The only 3D printing centre in UK academia to both provide bespoke material development capability and offer access to a specialist suite of equipment designed to enhance product sustainability.
It's offering is defined by seven key features:
Solutions for manufacturing and healthcare
We support all sectors, from aerospace and healthcare to consumer goods and construction, in developing high-quality solutions.
Focus on sustainability
We strive to reduce environmental impact, innovate in sustainable 3D printing, and help businesses incorporate sustainability into their models.
Academic-led expertise
All our projects are co-developed in collaboration with our community of scientists and engineers to ensure cutting-edge solutions.
New material development
We're the only academic-based 3D printing centre capable of creating bespoke materials: from waste materials like cellulose, to biomaterials that enable treatments from teeth whitening to bone reconstruction.
One-stop destination
Located on our purpose-built engineering campus, we're connected to a network of labs for mechanical testing, material characterisation, and further refinement, delivering everything you need on-site.
Industry-led infrastructure
We provide access to a comprehensive range of rapid, production-grade equipment, plus support from a dedicated technical team, to develop end-to-end solutions for production, post-production, and quality inspection.
Professional 3D scanning capability
We offer advanced optical-, LiDAR- and CD scanning tools for reverse engineering and recreating parts.
We work directly with industry to develop practical, real-world solutions that improve manufacturing efficiency, enable more sustainable products, and support health and wellbeing.
Our research translates into tangible outcomes through improved processes, advanced materials, and higher-quality products for the end-users in mind.
Our impact
Here are some of the ways we're helping devise solutions ready for the real world.
Supporting SMEs to adopt 3D printing to increase their competitiveness →
Speak to our experts
Dr Abdalla Omar
Adjunct Lecturer and Research Associate
- Applies materials research to enable sustainable manufacturing through biopolymer development and fibre-reinforced composites
- Leads the integration of smart and nanomaterials to design lightweight, multifunctional structures
- Specialises in optimising additive manufacturing processes to improve print quality, surface finish, and structural performances
Eddie Whitehouse
Technical Specialist
- Brings hands-on expertise in both polymer and metal 3D printing systems across industrial applications
- Develops innovative engineering design solutions tailored for additive manufacturing and production scalability
- Implements embedded electronics for real-time process control and system responsiveness
Nathan Bailey
Senior Technician
- Executes high-precision 3D scanning for detailed part inspection and digital modelling
- Applies advanced metrology techniques to ensure dimensional accuracy and reliability
- Oversees quality assurance workflows to maintain consistency across manufacturing runs