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.
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