Public Funding for Added Scientific Limited

Water filtration for desalination and other applications supports net zero and resource efficiency in supply chains and manufacturing processes. The global membrane filtration market is ~$25bn (Verified Market Research 2019) but a key problem is that filtration is energy intensive, especially if flow pressure drops or biofouling occurs. For instance, desalination consumes ~3 KWh per m3 of water processed. Plant operators demand reductions to 1.5 KWh/m3 which would reduce costs and carbon footprint. Industry solutions to address these performance issues include designing membrane spacers to decrease fluid resistance causing pressure drops. However, current spacer technology comprises first-generation plastic structures that are not application or membrane specific. Their simplistic design accelerates biofouling which requires chemical treatment. This reduces membrane and spacer lifespan to ~3 years vs a targeted 10 years. Evove are leading membrane manufacturers with patented filtration products and designers of a cutting-edge spacer technology. Added Scientific (ASL) are independent experts in Additive Manufacturing (AM) and 3D printing. Together they have partnered to conduct an industrial research project that aims to solve the industry challenge of poor spacer performance during filtration. The project will involve thorough development and re-engineering of Evove's TRL5 spacer prototype to enable scaled-up production at high-throughput and high-fidelity of spacers using novel 3D-material printers. As no current printer technology exists, a bespoke printer will be designed and built. The outcome of this project would result in a fully commercial manufacturing solution for Evove's spacers. This project will bring advanced additive manufacturing capability to Liverpool, create local jobs and deliver export opportunities for the UK. For these reasons, this industrial research project strongly aligns with the launchpad round2 competition scope.

To develop a new 3D ink-jet printing-based approach for the production of silicone materials (high temperature, high elongation and biocompatible), enabling 3D printed products across a wide variety of sectors.

Additive Manufacturing (aka 3D Printing) offers the pharmaceutical industry significant opportunities to create novel products with unique benefits for patients. However, there is a major challenge in demonstrating the viability and scalability of using ink jet printheads. This project aims to overcome these challenges, and build confidence in the potential opportunities for ink jet technology in the pharmaceutical industry.

Quantum devices will have a profound impact on society if they can be made smaller, cheaper and less power intensive; at present they are large pieces of laboratory equipment with few industrial applications due to their size and cost. This project will demonstrate the feasibility of using Additive Manufacturing (AM) to produce components for quantum devices that are commercially viable. Specifically, the project will focus on optimising the design of Magneto Optical Trap (MOT) assemblies, a key component of quantum devices that use ultracold atom clouds; the objective will be to achieve an order-of-magnitude reduction in the size, weight and power compared to current laboratory MOT structures.

This project will create the largest 3D printer of its type ever made, enabling high speed production of multiple items at low cost. This printer will exploit technology that allows the use of normal LCD screens to cure successive layers of resin, building up the 3D object more quickly and energy efficiently than competitive technologies. LCD screens have increased in resolution and reduced in price signifcantly in recent years. This enables large format 3D printers to now be economically attractive. In turn, this opens new opportunities for additive manufacturing in much higher volumes, dramatically reducing the cost of manufacture for each component. The proposed materials innovation will further improve the quality, strength and toughness of printed parts. This will enable them to be used in everyday mass produced products whilst being custom-made. This project will transform current 3D manufacturing, moving it from a high priced niche area to a fast, low cost solution suitable for industrial manufacture. Benefits are lower transportation costs, inventory levels and energy requirements, improving the competitiveness of UK manufacturing. For the first time, it will enable engineers, designers and entrepreneurs to create and manufacture their own custom products economically.

The Customisable 3D-Glass-Laser-Sintered-Structures project, "3D GLaSS" project will bring together the complete supply chain (material supplier, Additive Manufacturing (AM) equipment manufacturer, software developers, end-users of AM technology and their customers) to demonstrate the technical feasibility of a new (patented) glass-based additive manufacturing technology, along with associated software and glass-based materials, contributing towards the goal of realising a fully integrated glass based additive manufacturing system, with user-friendly design software. The project will show how the technology can be adapted ?for use across a broad range of applications, including for manufacturing continuous flow reactors and for adding decoration to glass bottles.

Vehicle efficiency, regardless of the powertrain type, can be increased through several strategies, including reducing weight, aerodynamic drag, reduction in rolling resistance and powertrain efficiency. Out of all, weight reduction is considered to have the greatest potential to increase vehicle efficiency and thus to reduce the CO2 emissions. The objective of the FLAC project is to progressively develop and demonstrate a portfolio lightweight automotive components with increased efficiency and functionality utilising an integrated SLM design methodology, a novel class of lattices, new aluminium alloys for SLM and demonstrate the viability of selective laser melting as a manufacturing route.