Industrial research centre the Materials Processing Institute (MPI) has secured a £4.2m investment into work on decarbonising key UK "foundation" sectors.
Newly appointed CEO Terry Walsh announced the capital injection for the North East-based institute's work on the EconoMISER programme, which is helping to make some of the country's biggest industrial polluters more sustainable. Research at the MPI is helping to scale-up sustainable technologies that can play a role in the making of metals, ceramics, glass, chemicals, paper and cement.
The Teesside-based institute will create a new Cement and Concrete Research Centre, and invest in predictive artificial intelligence technologies to support alloy development, new instrumentation to validate furnace modelling together with refractories testing equipment. Mr Walsh, who took over as CEO this week, said: "This support will fund investment in cutting-edge equipment and facilities enhancing research capabilities in areas which include alloy development, hot metal processing, furnace modelling techniques, concrete and cement decarbonisation, and the testing of energy sources for refractories."
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MPI is a member of the Foundation Industries Sustainability Consortium (FISC) - a body that brings together foundation industries leaders - and is tasked with delivering the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funded initiative to grow sustainable technologies. The FISC includes other research and innovation centres such as the neighbouring Centre for Process Innovation (CPI), Lucideon, Henry Royce Institute and Glass Futures.
Together the centres are focussed on five key areas: recycling and reuse, alternative fuels, digital control and sensors, development of sustainable materials and process optimisation.
Mr Walsh's appointment to the 75-year-old institute follows his most recent role as managing director of German chemical manufacturing business Ferro Duo GmbH. He has more than three decades in the chemical and manufacturing sectors having previously had prominent roles at INEOs, ICI and Venator Materials.
He said: “I’m thrilled to join the Materials Processing Institute at such a pivotal moment. This £4.2m investment in EconoMISER 2 is a testament to our commitment to driving innovation and positions the Institute at the forefront of scaling-up technologies that will accelerate industrial decarbonisation. Under my leadership, the Institute remains committed to leading the charge in sustainable development and to forging partnerships that will bring about real and lasting change."
