Leicester University plans vibrometry research centre
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Leicester University is to establish a vibrometry research centre to support engineering and manufacturing in the automotive, aerospace and space sectors.
The project, carried out with industrial partner Polytec, will establish the UK’s first commercial 3D laser (non-contact) vibration scanning measurement and modal-analysis centre, offering the first modelling and certification services in Europe.
The government has allocated £1.07m from its Regional Growth Fund’s latest round of investment towards the £5.6m Advanced Structural Dynamics Evaluation Centre (ASDEC) centre, which will create 250 engineering jobs.
The facility will use a robot with laser technology to analyse and assess the design, parts and components of products.
This will save time and costs in the production processes by analysing in advance whether design and vibrating parts of a machine are optimised.
Prof Kevin Schurer, Leicester’s pro-vice-chancellor for research and enterprise, said: ‘ASDEC will deliver innovations, cost savings, competitive advantage and new routes to market in UK industry.
‘The facility will act as a catalyst and an entry point for the university for a broad range of additional services around the core testing and advanced modelling services.
‘It will enable partners to evaluate the dynamic response of structures for mechanical design, certification, lifetime monitoring, damage assessment and forensics. The centre will develop and provide innovative solutions using the latest technologies, methodologies and materials.’
The successful bids to the Regional Growth Fund are subject to legal checks before they can be awarded their final funding allocation.
This will establish whether or not the government is confident that the organisations can deliver on the proposals in the bid and agree them through contract. The government expects the money to start being passed on to the bidders in the spring.
