Henry Royce Institute

The University's world-leading Department of Materials Science and Engineering is a major partner of the Henry Royce Institute for Research and Innovation of Advanced Materials. We lead on the Institute's theme of Advanced Metals Processing.

Championing Advanced Metals Processing

A modern building in the background, metal 3D-printed objects in the foreground

About the Henry Royce Institute

Through collaboration with industry, we aim to deliver a step-change in the discovery and making of new material systems and processes, with emphasis on metal powders and additive manufacturing.

Our vision

A digital image of an aircraft turbine with sections coloured in grey, yellow, blue and orange

Our capabilities

We have developed capabilities that will enable us to work with industry to develop novel products and processes - from fundamental research right through to translation for industry, covering Technology Readiness Levels one to six.

Find out more

A bird's eye view of the workshop at the Royce Translational Centre, with various heavy machinery

Our facilities

We provide state-of-the-art facilities for research into advanced materials development and manufacturing - all in one place. Our equipment is available to industry and academia wishing to benefit from our knowledge and expertise.

Our facilities

Our research themes

Materials discovery and prototyping

Delivering a step change in the way that novel materials are developed for specific applications. Take a look at our melting and casting systems.

Powder production

Producing new, bespoke alloys in powder form is a vital part of what we do. Find out more about our state-of-the-art equipment for atomisation, milling and spheroidisation.

Manufacturing advanced materials

Our focus is on the introduction of new resource efficient, sustainable and lightweight materials and processes. Our facilities include spark plasma sintering and isostatic pressing.

Near Net Shape manufacturing technologies

These technologies, which include Additive Manufacturing (AM), produce components close to the finished size and shape, with reduced material waste. Discover our range of AM machines.

Characterisation and testing

Our characterisation capabilities span all other functions housed within the Henry Royce Institute at Sheffield. The techniques available play a vital role in our iterative approach to the design, make, refine process.

Materials in the circular economy

For additive manufacturing to realise its full potential, high cost metal powders must undergo a step-change reduction in price, which will be achieved by recycling, down-cycling and new primary metal production processes.