PHYSICS INNOVATION SET TO TRANSFORM SCOTTISH MANUFACTURING 

Researchers at the National Robotarium, hosted by Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, have secured £586,000 to develop 3D laser beams whose shape can be changed.
The innovation is set to transform the manufacturing and healthcare technology industries, making it easier and cheaper to create products that require highly-precise manufacturing, such as medical equipment and mobile devices.
The funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation, will support the research and development of the lasers for industry application.
It is hoped the lasers will accelerate the commercialisation of the technology for the benefit of businesses and the wider Scottish economy.
Lasers are a crucial component of modern manufacturing, with the global laser processing market projected to grow from $4 billion (£2.8 billion) in 2020 to $5.8 billion (£4.1 billion) by 2025.
They are used widely by industry to produce precise incisions and mould materials into specific shapes.
The standard laser beam shape makes it difficult to tailor this for specific manufacturing processes, decreasing efficiency and limiting what can be made.
The new technique could be harnessed to improve how holes for sensors and cameras on smartphone screens are drilled and to increase the density of information on semiconductor chips, helping to keep up with the ever-increasing demand for more memory in devices.
Medical applications could include cancer surgery, where it is hoped more precise medical instruments could allow the resection of tumours without removing healthy surrounding tissue.
In keeping with the National Robotarium’s focus on industry collaboration to solve global challenges, researchers will be working with three industrial partners – PowerPhotonic, Oxford Lasers and the G&H Group will also support testing in real-life industrial settings.
In an academic partnership, the project’s research into this form of medical application will be supported by Professor David Jayne at the University of Leeds.
Dr Richard Carter (pictured), Assistant Professor of Applied Optics and Photonics at Heriot-Watt University and the project’s lead said: “Manufacturing is of key strategic importance to the UK, with a particular focus on high-tech and high-value manufacturing.
“This research will address the priority area of digital manufacturing, enabling a bespoke, rapid response capability for the first time. 
“The new methods we are developing represent a paradigm shift in the capabilities of laser-based manufacturing, making it possible to move between 3D beam shapes with zero down-time, low cost and minimal technical know-how.”
The National Robotarium is supported by £21 million from the UK Government and £1.4 million from the Scottish Government as part of the £1.3 billion Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal – a 15-year investment programme jointly funded by both governments and regional partners.
The Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy Kate Forbes said: “I’m very pleased to hear this cutting-edge research will be carried out at the National Robotarium, which is funded through the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal, and that it will have a direct impact on our world leading manufacturing industries.
“This is a crucial time for business, trade and investment in Scotland. City Region and Growth Deals have a key role to play in our economic recovery from the pandemic.”
UK Government Minister for Scotland Iain Stewart said: “This is cutting-edge technology in every sense of the phrase. 
“These 3D lasers are set to unlock previously unheard of levels of precision and so transform our manufacturing and medical technology industries, boosting the UK’s global reputation for innovation and attracting jobs and further investment.”