Lightweight Manufacturing Centre

Making the next generation of sustainable products and processes

The Lightweight Manufacturing Centre (LMC) is a specialist technology centre within the Scottish Government’s National Manufacturing Institute Scotland and is hosted and operated by the University of Strathclyde.

Working with companies of various sizes across all sectors, we are building a capability in Scotland to support technology and supply chain development for exploiting and processing novel and industrial materials.

We're here to help you make the next generation of products more sustainable and efficient while transforming your business. Embracing a holistic approach, we will work with you and our wide network of industry, academic and funding partners to explore and de-risk innovation across the full product lifecycle.

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Sqm factory space

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Facility investment

308

Projects supported

Project spotlight

Our team is working on ground-breaking research projects that could transform the future of manufacturing using robust yet lightweight materials, such as composites.

Reconfigurable pilot line

Our team is developing a reconfigurable pilot line (rpl) to provide a more flexible alternative to the traditional fixed pilot line method. the aim? making composite manufacturing more accessible and stimulating the growth of the supply chain within scotland and the wider uk.

Sustainable Composites

We're monitoring the full impact of the composites recycling process. using life cycle analysis and cost modelling related to specific industrial requirements, the hope is to establish a closed-loop system for carbon fibre that will see the material recycled and reused rather than discarded.

ACT Blade

A new technology, developed by Edinburgh-based ACT Blade in collaboration with the LMC, the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) in Sheffield, and the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult (OREC) in Blyth, aims to replace the heavier glass fibre design traditionally used for wind turbine blades with a lighter composite, wrapped in a sail-like textile shell.

Future Fibre

A collaborative research and development project combining the experience of academics and industry professionals to provide the environment, infrastructure and resources to delve deeper into alternatives to the traditional fibre manufacturing process.

Additive manufacturing

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Meet the team

Iain Bomphray

Director, Lightweight Manufacturing Centre

Iain was appointed in August 2019 as Director of the Lightweight Manufacturing Centre (LMC).

A Chartered Engineer, Fellow of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and a Professor of Industrial Practice at the University of Strathclyde, Iain has had a successful career delivering lightweight structural solutions across sectors from Automotive through to Aerospace, Marine, Rail, Civil, Defence, Renewables and Formula One motorsport where he worked as Chief Engineer for Red Bull Technologies. Latterly he worked as Chief Technical Specialist with Williams Advanced Engineering supporting cross-sector challenges in higher volume applications for composites.

Throughout his career, Iain has developed specialisms in both metallic and composite materials and their manufacturing methods. Highlights include the first carbon fibre gearbox in F1, and subsequent first applications for Honda and Red Bull Racing, the first composite door for London Underground and some of the largest individual carbon fibre structures ever produced, which reside in the Marine sector.

Iain Bomphray

Director, Lightweight Manufacturing Centre

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Our capabilities

The National Manufacturing Institute Scotland is providing businesses with the means to explore new opportunities, increase and maintain competitiveness whilst also helping to develop a wide, supportive manufacturing supply chain.

Our expertise

Our technical capability extends beyond our state-of-the-art equipment, it’s very much dependent upon the expertise of our people.

Working with us

Working with NMIS gives you access to world-class capabilities and expertise in Scotland.