NEWS 14 HYDRAULICS & PNEUMATICS October 2024 www.hpmag.co.uk MTC has teamed up with Lumentum, a leading laser manufacturer, aiming to accelerate the use of lasers in UK manufacturing. Lumentum brings a rich history of producing high-performance commercial lasers, including high-power ultra-short pulse lasers. MTC has been engaged in laser-based manufacturing for over twelve years, covering a wide range of laser technologies from continuous wave to ultra-short pulse lasers, for various InProcess, a spinout from the University of Strathclyde, has developed the world’s first real-time inspection system for welding. The innovation, which uses ultrasonic waves to detect defects as they occur, has the potential to save manufacturers millions of pounds by reducing rework and delays in production. The breakthrough system was recognised at this year’s Converge Awards, where InProcess secured the top prize for its innovative technology. The Converge Awards, an annual event that highlights leading academic innovations from Scotland, awarded InProcess the prestigious Converge Challenge award, which recognises business ideas with strong intellectual property (IP) potential and scalability. The company received a £50,000 cash prize and £20,500 in business support. InProcess was co-founded by University of Strathclyde researcher, Momchil Vasilev, who highlighted the importance of welding in various industries, including the manufacturing of net-zero infrastructure like wind turbines: “Welding is an integral part of modern society and enables a number of crucial sectors. Currently, weld defects are usually found at the end of production, with up to 20% of assets requiring repairs.” He added: “Our ultrasonic sensor is the first to detect these defects in real time, during the manufacturing process, which could save fabricators millions. We aim to revitalise the UK’s manufacturing sector by bringing high-value component production back to the country and creating high-quality jobs in Scotland.” InProcess was not the only University of Strathclyde spinout to be recognised at the awards. PCAD, another Strathclydebased project, earned the runner-up prize in the Converge Challenge category. Led by Iain McDougall and Anthony McGarry, PCAD is transforming prosthetic care by digitising the process of limb fitting. Its solution reduces the time required for fitting prosthetics from hours to seconds, improving both efficiency and patient comfort. In the Create Change category, which recognises social and impact-driven Lumentum partners with MTC to drive laser technology advancements in UK University of Strathclyde spinout InProcess develops real-time welding inspection industrial applications including welding, cutting, and surface engineering, and has made a noticeable impact on the UK manufacturing. Historically, the focus within the UK, including much of MTC’s work, has been based on low-power ultra-short pulse lasers has been based on low-power lasers, which has limited productivity. The new partnership will enable MTC to expand its portfolio to include high-power ultra-short pulse laser processing. To kick-start the collaboration, a 200W picosecond laser, equipped with the ability to operate across three different wavelengths (IR, Green, and UV), has been installed at MTC. Moreover, this laser system offers flexibility in beam delivery, with options for both Galvoscanner and Polygon scanner. This new setup, for the first time in the UK, will enable low to mid-TRL research using polygon scanner-based ultra-short pulse laser processing. This partnership not only pioneers new research in the UK but also has the potential to significantly impact the future of the UK manufacturing sector. The collaboration between Lumentum and MTC opens exciting possibilities for addressing some of the unique challenges faced by the UK manufacturing sector. Lumentum’s ultrafast lasers can help overcome hurdles in processing hard, brittle, or composite materials, crucial in industries like aerospace and defence. By leveraging Lumentum’s technical expertise and innovative product capabilities, MTC aims to push the boundaries of materials processing further. As we look to the future of UK manufacturing, the partnership between Lumentum and MTC represents a significant step forward in driving industry innovation and competitiveness globally.
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