Automotive with Royce at the University of Sheffield

Welcome to Royce at the University of Sheffield, one of the leading partners for the UK's national institute for advanced materials research and innovation; The Henry Royce Institute.

Welcome to Royce at the University of Sheffield ...

... where innovation meets excellence in automotive research and development.

Our state-of-the-art facilities and collaborative environment provide a dynamic space for forward-thinking businesses in the automotive industry.

We are committed to pushing the boundaries of technology and fostering breakthroughs in materials science, manufacturing, and engineering. As a hub for cutting-edge research, we invite automotive research and development teams to leverage our world-class expertise, cutting-edge equipment, and multidisciplinary approach to drive innovation and stay at the forefront of the rapidly evolving automotive landscape.

Allow us to join you in shaping the future of mobility and advancing the frontiers of automotive technology, bringing to life your ideas to fuel progress.

Located at the University of Sheffield, a leading institution renowned for its research and academic prowess, we offer a unique ecosystem that facilitates collaboration between industry leaders, academia, and government entities.

Our dedicated team of researchers, engineers, and experts is ready to support your business in tackling complex challenges and unlocking new possibilities.

Let's accelerate the pace of innovation and drive transformative advancements in the automotive sector.

Case Studies

Swarf Titanium to Engine Parts in 3 Steps

Lower-cost access to lightweight titanium alloys will be a game-changer for the automotive industry, enabling manufacturers to reduce the emissions their cars create, while keeping them affordable.

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An image of two springs formed by continuous extrusion

Making vehicles lighter and more sustainable

Researchers have discovered that through a method of continuous extrusion, rejected titanium powders can be used to create components for high-performance applications.

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An example of an object created by additive manufacturing

Sheffield researchers 3D-printed electric motor could revolutionise the industry

Sheffield researchers, working with collaborators at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, have developed an electric motor, using 3D printing technology, paving the way for future electric motors to increase their power using less material

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Investigating Rare-Earth Free Permanent Magnetic Materials for Applications in Electric Motors

Elizabeth Davis-Fowell, PhD Researcher based at The University of Sheffield, Partners with Volkswagen Materials Group to discover novel alternatives to existing magnetic alloys in use in the automotive sector.

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Key Personnel

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Dr Nick Weston

Application Scientist (Advanced Metals Processing) | Henry Royce Institute
Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Developing capabilities and understanding limitations of Field Assisted Sintering Technology in order to apply its unique processing capabilities to solve real-world industrial manufacturing problems.

Email address: n.weston@sheffield.ac.uk

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Dr Yunus Azakli

Henry Royce Institute Engineering Lead (Materials Discovery & Prototyping)
Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Advanced metal processing via melting, casting and thermomechanical treatments.

Email address: y.azakli@sheffield.ac.uk

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Dr Will Pulfrey

Henry Royce Institute Engineering Lead (Thermomechanical Processing)
Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Email address: will.pulfrey@sheffield.ac.uk

Key Equipment

Nigel Adams loads the FAST with a mould filled with titanium swarf

Field Assisted Sintering Technology or Spark Plasma Sintering

Field Assisted Sintering Technology/Spark Plasma Sintering (FAST/SPS) uses a DC electric current to directly heat the mould and/or sample through Joule heating. This direct heating allows high heating rates and low processing cycle times to be achieved. Lower temperatures and mould pressures are also typical compared to conventional hot pressing and sintering techniques.

FAST/SPS offers new possibilities to manufacture numerous materials with potentially extraordinary characteristics. The Type HP D 250/C Furnace is ideal to investigate the scale-up of FAST/SPS for industrial applications.

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Hot Rolling

Our two-high, 136 tonne, Hot Rolling Mill has been designed specifically for the us to roll steels, titanium alloys, and nickel-based alloys from a maximum starting thickness of 80mm to a finished thickness of 3mm.

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Additive Manufacturing

Royce at the University of Sheffield offers a wide range of state-of-the-art additive manufacturing (AM) equipment, hosting open source software with full instrumentation and complete control of the manufacturing process, which are therefore able to optimise for new alloys.

Additive Manufacturing technologies developed through Royce at the University of Sheffield hold the potential to displace existing technologies with reduced material waste and increased part complexity.

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