the Knowledge Transfer Network, supported the KTP throughout and commented: "This was an extremely challenging and complex project. The impressive results,
demonstrated by this Outstanding grade, were achieved through excellent
collaboration among the company and university team, led by KTP Associate
Laurence whose performance, insight and team-working was exemplary throughout
the KTP."
Associate
Laurence Foster, in collaboration with academics from Northumbria’s Faculty of
Engineering and Environment and the Platinum project team, worked on-site at
Platinum’s premises in Gateshead to take the project through a detailed two-year project
plan involving discovery, technology development, prototyping, testing, and continual
enhancements.
The Project focussed on the BAM potential for building affordable
housing and involved creating bespoke additive manufacturing equipment and
software. The aim was to create a
prototype device capable of the in-situ manufacture of two-storey structures
and eventually a row of terraced houses.
Deployment of the BAM equipment on a
housing project will reduce build costs and times and deliver new homes more
rapidly, addressing the UK’s housing
crisis.
Platinum are continuing to develop the technology and collaborate with
the university, headed by Associate Professor Phil Hackney, an expert in Rapid
Manufacturing. The follow-on project, In-situ Building
Advanced Construction (IBAC), also represents a major innovation for UK
construction in its approach towards net-zero carbon by 2050.
Laurence
and the team have already been in talks with several Councils, housing providers,
and architechtural organisations to explore collaborative projects using the BAM
technologies developed in the KTP.
Commenting
on the KTP, Laurence said: “This project has opened my eyes to the huge
potential benefits to industries and wider socio-economic implications through the
development of newly emerging innovative systems. I’ve honed my CAD design, 3D
printing and project management skills to enable realisation of the second
known additive manufacture system in the UK capable of printing concrete.
"I
believe this opportunes positive disruption for the construction industry and
its traditional methodologies, through adoption of advanced automated
manufacturing technologies. This provides new and alternative ways for
structures to be built with safer practices and significantly reduced costs,
emissions, wastage and timescales compared to existing industry norms.”
KTP Associates have a hybrid role, working at the company, with
regular visits from Academic staff to supervise the project and discuss with
the company team. Laurence was able to learn from his colleagues in Platinum,
including his company supervisor Adam Viney, Electrical Control Engineer, and
to collaborate with leading researchers in Northumbria’s Department of Mechanical
and Construction Engineering on the investigation of deposition of cementatious
materials.
Laurence is now employed by Platinum in a new role as Lead R&D
Engineer, and continues to work on a range of projects, including the
continuation from the KTP project.
Gateshead-based Platinum
Electrical Engineering designs and manufactures
bespoke electrical machinery, control systems, and equipment for clients in manufacturing,
defence, aviation, and automation.
Their strategy is to exploit their unique
engineering expertise working collaboratively with partners to develop
innovative solutions for industry and societal challenges.
Their approach, led
by Managing Director Stephen Maltby, of combining engineering expertise, market
insights, IIOT, and partnership building underpinned the KTP. Stephen
explained that BAM
has enabled long term relationships and future projects, with interest from
several academic establishments and industry collaborators already in play.
Knowledge
Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) are an Innovate UK programme, designed to enable
collaboration between academia and industry, facilitating the transfer of
knowledge and technology to increase competitivity and to promote an innovation
culture.
Northumbria has a long track
record of successfully collaborating with small and large businesses on KTPs. Phil
Hackney commented: ‘KTPs are a great way for the university to build a
long-term relationship with a company and for Academics to learn about their business-critical
industrial challenges and create a route to high impact for their research.
"Our
KTP with Platinum helped the company embed new knowledge in additive
manufacturing and, in Laurence, they have a new, highly skilled motivated member
of the team ready to take on the next project."
To
find out more please vist Northumbria’s Mechanical and Construction Engineering department page.
Find out more about KTPs at https://www.ktp-uk.org/
Find out more about Northumbria University KTP case studies.
