NMIS Innovation priorities
Environmental sustainability is top of the manufacturing agenda, with a growing need for manufacturing processes that make the best possible use of natural resources. However, if more resource-efficient processes are to be welcomed by industry, they must be cost-competitive and centred around circular economy principles.
We must also support energy-orientated solutions such as electrification, hydrogen infrastructure, sustainable fuels and small-scale nuclear reactors.
Company and supply chain level challenges
Whilst the benefits of embracing resource-efficient manufacturing are clear, there are various company and supply chain level challenges. A lack of technology investment and a suitable talent pool are just some of the hurdles that must be overcome.
The UK and Scotland have identified hydrogen as a key technology for helping to reach net-zero targets by 2045.
While hydrogen use does not directly reduce carbon emissions, it is central for transferring and storing energy, allowing renewably generated electricity to replace fossil fuels for applications where direct electricity or battery use are unsuitable.
There is a range of ambitious, innovative, hydrogen-related projects across Scotland; however, uptake is currently limited by production and deployment costs.
Indistry challenges
Due to its high cost of production and fluctuating demand, hydrogen can be challenging to generate reliably, while there are issues centred around a lack of suitable storage infrastructure.
Test beds
RESuME
Through the demonstration of smart factory performance, the RESuME testbed will use machine learning to create the infrastructure and systems architecture to enable a fully connected, digital manufacturing environment.
As a result, energy performance can be monitored in real-time and calibrated accordingly, ensuring processes are as sustainable as possible.
Remake
By utilising new technologies to combine and remake components more efficiently and cost-effectively, the Remake testbed will play a significant role in the future of sustainable manufacturing.
Reconfigurable pilot line
A bespoke, interchangeable and automated cell for companies to prove and adopt new manufacturing technologies, to lower the barriers to entry to advanced manufacturing research.
FutureForge
A unique, state-of-the-art forging platform to accelerate the prove-out of new products and forging methods through the provision of high-accuracy modelling and validation based on high-quality data availability.
Future Fibre
A hub to develop fibre and polymer-based materials from sustainable and conventional sources. FutureFibre aims to identify a sustainable alternative to carbon fibre, one of the most widely used and versatile materials in manufacturing today.