www.mec.cf.ac.uk

The Manufacturing Engineering Centre (MEC) at Cardiff University (CU) was founded in 1996. The 90-strong MEC conducts world-class research and development in all major areas of Advanced Manufacturing and uses the output to promote the introduction of new manufacturing technology and practice to industry.

Over 100 industrial partners including Daimler, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Mitutoyo, Parametric Technology, SAP, Silicon Graphics, Siemens and Zeiss have supported research at the Centre which has collaborative projects with more than 22 countries in Europe, Asia and the Americas. Since its establishment, the Centre has gained international recognition for research in Intelligent Control, Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing and more recently in Micro/Nano Manufacturing. In particular, a Micro and Nano Manufacturing (MNM) R&D programme was initiated by the Centre in 2001 with a focus on advanced manufacturing research for micro and nano-systems, one of the priority areas in the UK Technology Strategy. In 2005, in recognition of its research achievements and state-of-the-art facilities in Micro and Nano Technology (MNT) the Centre became one of the main nodes within the UK MNT Network. Currently, the MEC MNM programme includes a portfolio of National and EC funded research projects with a total budget in excess of £11M.